Hi there.
We are gearing up for another busy week packed with learning. In math we are getting more and more into algebra. Last week the kids learned how to solve algebraic expressions. This week they will get into writing expressions and solving algebraic equations using opposite operations. Wow! It seems they are learning a lot more a lot sooner than I ever remember. You? We will end the week by testing out of Ch. 2. Then, we hit multiplication and division. Last year, they mastered all their basic facts, and now we will expand that knowledge by doing two digit by one digit, three digit by one digit, and then two by two and three by two. Yikes! In my experience, kids generally grasp these concepts quickly or very slowly. The good news is, they do all eventually get it. Yay! So, please help at home by bringing back out those flashcards and sitting at the table each night quizzing your child on their basic facts. Help them by brushing off the cobwebs on the facts from 0 x 0 to 12 x 12. We will spend VERY little time in class reviewing these. If they don't have the basics, they are really going to struggle over the next two chapters, and I mean REALLY.
In Regional SS we have completed our geography challenges for the US and are now moving into our first US region: the North East. Kids will be taking a train tour (via CD) across the 11 states in this region and learning about particular areas, locations, and cities. We will even stop at Hershey, Pennsylvania. Yum!!! With this study, we will also begin our states and capitals quizzes. The quiz will be in two weeks. I have listed the 11 states and their capitals off to the right. If it were me, I would make a set of flashcards with the state on one side and the capital on the other. Kids will need to be able to match them together. They will have a word list to choose from, so spelling will have to be correct off that list or they will get half off. The second part of the test is knowing the location of each state. I will send home a laminated blank map on Monday. This will help kids by being able to write and wipe off the names of the states and then check them on a filled in map (also being sent home on Monday). We will be doing this with all 5 regions of the US and at the end they will be tested on all 50 US states. We will study some in class and play some games with them, but practice at home will be crucial as well. Please make this part of the nightly homework. There are also some fun games online to learn all 50 states. I have them posted on the blog off to the right.
We will continue to move forward in our MT History studies as well. We are done with the basics, and now are moving to the Native American Indians found in MT and their history. This is one of my favorite parts because their life is so interesting to me.
In science, we finished up our wildfire unit. We will now move into the water cycle. We have a pretty fun art project that helps kids learn the stages of the cycle, and just wait till you hear the song we have in store to learn it. Love it!!! Kids will also have a home project to create their very own raindrop to go with their story. Creativity is key, which is why they bring it home to create. If we do it at school, experience shows that we end up with 20 raindrops looking exactly the same. I will show them examples and post them on the blog as well. They will write their story in sections adding onto it each night for homework. Since there is 20 of them, and one of me I will ask that you proofread their story and make spelling corrections each night so their final draft that they will write in class will be all ready to go. Kids will share their stories aloud with the rest of the class. These are super fun to hear all the different adventures they come up with. More direction on this to come as we start.
In spelling, we will be back to normal. The new list is off to the right. The review tests didn't go that well. That tells me that kids are just memorizing rather than learning for long term learning. We will be brainstorming how to correct this in class.
In language, we will move from nouns to verbs. Action verbs are first on our list. Fun!
In reading, we will be testing out of heritage. The kids finished their historical fiction readings in their small groups on Friday. They will test on their level. The test will not be on the stories they read, but the skills they learned throughout the unit. They learned predicting using a strategy, author's purpose, types of questioning, main idea and supporting details, figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and onomatopoeia), and determining inferences. We will then take a break from the small groups and go back to finish up our Boys in the Girls Bathroom novel. The kids are loving hearing about the adventures of Bradley and Jeff. We will be taking a trip to the bathrooms this week and doing a compare and contrast activity when going in the opposite gender's bathroom. Don't worry, we clear it out first. :0) It is always funny to see their reactions and hear how different the bathrooms are. Oh to be a kid again.
Speaking of field trips. I started to collect the money needed for the two trips. I also collected for the upcoming movie, popcorn, and juice for Red Ribbon Week. So, kids that paid for everything gave me $1500.00. Those that didn't have that, paid what they could and still have time to save for the others. If a child can't pay for the trips they will stay at school. Many kids paid in full. Others are starting to see that not having their planners signed and moving owls daily are becoming an issue. We go on quite a few trips in the 4th grade so they will have other opportunities. At the end of October we will have our store and then all students will start their money over with the $500 start up amount, putting everyone on equal playing ground once again and a fresh start. As I have said in recent posts, the kids are getting so much better at making positive choices, but so many kids lost a TON of money in the beginning that they may be short in the long run. If they stay at school, they will have an alternate placement and place to stay for the time we are gone. Permission slips for the three field trips and information on all our Red Ribbon Week activities will be sent home later next week. We are getting pretty excited about all the fun activities and guest speakers we have lined up for your kids to learn about saying NO to drugs and alcohol in their near future. It is such an important week! If you smoke or drink, even occacionally, at home be ready for some questions from kids. It happens every year. We tell them like it is, and we stress that when turning 18/21 they will have the choice of smoking and drinking, but we talk a lot about responsible drinking vs irresponsible drinking. Each night we will post a dinner table discussion topic for you to have an open and honest conversation with your kids about what we talk about in class.
For team-building this past Friday, we played board games in class. We stressed being a good sport and playing in a cooperate group. Man, these kids did great! I didn't have to talk to one person about talking politely to others and not argue. Very cool for me to see!!!! Those that had their owls on my desk or couldn't buy in read a book.
Well, have a wonderful weekend!
