Sulima's Scoop - Week of January 4

Weekly Reminders:
*Lesson 16 spelling pretest on Monday.
*No W.O.W. words during the month of January.
*RtI Benchmarking on Thursday - Fluency.
*Lesson 16 spelling test on Friday.
*Chapter 5 math checkpoint #2 on Friday.

Plan Ahead:
*IOWA testing during the week of January 11.
*No spelling unit during the week of January 11.
*No school on Monday, January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday.

Hot Lunch Program:
Just a reminder that the hot lunches will be increased to $2.50 on Monday, January 4, 2010.

Homeroom Happenings:
Science - We will begin chapter 3 this week. The children will be learning about animal and plant adaptations. There will be an open book quiz on lesson 1 on Wednesday. We will spend the rest of the week working on lesson 2. This lesson reviews instincts, hibernation, migration, and learned behaviors.

Social Studies - We are still in the Southeast region. The children will be learning about the people and history of the Southeast. We will begin the week by exploring the culture of the Cherokee Tribe. Then we will move onto early explorers and leaders in this region. We will end the week by learning about the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement.

Spelling - We will work on lesson 16 this week. This lesson practices words with -ough and -ould. This is a difficult lesson. Please help your child practice these words each evening.

English - We will begin our study of Adjectives this week. We will learn what adjectives are, the use of adjectives after be, and the correct use of a, an, and the. Students who passed out of any of these lessons will also begin working on enrichment projects.

W.O.W. Words - We will be taking the month of January off from W.O.W. words. Instead we will be focusing on word parts (ex. prefix, suffix, root words) and figurative language (alliteration, personification, similes, metaphors, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, and idioms).

Reading - We will be working on a story from our reading anthology this week. The story is called Skylark. It is the sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall. The children will receive a readers' theater of this story on Monday. They should practice their lines throughout the week. We will present our readers' theater on Thursday. The children will be graded on accuracy, volume, rate, expression, and fluency. We will be reading the story from our anthology and working with comprehension questions. At the end of the week, we will watch Skylark.

Accelerated Math Menu:
Monday - Review Dividing by 1-digit. H.W. Daily Review pgs. 54 (#4, 8, & 12), 56 (#3, 7, & 11), and 59 (#4, 8, & 12).
Tuesday - Short Division. H.W. Daily Review pg. 55 (#1-12).
Wednesday - Review Finding Averages. (Quick review of median, mode, range, & mean) H.W. Daily Review pg. 58 (all but # 11).
Thursday - Review all concepts from chapter 5. H.W. Review for checkpoint tomorrow.
Friday - Chapter 5 checkpoint #2 (all lessons). We will not have a test on chapter 5.
Look Ahead - Next week, we will begin a short unit on algebra.

Sulima's Scoop - Winter Break

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday break. Try to find time to rest and relax. I will miss you all and will look forward to hearing about all the exciting things you did during your break.

Happy Holiday!

Mrs. Sulima

***See you next year - 2010.***

Sulima's Scoop - Week of December 14

Weekly Reminders:

*No spelling pretest this week.

*Chapter 6 Social Studies Test on Monday.

*Bowling Test on Tuesday.

*Chapter 2 Science Test on Wednesday.

*Bowling field trip on Thursday - 12:00-2:15.

*No spelling test on Friday ---HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

*Tivoli field trip on Friday - 11:15-2:15. Students may bring sack lunch or buy hot lunch.

*Holiday Break - December 21 - January 1. Return to school on January 4.

*

Hot Lunch News:

Please be advised that as of January 4, 2010 there will be a price increase in the student hot lunch program. The price of hot lunch will be $2.50 per meal.

*

Homeroom Happenings:

Science - The children will take the test on Wednesday, December 16. We will also begin our next chapter this week on "Adaptations".
Items to review for the test:
*Class notes
*Key vocabulary:trait, heredity, gene, photosynthesis, life cycle, direct development, and metamorphosis
*How are traits inherited? How are traits developed? Nature vs. Nurture.
*What are the stages in the life cycle of a plant? How do plants reproduce?
What are the stages in the life cycle of an animal? How do some animals grow and develop?

Social Studies - The chapter 6 test will be on Monday, December 14.
Items to review for test:
*Key vocabulary - barrier islands, Outer Coastal Plain, wetlands, Inner Coastal Plain, Piedmont, fall line, key. hurricane, hurricane season, endangered species, extinct, pulp, and fossil fuel.
*Identify and describe major landforms in the Southeast.
*Explain how barrier islands were formed.
*Compare and contrast landform elevations in the Southeast. (Use diagram done in class.)
*Describe the climate of the Southeast.
*Describe how hurricanes form and the effects of hurricanes.
*Explain the function of lighthouses.
*Describe the importance of protecting endangered species.
*Identify ways in which resources of the Southeast are used.
*Identify a renewable and a nonrenewable resource found in the Southeast.
*Explain why coal is an important resource in the Southeast.
*Describe a place you could visit in the Southeast. Why would you go there and what would you see and/or do? (Magic Kingdom and all related parks are closed!) Ideas: Everglades National Park, Key West, Myrtle Beach or any other place you may know of.

Spelling - We will be working with lesson 15 this week. The students will not have a spelling test on Friday. Instead, I will be collecting a couple assignments at the end of the week for a grade.

English - The children will receive their Adjective pretests back on Monday. That evening, they will need to choose their enrichment option. I will meet with each child on Tuesday to approve their enrichment choice. We will not begin this until until after winter break.

W.O.W. - We will not have W.O.W. words this week due to field trips at the end of the week.

Reading - We will be reading a wonderful novel called Sarah, Plain and Tall. The children will be working on comprehension questions about the novel. Some of the chapters will be read at home. The students may count this reading on their 100 minute chart. We will also be watching Sarah, Plain and Tall on Wednesday. This is a wonderfully done Hallmark movie.

Accelerated Math Menu:

Monday - Finish Order of Operations & do lesson on Mental Math - Patterns in Division. Homework: DR 50.

Tuesday - Estimating Quotients using compatible numbers. Homework: DR 51.

Wednesday - Divisibility Rules. Homework: DR 52.

Thursday - Open-book checkpoint. Homework: NONE!

Friday - Short math class - Holiday Math Activity. Homework: ENJOY YOUR WINTER BREAK!!!

Sulima's Scoop - Week of December 7

Weekly Reminders:

*Lesson 14 spelling pretest on Monday.

*All gifts for our Holiday Service Project are due Tuesday.

*Field trip to Drury Lane on Tuesday. Please dress nice.

*Home Run Inn pizza lunch on Tuesday (for those who ordered). Please bring a drink.

*Unit 2 - Nouns- English test on Wednesday.

*Chapter 4 math test on Thursday.

*Lesson 14 spelling test on Friday.

*Open-book chapter 2, lesson 3 science quiz on Friday.

*

Plan Ahead:

*Chapter 6 social studies test on Monday, December 14.

*Chapter 2 science test on Wednesday, December 16.

*Bowling field trip on Thursday, December 17.

*Tivoli field trip on Friday, December 18.

*Winter Break - December 21 - January 1. Return to school on January 4.

*

Parent Teacher Conferences:

I would like to thank you all for making our first round of parent teacher conferences so successful. I will be meeting with each child throughout the week to discuss their 2nd trimester goals. Your child will bring home a copy of the goals which you can keep at home. Please remind your child often to focus on reaching these goals.

*

Homeroom Happenings:

Science - We will move on to chapter 2, lesson 3. This lesson focuses on the life cycle of animals. We will finish chapter 2 this week. The children will take the test on Wednesday, December 16.

Items to review for the test:

*Class notes

*Key vocabulary:trait, heredity, gene, photosynthesis, life cycle, direct development, and metamorphosis

*How are traits inherited? How are traits developed? Nature vs. Nurture.

*What are the stages in the life cycle of a plant? How do plants reproduce?

What are the stages in the life cycle of an animal? How do some animals grow and develop?

*

Social Studies - The children will complete their southeast farmer projects. They brought home their rough drafts, please take time before Tuesday to help them edit their writing. We will be writing our final drafts on Tuesday. This project is worth 25 points (grading checklist is in your child's S.S. pocket), but the children can earn 2 bonus points for adding addition information or fun facts that are not listed on the grading checklist. We will finish chapter 6 by looking at other resources found in the southeast. The children will fill out a "how to study" sheet on Wednesday. The chapter 6 test will be on Monday, December 14.

Items to review for test:

*Key vocabulary - barrier islands, Outer Coastal Plain, wetlands, Inner Coastal Plain, Piedmont, fall line, key. hurricane, hurricane season, endangered species, extinct, pulp, and fossil fuel.

*Indentify and describe major landforms in the Southeast.

*Explain how barrier islands were formed.

*Compare and contrast landform elevations in the Southeast. (Use diagram done in class.)

*Describe the climate of the Southeast.

*Describe how hurricanes form and the effects of hurricanes.

*Explain the function of lighthouses.

*Describe the importance of protecting endangered species.

*Identify ways in which resources of the Southeast are used.

*Identify a renewable and a nonrenewable resource found in the Southeast.

*Explain why coal is an important resource in the Southeast.

*Describe a place you could visit in the Southeast. Why would you go there and what would you see and/or do? (Magic Kingdom and all related parks are closed!) Ideas: Everglades National Park, Key West, Myrtle Beach or any other place you may know of.

*

Spelling - Lesson 14 will practice "au" words. Please have your child practice their words in cursive.

*

W.O.W. Words - Our W.O.W. words for the week are: banter, indulge, revel, relish, and excursion.

*

English - We have now finished unit 2 - nouns. The children filled out a "how to study" sheet on Thursday. Our test will be on Wednesday. Please help your child review for this test. The lessons on singular and plural possessives seems to be difficult for many children. We will review in class on Monday.

Here are some Internet games to help your child review:

http://www.gamequarium.com/partsofspeech.html

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/basketball/index.html

http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/ratslist3.asp

http://www.eduplace.com/cgi-bin/hme-quiz-start.cgi?Grade=3&Unit=2&Topic=Nouns&x=30&y=6

http://www.eduplace.com/cgi-bin/hme-quiz-start.cgi?Grade=5&Unit=2&Topic=Nouns&x=35&y=17

*

Reading - We will finish our study of "A Christmas Carol" this week. The children will sequence important events from the story. We will also read our readers' theater again on Monday. The children will be graded on accuracy, volume, rate, expression, and fluency. I was very impressed by our practice reading on Thursday. On Tuesday, we will see the play at Drury Lane, and on Wednesday we will be watching Mickey's Christmas Carol. The children will be doing a triple Venn diagram comparing the book to the play to the movie. We will begin a short novel at the end of the week. It is a favorite of mine - Sarah, Plain and Tall.

*

Accelerated Math Menu:

Monday: Multiplying by 3-digits.

Tuesday: Math at 1:30-2:15. Fill out "how to study" sheet. Review what will be on the test.

Wednesday: Math at 1:30-2:15. Review for test.

Thursday: Chapter 4 test. Don't forget to bring in your "how to study" sheet.

Friday: We will begin our next chapter on Division.