Friday, September 28, 2012

Behind the Scenes - Week of October 1st


Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Worm Races on Tuesday.
*Time for Kids weekly quiz on Friday.
*Spelling test on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
*No School on Monday, October 8 - Columbus Day
*Movie Night on Friday, October 12, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.
*Book Fair on Thursday, October 18, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
*Early Dismissal on Thursday, October 25, 11:00 a.m.
*Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30
*Halloween Parade and Classroom Parties on Wednesday, October 31, 1:00 to 2:25 p.m.


Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - Our spelling pretest will be on Monday.  The children will take the test on Friday.  Challenge spellers can keep their pretest score or retake the weekly test for a higher grade.

English - We will be taking our next English pretest this week.  Look for your child's contract in their English pocket on Thursday.


Science - Worm Races will be held on Tuesday.  Students need to bring their worms, race track, blue variables sheet, and tan grading checklist on Tuesday.  We will work on finishing our bubble experiments this week too.


Social Studies - This week we will begin our study of the Northeast region.  The children will be filling out a map on Tuesday that will be due on Thursday.  We will take our Northeast region test on Tuesday, October 16.  The children will find out all about this on Thursday.


Reading - We will continue reading pages from our Time For Kids magazine each night.  The TFK quiz will be on Friday.  The children will be reading other informational text pieces this week, too.  On Thursday, the children will receive their first "Book Club" assignments.  


Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
Monday - Decimal Sense.  HW:  WB pg. 91.
Here is a link to a game we played in class:
http://www.mesc.gov.ws/ssn1/Decimal_Detective/Decimal_Detective.htm
Tuesday - Decimals and Place Value.  HW:  WB pg. 92.
Wednesday - Adding Decimals.  Add More Decimals.  HW:  WB pg. 93 and 95.
Thursday - Estimate Decimal Sums.  HW:  WB pg. 94.
Friday - Quiz on Lessons 1-3.  Begin Subtracting Decimals.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Behind the Scenes - Week of September 24


Weekly Spotlight:
*Worms arrive to school on Monday.
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Chapter 1, lessons 6-10 math quiz on Monday.
*Magazine Turn-in on Tuesday.
*Chapter 1 math test on Wednesday.
*Magazine Turn-in on Thursday.
*P.E. Soccer Test on Thursday.
*Chapter 2, lessons 2 and 3 social studies test on Thursday.
*Picture Day on Thursday.
*Time for Kids comprehension quiz on Friday.
*Spelling Test on Friday.
*Worm Race Track assignment will be discussed and assigned on Friday.
*Early Dismissal on Friday, 11:00.

Coming Attractions:
*Worm Race Tracks and Worms due on Tuesday, October 2.
*No School on Monday, October 8 - Columbus Day
*Movie Night on Friday, October 12, 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.
*Book Fair on Thursday, October 18, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
*Early Dismissal on Thursday, October 25, 11:00 a.m.
*Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30
*Halloween Parade and Classroom Parties on Wednesday, October 31, 1:00 to 2:25 p.m.

Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - We will take the spelling pretest on Monday.  The spelling test will be on Friday.

English - We have finished our first English unit.  We will take the week off to work on our "Worm Study."

Science - "Wormy Habitats" are due Monday.  We will be using the scientific method to observe, question, hypothesize, plan, test, record results, draw conclusions, and communication our results.  The worms will stay at school all week.  They will come home for the weekend.  At that time, your child will have the guidelines to create a worm race track.  These tracks and your worms will need to arrive to school on Tuesday, October 2.

Social Studies - We will take the first social studies test of the school year on Thursday.  On Tuesday, the children will fill out a "how to study" sheet.  I am hoping this will provide your child with some ideas on how to study for this test.  Items to review for this test include (but are not limited to):  vocabulary, Three Branches Graphic Organizer, Patriotic Quest, and any other paper in your child's social studies pocket.  We will play a review game on Wednesday to help prepare for the test.

Reading - The children read a short story last week called "Eleven."  They also wrote letters from two different perspectives.  This week, we will focus on one final perspective.  Your child will be writing a 2 paragraph journal from this perspective.  Ask you child about this on Monday!  We will also be reading informational test (non-fiction) this week.  Each night your child will have a reading assignment from a Time for Kids magazine.  Please have them return this magazine to the reading pocket in their binder each evening.  They will be taking a comprehension quiz on this magazine on Friday.  You may discuss the articles in the magazine with your child each evening.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Spotlight:
Monday - Fill out "how to study" for chapter 1 test on Wednesday.  Chapter 1, lessons 6-10 quiz - open book and notes.  HW:  Study for chapter 1 test on Wednesday.
Tuesday - Review Chapter 1, lesson 6-10 quiz.  Work on an extended response together.  HW:  Study for chapter 1 test on Wednesday.  Review the extended response problem.
Wednesday - Chapter 1 test with one extended response problem.  HW:  Begin practicing for next 5-minute timed test which will be sometime during mid October.
Thursday - Pretest on next chapter.  Begin lesson on decimal sense.  HW:  Continue practicing for next 5 minute timed test.
Friday - No math due to Early Dismissal.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Behind the Scenes - Week of September 17


Weekly Spotlight:
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Beginning Band Sign-up on Monday, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Band Room
*Escaping the Giant Wave Quiz on Tuesday.
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 18
*Unit 2 - Noun test on Thursday.
*Spelling test on Friday.

Coming Attractions:
* "Wormy Habitats" due on Monday, September 24.
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 25
*Picture Day on Thursday, September 27
*Last Magazine Turn-In on Thursday, September 27
*Early Dismissal on Friday, September 28, 2012, 11:00 a.m.


Homeroom Happenings:
Spelling - The children will take a spelling pretest on Monday. If they miss 2 or less, they will become a challenge speller. They will choose challenge spelling words. Please check your child's spelling pocket for their list. If your child misses 3 or more, they will be working on the regular weekly spelling list. This week, regular spellers will be assigned a practice sheet (due Tuesday) and workbook pages (due Friday).  The challenge spellers will complete 3 activities using their challenge words. These 3 activities should be done in your child's spelling spiral and are due Friday. Please have your child use both front and back of pages in their spelling spiral. On Friday, challenge spellers will have the choice of keeping their pretest score or retaking the weekly spelling test for a higher grade.

English - We have finished the lessons in our noun unit. This week we will review for the test.  The children will also fill out a "how to study" sheet on Monday.  This sheet will help guide your child in their studies.  Five suggested activities will be listed on the "how to study" sheet.  Your child can pick from that list or come up with their own way to study for the test.  They should write down at least two activities and bring it back on Thursday with a parent signature.  They will earn 2 points this this sheet.  Our Noun test will be on Thursday.

Reading - The children will take a reading quiz on Escaping the Giant Wave on Tuesday.  Students will be allowed to use their books and packets during the test.  A study packet was sent home last week.  Go through some of these questions with your child.  We will also read two other pieces of literature this week:  Akiak and Eleven.  The children will be working on story mapping with these two stories.

Science - We will continue to work with the Scientific Method this week.  On Tuesday, the children will find out about our "worm habitat" assignment.

Social Studies - We will continue our unit on Government. The children will continue to review vocabulary throughout the week. They should bring home their Social Studies spiral which will have the words and their definitions. The children will focus on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens. 

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
Monday - Finish Rounding Decimals.   HW: Complete WB pg. 6.
Tuesday - 
Addition Properties and Subtraction Rules.  HW: WB pg. 7.
Wednesday - Estimate Sums and Differences. HW:  WB pg. 8.
Thursday - Addition: Three or more addends. Subtraction with zeros. HW: WB pgs. 9 and 10.
Friday - Larger Sums and Differences. HW:  "Lots of Loot" worksheet.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Behind the Scenes - Week of September 10


Weekly Spotlight
*Reading MAP test on Monday.
*Spelling pretest on Monday.
*Beginning Band Parent Meeting on Monday, 7-8 in Multi-purpose room.
*Wear Red, White, and Blue on Tuesday.
*Magazine Drive Kick-off Assembly on Tuesday.
*Library check-out on Tuesday.
*Math quiz on Wednesday (lessons 2-5).
*Lakeview Band Assembly on Thursday.
*Beginning Band Sign-up on Thursday, September 13, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.- Band Room
*Spelling test on Friday.

Coming Attractions
*Beginning Band Sign-up on Monday, September 17, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Band Room
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 18
*Magazine Turn-In on Tuesday, September 25
*Picture Day on Thursday, September 27
*Last Magazine Turn-In on Thursday, September 27
*Early Dismissal on Friday, September 28, 2012, 11:00 a.m.


Homeroom Happenings
Spelling - The children will take a spelling pretest on Monday. If they miss 2 or less, they will become a challenge speller. They will choose challenge spelling words.  Please check your child's spelling pocket for their list. If your child misses 3 or more, they will be working on the regular weekly spelling list. Again this week, both challenge and regular spellers will choose 3 activities, from a list of over 20 activities, to complete using their spelling words. These 3 activities should be done in your child's spelling spiral and are due Friday. Please have your child use both front and back of pages in their spelling spiral. On Friday, challenge spellers will have the choice of keeping their pretest score or retaking the weekly spelling test for a higher grade.

English - We will continue working on our noun unit. This week we will cover the following lessons: More plural nouns, Singular possessive nouns, and Plural possessive nouns.  All enrichment work will be done at school.  Our Noun test will be sometime during the week of September 17.

Reading - The children will continue reading Escaping the Giant Wave.  We are reviewing all our reading strategies while we are reading this novel.  The children will be finishing the book this week.  A test on the novel is planned for Monday, September 17.  Students will be allowed to use their books and packets during the test.

Science - This week we will begin our study of the Scientific Method.  The children will make a flap book to help them study the step required in the Scientific Method.  We will also begin a lab this week using the Scientific Method.

Social Studies - We will continue our unit on Government. The children will continue to review vocabulary throughout the week. They should bring home their Social Studies spiral which will have the words and their definitions. The children will also fill out a "Patriotic Quest" in class using information from our text.

Mrs. Sulima's Math Class:
Monday - No math due to MAP testing.  HW: Review X10, X11, & X12.
Tuesday - Review lessons 2-5.  HW: Review X10, X11, & X12.  Review for quiz tomorrow.
Wednesday - Open book/notes quiz on chapter 1, lessons 2-5.  HW:  Prepare for first 5-minute timed test on Friday.
Thursday - Compare and order whole numbers and decimals.  HW:  WB pg. 5.
Friday - First 5-minute timed test.  Rounding whole numbers and decimals.  HW:  WB pg. 6.