Time to Get Back in Gear!

Okay, okay . . .  I definitely slacked off on the updates at the end of the first semester.  My "school" resolution: get back in gear!  I am committing to updating on a bi-weekly basis at the minimum.  If there is important information that needs to be communicated to you prior to my bi-weekly updates, I will send a group e-mail to keep you informed.


It's been another crazy start to the year 2015, but definitely better than the late start we had last year!  With so many delays last week, we have unfortunately fallen a little behind in our curriculum, particularly in Science and Social Studies.  We will be working diligently to get those caught up, but please bear with us if there is a little more homework than normal while we are doing so.


Here's what's been happening in Room 222 . . .


Math - This week has wrapped up our unit on fraction computation.  We took our unit test today.  Again, this unit's focus was on adding and subtracting fractions, comparing and ordering fractions, and converting between fractions, decimals and percents.  We will take a couple of days next week to do some follow-up/review before beginning Unit 9 on Thursday.


Reading - Our basal reading series began a new unit this week with the theme focus on adapting.  We have worked on how graphic sources can assist us in better understanding text and being able to use text evidence to draw conclusions.  Small groups will begin meeting next week during literacy station time to discuss novels.  Each student has been given a novel to read and their group will meet once a week to discuss the reading.  This is intended to expose students to more age-appropriate/lexile-appropriate reading, as well as begin to prepare them for the novel studies that they will be doing in middle school next year.


Writing - We are currently working on a very fun, creative piece of writing called a Grab Bag Fairy Tale.  Students drew story elements from a bag and are currently working on developing their characters and their plot for a fairy tale.  We will continue to work on these for the next couple of weeks, with a published story at the end.  While working on these, we are incorporating some grammar study as well.  Currently we are learning how to include dialogue in our writing, using appropriate paragraphing and punctuation.


Science - Science classes have begun a unit in Earth Science focusing on how the Earth and moon create cycles.  Students have discussed new vocabulary, such as axis, revolution, and rotation, and have seen demonstrations on how these words are related, but different.


Social Studies - As the new semester has arrived, so has a new unit of study in Social Studies.  We have started one of my favorite units . . . The American Revolution.  We have been able to read and discuss why Britain was in debt and how they attempted to get out of debt by taxing the colonists.  Today we completed our reading and activity on the first battles of the war, and will continue with this unit for the next several weeks. 


Please don't forget that report cards were available online last Friday.  You can still view them in Power School.  We are currently in the second week of our new grading period.  It is sure to go by quickly, so please keep updated on your student's grades and assignments.


There will be a slight adjustment to the grades you see for spelling homework.  Spelling homework will now be scored for completion.  Throughout a regular week of school, students should have spelling homework Monday through Thursday evenings.  As of the new grading period, each completed homework assignment is worth a total of 10 points.  This means that if your student turns in all four assignments for the week, they will earn 40/40 or 100% of their points.  If your student fails to turn one assignment in for the week, they will earn 30/40 or 75% of their points.  I have quite a few students who do not put their name on their homework.  DO NOT WRITE YOUR STUDENT'S NAME FOR THEM!  This is their responsibility.  Any papers turned in without a name will be hung up and will wait to be claimed.  Should your child earn a 75% instead of 100%, but know they turned all four assignments in, they should be checking to see if they turned one in without a name.  If so, the score will be averaged after claiming the nameless assignment. 


As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns!  Have a great weekend!