WOW what a week!
Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come to Math Night! Great turnout, great fun!
We are in a bit of a transitional state at this point in the year with Language Arts....
We're finishing up What Are You Figuring Now? by Wednesday of this coming week. We will be moving into our Plays and Drama unit next! I'm super excited. The students will be learning the elements of theater, as well as comparing and contrasting plays to stories. Students will be bringing home plays in their Guided Reading Baggies. Please be on the look out for questions in the Reading Response Journals! Students will be able to perform mini-productions of these plays they are reading to their classmates. Super fun!
In math we will be moving on to division! As you can see for the homework next week, we will be starting division Mad Minutes as well!
The Study Hall center has been a success with the students. I'm really pleased to see them use their time wisely.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
I will be out sick today. Report cards should be sent home today by the sub - please let me know if they don't make it home, and I'll be sure to send them tomorrow. Please also be advised that there is a packet from the G&T office in the envelope as well. This form needs to be completed and returned by Friday,
April 23rd. Mad Minutes have been cancelled for this week :)
Thank you for understanding!
April 23rd. Mad Minutes have been cancelled for this week :)
Thank you for understanding!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Hello and happy Friday! Congratulations to the students for earning their 250th Soaring With Pride Stickers!! We were able to celebrate today with extra recess at the blue playground - whohoo!!
Thank you for sending in the different examples of currency!! It was so interesting to see coins and bills from around the world! The class came to the conclusion that the United States needs to come up with some more interesting designs :)
Next week in math we will be focusing on time. We will begin by reviewing how to tell time to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour using an analog clock. We will then move forward to solving elapsed-time word problems. Check out the new link for "Time Games!" in the "Helpful Links" section of the blog. Elapsed time can prove to be a rather challenging topic, so if there is any difficulty at home, please encourage your child to ask for help in class!
Speaking of time, I am going to be introducing a new center to our selection of Literacy Centers. This will be a "Study Hall" center, each student will have this center twice a week. Some might have it Monday and Wednesday, others might have it Tuesday and Thursday. This will depend upon the center rotation for the week. I understand that with the nicer weather, and increase in extra-curricular activities, that homework has traveled down the priority list. I will allow students to work on homework, unfinished classwork, or read independently during this time. I hope that this not only will provide an opportunity for students exercise some time-management skills, but alleviate the work-load at home. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Our Flat Stanleys have started to come in! So far we've received Stanleys from Maine, Arizona, and Pennsylvania!
Please note in the "We Could Always Use..." section that we are still in a rather desperate need for disinfecting wipes, pencils, and glue sticks. Anything that you could send in would be greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you so much for your support! Please let me know if you should have any questions or concerns!
Have a great weekend :)
Thank you for sending in the different examples of currency!! It was so interesting to see coins and bills from around the world! The class came to the conclusion that the United States needs to come up with some more interesting designs :)
Next week in math we will be focusing on time. We will begin by reviewing how to tell time to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour using an analog clock. We will then move forward to solving elapsed-time word problems. Check out the new link for "Time Games!" in the "Helpful Links" section of the blog. Elapsed time can prove to be a rather challenging topic, so if there is any difficulty at home, please encourage your child to ask for help in class!
Speaking of time, I am going to be introducing a new center to our selection of Literacy Centers. This will be a "Study Hall" center, each student will have this center twice a week. Some might have it Monday and Wednesday, others might have it Tuesday and Thursday. This will depend upon the center rotation for the week. I understand that with the nicer weather, and increase in extra-curricular activities, that homework has traveled down the priority list. I will allow students to work on homework, unfinished classwork, or read independently during this time. I hope that this not only will provide an opportunity for students exercise some time-management skills, but alleviate the work-load at home. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Our Flat Stanleys have started to come in! So far we've received Stanleys from Maine, Arizona, and Pennsylvania!
Please note in the "We Could Always Use..." section that we are still in a rather desperate need for disinfecting wipes, pencils, and glue sticks. Anything that you could send in would be greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you so much for your support! Please let me know if you should have any questions or concerns!
Have a great weekend :)
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Hello! Congratulations to the students for successfully completing the SAT10!! They all did a GREAT job - everyone worked very dilligently, raised their hands if they had questions, used their repertoir of various strategies to solve problems, and really took the time to double - even triple check their work! Thank you students for all your hard work, and thank you parents for your support, as always!
We will be going back to our typical homework assignments this week. Students will be coming home with their new spelling lists on Monday, April 12th. Our last unit of study was comparing consonant digraphs and blends. Students discovered that the word "digraph" has the digraph /ph/, the word "blend" has the blends /bl/ and /nd/! Digraphs can be made up of either vowels or consonants - and are made up of two letters creating one sound - such as the "f" sound with "ph". Blends are also made up of at least two letters, however you can hear the sound each individual letter makes. For example, with the /bl/ blend, you can hear the "b" and the "l" separately. We are going to take this knowledge we've gained about digraphs and blends and SLIDE it on over to diphthongs!
Diphthongs and digraphs are VERY similar - in fact so similar I needed to refresh MY memory on the difference between the two! Both are made of two letters, both create one sound. There are two major differences that make a diphthong different from a digraph: first, diphthongs are only a combination of two VOWELS - no consonants here; second, a diphthong is created by the tongue SLIDING from one sound to the other. The word "audience" is a great example of a word with both a digraph and diphthong. First, the /au/ is a vowel digraph - creating the "aw" sound. The /ie/ is a diphthong - say "audience" slowly, notice how you "SLIDE" from the i, to the e, and finally to the rest of the word? That's what makes it a diphthong!
Common diphthongs include, but are not limited to: /ie/, /oi/ as in "boil", /oy/ as in "boy". /ea/ as in "created", and /io/ as in "Pinocchio". We will be focusing on these - but be on the lookout for any others!
In math we will be beginnning a combination unit focusing on money, time, and temperature. We will begin the unit with money! We will review how to add and subtract money, as well as make change using the least amount of coins. In an effort to make a connection to our last Social Studies unit (Economics) I was hoping to be able to show the students different examples of currency. If you are willing/able to send in any examples of foreign currrency with your child to share with the class it would be most greatly appreciated! The currency will be sent back home the same day :)
Finally, your child will be recieving an invitation in the mail within the next few days. This will be addressed to him/her "and family." Since the students were a part of our engagement, I would be honored if they (and parents) could join us for our wedding ceremony as well. The ceremony is Saturday, July 17th, 3:30 in the afternoon, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church - located at 35 East Church Street in Downtown Frederick. I have made arrangements with our photographer to plan for a group picture with us immediately following the ceremony. We will send a copy of the picture to you once we get them :) No gifts, please, your attendance will be gift enough!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week!
We will be going back to our typical homework assignments this week. Students will be coming home with their new spelling lists on Monday, April 12th. Our last unit of study was comparing consonant digraphs and blends. Students discovered that the word "digraph" has the digraph /ph/, the word "blend" has the blends /bl/ and /nd/! Digraphs can be made up of either vowels or consonants - and are made up of two letters creating one sound - such as the "f" sound with "ph". Blends are also made up of at least two letters, however you can hear the sound each individual letter makes. For example, with the /bl/ blend, you can hear the "b" and the "l" separately. We are going to take this knowledge we've gained about digraphs and blends and SLIDE it on over to diphthongs!
Diphthongs and digraphs are VERY similar - in fact so similar I needed to refresh MY memory on the difference between the two! Both are made of two letters, both create one sound. There are two major differences that make a diphthong different from a digraph: first, diphthongs are only a combination of two VOWELS - no consonants here; second, a diphthong is created by the tongue SLIDING from one sound to the other. The word "audience" is a great example of a word with both a digraph and diphthong. First, the /au/ is a vowel digraph - creating the "aw" sound. The /ie/ is a diphthong - say "audience" slowly, notice how you "SLIDE" from the i, to the e, and finally to the rest of the word? That's what makes it a diphthong!
Common diphthongs include, but are not limited to: /ie/, /oi/ as in "boil", /oy/ as in "boy". /ea/ as in "created", and /io/ as in "Pinocchio". We will be focusing on these - but be on the lookout for any others!
In math we will be beginnning a combination unit focusing on money, time, and temperature. We will begin the unit with money! We will review how to add and subtract money, as well as make change using the least amount of coins. In an effort to make a connection to our last Social Studies unit (Economics) I was hoping to be able to show the students different examples of currency. If you are willing/able to send in any examples of foreign currrency with your child to share with the class it would be most greatly appreciated! The currency will be sent back home the same day :)
Finally, your child will be recieving an invitation in the mail within the next few days. This will be addressed to him/her "and family." Since the students were a part of our engagement, I would be honored if they (and parents) could join us for our wedding ceremony as well. The ceremony is Saturday, July 17th, 3:30 in the afternoon, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church - located at 35 East Church Street in Downtown Frederick. I have made arrangements with our photographer to plan for a group picture with us immediately following the ceremony. We will send a copy of the picture to you once we get them :) No gifts, please, your attendance will be gift enough!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Happy Spring Break!
Hello! Hope everyone had a great Spring Break! Wasn't the weather just GORGEOUS?!
We have a slightly wacky week ahead of us -
I will be assigning minimal homework this week in honor of the SAT 10 assessments. It's most important to me that the students are as well-rested as possible for these tests. I have every bit of confidence that the students will do VERY well! However, the greatest culprit for incorrect answers for these assessments is careless mistakes. The majority of these tests are given orally, so students MUST be alert and attentive to the directions being given. A good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast are essential to everyday success, they are especially important for Wednesday and Thursday! :)
We will continue spelling, hand writing, Mad Minutes, and Math packets next week.
Thank you for your support! Have a wonderful week!
:) Miss Phelps
We have a slightly wacky week ahead of us -
I will be assigning minimal homework this week in honor of the SAT 10 assessments. It's most important to me that the students are as well-rested as possible for these tests. I have every bit of confidence that the students will do VERY well! However, the greatest culprit for incorrect answers for these assessments is careless mistakes. The majority of these tests are given orally, so students MUST be alert and attentive to the directions being given. A good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast are essential to everyday success, they are especially important for Wednesday and Thursday! :)
We will continue spelling, hand writing, Mad Minutes, and Math packets next week.
Thank you for your support! Have a wonderful week!
:) Miss Phelps
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