Friday, October 28, 2016

Classroom News for the Week of October 31st

News and Upcoming Events: 

  • There will be orchestra on 10/31. The schedule will be modified to accommodate the parade. Remember to bring your instruments.
  • 10/31 Halloween Parade 1:15p.m. Students can bring costumes in a bag. No fake weapons. Please do not send any extra treats or sweets on this day. If you would like to assist students in getting ready, come to the class at 12:50p.m. There will be no HW Monday evening. Have fun!
  • 11/2 Science Quiz
  • Week of 11/7 Parent Conferences. Please use this link to sign-up for a conference Conference Sign-Up. Please note school ends at 12:54 p.m. M, W, TH this week. Tuesday is regular dismissal at 1:34 and Friday we are off for the Veterans' Day holiday.
  • Tardies: Our class has been accumulating many tardies during the last couple of weeks. Please help your child to be at school and in line by the 8:06 bell. Thank you! 
Donate to Our Class: 
We need-
  • Cleaning cloths ("wipees") to clean and disinfect our table tops. 
  • Swiffer duster refills. Thank you!
 Also-
 We are in need of printer ink. If you would like to help out, use this link to shop for items for our classroom on Amazon. You can have items sent directly to the school c/o Ms. Convey. Please be sure to include your name, so I can thank you!  Ms. Convey's Class Supplies

What's Going On This Week In Class:

Math: 
This week we use the area model to and place value disks to model multiplication; Roman numerals

Accelerated Math (Individualized practice)

Reading:

Chaps. 18-21 of Scott O'Dells Newbery-Award winning book, Island of the Blue Dolphins. This historical fiction book ties in with our current social studies unit on the geography of California. We will be using Depth and Complexity icons to help us dig deeper into the text.

Reading informational text in our health books

Genre Blackout: 1 week left! Students have been challenged to read books from 9 different genres in the first reporting period. Ask your child about his/her progress. 

Spelling & Vocabulary:

This week's words are -

  • embellish
  • engulf
  • immigrate
  • influence
  • inhibit
  • multipurpose
  • multimedia
  • multimedia
  • polygon
  • polyhedron


Writing:

Creative Writing - spooky stories!

Arts:
Using the Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) to build meaning from visual text.

Project-Based Learning:
Student teams will be working on a weeks-long project in class. Our driving question is: What makes our state special? Students have received a letter from the California Director of Tourism asking them to research a particular area of California and create a 2 to 3 minute presentation designed to encourage visitors to visit that region. Ask your child about the project and check the blog frequently for presentation dates. This interdisciplinary project addresses standards for research and inquiry, speaking, language arts, visual literacy, social studies, and science.

Lesson Focus: Brainstorming; Sharing responsibility

Second Step (Social and Emotional Health):
Lesson Big Idea: Being assertive means asking for what you need in a respectful, but firm way. There will be a short home assignment on Thursday evening for you to complete with your child.

Social Studies/Science:

Social Studies: European Explorers in California
Earth Science: Unit Quiz 11/2


Reminders:

Tardies:
 Please make sure your child is at school and in line by the 8:06 bell. We try to start the school day at 8:11 promptly. Thank you for your help!

Homework:
Please check your child's Homework Log nightly and sign or initial after the work has been completed. Remind your child that completed homework and the HW log are due in class daily.