Week of April 27 - May 1, 2009

Friday 5/1/09

• Math 3: We took a math test today.
• Language Arts 3: We took spelling tests and then used class time to catch up on missing work. Students who were all caught up got to create an old fashioned silhouette using a flashlight and black paper! Some students have a LOT of blanks in my gradebook because they have not turned in work. Please check your child's planner for assignments and try to get caught up this weekend.
• Language Arts 4: We took spelling tests and then used class time to catch up on missing work. Students who were all caught up got to creat an old fashioned silhouette using a flashlight and black paper! Some students have a LOT of blanks in my grade book because they have not turned in work. Please check your child's planner for assignments and try to get caught up this weekend.
• Religion 3/4: We watched a video and discussed the connections that it had with Easter. Several students have memory work to catch up on; lately many of them have been not learning the daily assignments and that is simply not ok. Please make sure you're studying memory work EACH night!
• Art 3/4: We had our last art lesson with Miss Brooke and she brought modeling clay that we used to practice our sculpting skills! Fun!!
• We also used afternoon time to continue working on our crafts for the Mother's Tea!

Thursday 4/30/09

• Math 3: Today we reviewed centimeters and millimeters (10 mm = 1 cm) and learned how to write measurements using common fractions (tenths) and decimals. For example, a line segment that is 38 mm long is also 3 cm 8 mm long, and we will write it as 3 and 8/10 cm or 3.8 cm. Homework: 119B and oral facts 119. Keep studying flashcards; some students are starting to see the results of their hard work!
• Language Arts 3: We read a story is the form of a longer poem today called "Home Place". Homework: Complete "Place and Location Words" skill sheet, using the text book for help on the front side. Also, study for spelling test.
• Language Arts 4: We read a short biography on a slave girl turned poet named Phillis Wheatley, and we also read a few of her poems together in class. Homework: Study for spelling test.
• Religion 3/4: Some students need to finish today's lesson, found on pages 224-225.
• Social Studies 3/4: We began a brief study on a few key Native Americans during our pioneer time period: Little Turtle, Tecumseh, and Tenskwatawa (The Prophet).
• PE 3/4: Volleyball with Mr. Bretscher.

Wednesday 4/29/09

• Math 3: We discussed some algebra rules and learned how to simplify a number sentence with parentheses as well as how to multiply three or more factors. We also identified the associative property of multiplication, which simply states that you can multiply a set of factors in any order and the answer will always be the same. In other words, 2x3x5 will have the same answer as 3x5x2. Homework: 118B and study flashcards!
• Language Arts 3: Third graders read a piece about the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. and then worked on cursive handwriting. Next week I am expected third graders to begin completing spelling assignments in cursive! Homework: Spelling sentences.
• Language Arts 4: Fourth graders read "Judith: The Life of a Slave" and continued working on finding supporting details within the text to elaborate on a main idea. Homework: Spelling sentences. Also, finish the "Judith" reading guide for tomorrow.
• Afternoon: We used most of the afternoon on a lengthy and hands-on social studies lesson! We learned how candles were made in the 1800's and then dipped our own candles, which we are keeping in the classroom while we continue to study pioneer Indiana. We made a huge mess but had lots of fun!

Tuesday 4/28/09

• Math 3: Today we took a step toward algebra by learning about function rules. The concept is not new; we've been finding patterns in numbers for quite a while now. Homework: 117B and oral facts 117. Also, remember to study your flashcards each night!
• Language Arts 3: We read three fun poems about memories and oral history and then discussed them together. We also reviewed posessive nouns and pronouns; we're pretty rusty on that so we'll come back to it again soon! Homework: Spelling words written 3x.
• Language Arts 4: We read yesterday's story again and completed a reading guide because Miss Bertschi was NOT happy with the comprehension quizzes students took yesterday. After reviewing the story as well as the main ideas and supporting examples, fourth graders made corrections to their quizzes. Homework: Spelling words written 3x.
• Religion 3/4: Memory work on 219 and any makeup work that has not been completed.
• Social Studies 3/4: We continued our lesson on good and services by finishing up the analysis of the 1800's newspaper and then examining the classified section of the Hoosier Topics to see what are the similarities and differences between what's for sale then and now.
• PE 3/4: Volleyball with Mr. Bretscher.
• Don't forget to practice your recorder for FIVE minutes a night, AFTER all other homework has been completed.

Monday 4/27/09

• Math 3: Today we learned how to multiply a single digit number by a two- or three-digit number using the multiplication algorithm. The students call this method multiplying "up and down." We worked on 116A in class. Homework: 116B and study flashcards. Please take a moment to check out the new math folder your child has brought home - we are trying a new method to cut down on the number of missing assignments by keeping all the papers for the week in one place. Please read the note inside your child's folder and let me know what you think.
• Language Arts 3: We read a fun story called "The Keeping Quilt" about a tangible way one family kept their family traditions and customs alive through a special quilt. We also worked on identifying supporting details (examples) to go along with a main idea. Homework: Spelling words in ABC order. This week is a review week for spelling, which means any spelling words your child has are words that were previously missed on a pre-test or test. Because of this, I will NOT be accepting homework passes for spelling homework this week.
• Language Arts 4: We looked at a very informative piece about two men, Joliet and Marquette, who discovered the Mississippi River area. We also worked on identifying main ideas and supporting details in writing. Homework: Speling words in ABC order. This week is a review week for spelling, which means any spelling words your child has are words that were previously missed on a pre-test or test. Because of this, I will NOT be accepting homework passes for spelling homework this week.
• Religion 3/4: Memory work on page 219, as well as any make-up work that has not been finished.
• Music 3/4: We are taking another chance on the recorders and learning a song for the final assembly. Students are asked to practice the new line of music for FIVE minutes a night, and they are expected to bring the recorders back to school EVERY day so that we can practice together. Recorder practice should only come after all other homework is completed.
• We also used some of the afternoon time to begin working on some special things for the upcoming Mother's Tea...which means I can't tell you what we did! :) We look forward to sharing this special time with the mothers and mother figures in our lives.