Week of May 11-15, 2009

Thursday 5/14/09

• Math 3: We took a test in class today. No homework except to study fact cards!! No math tomorrow due to Field Day.
• Language Arts 3: We learned a new jingle about adverbs and added adverbs to the mix in classifying sentences. For the last few weeks of school I am trying the Shurley English method (Google it!) to help solidify what student have already been taught about grammar and parts of speech and so far it is working out well. Homework: Study for spelling test, which will take place tomorrow afternoon due to Field Day in the morning.
• Language Arts 4: We began reading the last story in our literature books, an excerpt from the novel "The Fighting Ground" by Avi. Homework: Study for spelling test, which will take place tomorrow afternoon due to Field Day in the morning.
• Religion 3/4:
• Social Studies 3/4: We ate the orange candy that took so long to prepare, and some really liked it while others didn't appreciate the taste. We finished up our Venn Diagrams that compared two Native American leaders and then got to hear another chapter from "Pocahontas."
• PE 3/4: We threw boomerangs in the field with Mr. Bretscher.

Wednesday 5/13/09

• Math 3: We learned how to use number lines to show three types of problems: some, some more; some, some went away; and equal groups. We also learned how to write number sentences to match a number line drawing. Homework: 126 A/B.
• Language Arts 3/4: We learned about a traditional pioneer/colonial children's game called Cat's Cradle, which is played with a piece of string and two people. We learned how to play the game; some caught on quickly but we all had to practice many times. Thankfully it was fun so we didn't mind having to practice it! Homework: Spelling sentences, in cursive.
• The afternoon was spent in the kitchen preparing and eating foods for our Pioneer Day! We made our own butter from whipping cream, baked cornbread and cooked hasty pudding, carved and filled apples which we baked with brown sugar, and even mulled some apple cider! Our orange peel candy took much longer to prepare and will be ready to eat tomorrow. Overall we had a great time together in the kitchen, getting a taste of colonial meals and trying new things. Great job everyone, and thanks for all your hard work!!

Tuesday 5/12/09

• Math 3: This morning we worked on dividing by 6, 8, and 9. Most students finished 125A in class. Homework: 125B and study fact cards!!
• Language Arts 3 and 4: We spent some time journaling and then used the rest of our time to practice for our field trip to Mill Pond, where we sang to three different crowds! Homework: Spelling words written 3x in neat cursive.
• Religion 3/4: Our field trip to Mill Pond took place during religion time and so we did not have religion class today. Thursday is the next time we will meet, please make sure to study memory work between now and then.
• Social Studies 3/4: We were planning to use time today on start peeling oranges for our orange peel candy that we're preparing for Pioneer Day tomorrow, but unfortunately that had to be taken away as a consequence for bad classroom behavior. Instead, we did some more reading on three major Native Americans from the 1800s in Indiana: Little Turtle, Tecumseh, and Tenskwatawa (the Prophet). Tomorrow is Pioneer Day!
• PE 3/4: Outside sports with Mr. Bretscher.

Monday 5/11/09

• Math 3: Third graders reviewed multiples of 8 and learned how to divide a two-digit number by a one digit number using long division! Now more than ever, students MUST be studying their fact cards each night. We are moving on to more complex math work and multiplication/division facts need to become basic knowledge - study study study! Homework: 124B and oral facts 124.
• Language Arts 3: We took spelling pretest #32 and then did more review work with identifying subject noun and verb in sentences. Homework: Spelling words in ABC order, using CURSIVE handwriting.
• Language Arts 4: Fourth graders re-read "Life in Philadelphia" and completed a worksheet on comparison and contrast. Homework: Get parent signature on comprehension quiz, then make corrections to the quiz and return on Tuesday. Also, spelling words in ABC order using neat CURSIVE handwriting.
• Social Studies 3/4: We finished up a Scholastic News about invasive species and completed a skill sheet involving ordering events and reading a chart. Not everyone finished. Homework: Complete the Scholastic News skill sheet.
• Music 3/4: We worked more on our recorder song "Life is a Journey" for the final assembly...some students have already learned the entire chorus and some are still working on memorizing the notes. Remember to practice for 5 minutes each night and bring your recorder back to school EVERY DAY so that we can practice together in class.
• Four students did not bring in their supplies for Pioneer Day, which is this Wednesday. A note was sent home last Wednesday that asked for supplies to be brought in to school no later than today...PLEASE send Pioneer Day supplies to school on Tuesday. Without all of the supplies we will not be able to have our special day.
• Also, remember to wear your purple shirt tomorrow! 3-6 grade will be going to Mill Pond to visit the Sutherlins' great-grandma and sing some songs to the "lunch crowd". It will be a special time of sharing with the residents and patients!