Monday March 30, 2015

Homework blog today!

Homework
Math- Reflex or Khan for 20 min. and paper signed by parents
Math Plus- Khan 20 min. and signed
RELA- Ch. 9 due tomorrow (Frankweiler)
Grammar packet due April 1
Other- Planner signed

Friday March 27, 2015

Today began with our Latin/Greek root quiz on "vert/vers."  I really thought there would be better results this week, but 58% proficient or advanced really shocked me...  We reviewed and revisited some of these questions and cleared up misconceptions.  Next week we will have a week off front roots, and will start "tract" coming up April 6th.

In social studies we witnessed an attack on Tim Meeker from the fiesty Betsy Read.  Ask your child what Tim's letter contained and what that meant for Tim during the American Revolution.

In math, we reviewed multiplying decimals after finishing our Chick-Fil-A projects.

Later, we continued drafting body paragraphs in writing.

Finally we wrapped up the day with multiple text questions and began organizing our next Text Dependent Analysis on the bald eagle readings.

Homework

Math- Multiplying decimals word problems- show work

Math Plus- nada

RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 9 due Tuesday

Spelling- Grammar packet due April 1st

Other- planner signed; Journeys benchmarks and Latin/Greek quizzes signed

Thursday March 26, 2015

Today began with a MadFish morning meeting about her birthday party.

After, we wrapped up the final pages of Ch. 5 in My Brother Sam is Dead.  Tim is beginning to show some influence from Sam, and defying his father to help Mr. Heron.

In math, we lined up the dot and gave it all we got by adding and subtracting decimals.  We also used Chick-Fil-A's menu to help us order the most accurate $30.00 breakfast humanly possible.

In the afternoon, brains to paper commenced with our newest opinion writing pieces.  Intros and first body paragraphs were our largest focus.

In reading, we continued to read and analyze 3 articles about bald eagles to prepare ourselves for PSSA.  Tomorrow we will begin citing evidence, quoting, and bolstering our answers with evidence in a TDA (text dependent analysis).

BEST OF LUCK TO READING OLYMPICS!!! PICTURES TO COME TOMORROW!!

Homework

Math- none

Math Plus- test review due tomorrow

RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 9 due Tuesday

Spelling- Grammar packet due April 1st

Vocab- "vers/vert" sentences due tomorrow

Other- planner signed; win blue ribbons at Reading Olympics

Tuesday March 24, 2015

Ask your child what we did today!  I have a dentist appointment immediately following school so no update today.

Homework
Math- Question 24, 25, and 26 in PSSA sampler
Math Plus- 377, 378 and 5.8
RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 7; RO 2 books by Thursday (finish strong!)
Grammar packet due April 1st or spelling bee people show me evidence of studying
Vocab- "vert/vers" sentences due Friday
Planner- planner and assessments signed

Monday March 23, 2015

This morning began with ticket drawing since we missed that during early dismissal Friday.

In Social Studies we worked through about half of My Brother Sam is Dead Ch. 4.  Things got heated, emotional, and Tim's family is in trouble.  How do you think the chapter will conclude?

In math we reviewed expressions and evaluating them, then took a deeper look at patterns and input-output tables.

After lunch, the new Latin root of the week: vers/vert was introduced.  Quizlet

Next, writing's focus was on choosing a topic of high interest to persuade an audience.  Topics ranged from TV rotting minds, Snowmework, PSSAs, Heros, and Uninventing.  Ask you child what they picked and help them to brainstorm some reasons.

Finally, the day ended with a clicker activity based on a poem about the first men in space.  We will further analyze and dig deeper into this short poem tomorrow.

Homework
Math- Finish Line p. 112, 113
Math Plus- 5.7
RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 6; RO- 2 more books by Thursday!! Finish strong
Other- assessments (especially reading benchmark- pink) and planner signed

Friday March 20, 2015

This morning, Milford's jazz band kicked off our day.

In math we discussed expressions and evaluating them.

In the afternoon, we reviewed our benchmarks and quizzes... THEN WE WENT HOME!

HOMEWORK
Math- Evaluating Expressions
Math Plus- 360 to 362 Carnegie
RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 6 due TUESDAY; RO 2 more books by Thursday
Other- planner signed; assessments signed; produce pentathalon

Thursday March 19, 2015

NOVA kicked off our day with a program on cyber bullying.

In math we reviewed comparing decimals and rounding decimals.

In the afternoon students shared their persuasive collaboration pieces and received praises and polishes for their upcoming independent writing piece.

To finish the day, Dr. Hertz lead us through a lesson on comparing two different authors writing on the same topic.  Excellent annotations, comprehension and evidence throughout this!

Homework

Math- p. 29 and 30

Math Plus- Revisions where needed

RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 5; RO 150 pages by tomorrow

Vocab- "cede" matching

Other- planner signed

Wednesday March 18, 2015

Motivational morning today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrlEaffZ4w

(this one is really good)

(this one is decent)

"Be the turtle"

Today, we watched these videos and created goals.  We needed a kick-start and I believe this activity gave us one.  Students took this very seriously and created excellent goals.  We will revisit these goals each morning and evening.  These goals also connected to our character traits.  Today has got to be a top 3 day of the year so far after this and two pretty unfocused days beforehand.  Ask your child about their goal and their day.

Math was all about expanded notations today!  

This afternoon, Mrs. Nolte, a district librarian at Pfaff, came and did a special presentation about her hero.  She read us a book about Marian Anderson and how she overcame countless obstacles to become successful.  We were lucky enough to hear a variety of her songs throughout the story.

In the end of the day, we wrapped up our chocolate milk opinion pieces and created some PowToons.

Homework

Math- expanded notation

Math Plus- 5.5

RELA- Ch. 4 Frankweiler questions; RO 150 pages due Friday

Vocab- "cede" sentences Friday

Other- planner signed

Tuesday March 17, 2015

Spring fever has hit and we are doing our best to stay positive, focused and cued in on our goals.  Homework is becoming an issue.  It is extremely important to make sure you are attending each day with your "job at home" complete; you don't want to get fired!

In My Brother Sam is Dead, we wrapped up chapter 3 and found out that Sam was on his way back home to Redding.  I wonder what will be in store for Tim and the family next?!

In math, we jumped all the way back to unit one and looked at place value, exponents, and expanded notation/form.

In the afternoon, revisions continued to take precedent.  Tomorrow will be our final day of revisions, and we will soon begin our independent writing project.  I really enjoyed seeing students work together to reach a common goal on these writing pieces.  There are great examples of being teachers, leaders and learners each day through this unit.

We wrapped up our day with benchmark completion and a quick look at a story about a man who would never give up or take "no" for an answer.  Perseverance is powerful!

Homework

Math- Exponent/Expanded practice

Math Plus- 5.4

RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 4 questions only (NO vocabulary); Reading Olympics 150 pages by Friday

Vocab- "cede" sentences due Friday

Other- planner signed

Monday March 16, 2015

Quick post on homework today; I have a meeting and grad class this evening so I will get to a full write up tomorrow!!

Latin Root of the week: QUIZLET

Math-  Decomposing irregular figures to find volume: LearnZillion video


Homework
Math- revise Lesson 33 for collection
Math Plus- Lesson 5.3
RELA- Frankweiler Ch. 2 vocabulary and questions; Reading Olympics- 200 pages to me by tomorrow!
Vocab- "cede" matching
Other- planner signed; various items signed; produce pentathalon tracking sheet; wear green tomorrow!

Thursday March 13, 2015

We wrapped up the first chapter of My Brother Sam is Dead today.  Here is a quick summary if you want a refresher http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/brothersam/section1.rhtml

Volume... continued.  Tomorrow is our last day of volume!

We looked at exemplar writing pieces based on chocolate milk opinions today.

Wrapped up with compare and contrast groups.

PS- I will not be here tomorrow!  I will be skiing (a beautiful spring ski) so behavior needs to be top notch!  Great rewards, great consequences!!

Homework
Math- Lesson 32
Math Plus- Lesson 1
RELA- Chapter 1 of Basil E. Frankenweiler due Monday (vocab and questions); Reading Olympics must have 200 pages read to me by Tuesday (they do not have to read Frankenweiler!)
Spelling- due tomorrow!
Vocab- "rupt" sentences due tomorrow
Other- planner signed

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Gavin gave us our morning meeting today about his trip to Delaware.  Lesson learned: do not kick water bottles or risk getting attacked by bees.

In Social Studies we dove deeper into My Brother Sam is Dead.  Tomorrow we should finish chapter 1.  We are getting an excellent insight into what it was like to live during the Revolutionary War.

In math, we again... continued math.  Today we looked at the associative property and how it can be used to find volume.

Google Doc milk drafting continued.  Tomorrow we will look at an exemplar and use it to "beef up" our own drafts.

Finally, we wrapped up the day with guided reading groups working on compare and contrast.

Homework
Math- CCP 31
Math Plus- None
RELA- Read 30 min; green/blue- trifold
Spelling- due Friday
Vocab- "rupt" sentences Friday
Other- Planner signed; coins of compassion Friday

Tuesday March 10, 2015

This morning began with a vacation return morning meeting lead by Freddie and Nick.  Phillies spring training sure sounded like fun.  Boy am I jealous.

In Social Studies we transitioned deeper into the American Revolution and began reading My Brother Sam is Dead.  Tomorrow we will try to finish chapter 1.

In math we continued to find the volume of rectangular prisms.

Google drafting chocolate milk opinions pieces also continued and compare and contrast wrapped up our day.

Homework

Math- CCP 30

Math Plus- 5.2

RELA- Read 30 min; Homework Hubbub- annotate, number proof

Spelling- due Friday

Vocab- "rupt" sentences due Friday

Other- sign planner

DONATE FOOD, CANNED GOODS, AND COINS TOMORROW FOR NEON DAY!!!!!!

Monday February 9, 2015

Today began with a "reset" meeting in which we discussed our hectic weeks previous to this one.  We discussed "stoking our flames" and what motivated us to do our best.  After this "reset" discussion, we had a National Honor Society student come in for Read Across America week and read Oh The Places You'll Go to us.  This was the perfect book to fit our morning discussion.

In math, we continued to look at and apply the rules of volume.

In the afternoon, Google Docs were being used to collaboratively draft.

Finally, we finished the day with a compare and contrast lesson on the characters Joseph and Sybil from our Revolutionary War reading.

As I discussed with students, right now is the most important time to be motivated.  We have a lot of things going on, a very big event in one month, and middle school peaking over the horizon.  Now is not the time to pack up and say, "I'm done for the year."  Now is the time to work harder than ever before, put the maximum amount of effort into homework, and be the best student possible.  I know I will be expecting nothing less.  We can do this, I believe in everyone single person in this classroom.

Homework
Math- CCP 29
Math Plus- 5.1 homework
RELA- Read 30 min; Sybil and Jospeh compare/contrast organizer after finishing the story
Spelling- due Friday
Vocab- "rupt" matching tomorrow
Other- planner signed; coins of compassion/canned goods for Wednesday's NEON DAY

Wednesday March 4, 2015

Today began with some phys ed, math (mini-math during recess) and lunch.  In the afternoon, most groups began collaboratively Google Doc-ing their argumentative chocolate milk essays.  After, we completed vocabulary for lesson 15 of Journeys.

**IF we have off or a delay tomorrow we have SNOWMWORK- for my math class, they will complete CCP lesson 28 p. 254 to 257.  Also, all students in our class (reading) will complete the reading Different Drummer with detailed annotations, number proofing, and following RACER for short response questions.**

Homework
Math- CCP 28
Math Plus- CCP 30 and 33
RELA- Lesson 15 vocabulary
Spelling- due March 13th
Vocab- "junct" sentences due Friday
Other- planner signed

Tuesday March 3, 2015

Jason kicked our morning meeting off today.

After, we continued our colony projects... Sheesh these things are taking forever due to 2 hour delays and days off.  Thursday is our deadline... If we have school....

In math, we looked at the volume of prisms.  Specifically we noticed that rectangular prism volumes can be found by using length * width * height.  Any prism's volume can be found using area of the base * height = volume.

volume of any prism = base area * height

volume of rectangular prism = length * width * height

Heading into the afternoon, we received our new spelling words which are due March 13th.

In writing, students wrapped up their quotations, elaborations and counter arguments in their chocolate milk opinion organizers.  Some groups began drafting using opinion/argumentative language in Google Docs on a shared documents.  This will be the student's first time using Google Docs to write and collaborate so it should be a fun, exciting and beneficial process.  I adore giving feedback to student work in Google Docs since it is so direct, specific and time efficient.

Finally, in reading we wrapped up our target strategy of Sequence of Events.

Homework

Math- SL 9.8 and 9.9

Math Plus- CCP 31 and 32

RELA- Read 30 min.; green/blue- finish TDA; purple/pink- finish trifolds

Spelling- due March 13th

Vocab- junct sentences due Friday

Other- planner and assessments signed

Tuesday March 2, 2015

Today began with music and then recess was comprised of LTA review and monthly ticket drawing from last week.

In the afternoon we hit up our spelling tests and then our new Latin/Greek root- junct, join, jug meaning to join, meet or link.

In writing we wrote hooks, thesis and conclusions on our organizers.

Small groups worked on TDAs and sequencing events.

Homework

Math- LTA signed

Math Plus- CCP 29

RELA- Read 30 min; Spreading reading annotated, # proofed, etc.

Vocab- matching

Other- planner signed