Cold, but finally sunny!

Math: checked ADD #7; M & Ms data analysis and probability
Math homework: ADD #8

Social Studies: worked on Power Point

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; Six-Minute Solution; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Ch. 2; DLR; Handwriting
Language arts homework: Reader Response Log for January due tomorrow; DLR assessment tomorrow

Music: practice "Jingle Bells" on the recorder

Happy Wednesday

Math: graphs with conversation hearts
Math homework: get grade sheet signed

Science: Ch. 10, Lesson 1--> soil
Science homework: get grade sheet signed; get test signed; complete test corrections for grade improvement according to class expectations

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; Six-Minute Solution; TOFGN Ch. 2 questions; DLR; handwriting
Language arts homework: get grade sheets for reading and communication signed

Music: Practice "Jingle Bells" on recorder (music sent home)

Please get completed planner signed.

Tuesday news

Math: Math Minute 42; data analysis/graphing activity

Social Studies: discussed Power Point expectations

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; Six-Minute Solution; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Ch. 2; DLR; Handwriting

Remember recorders tomorrow!

Yet another opportunity to help Haiti...

I received this from a fellow colleague in the district:

Update from Haiti

1/22/10 - 16 children from the Foundation Enfant de'l Jesus arrived safely in Ft. Lauderdale last night to their 14 waiting adoptive families. This was truly a miracle coordinate by an amazing team. We are so thankful that these children are home safe, but the director of Foundation Enfant de'l Jesus has already been asked to take in up to 92 new orphans. They need our continued support to help get needed supplies and care for these children.

The most effective way to help get continued shipments of supplies to the orphanages is to make a monetary donation to Adoption-Link. 100% of these donations will be going to getting these supplies to the children as soon as possible and the ongoing needs they will have. The PayPal button above allows you to make an immediate contribution to Adoption-Links Haiti Relief fund. You can also send checks to Adoption-Link, 1113 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 and note Haiti in memo.

Donations of supplies such as food, water, formula, powdered milk, diapers, blankets, and medical supplies can also be sent directly to the Village of Vision for Haiti Foundation warehouse in Miami. Once we have clearance to fly those supplies to Haiti, we will do so immediately. The address is 107775 SW 190 St., #41, Miami, FL 33157.

If you are interested in adopting a child from Haiti please contact us at info@adoption-link.org and we will contact you once the immediate needs of the orphanage and its staff are met.

Happy Weekend

Hello everyone!

On Friday we had a class discussion about the earthquake in Haiti. I told the students of s couple ways to help (and I was impressed and excited that a few of them already knew!). Mrs. Nicoson, a sixth grade teacher at BJHS and an auctioneer extraordinaire, is accepting donations for an auction that 6J2 will be sponsoring. If any of the students want to donate "auctionable" items, I will be happy to deliver them to her. We also talked about the ease of texting a donation to the Red Cross (text the word Haiti to 90999 for a $10 donation). We discussed that, with every major catastrophe, we must be cautious about who is asking for money, and Time magazine listed a few reputable organizations, such as the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. The students were encouraged to share this information, but strongly discouraged from texting anywhere without permission. I have added a widget on the left-hand side of our class page. This link is sponsored by Blogger, where our site is "housed," and it will allow a quick click to donate to the Red Cross's international relief.

Math: went over and corrected Math Minute assessment; got ADD assessment back; Problems of the Day
Math homework: Get assessments signed

Science: played Hangman in preparation for test on Monday
Science homework: study practice test for test on Monday on hurricanes and tornadoes

Social studies homework: keep studying government handouts; Power Points begin next week

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; Six-Minute Solution and DLR assessments; discussed Haiti; handwriting

Get mark chart slip signed

Return field trip permission slip

I'm back!

...and I will not intentionally be away for a while. I was able to go to two really great conferences that have filled me with good ideas!

BOOK ORDERS are due tomorrow. Please order online (see link on your left) or send your hard copy order in by tomorrow if you are interested.

Math: Math Minute Assessment; Problems of the Day
Math homework: for some students--> get detention essay signed and get Math Minute Study Guide signed

Social studies: finished Constitution video; discussed primary election ballots

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; DLR; Six-Minute Solution; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Language arts homework: DLR assessment and Six-Minute Solution assessment tomorrow; no studying should be needed

A permission slip for our field trip to Springfield went home today. If it can come back tomorrow, great! Monday is the day it is due. Not every student got one because some have lost the privilege by losing all of their desk letters.

Gone Thursday

I will be at a conference on Thursday, so the following information applies to today and tomorrow:

Wednesday
Math: checked ADD #5; Math Minute 38
Math homework: get ADD assessment signed; complete ADD #6

Social studies: IL Government notes
Social studies homework: study handouts of US/IL government notes

Language arts: DEAR; Reader Response log; DLR; Six-Minute Solution; Handwriting; Narrative writing

REPORT CARDS GO HOME TONIGHT. Return envelope and acknowledgement card signed for 2nd nine weeks tomorrow. No grade sheets tonight.
GET PLANNER SIGNED.
___________________________
Thursday
Math: Math Minute 39; checked ADD slip #6; Problems of the Day
Math homework: ADD assessment for slips 4-6 on Tuesday

Science: TRL Lessons 1-2; KWL finished for hurricanes and tornadoes

Social studies homework: study government handouts

Language arts: DEAR/Reader Response; DLR (Thursday and Friday); handwriting (Thursday and Friday)

Mark chart slips will come home on Tuesday. No school Friday or Monday!

Happy Monday!

Math: Math Minute 36, ADD assessment, ADD #4 mental math, Problems of the Day 9-10
Math homework: ADD slip #4

Science: Ch. 7, Lesson 1: Hurricanes

Language arts: Reader Response Log; Narrative questions, p. 276 in English book; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Predictions (needed to be handed in before students left for the day); Handwriting; DLR; Six-Minute Solution
Language arts homework: if any of the above is not finished, it is homework

Happy Friday!

Today, we did quite a bit of work within our usual crazy Friday schedule.

Math: Discussed ADD slip #3. Came up with practice quizzes for each other to study.
Math homework: Quiz Monday on first three ADD slips.

Science: Vocabulary Preview; Pre-Reading for Lesson 1, Ch. 7; "L" part of KWL chart

Language Arts: wrapped up DLR for the week; DEAR; completed first question in Reading Response Log

No mark chart slip sent home
Congratulations to so many students (almost everyone!) who brought their grades back signed. I gave them back to the students so that, when report cards come home, you can take a look at how the two compare.

Happy Snow Day!

This was unexpected, but I have to say, I love snow. It brightens up the dreariness of winter.

It was nice to see all the students' bright and shining faces yesterday, and maybe even tomorrow!

We did a lot of "New Year" things yesterday. We organized the calendar in our planners, and we organized our expandable files. We made new nametags for our new seats. Lots of "newness" going on.

We started new units in science (hurricanes and tornadoes) and in language arts. Rather than DEAR sheets for this semester, students will be working in a Reading Response Log. We went through the explanation of that today. We also started a Daily Language Review (DLR) booklet to brush up on some basic skills. We began to discuss narratives, as we embark on writing our own narratives over the next couple weeks.

Students received two things that parents should see: grade sheets that reflect final second quarter letter grades and a family letter that explains the new unit in science and how families can support the content at home. The final page in the packet of grade sheets is a list of Reading Counts books and points. Parents can tear that off and keep it if they wish. All other sheets need to be signed at the designated spots. If you see any glaring errors, please let me know ASAP.

Some dates coming up:
Next week:
~Report cards will be coming home early next week (I am unsure on the exact date). There will be a card inside that asks for a parent signature, and the envelope should be returned with that card. The report card itself is yours to keep.
~Classes are not in session on January 15. Teachers have an institute day. We all celebrate MLK's birthday on Monday, January 18.

No mark chart slips will be coming home this week (for obvious reasons). The planner does not need to be signed this week, either.

The ISAT countdown begins! 33 school days until state testing! Woo hoo! We discussed having a little pep rally the Friday before... our theme: Game On!

Happy New Year!

A Happy 2010 to all my students and their parents! Parents, I know first-hand how ready you must be for your kids to go back to school. My own children are cold-weather stir crazy! Students, I hope you are having a great break, and I can't wait until Wednesday to hear of all your adventures!