Teacher's Note November 28, 2016

Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break! I hope the break was exactly what you needed! It was for me. 

The kids will be working on their historical fiction book project this week.  They will be given a paper formatted like a newspaper that contains a place for six paragraphs and 6 pictures.  The news paper should be factual not the story portion of the book.  If more facts are needed, students may use the internet or an encyclopedia.  The pictures may be hand drawn or computer generated.  I do expect the students to put forth their best effort on the writing and the pictures.  The historical newspaper will be due on Friday and the kids will have the opportunity to present their project to the class.  I'm excited to see their newspapers. 

We finished up the multiplication and division unit last Tuesday.  The assessment results will be in the Dragon Folder for you to see.  We will continue to do a few multiplication and division problems so we do not forget what we have learned.  The kids will take the 10s timed test on Tuesday and the 11s on Thursday.  I think the kids will do well on these timed tests. 

Next we go into a very extensive study of fractions.  Our understanding of fractions will definitely increase!  We will be drawing numerous tape diagrams to provide fraction models.  I happen to really enjoy the fraction unit and hope to teach my All Stars to love fractions too. 

Oh science is going to be fun this week!  We will finish our flashlight and then learn about magnets and electromagnets.  The students will have an opportunity to build their own electromagnet. 

Last week we were not able to complete the final lesson of Family Life.  We have reschedule it for this Friday afternoon.  Thank you for your patience. 

I hope each one of us has a week full of learning opportunities. 

Take care,
Mrs. Figueroa 

Homework Week of November 28, 2016

Monday -vocabulary 68, math 14 & 15 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 61 & 63, math 25 & 26 and reading log
Wednesday - math 36 & 37, work on historical newspaper and reading log
Thursday - math 47 & 48, finish historical newspaper and reading log
Friday - Enjoy your weekend! 

Spelling List: The Kids Invention Book

1.  tiny
2.  hockey
3.  heavy
4.  every
5.  money
6.  turkey
7.  early
8.  hungry
9.  already
10.  valley
11.  nobody
12.  monkey
13.  company
14.  country
15.  ability
16.  steady
17.  everybody
18.  industry
19.  activity
20.  honey

Bonus words
document
prosthetic
device
disabilities
circular
scholarship
modify

Teacher's Note November 21, 2016

We have plenty of activities packed into this three day school week!  On Monday morning we have a docent from Tucson Museum of Art coming to teach a lesson and then lead us through an art activity.  I think the kids will love the lesson and project. 

We have come to the end of our multiplication and division unit.  Monday we study two digit times two digit multiplication and complete a study guide.  Tuesday we will  review and then take the module three assessment.  In an ideal world we would have one more day before the assessment, but Wednesday is totally booked.  Tuesday afternoon the 9s timed test will be given. 

Wednesday morning we take our writing benchmark in the computer lab.  It will be expository writing and the kids can have as much time as they need.  I certainly hope we have perfect attendance on Wednesday and the kids show determination. 

Wednesday afternoon the final lesson of family life will occur.  The boys and girls will be separated as we discuss changes through puberty.  Mrs. Arce and I will teach the boys while Mrs. Carlson and Mrs. Evans the girls.  Students that  do not have permission for this lesson will be given another activity in a different setting. 

Our language arts time will be spent reading our historical fiction book and recording facts from the book.  Please make sure your son or daughter brings their historical fiction book to class. We will not have spelling or vocabulary words this week. 

The kids built an electric switch on Friday and have the opportunity to build a flashlight on Monday.  I think they will enjoy the chance to build the flashlight!  I will probably let them keep the flashlight on the countertop a couple of days before we disassemble them. 

I want to express my thanks to you for having such wonderful kids and for being so supportive.  I know we are not perfect, but we keep learning and growing together.  Working with you definitely makes my job far more enjoyable!   Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework Week of November 21, 2016

Monday - finish math study guide, study 9s, write facts from historical fiction and reading log
Tuesday - write facts from historical fiction  and reading log
Wednesday - Have a splendid Thanksgiving weekend!  

Teacher's Note November 14, 2016

I hope each family had a relaxing and enjoyable three day weekend!  Now we are ready to get back to studying! 

Our math unit has us spending one more day on division before we start two digit times two digit multiplication.  We will cover the area model, partial product and algorithm multiplication strategies.  The first few strategies is meant to help us comprehend why the algorithm works.  The algorithm will be taught on Friday. 

We have a lot of goals for language arts this week.  The kids will read "The Emperor and the Kite" - I love this story!  Wednesday we will practice our expository writing.  The assignment will be started in class and then finished at home. I will begin reading aloud I Survived The Battle of Gettysburg.  As a class we will pick out the facts included in the historical fiction book.  I want to model how the students can find and record the facts in their historical fiction book. 

Tuesday we start the Family Life lessons.  The first six lessons are for the entire class to learn together.  Only the final lesson is gender separated and requires parent permission to attend.  Our topics this week will include what we learn from our families, changes in the family, decision making, communicating clearly and being assertive.  I hope the kids gain a better appreciation for their family this week. 

In science this week we will learn the basics of how to read electrical plans and then build a working switch!  The plan is to save the switch for when we have the opportunity to build a flashlight. 

I send my best wishes to each one of you!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa

Homework Week of November 14, 2016

Monday - math 95 & 96, vocabulary 29 & 30, and reading log
Tuesday - math 13 & 14, spelling 30 & 32, and reading log
Wednesday - math 24 & 25, finish expository essay, and reading log
Thursday - math 36 & 37, study spelling, and reading log
Friday - Have an excellent weekend! 

Spelling List: The Emperor and the Kite

1.  pour
2.  orbit
3.  fourth
4.  source
5.  sports
6.  forward
7.  force
8.  order
9.  wore
10.  yourself
11.  support
12.  sore
13.  orange
14.  anymore
15.  ignore
16.  portrait
17.  border
18.  course
19.  tornado
20.  your

Bonus words
insignificant
plotting
twined
steely
encircling
loyal
neglected
unyielding 

Teacher's Note November 7, 2016

I thought our field trip to De Grazia Gallery in the Sun went excellent.  We had tremendous parent support  providing transportation - thank you!  It was an absolutely beautiful day and the kids behaved very well.  I hope your son or daughter enjoyed the field trip and gained  knowledge. 



This will be a four day school week as we celebrate Veteran's Day on Friday, November 11.  I hope your family enjoys Veteran's Day!



Our division unit will continue as we learn to divide to the thousands with a one digit divisor.  Then we will be working on division story problems. We are on our sevens for the multiplication timed tests.  We will take the sevens on Wednesday.   I will be available before school on Wednesday and Thursday morning this week to help students  needing a little assistance.  I have a meeting before school on Tuesday and will not be available to work with students. 



We will start taking benchmark tests this week. The kids will take a reading, math and writing test on the computer.  We will take one test per week starting with reading, then math and finish with writing.  This will be our first time taking the writing assessment on line.  The kids will have an opportunity to practice their word processing computer skills in class.  They may want to practice at home too using powertyping.com or just select a page from a book and type it on the computer. 


Science should be very exciting this week as we build our own filament that lights!  Plus we study and then build series and parallel circuits!  I predict the kids will love these science investigations. 


Thank you for your continued support and taking the time to read this note. 


Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa 

Homework week of November 7, 2016

Monday - math 49 & 50, vocabulary 100 & 101 and reading log
Tuesday - math 59 & 60, spelling 84 & 85 and reading log
Wednesday - math 71 & 72, resources and conventions, and reading log
Thursday - Have a superb three day weekend!

Spelling list: Saguaro Cactus

1.  pollen
2.  even
3.  urban
4.  seven
5.  kitchen
6.  reason
7.  human
8.  season
9.  burden
10.  wagon
11.  oven
12.  dragon
13.  horizon
14.  orphan
15.  sudden
16.  eleven
17.  button
18.  canyon
19.  slogan
20.  golden

Bonus words
brush
spiny
teeming
habitat
topple
decomposes
perch
nectar