We have arrived at the final week of this semester. Friday is a teacher grading and the kids will begin their Winter Break. I know we are all looking forward to Christmas and the holidays with our family, but we still have to work this week. I will try to incorporate at little fun into the next four school days.
Monday we will enjoy another art lesson and activity with an expert from the Tucson Museum of Art. The kids will have an opportunity to paint a stylized animal. I predict my All Stars will love this art project!
Our class is in the middle of Shiloh and will finish the book this week. We have been reading two chapters a day and completing an outline with the important characters, settings and events. The kids seem very engaged in the book.
Monday night the kids who have not finished their persuasive essay Elf for Hire or applying for a job of their choice will finish the final copy. About a third of the class has already handed in their final copy. I have been impressed with this project.
The math lesson on Monday focuses on finding common units or denominators to compare fractions. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday we will add and subtract fractions. I think the class will find adding and subtracting fractions easy to understand with tape diagrams and number lines.
Thursday we have our multiplication celebration at 1:00 in the afternoon. As you know, the students' will receive the ice cream sundae ingredients according to how many multiplication tests they have mastered. It is not too late to study the multiplication facts. Monday at lunch, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before school I will be available to give multiplication tests. Our wonderful CEOs are arranging donations for the ice cream sundaes. Please do not send in food that is not related to the ice cream celebration. We do not want to get sick or more hyper.
I send my best wishes to each of my students and their families. May you enjoy this special time of year and have some time to relax.
Love,
Mrs. Figueroa
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Homework week of December 19, 2016
Monday - math 78 - 80, finish elf for hire or persuasive writing and reading log
Tuesday - math 84 & 85 and reading log
Wednesday - math 88 & 89 and reading log
Thursday - Have a wonderful Winter Break!
Tuesday - math 84 & 85 and reading log
Wednesday - math 88 & 89 and reading log
Thursday - Have a wonderful Winter Break!
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Teacher's Note December 12, 2016
Our class is going to read Shiloh, a Newbery Award winning book, the next couple of weeks. I always enjoy rereading it. Since we are reading the novel, we will not have spelling or vocabulary words for homework. Determining main idea, summarizing and understanding cause and effect will be the skills that we will focus on.
Tuesday I will introduce the persuasive writing project Elf For Hire. The kids will write their opinion with reasons and evidence why they should be hired as an elf. If your son or daughter thinks the Elf for Hire is too silly they can write as if they were applying for a job. They will be given a choice to write an essay or a letter stating why they should be hired to their potential employer. The assignment will not be due to until next Tuesday.
Last Tuesday I was not a happy teacher when 11 of my All Stars forgot their reading log. I do not want that to happen again. I will expect the students to continue to hand in their homework on time.
As we continue in our fraction unit we will learn how to simplify fractions, build a fraction number line, and compare fractions. These are important concepts for the students to understand. Please continue to monitor their comprehension of the math concepts.
On Thursday from 9:30 until 10:00 Soleng Tom will have a practice soft lock down. The exterior doors will be locked and nobody will be allowed to enter or leave the building. Please plan accordingly so you do not get locked in or out at that time.
The class has earned enough points and voted to watch a movie in their pajamas. My plan is to watch The BFG on Friday afternoon. My class may wear pajamas to school on Friday if they wish.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Tuesday I will introduce the persuasive writing project Elf For Hire. The kids will write their opinion with reasons and evidence why they should be hired as an elf. If your son or daughter thinks the Elf for Hire is too silly they can write as if they were applying for a job. They will be given a choice to write an essay or a letter stating why they should be hired to their potential employer. The assignment will not be due to until next Tuesday.
Last Tuesday I was not a happy teacher when 11 of my All Stars forgot their reading log. I do not want that to happen again. I will expect the students to continue to hand in their homework on time.
As we continue in our fraction unit we will learn how to simplify fractions, build a fraction number line, and compare fractions. These are important concepts for the students to understand. Please continue to monitor their comprehension of the math concepts.
On Thursday from 9:30 until 10:00 Soleng Tom will have a practice soft lock down. The exterior doors will be locked and nobody will be allowed to enter or leave the building. Please plan accordingly so you do not get locked in or out at that time.
The class has earned enough points and voted to watch a movie in their pajamas. My plan is to watch The BFG on Friday afternoon. My class may wear pajamas to school on Friday if they wish.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Homework week of December 12, 2016
Monday - math 46 & 47, main idea 25 & 26 and reading log
Tuesday - math 57 & 58, summarizing 31 & 32 and reading log
Wednesday - math 12 & 13, cause and effect, and reading log
Thursday - math 25 & 26, work on persuasive writing and reading log
Friday - Have a very enjoyable weekend!
Tuesday - math 57 & 58, summarizing 31 & 32 and reading log
Wednesday - math 12 & 13, cause and effect, and reading log
Thursday - math 25 & 26, work on persuasive writing and reading log
Friday - Have a very enjoyable weekend!
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Teacher's Note December 5, 2016
The kids seemed pleased with their historical newspaper book project that was due on Friday! It is cute to watch them put their name on the list to present to the class and listen to them describe their topic. We only had time to listen to eight presentations and look forward to hearing the rest of the presentations on Monday afternoon or Tuesday. The newspapers will be displayed in the hall for others to enjoy. You are welcome to stop by and take a look.
This week our reading selection is all about carnivorous plants! That seems to grab the kids' attention. We will be studying informational text structures - how the text is organized and text features. The kids will be given a chance to draw a diagram about their favorite carnivorous plant.
Equivalent fractions is our math focus for the week. We will use the area model to provide evidence that fractions are equal. Then we will use multiplication and division to find equivalent fractions. Hopefully we have a solid understanding of equivalent fractions.
On Thursday we will take the twelve's timed test. We need to spend time studying the multiplication facts both at school and at home. Students that want to take a timed make up test may come in Wednesday at lunch to retake a test.
We did not build an electromagnet last week, but we will this week. I even bought new batteries so our magnets will have more power! I hope the kids tell you all about their electromagnets on Thursday afternoon.
I sincerely hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
This week our reading selection is all about carnivorous plants! That seems to grab the kids' attention. We will be studying informational text structures - how the text is organized and text features. The kids will be given a chance to draw a diagram about their favorite carnivorous plant.
Equivalent fractions is our math focus for the week. We will use the area model to provide evidence that fractions are equal. Then we will use multiplication and division to find equivalent fractions. Hopefully we have a solid understanding of equivalent fractions.
On Thursday we will take the twelve's timed test. We need to spend time studying the multiplication facts both at school and at home. Students that want to take a timed make up test may come in Wednesday at lunch to retake a test.
We did not build an electromagnet last week, but we will this week. I even bought new batteries so our magnets will have more power! I hope the kids tell you all about their electromagnets on Thursday afternoon.
I sincerely hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Spelling Words: Fly Traps
1. major
2. cedar
3. spiders
4. locate
5. ruler
6. motive
7. raven
8. pilot
9. silent
10. super
11. paper
12. native
13. rivals
14. solar
15. bison
16. legal
17. humor
18. moment
19. nature
20. virus
Bonus words
carnivorous
boggiest
chemicals
dissolve
accidentally
fertilizer
victim
2. cedar
3. spiders
4. locate
5. ruler
6. motive
7. raven
8. pilot
9. silent
10. super
11. paper
12. native
13. rivals
14. solar
15. bison
16. legal
17. humor
18. moment
19. nature
20. virus
Bonus words
carnivorous
boggiest
chemicals
dissolve
accidentally
fertilizer
victim
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