McFarland-Mayberry-Begley Bulletin

for the week of April 6, 2015

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Door Decorating Contest!
Thank you to Devin Gifford and her mom, Jen, for leading our class in offering and determining a design for our first GMS 4-5 door-decorating contest! The theme is "You Are My Sunshine," and every student completed a ray for our sun, telling who their "sunshine" is and why. Many of our parents were honored, and rightfully so. The final product is quite beautiful and is on display until Thursday. Come see it! Doors will be judged on Wednesday afternoon, and I don't care whether we win or not (OK, maybe I care a little bit); ours is the only that I've seen so far where children are reflective and demonstrate appreciation for those who support them. Yeah, we should totally win.

Reading Workshop

We are winding down the historical fiction unit this coming week.  Students have been reading short texts with partners to continue developing their understanding of several major reading skills: empathising, envisioning, identifying theme, and synthesizing.  Many have also demonstrated some newfound-interest in some of our HF chapter books, after I’ve suggested a few titles for impromptu two-person book clubs!

Writing Workshop

Last week, we balanced finishing literary essays with reviewing personal and persuasive essays for our upcoming writing prompt.  Both classes will prepare their thesis statements and boxes & bullets plans on Monday, and the Mayberrys will write their prompt essays Tuesdays while the McFarlands are scheduled to do that Wednesday afternoon.  Thank you for sending me plans for early-vaca absences; it helped us avoid students having to make up the prompt at a later date.  Prompt make-up scores are usually lower than what they would have been had the child done the writing with the rest of the class, and I want to make sure all kids have the chance to really show what they know on this prompt!  

    Some students may have done some preliminary work on their prompt ideas late last week or over the weekend.  They are encouraged to find a quote from an expert of conduct a brief survey to add a variety of kinds of evidence to their prompts.  This work is completely optional.

Math

Fractions, fractions, fractions! We continue to work on building our math muscles around fraction understanding. Working to create equivalent fractions was the focus in math this week. Many students met the IXL challenge and have received coveted homework passes. With the days getting longer and the weather hopefully taking a turn for the better these passes will be coming in handy. Another IXL challenge is in the making for after vacation. Students will be working on comparing, ordering and simplifying fractions in the next part of this math unit.

Theme

This week we hopped aboard our tour bus and headed for the Northeast region of the U.S.  Students learned about products, natural resources, landmarks, and bodies of water in this area.  After learning about the states in this region, students completed their passport pages.

    Reminder!  Each student will need a small picture of themselves (2in X 2in) for this passport, which should be sent into school this week, if you have not already.

    The first U.S. states quiz was taken on Thursday and is in take home folders.  Most students achieved the 20-state goal for this week.  Several students chose to take the capitals quiz this week too -- most kids don’t know many, but I commend their risk-taking!

    2Twenty-one students across the three classes have already learned all 50 states!  Next week’s goal is 30.  Students who have learned the states are encouraged to work on capitals.  If students complete states and capitals, we will set an individual goal of the child’s choosing so they will continue to be challenged.

Due Dates / Upcoming Events:

Monday, April 13th - Reading logs due / Sneakers for P.E. / Grade Level Essay Prompt Planning during Writing Workshop class

Tuesday, April 14th - CMP Presentation / Study link due / Recorders for Music / No spelling this week!

Wednesday, April 15th - Full Day / Guidance class (Welcome back to Mrs. Waterhouse!) / McFarland writers’ Grade Level Prompt

Thursday, April 16th - 30 states quiz

Friday, April 17th - Vacation starts!

Any letters for placement are due to Mrs. MacArthur before April 16th.

Enjoy the warmer weather!

McFarland-Mayberry-Begley Bulletin

for the week of March 30, 2015

If you would like to be notified whenever I post to our class blog, please click on the space to the right, “Follow by Email.”

Camp Day

Whoa.  Camp Day was...something!  Here’s a list of things I loved about it:

• I heard so many times, “Want us to make room for you?”  “Want to join us?”  “Come over here and we’ll combine our tents!”
• Kids brought books and read by flashlight!
• Some played a huge game of Uno.
• Many snuggled in sleeping bags and under blankets, sharing books.
• Some kids wore “camping clothes.”
• We played crickets sound effects and bird songs for background music.
• I heard a lot, “This is SO fun!”
• Some kids (and I) colored elaborate Easter egg coloring pages.
• Some kids enjoyed the array of camping-themed worksheets and activities I found on-line.

But, really, it was very loud and messy, and we ended it a half hour early and put the classroom back together.  Then, we went on a “hike,” because, well, that’s what you do when you camp, right?  We set out for the land yonder, the 6-8 wing!  As the older kids were ending their lunches and returning to class, we saw siblings, neighbors, and friends.  Many of them were very happy to see us little guys.  And then we came home.

Reading Workshop

This week we have continued to build our background knowledge of the Holocaust and WWII.  We read an allegory of the the Holocaust called, Terrible Things, in which one of the many thoughts to ponder is, “Would the Holocaust have happened if people had all stood together and helped each other?”  When you’re 10 years old (or 42), it’s hard to understand why awful things happen and why it appears that people  may not have helped.  So the next two stories I’m sharing are ones that show how people did have the compassion and courage to help.  Heavy stuff!

Writing Workshop

Writers are working hard on their second flash-drafts!  The confidence and independence have developed, as I was hoping.  We focused this week on using direct quotes from the text to support ideas, which is pretty sophisticated.  And I’m pleased with how well students are using resources around the classroom for ideas, reminders, and what to do when they get “stuck.”  Those resources include charts I’ve created for mini-lessons, students’ own previous writing, and their writing partners!  The writing partner relationships have grown very productive in the last few weeks.  The partner talk is more focused and more helpful than ever before.  That is not to say that every partnership works seamlessly, but as an observer I see the kids leaning more and more on each other and trusting suggestions from their partners.  I think that speaks to the tightness of our classroom communities at this point in the year, and I believe it has contributed to the increase in independence and confidence.

Math

This week students worked with adding and subtracting mixed numbers and converting improper fractions. We also did some work with applying these skills to story problems which requires a little deeper thinking. In addition students worked to meet the IXL challenge which many met. Homework passes will be awarded on Monday.

Theme

This week students reviewed for and took their landform and mapping quiz.  Some students did not pass the continents/oceans part of the quiz.  If your child’s test has a note that they need to be rechecked, please help them study over the weekend.  There is a game linked to my website that is great for learning the continents and oceans.

    We have also started the second half of our geography unit, which is focused on the 50 U.S. states.  Students took a pretest on Thursday to assess how many they knew.  Our first quiz will be next Thursday, April 9th.  They will need to know 20 states (any 20 - their choice).  There are practice games on my website.  Students are also bringing home a study packet today that they can use to help them.  While we will work on strategies for learning the states in class and have some practice time, students will be expected to do some studying at home.  Please read the cover page of the help packet for more ideas of how you can help at home.

    Finally, as we “visit” each region, we will be keeping a passport/scrapbook of our “travels”.  Each student will need a small picture of themselves (2in X 2in) for this passport, which should be sent into school next week.

Due Dates / Upcoming Events:

Monday, April 6th - Reading logs due  / Sneakers for P.E.

Tuesday, April 7th - Study link due / recorders for Music

Wednesday, April 8th - Early Release

Thursday, April 9th - Spelling due / First 20 states quiz / ABL

Friday, April 10th - Study link due

Any letters for placement are due to Mrs. MacArthur before April 16th.

Hope you had a nice weekend!

Dena