MCAS Math is next week. I think we are almost ready. There are a few items that I need to review and go over with individuals and whole class. We have done all we can. I know that they are ready and will do great. They just need to take their time and check over their work.

Spelling: We will be working on pages from my new spelling book Lesson #30. We are back to the regular list of bonus words. Term 3 is almost half over, so everyone is back to bonus list #1 (Days of the Week). The spelling for this week will be due on Friday.

Reading: I decided to begin a novel, Helen Keller’s Teacher. We have read the first 13 chapters. We have learned all about Annie’s life and we have been introduced to a blind, deaf, and mute girl living in Tuscumbia, Alabama. (Helen Keller). The challenge of reaching and taming this spoiled child is Annie’s first job.

Written Language: We will be gathering notes and creating a planet brochure. The facts need to be accurate, but the brochure can be creative. This entire project will be done in school.

Math: We will spend the next few weeks on measurement. This will continue our use of fractions and decimals. Understanding measure concepts is very difficult. First of all, we need to determine the type of measurement, (liquid, dry, linear, etc.) Then we need to determine the label, (gallons, quarts, oz., feet, or inches). I like measurement, because it is a challenge.


DCR UPDATE: This is an independent math packet that reviews all the concepts and skills we will be using throughout the year. The children should be pacing themselves, 3-5 pages per week. I give them a weekly check on the board and they should be on pages 110 - 149 (book #3) as of Friday 5/8/09. I have not seen everyone’s DCR consistently each week. Six students have been given BOOK #3.

Science: We have moved on to planets. We have been learning about the outer reaches of our solar system. As I stated above, we will be creating a planet brochure, from facts we have found on a given planet. We basically have the moon to discuss and we have covered all the necessary components of our planet unit.

Social Studies: We are beginning our last region of the United States. (The Pacific Region) . We have already filled in our maps and should be studying for a quiz Tuesday or Wednesday of this week

Talking Calendar: We are starting a new Talking Calendar this week. May 19/20

Interdependence project: It is a very easy project to do. The children need to take notes of a typical day that they have. (morning, afternoon, and night) They need to write down what they wear, use, eat, etc. They need to write it in a creative way, probably a diary form. They need to underline the product or item that they mention in their writing. They also need to put into parenthesis where the item came from. Most of the items have a label on them. It may take a bit of internet searching to find some of them.

The project also includes a poster- which needs to be separated into sections (morning, afternoon, and night).

Have fun with this project, we are learning about resources that we use and how we depend on other states, regions, and even countries for the products we use on a daily basis.

I gave everyone a packet of information to guide them along the way. There is also a rubric to help them understand how the points for the project will be calculated. If they decide to write the written report, I can give them a final copy packet to help them, with the setup. If they decide to type their 5 paragraphs they need to set them up just like the handout that I gave them.

Thanks, Mr. L.