Aug 20,2014 Newsletter

Reading:

We finished our novel The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. We have so enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book and writing about them.

During the next few weeks we will continue to learn about base words and the meanings of the most common prefixes and suffixes. Students will be reading fables, folktales and myths and learning to retell the story using the important details. Students will use these details to determine the message or moral of the story.

Language/Writing:

We started a new theme in writing. They are enjoying writing, reading and learning about castles.Students will be focusing on organizing details in their writing to support a main idea in an informative piece. They will practice identifying general or specific information in writing and practice elaborating to describe a critical character in a story.

Math: The students are beginning the unit on multiplication and division. We began today by looking at patterns in numbers. We will then move into understanding that multiplication is repeated addition. Students will learn to use a variety of strategies to solve multiplication problems such as arrays, equal groups and skip counting.  The students will be using the following math vocabulary: factors, products, repeated addition, repeated groups, and equal groups.

The first few multiplication fact sets will be introduced in this order 0,1,2,10,5. You may begin practicing these with your child using flashcards and Math Magician ( link on the Blog). The students will begin bi-weekly fluency quizzes after track out.

Science:

We have been learning about the skeletal system. Students know that the important functions of the skeletal system is to support, protect and provide movement. They have been investigating the different joints in the body and the type of movement they provide. I’m sure they were excited to tell you all about the owl pellet dissection. They enjoyed comparing the bones in the pellet to bones in our own skeleton. We will be going to the Learning Commons to research the muscular system.

Social Studies: The students in Mrs. Masteller’s class are studying the three branches of government, local, state and federal. We will conduct a mock City Council meeting. The students  will argue their opinion for or against a new WaterSlide Park in a community, with partners the students will complete a citizenship webquest.

Important Dates:

Aug. 19-21 CogAT Testing 9:30 each day

Aug. 20 Fall Pictures

Aug. 25 Spirit Night Zaxby’s (2 locations)

Aug. 26 In House Field Trip Science is Fun

Aug. 29 - Walk - A -Thon

Sept. 1- No School/Labor Day

Sept. 3 Case 21 9:30 AM

Sept. 5 - Report cards and track out and early release