January 7, 2015 Newsletter
Reading:
Welcome 2015! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with you families. It was really nice to have long break after a busy fall.
We will be exploring mysteries and learning vocabulary associated with mysteries such as; red herring, suspect, witness and sleuth. Students will be reading mysteries in book clubs the next few weeks and be meeting to discuss characters, answer questions and make inferences about their reading. They will be graded on their ability to participate actively in discussions and take notes about their reading and understanding of the text.
In writing we will be working on realistic fiction where students will be writing a mystery of their own. I was very impressed with their opinion writing last quarter and I look forward to reading some great mysteries.
Math:
In math the students will continue solving real world problems using area and perimeter. We will continue to give multiplication fact quizzes on Tuesday and Thursday. Please continue to drill these facts with your child. Later this quarter we will begin our unit on fractions.
We have sent home log in information for the math program TenMarks in the students homework folders, on 1/7/15. The students are strongly encouraged to use this program weekly to help retain mastery of skills taught earlier this year. This will also help review for the EOG’s in May. We continue adding assignments to cover previously taught material.
Science:
Both classes will be be beginning a unit on Changes in Matter (solids, liquids, gases). Mrs. Masteller and Mrs. Emerson will be co-teaching this unit in Mrs. Emerson’s very large room. We are looking forward to the hands on experiments that this unit provides. It is important to note that there are many experiments and if students are dismissed early or absent they cannot be made up.
Social Studies:
Second half of the quarter we will be learning about the three regions of North Carolina and their landforms.
Important Dates:
Jan. 13 - 3-5 Spelling Bee 9:30
Jan. 14 - Spirit Night Chick-Fil-A @ Six Forks
Jan. 28 - Math Information Night 6:00
Feb. 4 - Interims go home
Feb. 12 - Science and Math Extravaganza 5:30
Feb. 13 - Early Release 1:15
