Wednesday 3.30.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Revolutionary War handout

WRITING: Write your essay "sandwich" about Spaghetti. Use your theme/big idea handout and essay "sandwich" outline.

Editing handout

MATH: 2 handouts

Tuesday 3.29.11- Late Breaking!

No internet and no photo copier, but we made it through the day! Alas, this post is just going up. Hopefully, it is a reference for some of the work we've been doing together. We are deep in test prep at this point and the kids are working really hard. The biggest thing we need to keep working on is carefully reading questions and understanding what they are asking. Often, kids are missing questions not because of the skill, but because they are misreading or not fully understanding what is being asked. This is an important skill, test prep or not. I'll write more later about all of the other cool things happening in curriculum- kente project, societies....

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Redo/rewrite the sentences on your handout for the short answer questions. Use words from the questions in your answers (just like we did together in class for the short answer questions about Death Valley).

WRITING: Read Spaghetti and complete the handout about cause/effect and main idea/detail.

MATH: Packet

Welcome back Sarah!

See you tomorrow at SING!

Monday 3.28.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes. Pay attention to characters and theories you are developing about them. Thoughtfully complete your reading log.

SCHOLASTIC NEWS: Read through your copy and fill out the handout (front and back).

WRITING: Revising handout
Draft your best folktale if you did not already

MATH: Packet

SOCIAL STUDIES: What makes you want to be part of a community? How do you like people to work together?

Is what is happening in Egypt and Libya similar to what was happening at the beginning of our country? Hmmmm...

*Tomorrow Sarah is back!!

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
READING LOG IS DUE ON MONDAY

TEST PACKET

WRITING: Draft your best folktale and practice reading it aloud

MATH: Packet

Due Monday- SOCIAL STUDIES: Preview Egypt article + find important vocabulary

*Search for important dates and events for your time period! You need at least 1 important date/event

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Seth is a big brother!! His new sister, Skye, was born Tuesday. All the best to Mom, Dad, Seth, and Skye!

Thursday 3.24.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

TEST PREP character handout

MATH: Packet

Due Monday- SOCIAL STUDIES: Preview Egypt article + find important vocabulary

*search for important dates and events for your time period!

kente Design props needed!

We need props and recycled items for the kente play! We need news papers,aluminum foil,cardboard, and cloth.

Kente Design

Today is are 2nd day on are kente story. Our kente is still in development and we are now starting our draft. The story is about two boys named Atticus and Leonardo. They are on a journey to test their true identity and to test there wiseness. There will be more info
about the story later.




Bloggers,
Courtney,Eric,Eron and Isabell

Wed. 3.23.11

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
*Partnership handout

WRITING- Editing handout

MATH: Packet + 5th graders: handout

SOCIAL STUDIES: Libya article + handout (main idea + detail/ cause & effect)

*search for important dates and events for your time period!

HOMEWORK- DUE WEDNESDAY!!

Hi Families:
Below is the homework for tonight and tomorrow night (Mon. and Tues.). I will be at a social studies workshop tomorrow, so that's why this is early :) This homework is due on Wednesday.
Thanks,
Lauren

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.
*Partnership handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale that is at least 2 pages or 2 folktales that are 1 page each. *Use the lists we created together to get an idea
Edit 2 pages using a colored pen to show your corrections

MATH: Packet (due Wednesday) + math article (M.C. Escher)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Scholastic News + handout (main idea + detail)

WEEKEND HOMEWORK

Hi Families!

Apologies for the late homework posting. Friday was my birthday and my partner, Leslie, had planned a full day/weekend of fun. This meant I left right at 3pm Friday and have been busy celebrating! This is the first chance I've had to sit down at the computer. Thanks for understanding and I hope your weekend has been wonderful! xo Lauren


READING: Read for at least 40 minutes each day. Reading log is due Monday!

WRITING- Collect a 2 page entry (either add 2 pages to an entry you started or start a new entry that is at least 2 pages).
*If you did not turn in your folktales, you MUST GIVE ME YOUR 2 FOLKTALES ON LOOSE- LEAF PAPER MONDAY MORNING!

MATH: 2 handouts

SOCIAL STUDIES: Read Scholastic News + complete the packet that goes with it
*If your current events packet was not revised or acceptable, make sure it is fixed by Monday morning

*NOTE: All homework due the next day, unless otherwise noted

NEW BLOGGERS

Today Lauren's class is doing our first blog on our kente inspired play/movie and the theme is right and wrong. We have 4 groups.
Group 1 is the writing team and they write the story.
Group 2 is the kente team and they make the kente cloth.
Group 3 is costume team and they make the costumes.
And last but not least group 4 is the AV/bloggers/brochures. The AV are the camera
people,the blogger people blog what is happening, and the brochure person makes the brochures.

- Isabell & Eric

HOMEWORK- Due Tomorrow!

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

WRITING- On loose-leaf paper copy 2 folktales you have written. Use your folktale handout to make sure you have used all of the elements of folktale in your writing.

MATH: Packet (fractions) + look for 2 examples of a right angle (90 degrees).

SOCIAL STUDIES: Revise your current events packet from last night. You need to add more information to the graphic organizers.

*Bonus: look for other forms of government or find out which countries have a monarchy and which countries have a democracy

HOMEWORK- lots of good stuff!

READING: Read for at least 40 minutes- refocus yourself when you start to get distracted or something doesn't make sense. Fill out reading log- date, summary, questions.

WRITING- collect a new folktale + read a folktale

MATH: Packet (place value)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Current Events packet (Egypt, Libya, Cause/Effect, World Map)

*Bonus: look for other forms of government or find out which countries have a monarchy and which countries have a democracy

new LICE CASES reported!

There are 3 new lice cases! Please check your child's head carefully for nits and lice. I will spray the room with a Home Lice Control Spray and we will stay off the rug for today. Thanks for your help!

For an online lice removal tutorial, you can visit the website:
http://www.hairfairies.com/do-it-yourself-guide/

Spring Family Conference Schedule for Wed. 3.16

Wednesday March 16th
4:30 SIU LOONG
4:45 KAI
5:00 MARTIN
5:15
5:30 SETH
5:45 COURTNEY
6:00 ISABELL
6:15 DANTE
6:30 KEITH
6:45 SAMMY
7:00
7:15
7:30

HOMEWORK

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. You must write a short summary of what you read (2-3 sentence retell) and then questions/wonderings you have for the book. We are working on questioning this week.

READ ALOUD- Write your reactions, questions, theories, etc. on the side of the pages. Underline at least 2 lines that grab your attention!

MATH- 2 handouts: make new polygons out of power polygons (or "classic" polygons as Niigaunii said) + division practice

SOCIAL STUDIES- Tsunami article + taking notes handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale. Look at your handout on the characteristics of folktales and use it.

HOMEWORK

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. You must write a short summary of what you read (2-3 sentence retell) and then questions/wonderings you have for the book. We are working on questioning this week.

READ ALOUD- Write your reactions, questions, theories, etc. on the side of the pages. Underline at least 2 lines that grab your attention!

MATH- handout: make new polygons out of power polygons (or "classic" polygons as Niigaunii said) + division practice

SOCIAL STUDIES- Tsunami article + taking notes handout

WRITING- Collect a new folktale. Look at your handout on the characteristics of folktales and use it.

COMING SOON: *Special* Animoto Project with Cheryl

Spring Family Conference Schedule for Wed. 3.16

Wednesday March 16th
4:30 SIU LOONG
4:45 KAI
5:00 MARTIN
5:15
5:30
5:45 SETH
6:00 ISABELL
6:15
6:30 KEITH
6:45 SAMMY
7:00
7:15
7:30

CAMP!!

We had a great experience at camp! Despite the cold, rainy weather there were many good times to be had...



A born blacksmither, Siu Loong




















Kei hammering the metal with Maddie


















Dante keeps the fire going for blacksmithing
























Keeping our toes warm was tricky! This is a "mini foot shower" Courtney and Njeri partook in between activities

















Eric's ready for a hike!

















Kai gets ready to search for animal tracks

Family Conferences

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15th and March 16th, are conference days. Tuesday will be a half-day for students and conferences will be from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Wednesday is a regular schedule day with evening conferences, 4:30-7:30 pm.
If you would like to have a meeting, please "comment" with the day and time. This will allow everyone to see what days and times are taken. Thanks

MEDICATION FOR ASHOKAN

*Please note:
If your student takes medication, you need to make sure that the prescription is written and signed by the doctor, and the original bottle is put in a ziplock baggie with student's name on the outside. Wed. morning, please give me the medication. Thanks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERON!

Last Thursday was Eron's birthday. His birthday "wish" is no homework tonight!
As always, reading is expected! And, the social studies handout from the weekend is due.

2 more days to Ashokan...

CAMP Ashokan this Wed.-Fri.

For those of you looking for more info on camp, here is the website for the Ashokan Center where we will be this Wednesday through Friday!

http://www.ashokancenter.org

Some logistics for now:
- We are leaving Wednesday morning, around 8:45 am
- We will meet in the courtyard in front of school, no need to come upstairs!
- Students should not bring any electronics of any kind- books and notebook are great
- It is about a 2.5 hr. drive upstate, so students can bring a non-messy snack and water (no juices, sodas, etc.)
- There should be a DVD player on the bus, so students may bring G or PG movies only
- Please make sure students have WATERPROOF shoes and a raincoat! It is expected to be MUDDY and RAINY
- We will aim to be back on Friday around 3pm. It is dependent on traffic, so we will keep in touch

That's it for now. I'll be sure add more in the next couple of days!

Artifacts from NY Historical Society Visit

FRIDAY! New York Historical Society Visits!

Thanks to everyone for being on time this morning! We had a great visit with Jen from the New York Historical Society. We looked at artifacts from the United States during the 1800's in order to gather information about the time and people, specifically issues of race and slavery. We analyzed the artifacts, sharing ideas and learning new facts in a rich discussion. We will continue building on this in our social studies curriculum. This weekend, students have a handout reflecting on today's work and also pushing them to consider researching other artifacts from the time period. Next week we will work in partnerships and small groups reading of historical texts which will allow us to deepen our understanding. The artifact handout is due Tuesday in observation of Julien's birthday wish for "no homework" this weekend!Reading is always expected, so be sure to add onto your log and fill up all the boxes with smart thinking and theories.

Camp is next week! We are all very excited. Be sure to look over the packing list this weekend. If your Dr. has filled out the medication release please make sure your child's name is on the bottle and place all medicine in a ziplock baggie with your child's name on that, as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. We will be having a few conversations next week about expectations for the trip.

Have a wonderful weekend! See you Monday...xo Lauren

Thursday March 3, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Reading logs are due tomorrow. Look over the comments I wrote today and answer them...

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages. *Think of more ideas for folktales- ask someone...

MATH- Order of operations handout

WORD STUDY- handout

CAMP FORM- choose students you'd like to be in a group with. This MUST be turned in tomorrow

* Jen from the New York Historical Society will be coming for a special program on slavery tomorrow. We are starting at 8:30 a.m., so please make sure you are on time for school!!

Wednesday 3.2.11

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include the strategies we tried out in class, like paying attention to parts that are confusing and developing theories.

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages. *Think of more ideas for folktales- ask someone...

MATH- handout

SOCIAL STUDIES- handout: Laws Affecting Blacks in Manhattan
*Friday Jen from the New York Historical Society will be coming for a special program on slavery

Tuesday March 1, 2011

Tonight's homework:

READING- read for at least 40 minutes and fill out your reading log NEATLY and COMPLETELY. Your reading log should include we tried out in class. You should use the strategies we talked about.

WRITING- Collect an entry- 2 pages.

MATH- handout + find examples of symmetry and polygons in the real world

CURRENT EVENTS- look for something that grabs your attention!

Thank you Siu Loong for sharing the fabrics with us today. We learned a lot.

Please remember your camp forms. They are due at the end of this week. Camp is next Wed.-Fri.