August 28, 2017

The second week of school has come to an end. It sure is going by QUICKLY! Classroom baseline testing is now over (there may be a few students here and there that still might need to finish, but overall we are done).  A reminder that this Wednesday is Early Release with dismissal at 1:40.  Please remember that Monday September 4th is Labor Day and is a school holiday.



Resources this week:
Cox:
Monday: PE
Tuesday: art

Townsend:
Monday: art
Wednesday: music




ELA:

Please don't forget the student's memory cards are due Monday. :-)

Consistent homework will be sent home this coming week in reading. Book logs will be sent home Tuesday.Students are to read at least 25 minutes each night and record their reading on their book logs.

In addition, students must complete at least one Achieve article (and the questions that go with the article) and one I-ready lesson each week. Students usernames and passwords are written down on index cards and are to be kept in the front inside pocket of their planners. Please do not leave these at home. To access these programs, you must log onto duvalschools.org and then go to the "Student Software" Tab, and then click on either "I-ready" or "Achieve".

On Friday (9/1), students will receive their spelling words and they are to be studied because they will be tested the following Friday (9/8)

So reading homework will ALWAYS be:

1. Read 25 minutes each night & record in their log

2. Complete at least one Achieve 3000 Article and questions

3. Complete at least one I-ready Reading Lesson

4. Practice and study spelling words

Any additional homework will be written in the planner, but for the most part that will be the reading homework every week.

Math:

This week in math the students will continue learning about multiplication and the meaning of factors.  They will use different methods to model dividing a whole into equal groups.  They will analyze equal groups and arrays to determine if the factors represent the number of groups or the size of the groups.  The students will create pictures, number bonds and equations to show their understanding of multiplication and division concepts.  They will continue using the RDW strategy to solve multiplication and division problems.

Example of relationship between multiplication and division concepts:






Science:

This week in science the students will continue learning about the scientific method and recognizing criteria for identifying testable and non-testable questions used in investigations.

How Can We Recognize a Testable Question? 

• Can be answered by an investigation 

• Allows for collection and analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data 

• Can be tested with age appropriate supplies and equipment 

• Is not answered with “yes” or “no” or by explanations in books 

• Does not ask how to perform a skill

1st of week of school

Welcome back to school! Our first week of school was a busy one.  The students did a wonderful job on our reading and math baseline tests. These tests are to help us measure the tremendous growth we will see throughout the year. We are looking forward to a wonderful second week of learning.


Resources this Week:

Cox
Monday - P.E.
Tuesday - Art
Wednesday - P.E.
Friday - Music


Townsend
Monday - Art
Wednesday - Media
Thursday - Music

ELA:
This week we will start the diagnostic/baseline tests in both I-ready and Achieve 3000. This will show us what reading level your child is currently reading on and what reading skills they need help on in order to increase their reading level. In addition to testing, students will be working collaboratively to record what they notice and wonder about various pictures and will ask and answer questions about certain text. In writing they will be producing pieces in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. Be on the lookout for two writing assignments that will be sent home for homework in your child’s Adventure Binder. This week students will be taking a spelling pre-test, and spelling words will be sent home Friday to practice and study (the test will be the following Friday September 1^st)

Math:
This week in math, the students will begin to understand “equal groups of” as multiplication.  They will relate multiplication to the array model and interpret the meaning of factors as the size of the group or the number of groups.  The students will also begin to understand the meaning of the unknown (what is not known in an equation) as the size of the group or the number of groups in division.

Example of array model to solve multiplication and division problems:

Science:

This week in Science the students will be learning about the “Scientific Process” and how scientists make observations.    

                       

First Week of School Fall 2017

Our blog will be up and running in September!  We are looking forward to this school year!

Mrs. Cox & Mrs. Townsend

May 1

Dear Parents,

This week all students will take the end of year i-Ready diagnostic math and reading tests. The reading test will be on Monday. The math tests will be administered Wednesday and Thursday.  The purpose of the test is to determine math and reading academic growth from beginning of the year to end of the year. The math test will cover all math domains tested on the beginning of year test and mid-year test (Measurement and Data, Algebra and Algebraic Thinking, Numbers and Operations, Geometry).  Please help your child by encouraging him/her to do their best, focus during the test, get a good night’s rest, and eat a healthy breakfast.

Thank You!

Resources this week:
Cox:
Monday: art
Thursday: music
Kluge:
Monday: art
Thursday: pe
Friday: music

Our end of year IMAX field trip will be on Friday! Remember, lunches were included in the price so no lunch is needed.

April 17

Our MATH FSA assessments will take place this Wednesday and Thursday! We are looking forward to watching all of our students show what they know! The tests are computer based and will be 80 minutes each day.

Resources this week:
Cox:
Tuesday: art
Friday: music
Kluge:
Tuesday: art
Friday: pe

The IMAX field trip forms are due Thursday, April 27.

There will be no school Friday, April 28.

April 3

It's so hard to believe it is April already! We are so proud of our students and their hard work and determination as they completed the FSA reading assessment. Thank you parents for your continued support as they take their math FSA on April 18th and 19th. Test scores will not be available until late May.




Wednesday, April 5 is early release. It is the only early release in April.
No school on Friday, April 14 and Friday, April 28.

Resources this week:
Cox:
Tuesday: PE
Wednesday: art
Thursday: art and media... Please return all library books!
Kluge:
Monday: music
Wednesday: art and media... Please return all library books!
Thursday: art

ELA:  We finished Peter Pan last week! We compared the novel to the 1953 movie version and we were shocked at the many differences. We discussed similarities and differences during the movie. We also completed our Freaky Frog Trading Cards which were a result of researching two resources about one type of frog.

Our new unit will focus on the importance of clean freshwater around the world. Our central text will be One Well: The Story of Water on Earth written by Rochelle Strauss.

In unit one of our final module, we will continue to build geography and map-reading skills by studying where water is found on earth. We will write informational paragraphs to explain this. We will also examine the water cycle and watersheds and will compare how different texts present similar information about these two topics. This will be excellent preparation for fourth grade writing. 

This week, we will discover how all water on earth is connected and has been here since the beginning of time. The text will provide some surprising facts about water on earth as well. 

Some important new vocabulary will be found in the following sentence:

"All water on Earth is connected, so there is just one source of water -- one global well -- from which we all draw our water."

These words would be great to discuss at home this week!

In writing, we will start to learn about two types of writing prompts which will be a big part of fourth grade. The type of prompt determines how a writer organizes his/her piece.

Opinion prompt: "After reading the text, would you support having uniforms in school or not having uniforms in school? Give information from the text to support your opinion."

Informative prompt: "The text discusses the practice of recycling. Write an informative piece explaining how recycling is a positive thing for a community. Use evidence from the text to support your answer."

Our first assessment will be an on-demand paragraph answering the question, Where is Water on Earth? Students will explain using specific facts, definitions and details from the texts they have read in their informative paragraphs. They will use a familiar graphic organizer we have used all year.

TOPIC:

DETAIL:

     EXPLAIN:

DETAIL:

     EXPLAIN:

CONCLUSION:

Math: This week in math the students will continue to compare and classify polygons, quadrilaterals, and draw polygons with specified attributes to solve problems.  They will decompose quadrilaterals to understand perimeter as the boundary of a shape.  The students will explore perimeter as an attribute of plane figures and solve problems.  They will measure side lengths in whole number units to determine the perimeter of polygons. The students will determine the perimeter of regular polygons and rectangles when whole number measurements are missing.

\

Example problem for missing measurement in perimeter problem:

Homework:                                                                     

Module 7 Lesson 6

Module 7 Lesson 10

Module 7  Lesson 12

Module 7 Lesson 13

Things to practice and review at home:

Practice identifying number patterns using multiplication, addition or subtraction strategies.

Continue to review  multiplication and division facts 2 to 10  

Practice solving two step word problems involving all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

Practice identifying equivalent fractions using number lines and/or fraction strip models.  

Science: We will continue describing structures in plants and their roles in food production, support, water and nutrient transport, and reproduction.  The students will learn how plants respond to heat, light and gravity.   

March 13

Friday, March 17 is a teacher planning day. Students will not have school. The following week of March 20 - March 24 is Spring Break.

School will resume on Monday, March 27. Our reading FSA test will take place on Tuesday, March 28 and 29. Students brought home an important letter from Mrs. Wright, our principal about FSA policies. It was on ivory copy paper. Please review it. 

A practice reading packet with FSA style passages and questions will be sent home this week. It is optional, but would be a great review and practice even if only part of it is completed.

Resources this week:
Cox:
Monday - art
Wednesday - music
Kluge:
Monday - art
Wednesday - pe
Thursday - music

Don't forget the spring book fair is next week. We will let you know as soon as possible when we will go as a class. The schedule has not been created yet.