Mangrove Monday

Tonight at home.....

-Complete the Think Critically questions that follow Mangrove Wilderness.
-Reread chapters 7 in BCOWD
-Complete the Equivalent Fractions practice page

Final Project Friday

Happy Friday Team 201 Families!

Reminder: The Awards Assembly is this Monday at 9:00 a.m..  Parents are welcome to join us!

The creative juices were flowing through 201 today.  This morning, we created the final "artifacts" of our Marquette and Joliet study.  Students finished two journal entries, one from the perspective of Marquette or Joliet, and one written from the eyes of a Native American of the Illinois territory.  They also recreated maps that Joliet may have made, and added one more artifact of their choice.  There were some interesting ones: raisins, beaver pelts, beaver tails, birch bark, tinder box, quiver of arrows...the list goes on.  We have been reading and researching all week!

At the end of the day, students teamed up with a partner to create a "birch bark" canoe.  These canoes were decorated and filled with all of the written work and artifacts that we have been "collecting" for the past two weeks.  Your children's research led us to some interesting discoveries. Did you know that....beaver tail provided native americans with an energizing, protein-filled, and portable snack.....raisins were often carried on canoe voyages...the beaver jaw makes an excellent tool?

Some students added torches, seats, and figures to their canoes.  Others created pelts, tools,  weapons, scrolls, and "possibles" bags.  They are each different and each fantastic.  Positronic job Team 201.  Because you did the heavy lifting for two weeks straight, you had the background knowledge to get started and get creative this afternoon.

  I will take more pictures on Monday!

This weekend at home....
Relax and enjoy the weather, but don't forget to hang up your coat, make your bed and to generally be helpful and pleasant.  Oh, and, READ!

Next week we will...

• revisit fractions
• write to our pen pals
• research a new crop of Greek and Latin roots
• study Mangrove forests.  You can do a search on Globio to find some interesting footage.
• learn about acids and bases in the Science Lab
• return to the Science Lab to create another "building and designing" activity
• read and write poetry 

See you all on Monday!

Tune in My Head Thursday

201 was invited to the Spring Concert, today.  Our heads were bopping and our shoulders were swaying.  Thank you to all of the upper level performers for entertaining us.  We were so impressed by your music-making.


Today we,

• worked on our IL Territory canoe artifacts. This morning we completed journal entries, assuming the role of either Marquette or Joliet.
• went to Library.
• enjoyed the Spring concert
• read Because of Winn Dixie and responded in our chapters 1-5 brochure.
• worked on, and finished ( most of us) our Cricket in Times Square filmstrips.
• discussed last night's math homework and made corrections
• reviewed Circles, turns and degrees
• went over last night's graphing homework
• finished up some of this morning's center work.
•  

Oh, yes, we also ate lunch and went to recess!

Tonight at home,

• Finish your BCWD brochure and your filmstrip
• Complete the math page ( last page in the packet) on diameter and radius
•  Read the Super Science activities

Wednesday

Tonight at home....

• Read the Coral Reef Rescue article in Super Science and complete the graphing activity
• Complete the Math PW page 96, Lesson 18.1: Turns and Degrees. We will work on the rest of the packet tomorrow. Please bring the packet to school tomorrow!

A note about Pen Pals:

Parents, please note that I will be reviewing all of the letters to ensure that your child is not exchanging personal information.  The letters will be sent from school and will be addressed to me.  I think that this will be an exciting learning experience for you child, and I hope that all can participate.

Tuesday Thoughts

Hello Team 201 Families,

Today we.......

• practiced our cursive
• collected Pen Pal permission slips.  Please send in your slip A.S. A.P..
• reviewed our "possibles" lists, and discussed the items that might possibly be found in the fur trading canoe
• created "docent cards" that describe our artifacts.  We will create artifacts later this week.
• worked in reading centers.  We selected an article from Time for Kids and created a report on Educreations, we researched Greek and Latin roots, we read Because of Winn Dixie and completed "quick shot" responses, and some of us wrote original "Animal" poems.
• prepared for tomorrow's math test and discussed patterns
• prepared for tomorrow's "bridge building" science lab

Tonight at home......

• Create a one sided study guide for tomorrow's test.  Use your math book to help you.
•   Read the companion selection to Cricket ITS and complete the compare texts questions.  Remember to add details from both texts and to answer using complete sentences

Making Earth Day Collage Poetry Monday

Happy Earth Day!


Tonight at Home....
Complete the Patterns page
Read your mystery, or another book of your choice and write a reflection.

Full of Factorizing Friday

That pretty much sums it up, families!

Today we.....

• Spent a great deal of time with our friends Marquette and Joliet.
• Went to Gym with Mr. Meade.
• Took our weekly reading test.
• Collected, read and recited more poems.
• Factorized and learned how to represent composite numbers as the product of prime numbers
• Went to Science Art with Mr. Vacanti.

This weekend

• complete the one sided factorization practice
• get your hands on a copy of Because of Winn Dixie!
• bring in magazines and flyers.  We will be collecting words on Monday for a special Earth Day poetry project.

Triple T Thursday: Torrential, Thundering,Trafficy

Need we say more?  Today's title is a collaborative effort!



Tonight at home.....

• Read for pleasure for 30 minutes or more.  Please get a parent signature that indicates completion.
• Double sided math sheet: arrays, factors, and prime numbers

Techie Tuesday

Today we used the Air Server to present our Educreations presentations.  It was a fantastic lesson.  In Educreations, the students created a presentation that combined their Shedd research with images and voice recordings.  The content was terrific, but it was our first time using this application, and we learned from our mistakes!   We were able to do some troubleshooting, and we now know a bit more about how we will proceed for our next project.



Tonight at home:

• Math Review sheet: double sided.    Show the work!  Allow plenty of time! 
• Read the Prairie Pages: Create a Fact Finder centered around one of these topics: Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette or The End of French Control. Please bring the packet back to school on Friday!
• Wednesday is Parent/Teacher Conference Day!  I can't wait to meet with you!  If you can't make it tomorrow, please email me so that we can schedule a face to face conference.
• These time slots are still available: 1:30, 1:40, 2:10, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50 and 4:50
• Don't forget that the Mystery Bag Project is Due May 6.  I will have extra copies available tomorrow.

Majestic M & M Monday

Today's math activity involved a sweet treat.   We practiced modeling division equations, and the M & Ms provided us with a motivating, tactile model.  Students who complete the activity will bring the treats to lunch.

Today we....

• ...discussed the French and Indian War.  We used a Brainpop to inspire the discussion.
• ...finalized our Shedd- based independent research. Students used the ipad app, Educreations,  to create visual/written presentations on their ipads.  Some students used the recording feature to add their voices to the presentation.
• ...read My Diary From Here to There. We discussed the text genre, diary, and chatted about characters, setting and plot.  We worked in our new vocabulary word: protagonist, as many times as possible.
• ...we modeled division using M and Ms.  We drew models, and wrote equations.
• ...we ate lunch and enjoyed outdoor recess.
• ...we went to see Mr.Hoffman in the computer lab for some ST Math fun.

Tonight at home...

• Complete the Problem Solving page
• Finish reading My Journey From Here to There.  Complete the Think Critically.  Please remember to use details from the text to support your ideas! 
• Please, please, contact me about a conference time, if you have not already done so.  Written confirmations have been sent home with children who have turned in the form.  You can also email me. The following time slots are still available: 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 2:10, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, 4:50, 5:00, 5:10, 6:20, 6:40, 6:50.  If none of these times work for you, just let me know.  I am happy to set up an appointment with you on another day.  Let's compare schedules so that we can sit down and discuss your child's accomplishments and goals.

Important Reminder

Tomorrow is a half day for students.    School is over at 11:30!

Tiny Drops of Water on Pennies Thursday

Today in the lab we used the Scientific Method. Ask your child about the Penny Drop Lab.  What were some of the variables?  What parts of our experiment were controlled?


Tonight at home....

• Please send in your Conference Time sheet.  Most of the earliest and latest appointments have been filled.   
• Complete the "Correcting Quotients" math page
• Read chapters 41-43 in Holes and answer the reflective questions.  If you have time, read a bit farther. Most children have finished the book!

Wednesday Wonders

We wonder if we will be able to come up with alliterative titles from now until June 24.  Students, please send me your ideas!

 Reminder: 201 will visit the Book Fair tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.!

Tonight at home.....

• Finish the reading and activities in the IL Social Studies Weekly that was assigned last night
• Complete the problems in the math text found on page 287. For 6-24 do every third problem (6,9...) Then, do 25-28
• Make sure that you bring Holes to school tomorrow
• Don't forget to bring me the Conference Time Preference Sheet.  Spots are filling!

Waiting for a Title Tuesday

Your kids are at recess.  When they come back, I am hoping that we can come up with a more appropriate title!

Today we.....

• used last night's homework to help us develop a topic for further research.  Students have selected an aquatic animal or habitat.  We plan to present our research using the Educreations App on our i-pads.  Hopefully they will be done by next week, so that we can share them on Conference Day
• listened to Because of Winn Dixie and discussed  story elements and characters.  I do love this book, and hope that each 201 student will have a copy soon!
• reviewed the math review, and prepared for the test.  Students we allowed to create one page of notes to use on the test.
• moved further along with division. Tonight we will be estimating quotients.
• corrected the math test.  Ask your child about his or her score!

Tonight at home...

• Find the "Conference Sign Up Sheet" and select three time slots.   These sheets must be returned by Monday.  Please indicate three possible times that will work for you.  I will return the sheet to confirm your time.
• Complete the math sheet
• Due Thursday: read the IL SS Weekly newspaper and complete all of the activities
• Bring Holes to school each day this week.  I will collect the books on Friday, and we will be reading in class each day.  Students who have lost or misplaced books will need to replace them.

Monsoon Monday at the Shedd Aquarium

The theme of the day was water.  It was pouring as we entered Disney this morning.  We spent a wonderful day at the Shedd.  When we emerged, the sun was shining on Lake Michigan.

Today at the Shedd, we adopted a new classmate, Waddles.  I hope that you enjoy the photos!  Waddles will be coming to your home soon.  Many students remember bringing home a "mascot" in kindergarten or first grade.  Now, your children can add chapters to  the Waddles Adventures without your help.  On your child's Waddles Night, he or she will have a chance to add a story. I hope to have the journal, and a sample entry, ready for you by next week.

Students know that there is a Math Test tomorrow.  We will review and ask and answer questions in the morning!

Enjoy the photos of today's trip.  Your children were beautifully behaved, enthusiastic, and a pleasure!  Thank you!

Here Comes Science - They Might Be Giants (playlist)

Friday, Friday, Friday

Happy Friday 201 Families!

Today's title references our Holes discussion today.  The last three words of  chapter 35 describe Stanley's canteen as, "...empty, empty, empty."  Cailtyn noticed that the words echoed the beat of the waterless canteen against Stanley's body as he ran from Camp Green Lake.  Kendall gave a great reading of this last line.  He emphasis on empty made us feel just how desperate Stanley's situation had become.  We all agreed the phrase is an example of foreshadowing. The fact that we have all read way ahead of this chapter made the foreshadowing comment a bit easier.  But, hey, we know what foreshadowing is!

Today we.....

• Finished our Theme Review Jeopardy.  We focused on the vocabulary and grammar. We reviewed adjectives, subject and object pronouns, and articles.
• We finished our Theme test and corrected it.  The grades will be entered on Monday, but your child knows his or her score.
• We discussed last night's Holes questions.  Post discussion, students added more details to their responses.
• We went to both Gym and Science Art
• We learned how to "find the missing addend" when provided with the mean. Hint: Model the division equation, and complete the multiplication check.
• Some of us met to review long division

This weekend at home.....

• Complete the EVEN problems of the Form A math review.  We will take the test on Tuesday.
• Read the Harcourt selection, Because of Winn Dixie
• Try to get your hands on a copy of the novel Because of Winn Dixie.  I am hoping that this will be our next novel study.  First, we need to get the books!

Reminders...

• Field Trip to the Shedd: this Monday!  Don't forget to bring your bag lunch.  We will eat at the aquarium.  We will leave school by 9:00. Parent volunteers are welcome to come up to the pod a bit early.  I will keep you busy!  :-)
• Math test: next Tuesday
• Mystery Bag Report book approval: bring your selection in for approval by the end of next week.
• Next Friday is a 1/2 day
• "Men and Women of Disney" breakfast is next Wednesday.  All are welcome!

Think Spring Thursday

It seems that we got our wish today!  Your children are enjoying recess right now.

Today we.....

• Spruced up last night's "Create a Chapter Title" homework.  We added headings and details to make our work stronger
• Finished the Extend Response portion of the Theme 4 test.
• Went to Library with Ms. Fitzpatrick
• Played Jeopardy to help us the review the vocabulary, spelling, grammar and reading concepts such as Theme and Fact vs. Opinion  in Theme 4.
• Corrected last nigh'ts homework and discussed further how to "interpret" a remainder.
• Reviewed how to find the mean, or average
• Took a quick long division to check for test readiness
• Used the Scientific Method to explore the "Rattle Back" lab

Tonight at home......

• Complete the Mean Math problems
• Read chapters 36 and 37 in Holes and answer the questions
• Look over the Mystery Bag project that was sent home today.  The project is due May 6.  We devoted class time today to discussing the project and to answering questions.  Book approvals are due by the end of next week!

News and Notes.....

• Our Field Trip to the Shedd is this Monday. Please bring a bag lunch, as we will eat at the museum. 
• Team 201 will visit the Book Fair on April 11 and April 15.
• Next Friday, April 12 is a 1/2 day for students.
• Report Card Conferences will be help on April 17.  I will send home a scheduling preference sheet soon.  If you would like to schedule a longer conference, please feel free to send me a note and we can put a date on the calendar.  Report Card conferences are about 10 minutes, which can be pretty quick!
• Our next shared novel study will be Because of Winn Dixie, by Katie DiCamillo.  I only have one copy of the book, and am hoping that 201 families can visit their local library or bookstore to get a copy.  It is a fantastic read!  We will read a short selection from the novel next week,as it is included in our Harcourt Storytown.
• If your child has lost their copy of Holes, it will need to be replaced.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Waiting for Spring Wednesday

Greetings Team 201 Families,

I hope that you are all enjoying the burst of sunshine!  It can be a bit colder at Disney, as we are so close to the Lake.  Please make sure that your child is dressed for recess.  They are coming in shivering!

Today we.....

• discussed how Native Americans in Illinois used natural resources.  We used details from our reading passage to create storyboards
• "revised" some of our answers on the comprehension portion of the Theme test.  Students we able to use the text to correct errors.
• went to music with Ms. Ahern.  Students came out with a graded quiz.
• went to ST Math and made awesome progress
• checked in with Mrs. Ginn to work on double and triple digit multiplication.  Many students are forgetting their placeholders!  I will post a tutorial to lend support.
• worked on how to interpret the remainder in division.  We worked in pairs to solve some problems, and "chatted" about what the remainder and the quotient represent.
• took a quiz on last night's reading in Holes 

Tonight at Home....

• Complete the Problem Solving page
• Read Chapters 34 and 35 in Holes. Create a fitting title for each chapter and think about a central image or symbol that could represent the main ideas in the chapter.  On the response sheet, neatly write your title in the thought bubble.  Draw your illustration/symbol/image in the larger box.  Neatness counts.  Details are important!
• Tomorrow we will take the extended response and the vocabulary portions of the Theme Test.

Malnourished Monday

Malnourished is how we are feeling right now! We are not used to waiting so long for lunch!


I hope that all enjoyed the break from the usual routine.  It was great to see so many smiling faces in 201 today!

Tonight at home....

• Math page: Division
• Read, or reread, Chapters 31 and 32 in Holes.  Write a reflection in your journal.  Remember, I want to read about your reaction to the events.  Include details from the text to support your ideas, but don't just write a summary!
• Study the Theme test words.  We will take the comprehension tomorrow and will focus on Vocabulary, Spelling and Grammar toward the end of the week.