Making the Most of 2013 Monday

Hello Team 201 Families!  I hope that you all are enjoying the break from our regular routine, lunch boxes, early mornings, and regular homework!

On that note, I will confirm that I did not assign any regular homework over the break.  Reading daily is always recommended.  I also hope that students will take this opportunity to catch up on some ST Math, Study Island, and Extra Math.  Remember that Study Island is tailored to each child's learning goals, based on MAP Scores.  Make sure to clip on the "NWEA Learning Path" to access this individualized practice.

I have also added a new tab on the page, entitled ISAT CITY. Click here to access the Illinois State practice tests, as well as games and tutorials to help you stay prepared.  I suggest that you focus on the Science first, and then target Reading and Math.

Other thoughts…….

I must thank Lucy for her wonderful post suggestion for the last day of school in 2013. It was Fa- La- -La- La- La-, La- La- La- Friday.  Well, this post just didn't ever happen! I have been thinking about it, and will put it in my pocket and save it for next year. Thanks, Lucy!

For Christmas, my son received a wonderful book by Mary Pope Osborne.  Tales From the Odyssey retells Homer's Odyssey in a narrative that is both accessible and rich.  We are reading them aloud, but fourth grade students could certainly enjoy these tales independently.  These stories are important building blocks for understanding literature. Besides, who can resist stories about Giant Cyclops and Lotus Eaters?


Happy New Year to all 201 students and families!  I will look forward to seeing you all soon!

Thinking About Hot Cocoa Thursday

Your kids produced some beautiful descriptive writing today.  Our mugs full of warm words will grace the Pod 200 bulletin board this January.

This evening at home....

• complete the My Math homework found on pages 435-438. Most kids finished 437-8 in class today.
• finish up those ROK cards.  I will check them tomorrow.
• read for pleasure and write a written response. Focus on one particular character or event. Do not write a summary.  Don't forget to use evidence from the text to back up your ideas.

Teaming With Life Tuesday

Plant life, that is……

Our trip to the Garfield Park Conservancy was fascinating.  We touched Sensitive Plants. We got a first hand look at those "flat, waxy leaves" that stumped some of us on last week's Science test. We saw vines that looked like snakes. We observed spores galore. We were amazed by pineapples, moss, giant leaves and cacti.  Students were great detectives, and all completed their scavenger hunt. Thank you to Ilhana's mom, Kesanet's mom, and Alex's mom for your great patience and volunteerism.  We couldn't have done it without you!

I apologize for this late post.  The blog was moving very slowly this afternoon.  If you completed your homework on Monday, there was no homework tonight! Really!

Enjoy the photos that I took today. If any parents has more, please send them to mport@cps.edu!
Thanks!

Who rearranged the coins in the fountain? Santa?

In the Fern Room

Gideon: Found!

Young Pineapple

Metamorphosis Monday

Hello Team201!


Today we......

• read our new story in Journeys, Arctic Journey and discussed the new vocabulary words.
• discussed the key points of persuasive writing
• worked in ST Math and ESparks
• continued to work on patterns, adding terms and creating number sequences
• got involved with our Science Fusion lesson on animals

This evening at home.....

• complete the My Math homework found on pages 429 and 430
• begin working on this week's ROK cards
•  read for pleasure and record
• answer the "analyze text" questions found in the boxes of Arctic Journey
• stay warm!
• bring a disposable lunch for tomorrow's field trip

Twists and Turns Thursday

Thanks, Gideon, for providing us with today's very creative title.  Gideon is making a reference to our work with patterns. We compared repeating and growing patterns, and discussed how to see the patterns in algebraic terms, creating equations with variables to represent a rule.


Congratulations, Lucy! Lucy will represent Team201 in next week's Spelling Bee.  Whoohoo!  Ani is our alternate competitor. All participants deserve a round of applause!  Details on the January Math Bee are T.B.A.


This evening at home.....

• Read Science Fusion pp.135-145 and complete the "active reading" activities.  Record this reading on your log.
• Rok Cards are due tomorrow.
• Complete the My Math homework on page 423 and 424
• Don't forget that we will take a reading test tomorrow.  We will review in the morning.
• Bring in your completed permission slip and trip money, please.  We can take four parents on the trip.  Please let me know if you would like to join us.

Winter Wednesday

Thank you, Ani, for providing today's post title!

Today we.....

• took our diagnostic Winter Maps assessment\
• worked on writing cinquains and haikus about snow
• worked with synonyms, antonyms and possessive nouns in our Reader's Notebooks
• worked on ST MATH patterns
• discussed tomorrow's Science test and used an interactive game to help us review

This evening at home....

• continue to work on your ROK cards. Four or more are due on Friday
• work on the My Math patterns lesson, pp. 413-416
• read for pleasure and record on the log.  Don't forget the signature!
• get your progress report signed and return the bottom half tomorrow.  Remember that these are mid-semester grades, and we have five weeks to raise those averages!
• please get your Math test signed

News......

• Field trip forms went home today.  We are going to the Garfield Park Conservatory next Tuesday. All money and forms are due by Monday.
• Our classroom Spelling Bee is tomorrow! The school-wide Bee is on the 19th.
• I have won a grant from the Chicago Foundation For Education.  

Tuesday Thoughts

This evening at home...

• complete the CC reading activity: Gold
• complete Check What You Know in My Math page 407
• don't forget that we are Math MAPS testing tomorrow
• continue to work on your ROK cards
• stay warm
• do something around the house to help.  Hang up your coat, empty the trash, and thank your parents for all that they do for you!

Math Versatiles Monday

This evening at home....

• Begin working on your ROK cards, which are due on Friday.  Keep them in a notebook.
• Complete the math review sheet. We will go over it in the morning to prepare for the test.
• Read Twisters, found on page 364,.  Compete the Text to Text questions on page 367.
• Don't forget that our classroom Spelling Bee is on Thursday.

Freezing Scene Friday

This weekend at home....

• Complete the Reading packet
• Complete the Science packet
• No Homework passes allowed on this one!

On  Monday we will

• Go over last night's extended response problems and review for Tuesday's math test
• Take the Winter MAPS assessment for math
• Review our Plants unit and prepare for Thursday's test
• Finish our travel brochures
• Read a new story in Journeys
• Finished Punished. I hope.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Thankful for Frankie Thursday

Today is Frankie's last day with Team201!  We wish him all of our best as he journeys to sunny Arizona.  The Grand Canyon State is lucky to have you Frankie!  We will miss you!


This evening at home......

• Complete the Math performance task.  We will complete the chapter review tomorrow and will be ready to test on MONDAY.
• Complete Hurricanes compare and contrast activity. This is a short answer, but it should include examples from each text.
• ROK card work (4) is due tomorrow. Scroll up to Tuesday's post to  see the directions.
• We will take our weekly reading test tomorrow.
• Heads up!  We will take a Science test next Thursday. I will send home a study guide tomorrow.

Thank you, Ubaid, for the bouncy ball!

Where Do New Plants Come From Wednesday

Today we did some serious investigating in the Science Lab.  We dissected flowers, identifying their reproductive and structural parts.  We extracted chlorophyll from the leaves, located eggs in the ovary, and tried our best to identify each part.  The diagram from our text was misleading, as it showed a different type of flower. I have posted some photographs on edmodo that are helpful. We will look at them tomorrow morning.

This evening at home......

• Complete the My Math homework found on pp.397-398
• Complete the Science packet and the "flower power" sheet.
• Read for pleasure for 25 minutes or more. Fill out your reading log and get a signature.
• Don't forget about ST Math at home, Extra Math, and Study Island!

*ST MATH is now tablet and i- Pad friendly!   A note went home today.
*We are practicing our facts each morning!  In January, Disney will hold its first annual Math Bee.  4th grade students will compete using addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.  

We need:

* Gold Bond paper for Gold Cards

* A new "bouncy ball" for classroom discussions. Our little globe has sprung a leak!

Text Features Tuesday

Today is guided reading we discussed both text and graphic features.  These features can't be ignored, and can provide crucial information, especially when the text is complex.  We also discussed some of the tricky phrases and questions that we encountered on yesterday's MAPS assessment. With hard work, we should  be Making Awesome Progress by the time the tulips are blooming.

ROK Cards are coming home today!  Each week, your child should select 4 or more cards.  In a journal, students will record the term, its definition, and a "show that you know" example. The term and the definition can be taken from the card. The definition should be an original example and can be a diagram or a written example.  I will check the ROK review every Friday.


This evening at home......

• Complete the CC Reading practice "Fulton's Success."
• Complete the CC Math practice

We will go over these tomorrow in class, so be prepared

• Select your ROK cards for the week and get started. Think about some of the terms you came across on the MAPS test.
• Read for pleasure, record, and get the Gold Card signed.

MAPS Monday

Welcome to December Team 201!

Today we checked our progress in Reading/Language Arts by taking the Winter Maps Assessment.  This is a diagnostic test, and is not required by CPS.  At Disney, we can use this information to help keep our students on track.  Students will now have new goals so that we can make sure they continue to thrive.  If your child remained static or dropped, I recommend logging on to Study Island at home, which is customized to meet your child's needs.  Next week, we will check on our Math growth.

Flu Alert! Several students in 201 have been, or are sick with flu symptoms.  Please be on the lookout and stay home if necessary.

This evening at home.....

• complete the My Math homework found on page 383 and 384 and finish any unfinished classwork. Show all of your work and write the equation for each problem/
• Reread this week's reading selections: Hurricanes and Katrina.    Use the texts to complete the Compare Texts questions on page 339: Text to Text. Your answer should be written in paragraph form.
• Some students did not finish last week's "Sum it Up" Science work for Unit 3, lesson 1. Please hand this in by Wednesday.