Time Flies Thursday

Hello 201 Families,

I am so sorry that I was not in class today.  It is not looking too good for tomorrow either.  Today in class, I hope that students were able to create mini dictionaries to practice their vocabulary words. They also should have created a "Tim's TShirt" graphic to solidify their understanding of smilies and metaphors.  Students also worked in partners/teams to tackle a multi-step, open ended math problem. How was your trip to New York, Team 201? In Science, we continue our study of all things Energy.  We will be back in the lab in 2015!


Notes and Reminders.....

• We will take our regular Language/Reading test tomorrow.  If students need to retake, I will reteach and offer a retake when we get back.
• Winter Maps Testing begins the week we return to school .  201 is scheduled to take the Reading Test on the Tuesday we return.
• There will be no regular homework or packets sent home over the Winter Break. Parents who seek extra assignments can find them on ST Math, Myon, and Code.org.  Last week, I sent home a "MAPS Symbols and Vocabulary" packet.  Why not make some flash cards. Check out the tabs on this website, too. 

Welding with Frosting Wednesday

Today was Gingerbread House Day. We constructed. We welded. We got sticky.  Parents, thank you so much for sending in all of the supplies. We had more than enough.  Most kids are bringing home candy today.  I am not letting them take it to lunch.


This evening at home...

• Thank your parents for buying you the Gingerbread House supplies.  
• Complete the Mid Chapter Checkpoint on pp 233-234
• Read a book of your choice.  Write a solid paragraph about what you read.  What was the most interesting event or fact. Include examples from the text and relate it to another text you have read.  "This reminds me of........because.....they both......."

Metaphors Monday

Today we read a biography in Journeys that is a cornucopia of similes and metaphors.  See what I did there?  Today we also worked on using the Distributive Property to model division.  We also began our Southeast scrapbooks. In Science, we talked about static electricity.  Tomorrow, we will begin planning our Gingerbread Houses. Thanks to all of the kids who have already brought in supplies.

This evening at home...

• complete Go Math pp 231-232
• in Journeys, read Dance to the Beat on p. 304
• complete Readers Notebook pages 112 and 115

We do not need any more powdered sugar! Wednesday is G.H. day.  Please  bring in the supplies so that I know what I need to get to fill in the gaps.

Tough Math Take Two Thursday

Tonight at home.....

• complete Go Math pp. 225-226
• continue to work in Science Fusion through page 440
• Please look for the Gingerbread Math note that is going home today.

* Students, you must show your work in Math!  Use the classwork and samples to help you.

Weird Wednesday

This evening at home.....

• complete Go Math pp. 219-220  Please, write and equation and take some notes. You will most likely need a separate sheet of paper.
• In Science Fusion, read and do the activities found between pages  429-433
• Read and record on your log

Tough Competition Tuesday

Today we completed our classroom Spelling Bee. The competition was stiff. In the final 5 were Keiondre, Mahreen, Khaaliq, Afrah and Safwan.  I thought that we'd be beeing all day.

Congratulations Afrah! Afrah will represent 201 in the Intermediate Bee, and Safwan will be our alternate.  Thanks to everyone in 201 for participating and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship.

This evening......

• complete Readers Notebook pages  104, 105 and 107.
• complete Go Math pp. 213 and 214
• read and record on your log.

May I Have it in a Sentence Monday

In just a few minutes, we will hold our classroom Spelling Bee.  If we don't end up with a winner today, we will continue tomorrow.

Students are coming home with the Chapter 3 Math test today.    Parents, please sign the test and the corrections.  Corrections are due on Friday.

This evening at home.....

• Complete Go Math pp. 207/208
• Complete Readers Notebook pp.97/98
• Don't forget that you spelling and vocabulary words in the the Reader's Notebook and online.

Parents, I am looking for volunteer help next Wednesday. We will be doing a special math activity in the lunchroom. Let me know if you can help.  The activity will take place sometime between 8:30 and 10:00.

Find a Title Later Friday

This weekend at home...

• Unfinished work? Finish it!  These are the items that I need by Monday:  Wampanoag/Pilgrim book ( don't forget the ten questions), Chemical and Physical Changes cartoon, Analyze Test questions ( Rommie), morning work
• Read and record once or more
• Don't forget that picture retakes are Monday. If you want to retake, just bring in the other pack of photos. There will not be a charge.
• Our classroom Spelling Bee is Monday.

Thinking Through Tough Division Thursday

Thanks Sam and Martha, for your help with today's title!

Please see yesterday's late post for some grammar videos and important information about the Spelling Bee and picture retakes.

This evening at home......

• complete the "idiom of the week" page
• work on Go Math pp.201 and 202
• don't forget that we have our weekly test tomorrow. You can find the spelling words and the vocabulary in the Readers Notebook. You can also find the list by clicking on the Study Guides tab at the top of the blog.

Way Too Late For This Post To Be Of Any Help Wednesday

Well, this Wednesday afternoon sort of got away from me.  Hopefully the 201 kids were responsible students who copied the assignments that were written on the board, and accepted the teacher guidance about placing one's Readers Notebook in one's book bag.   Remember, if the blog isn't updated, you can always send out a group post on Edmodo. Someone out there in Team201 Land will know what's going on!

This evening at home you should have......

• completed the first two Readers Notebook pages about Progressive Verbs.  We talked about them for a few minutes today, and will give them much more time tomorrow. Progressive Verbs: Yeah!  
• completed the work on your Math Test corrections.  Many kids turned this in today, so some students didn't have any math homework this evening.

Today we.....

• took the Chapter 3 Go Math test.  Your kids were great test takers.  They asked questions. They persevered.  I hope to get them all graded by tomorrow.  They will go home either tomorrow or Friday.
• went to the Music Box Theater and enjoyed a wonderful selection from the Chicago Children's Film Festival: Tough Guys.  The film was created in Norway, and included subtitles.  It was a moving tale about bullying.  We had an interesting discussion post-show.  We talked about what we liked, what was true-to-life, and what the film could have/should have done differently.

Newsflash:

• Tomorrow we get a new math book!
• Picture Retakes will be on December 10th!
• Our classroom spelling Bee will be held on Monday.
• Guess what we will be talking about tomorrow?  Take a look!  

Can you find the progressive verbs in this post?  They might be in the present, past or future tense. Go!

I hope that I got  today's title  wrong, and that this post is, in fact, helpful!

Tuesday Tribune

Today's title was tough. Thanks, Martha, for helping me through my writer's block.  Maybe we should call it Tough to Think of a Title Tuesday?  Next time.

I will update the homework later.  Right now, I am posting a link to help you practice your vocabulary words.  I am also posting a link to the Romaine Bearden website. You will find lots of information here about his life and art. There are links to fun activities too!   Play and learn.

http://quizlet.com/676608/me-and-uncle-romie-flash-cards/

http://www.beardenfoundation.org/education/activity.shtml

This evening at home......

• Finish the Math Review Pages. We did the evens in class today. We will take our test in the morning.
• In Journeys, please read the companion piece,  248-250.  Then, complete the Compare Texts found on page 251. Pick one of the activities and answer in writing.
• Don't forget to bring a bag lunch tomorrow! K.S., bring your permission slip!

Math Tests Finally Making It Home Monday

Hello Team201 Families,

Today, students are finally bringing home the Chapter 2 Math Test.  Please read the note that is attached to the test.  We should be ready to take the Chapter 3 test on Wednesday. I hope to get it done before we leave for our trip.


This evening at home.....

• Read and record on your new Gold Card
• In Journeys, read Me and Uncle Rommie. Then, complete the Readers Notebook pages 85, 88 and 89
• Complete the Go Math pp.187/188

Don't forget that we go to the Film Festival on Wednesday.  All kids will need a bag lunch!