Thrugly Thursday

Today was "ugly sweater day," but I think that the 201 kids looked great today. No ugly in here-just many festive colors.

Today we...
-worked with partners to hone our reading detective skills as we worked on "drawing conclusions" based on text evidence.
-practiced using the Distributive Property to break apart dividends and find quotients.
-read!
-revisited yesterday's Science Lab and discussed claims and evidence about why the dinosaurs became extinct.
-continued our travel through the South West Region.
-worked to finish our Cesar Chavez Newspaper.
-went to gym, lunch, etc.

This evening at home...
-finish and edit your Chavez paper. These kids are finished: DP, LB, ZK, DK, KK,. Most kids have just one section to finish.
-complete the even problems in the 4.6 Go Math homework.
-If you are finished with the Chavez paper, you must read for 30 minutes and bring a note. Everyone else, should read for 20 minutes, at the least. Please bring a note. Only 10 kids brought a "reading note" yesterday.
-Thursday Folders: please empty these and sign! :-)

Wednesday

This evening at home...
-Pldase do the back page(224) of the 4.5 class work and problem 20 on page 223. These problems should be circled in your child's book
-Kids, ask your parents to write a note indicating that you have read for 25 minutes today.
-Parents, the Chapter 4 Math tests are coming home today!

Thanks for sending in all of the gingerbread supplies! Our creations are messy, but it was a fun process. Many kids were able to create standing models. Bravo!

Twinkle Tuesday

Hello Team 201 Families!

Wow! What a fantastic job your kids did in the CAC! If you have photos, please email them to me.

Tomorrow is GingerBread STEAM day. STEAM stands for Science Technology Engineering Art and Math. The challenge is to create a structure that can stand up without supports. We will be working our designs now.
Materials Needed for Class
-plastic knives or spoons
Materials needed for each child:
-tub of white frosting
-graham crackers
-small candies

This evening at home...
hwp for Go Math 4.5
Chavez Chronicle: Finish these sections: Crops/CC Works for Migrant Farm Workers/Question of the Week.  Remember to use details from the text.

Time to Shine Thursday

Tomorrow is the big day. Doors open at 8:45 and the show starts at 9:00. It should be over between 9:30 and 9:45.

Don’t forget to wear all black tomorrow!!!

The Craters have donated bags of chips and juice boxes. Here a couple things we could use:
-Paper plates
-small cups

Our pizza party will be at about 11:00. We will go to our regular lunch period at 12:30.  Students may want to bring a light lunch/snack, and school lunch will be offered.

Good To Know:

• The Gingerbread Challenge is next Wednesday. Please bring in supplies: small candies, a tub of white frosting, and some graham crackers.
• Progress Reports go home tomorrow. Remember, these grades are just a "snapshot." The gradebook is open.
• Next week will be more "normal." Expect homework and a reading test on Friday.

Thanks for all of your support at home. Your kids are amazing!!!

Way to Go Wednesday

Show business is hard work, and your kids worked hard today!

Tomorrow is picture day!!

Please try to bring in exact change for PIZZA Money, which is due tomorrow! The cost is $3.50.
Progress Reports go home on Friday. Remember, this is just a five week "snapshot."
Gingerbread house supplies: Please bring them in by Wednesday, which is our construction day. Here is what we need:
-a tub of white frosting
-Graham crackers
-small candies.


Back to rehearsal!!

Musical Monday

Hello Team 201 Families!

Quick Reminders:
-Pizza forms went home last week. We are collecting $3.50 for our post-CAC party. Please bring in the money tomorrow. Dollars and quarters would be most helpful!
-Thursday is Picture Day!
-Our CAC Performance is this Friday at 9:00. Please join us!
-This evening's homework is to read and practice those lines!! Show business is hard work!
-On Friday, kids should wear a black "base" layer. This means black pants or leggings for the gals and black shirts for all. No graphics, please. If you don't have a plain black T, just wear one inside- out.

Fantabulous Friday

Today we....

• created.
• collaborated.
• thought critically.
• communicated, orally and artistically.

CAC Updates:

• Thanks to all of the parents who have donated time and resources. Janelle's mom and Nicholas' mom have been working behind the scenes. Mia's mom might be ready to open her own dress shop! She has been creating costumes at home and at school. Damiya's mom has been creating props and helping us facilitate art.
• Parents, I know that not all of you are able to donate time. If you have just one day, I hope you can attend our show next Friday! Every child will be on stage performing.

Things we no longer need:

-elastic

-sunglasses

Things we do need:

-Glow sticks necklaces and bracelets. It would be great if each child had more than one!

-Each kid to come to school wearing a black "base" layer on Friday.

-Pizza money! Just one student has brought in the 3.50 that we need in order to order post-show pizza.

-Parents! I know that many of you will be in next week. Let me know if you can come join us. Or, just show up! We will be happy to put you to work.

This weekend at home....

• Practice your lines and your dance moves. Remember to find the beat and enunciate!
• READ

Fantastic job this week, Fantasticos 201!

Wacky Wednesday

This evening at home....

• Study your lines!
• Read!
• Create visual "vocab" cards for 2-4 words from our script. Use the bold words. Find out what the word means and describe the meaning. Create a visual and an example.
• No math homework this evening. Facts!

Time to Shine Tuesday

Phew! So much to do!
Any parent who would like to volunteer in the CAC and has "approved" status may come on in any day this week! Send me a quick email to let me know, or just show up!

Things we need:
Glow sticks necklaces and bracelets Lots of them!
Each child can bring in an 8x10 frame. Dollar Tree has inexpensive options.
Black framed glasses. No lenses necessary.

Base costume for most students (not Tourists)
-Black pants or leggings (no graphics).
-Black t shirt or turtleneck (no graphics).
-There is no need to bring these items in ahead of time. Just wear them to school on performance day.

Picture Day is Thursday, 12/13! Forms are going home today.

This evening:
Practice your lines
Practice the song
Interpret the Remainder practice sheet.

Making Memories Monday

Today was our first day in the CAC. Parents who want/can volunteer, please let me know. I am happy to see you any time! Any parent who does not have time to come in, but does have time to run to the fabric store, please let me know.  I will reimburse you.  This would be a tremendous help!


Today we shared this weekend's Heritage Activity. We also created culture pennants using water color pencils and sharpies. After recess, we will practice our final Pod song.   Math kept us busy today. We reviewed basic division with two digit dividends and them moved on to "interpreting remainders." This is a tricky skill. Kids need to read carefully and really think about the problem and what it asks. Take some time to look over and give support on tonight's homework if possible.


This evening at home...

• In Journeys, read Harvesting Hope.
• Complete the HWP for lesson 4.3
• Read!!

GTK;

-Our show is 12/14 at about 9:00. Every child in 201 will have a speaking part. I hope that you can come!

-201 will be making gingerbread houses the  week of 12/17. We will use milk cartons from school. Kids will be responsible for bringing in white frosting, graham crackers, and assorted candies. If anything is on sale, you might want to buy this week. I will be sending home a supply list soon.

Friday Funday

This weekend at home...
-Finish coloring the flag.
-Finish the Immigration/Heritage sheet. Do the best you can!
-Read.
-Make sure that you bring sharpened pencils to school on Monday.
Don't forget to bring a book to school.

*If you did not finish the Snake Project, get it to me asap. It is late.

Parents, there is a CAC note in the backpack!

Thankful Thursday

We are a week off, but still thankful.

This evening at home...
-Dear Mr. Winston comprehension
-Division with remainders sheet. The two digit divisor problems are "challenge" work. Try em!!
read
Reading Test tomorrow

Web Wednesday

This evening at home...
-In the SW magazine, read and ANNOTATE Toward Statehood and  The Mexican American War. For each article, write down one fun fact and two questions.
-IXL Math or Math FActs practice. Get signature.
-Read

Times Tables Tuesday

Hello Team 201-

Today we spent a bunch of time preparing for tomorrow's math test. Kids who know their times tables "like that" are at a distinct advantage. We are going for 100% Master of facts, 1-12!

Tomorrow's math test will be about 7 questions shorter than usual. I am focusing on what I think are the essential skills. Kids need to know how to find common factors and explain the difference between prime and composite numbers. They will be asked to find factors of a given number and test for divisibility. They will be also be asked to find, describe and continue number patterns.

This evening at home...
-Study for the Math test!
-Read!
-In the Southwest Magazine, read or reread the pages titled: Early History of the Southwest.  Annotate the page(not just highlight).
-Write down one fun fact and two questions you have about what you read.

Messy Morning Monday

Hello Team 201 Families!

It was great to see so many of you in school today and to hear about Thanksgiving holiday celebrations.

Today we...
-warmed up with some morning math
-discussed this week's vocabulary words.
-read and discussed Dear Mr. Winston, this week's Journeys selection.
-gave "shout outs" to kids that did a fantabulous job using the rubric and online checklist to guide their work on the Southeast Scrapbook project.
-continued our work with number patterns in lesson 5.6. We will be ready to Test on Wednesday or Thursday.
-Read!
-Discussed food webs and food chains.

This evening at home...

• complete the double sided "word work" page: Spelling Word Sort and Vocabulary Blanks. You do NOT need to do the "Make your own fill in the blank" activity on the very bottom of the page.
• Complete problems 1-8 in the Chapter Review.
• Read!
• *Show your parents the Math Test. Kids who want to do corrections on a separate sheet of paper may do so. Each correction must include all work and an explanation. 

Have you finished any books this year? Make sure to bring in a list so that you can add it to your Readers Notebook.

Kids who were absent today....

-Read Dear Mr. Winston.

-try to complete page 97 and 98 in the Journeys Readers Notebook. You can find it on Think Central. If you can't find it, you will get the page when you return from school.

-We finished the hwp for lesson 5.6 in class today, FYI. 

Thankful Tuesday

Hello Team 201 Families!

I hope that you all enjoy a restful Thanksgiving break! This long weekend, there is not any regularly assigned homework.

All students should be reading this weekend!

Extra activities...

• IXL Reading and Math
• Practice Math Facts
• Read some more!
• Look over Go Math Chapter 5. We will work on the Review next Monday and should be ready to test on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Our first day in the CAC is December 3! Get ready for Disney Diversity...Passport to the Future. We will be celebrating all things Disney: our unique and shared culture, and the many skills we are learning that will carry us into the 21st century. 

MMMMMMMonday

Many kids are chattering about the temperature outside. All kids need hats, mittens, and warm coats to be prepared for recess. Remember, the roof top playground is cold and windy.

This evening at home:
-finish the factors and multiples work.
-IXL Math D. 4, A.14, L.8, D.5, E.16,E.17   You won't be able to finish all of this,  but spend about 30 minutes on math homework tonight.
-Finish the Humphrey Comprehension . We have a test on the vocabulary and the comp tomorrow.
-Read

Ask your child about today's Owl Pellet Lab!
Tomorrow's activities will be centered around Thanksgiving.

Fine Time Friday

Today's trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory was fantastic. Many thanks to our parent volunteers! 

This weekend at home....
1.Put finishing touches on the SE Scrapbook. It is due MOnday. Late projects will lose points.   Use the rubric on the back to make sure that you are on track. Below, you will find the checklist we have been using in school.
Southeast Scrapbook Checklist

• Paragraphs use complete sentences. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are correct.
• Each picture is detailed and colored.
• Each picture contains an informative caption
• The back page is complete.
• I have read the rubric on the back and completed

all
of
the
tasks.
***I have
created a cover page

for my scrapbook that will attract the reader!

Thinking Thursday

This evening at home...
-Complete the HW and P for Go Math lesson 5.5
-Read!
-Pack a bag lunch for tomorrow's FIELD TRIP


Here are some snapshots of today's learning:

Time Flies Tuesday

Tomorrow is Conference Day!

All students were given a note today that confirms your appointment time. I will do my best to stay on schedule. If we need to talk for more than the allotted 10 minutes, let's make sure to schedule an additional phone or face to face conference.

If you did not schedule an appointment, it is not too late!

Click here to find available times.

Parents, if your schedule changes, please note that I will have report cards waiting at your child's "homebase" spot.  Feel free to sign in and grab the report card. We can reschedule our meeting. You may want to look at the report card while you are waiting for me. No problem! 

Today we....

• Worked on the SE Scrapbook Project
• Reviewed multiplication comparisons
• read and listened to The World According the Humphrey.
• corrected last night's math homework and reviewed how to find common factors.
• wrote Q1 Reflections and recorded a special video message for YOU, parents.
• met in small groups to work on finding multiples and factors.
• went to Art
• wrote down our homework

This evening at home....

• Check your assignment notebook! Kids were told today that they would need to be responsible for writing down the homework correctly.  It will not be posted this time. Parents, check the assignment notebook. It should be there. Hint: There is some math, there is some reading and there is some IXL for kids who have access.

GTK

• Our Field Trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory is this Friday. All students should bring a lunch. We will be eating at school, but will eat a picnic lunch in the classroom.
• Parent helpers should arrive at about 9. We will leave at 9:15. Parents, I will ask that you do not buy your group food at the Conservatory. Thank you!
• Next week is another short week. We will be together on Monday and Tuesday and then break for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
• The following Monday is our first day in the CAC! Wow! Parents, we will be sending home a letter about volunteering soon.

Fun Times Friday

This LONG weekend at home....

• help your parents with some chores around the house.
• be kind to someone smaller than you.
• do the Go Math hw and practice for lesson 5.3. Remember, this is all about common multiples.
• read. Read some more.
• you should be done with about 75% of the SS project. Pictures need captions that are informative.

There are still a few parents that have not selected a time slot for conferences. Please sign up!! Scroll back in the blog to find the sign up link.

Next week:

-No School Monday.

-No school Wednesday. Parent Teacher Conferences

-Field Trip Friday.

Thursday Thoughts

Hi Team 201 Families!

Reminders:

• Please bring in trip money and forms tomorrow! I am turning it in in the morning.
• Please sign the Thursday folder to indicate that your child has read.
• Don't forget to sign up for a Parent Teacher conference!

This evening at home...

-complete one more section of the SE scrapbook. Remember: Use your own words.  You are writing a paragraph.  Add an informative caption to the illustration.

-HW and P 5.2- Use the divisibility rules chart to help you!
-Read!

Wacky Kids Wednesday

Parents, you will notice that we have skipped a chapter in Go Math. We will do Chapter 5 and then cycle back to 4. Chapter 5 deals with multiplication concepts: factors, multiples, prime, composite and divisibility. Multiplication MASTERY will be essential for success in this and other chapters. Practice at home, please!

This evening....
-Practice multiplication facts. Get a confirmation note signed. My child practiced for 10 minutes or more.
-Go Math 5.1 hw and p.
-Finish the TEXT Features flap book. Kids who are "all caught up" have just two sections to do this evening.
-read

Field Trip: money and forms
Book Fair: tomorrow at about noon.
Conferences: Please sign up online. Scroll down to find the post.

Tumnus Tuesday

This evening at home...
-practice multiplication and division facts and go on ixl grade 5 Division.
-color in your Science Notes from today
-Read a book of your choice. Write a one paragraph reflection. You can write about...
*your favorite part
*a character
*the author's style
*any opinion you have.
Do NOT Write a Summary
Don't forget to include text evidence.

Remind parents about Report Card sign up.
Field trip money! $7.00.

Today we began reading The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. I have about 10 battered copies. If you are able to get your child a copy, please do! I am also open to donations.
amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-Chronicles-Narnia/dp/0064404994/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

If you have a copy, bring it in!

Movie Monday

This evening at home....
-Study for Chapter 3 Math Test
-Read!!
-Do the Theme activities. Use complete sentences!!!

Tell your parents to sign up for a conference!

Parent Teach Conference Sign Up

Click on the link to sign up for a Parent Teacher Conference. Conference/Report Card Pick Day is Wednesday, November 14. I am looking forward to meeting with 201 families.

Please let me know if you are having sign up issues. Send me an email, and I can reserve a spot for you.

Best,
MB Ginn

Sign Up Genius: Fall Conferences

Thorny, Tired, Terrible (because I won't see you tomorrow) Thursday

GTK
-There is no school for kiddos tomorrow.
-On Monday, we go to the Film Fest. We will eat lunch at school. No special lunch is required.
-It's Thursday! Thursday Folders are coming home today. If your child DOES not come home with a Thursday Folder, please get them a new one. It is lost.
-We will take the Chapter 3 Math test on Tuesday.
-November 8 is Book Fair Day for 201.
-Check back later to find  the Report Card Conference Sign up.  All appointments will be made online this year.
-IMPORTANT! There is a second FIELD TRIP form in today's Thursday Folder. We are going to the Garfield Park Conservatory.

This long weekend at home....
-Bird Beak Lab: Answer the questions.
-Read for a hour or more over the long weekend.Get a signature.
-Review the Math Review. Get each page signed by a parent. Equations and work!
-Text Structure Book: Order and Sequence Page

Encouraged:
IXL Math Grade 5
ST Math
Extra Reading

Wacky Wednesday

I hope that you all had a very happy Halloween and that you believed your children when they told you there there was not any homework assigned this evening!

We had a great day in 201! Thank you to Damiya's mom for organizing our treat bags. Thanks to all of the 201 families who brought in treats to share. We had more than enough for all. 

Today we...

-did some morning math warm ups

-went to Science Art

-read, reread, and discussed "Mr. Macklin's Jack O'Lantern" by David McCord. We discussed the poem's tone and mood. We found literary devices. 

-solved The Case of the Tricking Treat. First, we solved math problems. Then, we cracked a code. Next, we eliminated suspects. Several problems and codes later, many finally solved the crime!

-turned into birds in the Science Lab. Each child had a different "beak" and travelled to different "habitats."

-Went to lunch and recess.

-Enjoyed some free time with friends at the end of the day!

Math Tantrum Tuesday

Do All of the hwp for lesson 3.7 .Write equations. Show all work

Today I, and others, had a mini-math tantrum. These multi step problems are difficult.Every kid in this room CAN do this work. Staring at the problem is not a strategy. Underline. Take notes. Make sense of what is happening. Match words to number. Write an equation. This is what trying looks like! Go for it!!
Suffixes practice: -able,-ible
-Read!


Halloween Notes:
-Kids may wear a costume to school.  Kids will not be changing in and out of costumes. Come to school dressed for the day!
-Candy: you may bring some. There are 26 kids in our class. Only bring the amount that you intend to share. We will not be returning large bags of candy.
-In the morning, I could use some help assembling treat bags. If you are on the "approved" list and can help for about an hour, please let me know via email. mport@cps.edu

We will take the Chapter 3 Math test on Monday.
Don't forget, there is not school on Friday

Making the Magic Happen Math Monday

This evening at home....
-hwp lesson 3.6. Do these problems: 2,6,8,9 on page 181. On page 182: 2,4,5, and 6.
-Science Handout
-Read!
-finish the Ant handout that was classwork.

* The Dia de los Muertos project is optional. This is a school-wide project.
*Check the website for Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up! I will be scheduling appointments. I hope to have this up and running early this week. Check the blog for updates.

Don't forget that there is no school for kids on Friday!!

Bird Beaks!

Feet, Feathers, Beaks! How are birds adapted to thrive and survive in a habitat? Why aren't all beaks the same? Why do birds' feet and body structure differ?

Click on the link below to learn the answer to these questions and more!

https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/birds/types-beak/

Freaky Friday

This weekend at home...

• Some kids have some work to get finished!
• Haunted House For Sale Final Draft
• Northeast postcards and cover!

Thaunted Thouse Thursday- it's Terrifying!

This evening at home...
*Thursday Folder: Sign and indicate that your child is reading each night. Take out graded work.
-Go Math 3.5- Mid Chapter Checkpoint tomorrow: partial products, distributive property, compatible numbers, estimation
-Complete a first draft of the Haunted House Real Estate Listing. This should be written on lined paper. Drafts should include:
*topic sentences
*description of downstairs
*Description of upstairs
*description of the yard and neighborhood
*Closing sentences

Remember, you are a real estate agent. Your job is to sell, Sell, SELL!

We will edit and publish in class tomorrow.

Alert! I have never heard so much coughing and sneezing! Hot tea is recommended. As is rest!
Notes about Halloween are going home today.

Today we...
-collected leaves, went to the Science lab to label, rub and complete scientific drawings.
-read a bunch, worked on math, talked about the Colonies and did a bunch of other stuff I don't have time to write about now.:-)


This evening at home...

- It's/ its/there/their/they're practice
***Use the C label if it is a contraction. Use the P label if it is possessive.
-READ
-Go Math hwp 3.4

Its/It's tips!

It's is a contraction. It plus is equals it's If you can substitute it is, it's a contraction.

Its shows possession. The goofy dog chased its tail for hours.P

Number one should look like this.
If it's bothering you so much, you should report it. C

Tutoring Tuesday

Thank you, Nariah and Mia for providing today's title.

This evening at home....

• Go Math 3.3
• RN pages: 135,136,139,140
• Please bring in some leaves. Not too crinkly, please. Leaves of any shape and size are fine. We need them for the lab. If you can find pine cones or needle(not the sewing kind), please bring these in!

Mightiest Storms Monday

Hello Team 201 Families,

There must be something going around! Four of our Fantasticos are not at school today. I hope that all are feeling better soon
.

Field Trip forms and money are due tomorrow! Parents, please note that in order to join us on Field Trips, you need to be registered as "approved" from the Board of Education.  I know that some have taken the first steps and are waiting for the Board to finalize. Thank you! If you have not begun the process, please do. Click on the tab to start: "CPS Parent University.

Extra Math sign-up sheets went home on Friday. Parents, please register your child using the letter I provided. You child's account will be connected to your email. Extra Math is a great way to stay "math fact" sharp. The program starts with addition and subtraction. As you get faster, you will be advanced to more difficult skills.

Today we...

• continued our Antarctica Research. Most should be finished this afternoon. 
• discussed how the Northeast was colonized and how British taxation led to the colonists' frustration.
• went to library
• learned a few tricks to make estimating large numbers easier. Today, we worked with compatible numbers, and talked about why 25 gets along with others so well. Hint: it is all about the $$$$$$!
• read and discussed Hurricanes, Earth's Mightiest Storms.  We talked about how to make sense of confusing diagrams. Captions and headings are our friends!

This evening at home...

• in Journeys, read Surviving Katrina.
• complete the Text to Text activity found on page 339. No Venn Diagrams, please. Write a paragraph. 
• complete the hwp for lesson 3.2 in Go Math

KIds who are not finished with the Penguin Project will be bringing this home. I need it by Thursday! All projects should be fully colored and contained an additional 10 fun facts. Use the blog to help. Remember, you can add maps, diagrams, pictures with captions, whatever!  Your fun facts can be about Antarctica in general. You may want to learn more about the climate or marine life.

Bring in some leaves, cones, needles! 

Friday!!!

• This weekend, read the Journeys selection: Hurricanes, Earth's Mightiest Storms.
• Finish you Leaf/October poem. It should be "presentation-ready!"
• Field Trip forms and money are due on Tuesday.  They are going home today!
• Check Think Central or the Parent Portal for the results from the math and reading tests.

Have a great weekend!

Parents, if you have not completed the CPS volunteer form, please do so. We need you!!!

Thomthing Thrange Thursday

 Math tests are available on Think Central. Please check it out! Parents, please sign the Thursday Folder!!       This evening at home...

This evening at home....

- Go Math Chapter 3: Show what you know (front and back)

 Having Computer Issues!! Chapter 3 Show What You Know...... October Similes........Read!