Thinking Thursday

Today we...
-Read about the Trojan War, made observations, and combined what we know with what we read, to make some insightful observations.
-We also took a math test, created allusions, discussed prepositions, worked on our Solar System Brochures, and did some morning math.

This evening at home...

• reread Hercules quest to make sure that you are ready for tomorrow's test.
• work on your West project, if not finished.
• read!

Can you believe that is almost time for Spring Testing? In class, we will use this link to get familiar with the IAR, formerly known as PARCC. This year, we will be taking the test online. These tutorials will help us get ready for the new format.

https://il.mypearsonsupport.com/tutorial/

One Wish Wednesday

We just made our Wednesday Wishes. Ask your child about his or her wishes.

This evening at home....
-Study for tomorrow's math test.
-Reread Zomo's Friends in Journeys.
-Complete the Text to Text activity. You will be comparing Hercules and Zomo. Venn Diagra is ok if the details are strong. Responses that do not contain evidence will not earn credit.

Yes, we will have a Reading Test on Friday.

Don't forget....
-The West project is due on Friday.
The Book Buffet is due 3/21

Take Notes Tuesday

It's all about annotating!
This evening at home....
-Use the Close Reading Bookmark to annotate the Hercules handout.
-Write two thick questions about the text.
-Finish the activities we started in class(post reading)
-Finish the Chapter Review. Students should be done with the evens. We have gone over a few of the problems and will finish the process tomorrow. Test: Thursday!

Many Moons Monday

This evening at home...
-Go Math HWP lesson 7.10 We will be ready for a test on Wednesday or Thursday
-Pandora's Box: finish the graphic organizer. Make sure that you also have at least ONE thick questions. This means that your questions does not have a one word answer.
-Readers Notebook pages 219/220
-Read

On your radar...
-The West project will be due on Friday. We will take one more class period to work on this.
-Hercules Quest Story Map. Some kids have not turned this in. These are the ones that I have: Azmayen, Kerry, Nicholas, Colin, Dakota, Afi, Daniella, Laila, Zizi, Damiya. This is late.

Freedom Friday

When we finished today's excerpts of TLTWATW, Aslan was being freed from his bonds. Stay tuned until next week's reading. Or, read on!

This weekend at home....

• finish The West questions. Most kids have already moved on the final project. Kids will have two mornings to finish the final project on Monday and Tuesday. This will then become an at home project, which was not my intention. The choices are: Illustrated Map of the West and Travel Brochure. I have all of the materials at school. Some kids took them home today.
• complete the hwp for Go Math lesson 7.9
• watch this video about subtracting Mixed Numbers, which is a tricky skill
• Read! Many kids are close to reaching their first Swag Tag!

Tete Thursday

In a few minutes, a special visitor will lead us in a French version of Simon Says. My mother, former french teacher, is here for a short visit today. Ask your kids about "la tete."

This evening at home...
-Go Math hwp 7.8
-Vocabulary: use this week's words, found in Hercules Quest, to complete one of the activities in the vocabulary packet. If you have lost the packet, please write a sentence for each word.
-Read!

There will not be a reading test tomorrow!!

One Wish Wednesday

When your kids come back from recess, I ask them, "What if you had just one wish?" I can't wait to hear their replies. Ask them about it this evening!
Today we also...
-worked on 5th grade Morning Math
-went to Science Art
-use photographs to help us make inferences and observations. We search for main ideas, details and story elements.
-met in small group with me to read about the origins Greek Mythology. You will see this passage at home tonight.
-read mythology Read Works.
-corrected last night's math homework
-added and subtracted mixed numbers.
-watched a Brainpop about constellations.
-went to the Science Lab to build Constellation Viewers. We investigated how different constellations are visible in different seasons.
-read The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe

This evening at home....
-finish reading and annotating the Mythology passage.
-use the graphic organizer to respond to the passage.
-Go Math hwp 7.7
-Read

Fractions Friday

Hello Team 201 Families...

-Please make sure that your child reads Hercules Quest in Journeys this weekend.
-Complete the HWP for Go Math 7.5. Yes, we skipped a lesson. After correcting last night's homework, I feel that we are ready.

Read!!

There is no school on Monday, in honor of Presidents Day.

Book Buffet Inspiration

Hello out there! I am posting some Book Buffet ideas that I hope will be helpful. Some of them are quite elaborate, others are less so.  You food choice does not have to be related to the book topic.  Select a food that is most appealing to you!

Remember...
The project is due 3/21
I must approve the book.
Follow the directions carefully. All writing must be in paragraph form. We are getting ready for 5th grade!

Happy Valentines Day

This evening at home....
HWP Go Math 7.3
Vocabulary Choices:
A) Write a silly or serious story that uses ALL of the vocabulary words.
B) Write a detailed, complex sentence for each word..
C) Draw a picture, with caption, for each word. The picture can be word art, a symbol or an icon.

Book Buffet: Please get your book approved!!!!
Many kids need glue sticks, headphones, etc. Please check your child's supplies.

Wednesday Wonders

Today we wondered about how  Earth rotates on on its axis and revolves around the sun. We wondered about ways to prove that this fact. We created "Earth Viewers" for our Mystery Science lesson. Kids will be bringing them home today.

This evening at home....

• finish the "Heritage Poem"
• complete the "Adjectives" activities.
• Read
• there is not regular math homework this evening. We had an assembly during math.

Tomorrow we celebrate Valentines Day. We will pass out cards at the end of the day and do some VDay themed learning activities.

Math tests are coming home today!☺

Tuesday Triumphs

Today we....

• worked on some advanced morning math
• worked on our West Q and A. Some are ready for the final project. Students will choose one of two options: Create an Illustrated Map or Create a Travel Brochure.
• went to Art
• spent some time discussing last night's homework and set some learning goals.
• worked with a partner to further research our next Black History project. 
• corrected last night's math homework and worked on "decomposing" fractions.
• met with Mrs. Ginn in small groups to discuss personification in Emily Dickinson's poem The Sky is Low.
• worked with partners to create acrostic poems
• learned more about how the Night and Day and the Seasons.

This evening at home...

• show your parents your Report Card. Parents, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. mport@cps.edu
• complete the hwp for Go Math 7.2. 
• Use Journeys to complete the Riding Freedom questions.

Notes...

• Parents, please sign and return the Book Buffet project form. This tells me that you are aware of this new project, which is due 3.21.
• We need disinfecting wipes so that we can clean up chairs and tables each day. 
• Don't forget about the 20 Book Challenge! 

Masterful Monday

Greetings Team201 Families,

While I haven't graded all of the math tests yet, I am liking what I am seeing so far! I appears that many made the most of the extra time to study this weekend.

Today we....

• did some "advanced" morning math.
• read about the western region and worked on our questions.
• watched a short video about "The West," and discussed its economy and land forms. 
• read and discussed Riding Freedom. This week we are discussing this questions: What traits lead to success?
• took conquered a math test.
• did some espark math to work on individual goals.
• recorded ourselves reading our MLK Persuasive Essay. Students had the opportunity to listen to themselves read. Students decided that the goal is to record a presentation that is clear, demonstrates good eye contact and is of course, engaging. I think that Nicholas' exact words were "Don't make it boring." Well said!
• read another chapter in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We discussed how Aslan could inspire both terror and love. Ask your child about the his paws!
• Introduced our new Science Fusion unit: How Do the Sun, Earth and Moon Interact?

This evening at home....

• read and annotate(highlights, symbols, notes) the Mini Pages Black History Sites
• develop two "thick" questions based on the reading. These questions must go beyond a one word or yes/no answer.  Focus on topics withing the reading about which you'd like to know more.
• complete the hwp for Go Math 7.1. Yes, it is true that we did not do the lesson in class. We have covered this material in class, however. I think that our kids are ready!
• get familiar with this week's vocabulary words.
• get the Book Buffet project signed. This project is due on 3/21. Read through the packet. We will have a Q and A session tomorrow in class.
• tell your parents about the 20 Book Challenge. Remember, the challenge began last Friday! Check out the flyer for more information.

Freezing, Freedom, Fastening Friday

This evening at home...

-Study for Math Test. The test is on Monday.
-In Journeys, read "Riding Freedom".
-If you did not finish your M.L.K. Writing or your Dance Poem, then publish it and do so.


HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!! Make sure to hang up your coat and hug your Mom and/or Dad. =)

That's Terrific Writing Thursday

We are working hard to create five paragraph essays. Right now, most kids are editing and revising their first drafts. Some of us are still in the drafting process. A few are still collecting evidence. One group is already in the final draft stage and are brainstorming title ideas.

This evening at home...

• finish the Math Review and get an adult to check your work. Parents, please sign!
• Thursday Folders will go home tomorrow!
• We have a reading test tomorrow.
• Read the companion piece: Dance to the Beat. Do the activity: Write a Dance Poem, found on page 304. We will publish them in class tomorrow.

We will take the math test on Monday!

Wednesday Words

This evening at home....
-Go Math 6.8. We will test either Friday or Monday.
-Tigers in the Snow: Read it, annotate it, and do the multiple choice questions. This article can be found in the "Lesson 15 Text Structures, Part 2" packet.
Annotation means: highlighting, notes and annotation marks on the page.

Thinking Tuesday

Hello Team201 Families,

This evening at home...

• read the Newsela article: Alternate Take: What if Martin Luther King hadn't been killed? 
• annotate the article using symbols, highlights, and notes.
• answer the four quiz questions at the end.
• Go Math HWP lesson 6.8
• read!!

Check out this video to learn some math tricks!

Making Up Monday

Today we tried to make up for time lost. Thanks to all of the kids who worked hard to stay up to date during the Polar Vortex.

Today we....

• worked on a developed "hook" paragraphs for our MLK Persuasive Essays.
• went to Library.
• worked on using 1/2 as a "benchmark " to compare fractions.
• worked on drafting our MLK evidence into actual paragraphs. It is hard work, but we are getting there.
• read!

This evening at home...

• Complete the HWP for Go Math lesson 6.5
• Pick a Dr. Martin Luther King quote using this link: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/martin_luther_king_jr
• Copy the quote. In 3 -5 sentences, explain what the quote means to you.
• Read!