Frozen Friday

Thank you, Alina, for today's title. When the sun is shining, the freezing is tolerable. Today we...
-took at reading test
-made time for independent reading and espark
-enjoyed our monthly incentive.
-at lunch
-took a spelling test
-visited the African American displays in the CAC Dining Room
-Had a closing meeting
-went to Ms. Kosteki

This weekend at home....
-Log on to Think Central to look at this week's reading test.
-Check the "adages and proverbs" questions.
-For any one of these "adages and proverbs" questions that is incorrect do this:

• Copy the adage/proverb
• look it up
• write down its meaning and give an example

*Get a signature on the Book Buffet Project. Bring it to school on Monday.

*Begin selecting a book. The book must be fiction and must be new to you. Please bring in the book, or the title and author so that I can approve it.

READ!

We need antibacterial wipes, desperately!
There is a confirmed case of strep throat in the pod. Please don't ignore sore throats. :-)

Thursday

This evening at home...

201: Finish the Percy Pages that we worked on today. You can find the text linked on this blog.
-Study for the spelling and reading tests: go over vocabulary words, etc.

202: Use the Venn Diagram to to write a compare and contrast paragraph about Zomo's friends and Hercules Quest. You must indent! You must use compare and contrast key words. See yesterday's blog post for tips. Remember, a paragraph is seven to ten sentences!

Everyone: *Don't forget that there is a spelling/reading test tomorrow.
* I will collect the completed Hercules packets tomorrow. You may use them to study this evening.

Parents, please look over the Book Buffet project guidelines. This project is due on April 1. However, there are some important deadlines.
*The Parent letter must be signed by Monday. All books must be approved by next Friday.

*Volunteers Needed: if any "approved" parent can come in tomorrow, the pod needs help with bulletin boards.  Send me an email! mport@cps.edu

Wondering Wednesday

This evening at home...
202- Finish the Ice Cream book. Also, make sure that all of the writing for the Brilliance project is done. We can cut and color in class tomorrow. You are welcome to do this at home.
*Read!

201- Turn today's Compare and Contrast Venn Diagram into a paragraph. One paragraph. This paragraph should contain 7-10 sentences. It should contain "Compare and Contrast" key words. It should be indented. Remember, the topic is Zomo's Friends/Hercules Quest.

*read
*Fan Books were due today. They are late! The following students met the deadline: Heaven, Mical, Eliana, Grace, Audrey, Liam, Maddox, Elliot, Ezabella, Alina, Justin.

201 and 202- I will be collecting the Hercules Packets on Friday.  They should be 100% complete by then.

Time to Think Tuesday

Today's song of the day was Redemption Song, by Bob Marley. We listened to the acoustic version. Right now, we are featuring some more Bob Marley in the background, as we work on our Brilliance project.

This evening at home....
-Use this link to get to know this week's vocabulary words a better.
https://quizlet.com/24944535/hercules-quest-vocabulary-flash-cards/
-In the "ice cream book" complete the Order and Sequence page.
-201: The Social Studies Fan book is due tomorrow!

*Don't forget that we a spelling and reading test this Friday.

Making Memories Monday

I am so proud of how hard Team 202 is working right now. We on the way toward some solid Black History Brilliance essays.

This evening at home...

• Complete the Hercules' Quest vocabulary activity, found on the second page of the packet.
• All students should be finished with the first two comprehension pages.
• Ask your child about the Riding Freedom activities. A few students are missing this work. I need it by Thursday, or it will be entered as a zero for the progress report.
• READ

201 Students, the SW Fan book must be complete by Wednesday, including the "fun fact" on the back of each state card.

FreezingfarmsfunFriday

Freezing: It was too cold for outdoor recess, according to policy.
Farms: We learned that Texas has more farms than any other state.
Fun: It is so much fun to be in 201, kids want to stay here all weekend. This may be hyperbole or just false, but I am going with it.
Friday: Well, it's Friday.


This weekend at home....
-Click on the Newsela link/tab.  Follow the directions to create an account. 
-Read.
-Southwest Fan book: We will devote just one more class to this project. If you are not ALMOST done, please work on it this weekend.

Next week, we will take both a reading and a spelling test. The words can be found on the front page of the Hercules packet. 

That's Thinking Thursday

This evening at home....
-Read! Idea: read one of the myths assigned on Think Central, or Life in Ancient Greece. You may also read a book of your choice.
-Complete the Vocabulary Crossword, found on the first page of the Hercules packet. Do NOT do the other pages. Bring the packet to school tomorrow.

Today we....
-worked on our Brilliant Black History research.
-read some myths
-worked on text structure, focusing on the  problem and solution structure, which is found in Hercules' Quest. 

It is not too late to register for Six Flags Read to Succeed. The link was posted months ago, but I am posting again, just in case there are any more students who want that free Six Flags ticket. Students who register and enter their reading minutes do not need to bring me the Log sheet.

SixFlagsReadtoSucceed
Enter our class code: JCJZA

Working Walking Wednesday

Thanks to the members of 202, who devised today's title.

This evening at home...
-Complete the Hercules activity. There should be an entry for each page of reading.
-Read!

Page number                             Events(2-3 bullets)                                    I notice/I infer/ I think

Terrific Tuesday

Hello Team 201 and Team 202,

I am so happy to be back in school today. Today we spent some time rereading Riding Freedom. We also discussed adjectives, how they modify nouns, and generated some examples.  Both 201 and 202 took a Reading Test today. This afternoon, 201 will work on creating a Southwest states fan book. We will use links to do some research about each state in the region, and we'll explore some of the region's many landmarks.

This evening at home...
-Read Hercules Quest in Journeys.
-Write a summary paragraph. The summary should be about 7-10 sentences. Indent the paragraph. Use the SBWBST guidelines to help you. Do not label the paragraph with SWBST. 
-We will not take another reading test until next Friday.

Wishing Wednesday

Hello Team 201 and 202 families,

As many know, I am out of town due to a family emergency. 201 and 202 students are moving right along, doing their regularly scheduled activities.  Here are some notes to keep you current.
-The substitute teacher may assign unfinished class work as homework.
-25-30 minutes of reading, each evening, is my expectation.
-Our trip to Facets is this Friday.  I will update the blog later with any important details regarding the trip.  Please bring a bag lunch.  We will eat at school, in the classroom.
-We will take a test on Journeys Riding Freedom next Tuesday.  Our next story is Hercules Journey.  Yay!
-There is no school this Monday, in honor of Presidents Day.
-Next week, we will spend class time working on an integrated writing and Social Science project that highlights Black History.
-I am looking forward to seeing the finished Geometrocity projects!

Thanks for your patience and well wishes this week!

Marvelous Monday

Hello Team 201 and 202 Families...

Thanks to all of the kids who came in ready to work on the Geometrocity!
This week's story is Riding Freedom.
We will take the reading test next Monday, due to Friday's trip.

201 Homework:
-In Journeys, complete the Classroom Conversation questions found on page 486. Use complete sentences to answer each question.
-Read.
-If you did not finish coloring and cutting the Geometrocity shapes over the weekend, do it tonight!

202 Homework:
-Finish the blue "vocabulary rectangles" we began in class. Each space should "show that you know" the word. Illustrations are o.k.. Color is great!
-Read!

Our trip volunteers are Eliana's mom and Chloe's mom. Thanks to all of the parents who have offered to join us. We will have another trip very soon!

Finale Friday

The reviews are in.  Today's grand finale was a smash hit! I am so proud of our kids. It takes a LOT of work and energy to pull it off, and I am sure they will be tired this evening.

Thanks to all who donated their time, artistic abilities, materials and funds. All of the students in 201 were able to enjoy post- show pizza, thanks to the generosity of many! The "Animal Assembly Line (seat shop?) was hard at work all week. A million thanks to you all.

If you have pictures, please email them to me!
Also, please let me know if any parent wants to set up a shutterfly site for the class. This way, we can share photos and get prints easily.

This weekend...
-read
-finish coloring and cutting your phase 4 nets. We will do the final assembly of our Geometrocities on Monday.

Wildly Wonderful Wednesday

CAC Notes:
-Pizza money is due tomorrow. We are asking for five dollars per child. We have several families who have pitched in a little extra. Thank you!
-Sunglasses: all kids will be wearing sunglasses for the performance. Please bring some in tomorrow.
-Attire: each child will be given a black t-shirt. Please wear black on the bottom: leggings, black jeans, sweats.
-Face paint: we need some. We could also use black and brown eyeliner. Can you send some in?
-Doors open at 9:00 on Friday. Showtime is 9:15

This evening at home...
-Practice your lines, your songs and your dance moves.

Musical Moves Monday

Hello Team 201 and 202,

At the end of the day, some of the kids in the walker line were able to help finalize our City Kitty movements. I can't wait to show them to you in the morning, 201.

Today was mostly all about rehearsal. Your kids are doing a fantastic job. Show business is hard work!

These next few days....

• practice your songs, lines, dance moves, etc. We want readers, singers, and dancers who SPARKLE!
• don't forget your pizza money-$5.00 will ensure that all of the kids in 4th grade will enjoy a pizza party.
• check out the CAC tab for scripts, songs, and notes about costumes.

Just in case you do not have time to click that tab...

-Wear solid black leggings, sweats or jeans on Friday.

-Each kid will get a black CAC shirt to wear for the show and take home. Forever.  

-Bring sunglasses!

-We need some makeup so that we can paint "cat" faces on Friday.