Friday, September 25, 2015

Week of September 28th-October 2nd

Program of Inquiry
Central Idea: Who We Are
Family  heritage and heredity influence who we are as individuals.  

Lines of Inquiry:
  • How traits are inherited
  • Investigating genealogy
  • How heritage affects our lives
Teacher Questions:
  • What can genealogy teach us about ourselves?
  • How does family heritage influence our lifestyle?
  • What can the heritage of others teach us?


Daily 5/CAFE  11:00-12:30
Reading: Daily 5/ CAFE
  • Vocabulary: We encourage you to use Quizlet at home to review your weekly Wordly Wise words.
  • 4th graders:  Students will continue Lesson 14 in Book 3.  Wordly Wise tests will be this Friday!
Word list this week:  bold, cunning, deed, doze, jagged, positive, respect, responsible, smuggle, version
  • 3rd graders: Students will continue Lesson 3 in Book 3.  Wordly Wise tests will be this Friday!
Word list this week:  ambition, auction, coast, current, frail, intelligent, novel, resident, starve, volunteer
Writing: VOICES
1:30-2:00
  • VOICES: Students will continue the 6+1 Traits of Writing. This is referred to as VOICES: voice, organization, ideas, conventions, expanded vocabulary, and sentence fluency. This week we will be focusing on Conventions. Conventions refer to the mechanical correctness of the piece—spelling, indentation, grammar and usage, punctuation, and use of capitals. Students will take a preassessment in the beginning of the week. We will read The Mega Deluxe Capitalization Machine to provide a fun explanation of the reasons why we capitalize things and where capital letters go.                         Students will continue to organize their ideas and details for their free write. Students should begin their sloppy copy (rough draft) and continue to conference with a teacher.

You can use these resources at home:


  • Grammar: Students will begin working with pronouns. A pronoun (I, me, he, she, herself, you, it, that, they, each, few, many, who, whoever, whose, someone, everybody, etc.) is a word that takes the place of a noun. There are three types of pronouns: subject (for example, he); object (him); or possessive(his). Students will continue reviewing noun identification, plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, common/proper, and concrete/abstract, and possessive nouns.
For additional practice, try these:

  • Handwriting: Third grade will continue practicing the formation of their cursive letters. Fourth grade will review the formation letters in cursive that they are constantly forming and/or connecting incorrectly. Fourth grade students are expected to write in cursive on all assignments unless otherwise indicated. For an animated demonstration of each letter, please use the links below:

  • Words Their Way Spelling:
Students will continue to work with their spelling sorts this week during Word Work as well as homework.  Students are responsible for spelling and sorting their words correctly. As a reminder, 3 spelling homework jobs are due each Friday. Spelling test this Friday.
Weekly Words Their Way lists can be found in your child’s agenda.




3rd Grade Math 9:15-10:15
Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below!
Monday
Students will practice using a ruler to measure to the nearest inch, ½ inch, and ¼ inch.
  • IXL practice at home: Measurement: U3, U4


(At this point, students should be fluent with all addition and subtraction facts through 12.  Nightly practice is encouraged if mastery is not yet achieved. Weekly timed quizzes will be each Friday. Personal goals will be set after each quiz. Please encourage your child to reach their goal!)  

Tuesday
Students will compare and interpret the U.S Custom and Metric units of measuring, and make estimates based on given information. Students will practice measuring to the nearest inch and centimeter.  
  • IXL practice at home: Measurement U3, U4, U13

Wednesday
Students will review identifying polygons and compute the perimeter of a given shape.
  • Geometry: V8, V9
Thursday
Students will explore the concept of perimeter through participation of three group activities.
  • Geometry: V8, V9
Friday
Students will complete their perimeter explorations with their group.
  • Geometry: V8, V9

*Math facts quiz today*



4th Grade Math 8:15-9:15
Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below!
Monday
Students will review the meaning of number sentences and determine if number sentences are TRUE or FALSE.
  • IXL practice at home:
Mixed Operations F.2, F.9  Variable Expressions G.2
Tuesday
Students will use parenthesis in number sentences.
  • IXL practice at home:
Variable Expressions G.4
Wednesday
Students will be introduced to vocabulary and notation for open sentences and solve open sentence problems.
  • IXL practice at home:
Variable Expressions G.2, G.3, G.5, G.6
Thursday
Students will review all concepts from Unit 3.  We will discuss all standards learned throughout the unit and practice problems.
  • IXL practice at home:
Student Choice
Friday
Students will complete Unit 3 Test.
  • IXL practice at home:
Student Choice



Science/Social Studies 2:00-3:00
Monday
Who We Are:  Students will review the guidelines for their summative project.  Students will begin working on their summative project.  We will review the grading rubric and answer any clarifying questions.
Tuesday
Who We Are:  Students will continue working on their summative projects.  We will meet with each student individually to monitor their progress throughout the summative project.
Wednesday
Who We Are: Students will continue working on their summative projects.  We will meet with each student individually to monitor their progress throughout the summative project.
Thursday
Who We Are:   Students will continue working on their summative projects.  We will meet with each student individually to monitor their progress throughout the summative project.  This is the last day that students will have to complete their project.  Students will also complete a personal unit reflection.  
Friday
Who We Are: Students will present their summative projects to the class.  




Extra! Extra! Chavura News

  • Students should be using Quizlet at home several times each week to practice their Wordly Wise vocabulary words.
  • Remember to check your child’s “Keep at Home” folder each Monday!
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Monday, September 21, 2015

Week of September 21st-25th 


Program of Inquiry
Central Idea: Who We Are
Family  heritage and heredity influence who we are as individuals.  

Lines of Inquiry:
  • How traits are inherited
  • Investigating genealogy
  • How heritage affects our lives
Teacher Questions:
  • What can genealogy teach us about ourselves?
  • How does family heritage influence our lifestyle?
  • What can the heritage of others teach us?


Daily 5/CAFE
Reading: Daily 5/ CAFE
  • Daily 5/CAFE:  This week students will continue to choose 3 rounds daily.  They may choose from Read to Self, Read With Someone, Word Work, and Listen to Reading.   We will introduce the essential agreements for Work on Writing. Students will continue to make quality connections while reading.This is the CAFE comprehension strategy of “Use Prior Knowledge to Connect with Text”.  We will continue to use different types of text connections (text to text, text to self, and text to world).  Students will be introduced to the CAFE comprehension strategy of “Make a Mental Picture or Mental Image”.  By “visualizing” when reading, students are able to boost their reading comprehension.  During student conferences this week, teachers will check their book boxes to ensure IPICK Good Fit books are present, review/practice the different types of text connections, and to review the mental images they are creating while reading.
  • How can you support these CAFE strategies at home?  Click each link below:
  • http://www.pspb.org/blueribbon/games/connections/Connection.html  (text connections online practice game)

  • Vocabulary: Students have been introduced to Quizlet and should have a login.  We encourage you to use this at home to review your weekly Wordly Wise words.
  • 4th graders:  Students will start Lesson 14 in Book 3.  
Word list this week:  bold, cunning, deed, doze, jagged, positive, respect, responsible, smuggle, version
  • 3rd graders: Students will start Lesson 3 in Book 3.  
Word list this week:  ambition, auction, coast, current, frail, intelligent, novel, resident, starve, volunteer
Writing: VOICES
  • VOICES: Students will continue the 6+1 Traits of Writing. This is referred to as VOICES: voice, organization, ideas, conventions, expanded vocabulary, and sentence fluency. We will be introducing/reviewing the organization trait this week. Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing. Students will begin using various graphic organizers to assist them in the process, and practice sequencing details in a story. We will be reading The Paperboy and using events from the story to model sequencing. Students will create a quick sketch for their story. Students will also practice using the “hamburger” method to write a paragraph.
You can use these resources at home:



  • Grammar: Students will continue noun practice. This week we will continue reviewing noun identification, plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, common/proper, and concrete/abstract nouns. Students will begin identifying possessive nouns. A possessive noun shows ownership by adding an apostrophe, an -s or both. To make a single noun possessive, simply add an apostrophe and an -s (‘s).
  • For additional practice, try these:

  • Handwriting: Third grade will continue practicing the formation of their cursive letters. Fourth grade will review the formation letters in cursive that they are constantly forming and/or connecting incorrectly. Fourth grade students are expected to write in cursive on all assignments unless otherwise indicated. For an animated demonstration of each letter, please use the links below:

  • Words Their Way Spelling:
Students will receive their new spelling sorts this week.  Students are responsible for spelling and sorting their words correctly. As a reminder, 3 spelling homework jobs are due each Friday.




3rd Grade Math
Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below!
Monday
Students will practice solving addition stories involving 3 or more addends. Students will begin their Unit 2 review.

(At this point, students should be fluent with all addition and subtraction facts through 12.  Nightly practice is encouraged if mastery is not yet achieved. Weekly timed quizzes will be each Friday. Personal goals will be set after each quiz. Please encourage your child to reach their goal!)  

  • IXL practice at home:Addition: C3,C6,C7,C9,C11,C15
Tuesday
Students will review Unit 2 and begin their assessment.

Wednesday
Students will complete Unit 2 assessment. Students will recognize and identify standard units of measure.
  • IXL practice at home: Measurement: U21,U3,U4
Thursday
Students will practice using a ruler to measure to the nearest inch, ½ inch, and ¼ inch.
  • IXL practice at home: Measurement: U3, U4
Friday
Students will compare and interpret the U.S Custom and Metric units of measuring, and make estimates based on given information. Students will practice measuring to the nearest inch and centimeter.  
  • IXL practice at home: Measurement U3, U4, U13

*Math facts quiz today*



4th Grade Math
Looking for extra practice at home?  Use these links below!
Monday
Students will review strategies for multiplication facts.  (At this point, students should be fluent with all multiplication facts through 12.  Nightly practice is encouraged if mastery is not yet achieved.)  Students will be introduced to prime and composite numbers.
  • IXL practice at home:
Number Sense A.5; Multiplication D.1
Tuesday
Students will work with identifying prime and composite numbers.
(song about prime and composite numbers)
  • IXL practice at home:
Number Sense A.5
Wednesday
Students will practice finding the mean and median.  Students will use their number sense to identify mystery numbers from a given set of clues.
  • IXL practice at home:
Probability and Statistics W.3 and W.4
Thursday
Students will relate multiplication to division and become fluent with their division facts.
  • IXL practice at home:
Division E.1, E,2, and E.3
Friday
Students will be introduced to a simplified approach to solving number stories as well as practice solving a variety of number stories.
  • IXL practice at home:
Mixed Operations F.2, Addition B.9, and Subtraction C.7



Science/Social Studies
Monday
Who We Are:  Students will inquire and make observations of photographs of individuals from various cultures.  Students will make observations about heritage, genealogy, culture, etc.  We will discuss what an heirloom is and how objects become an heirloom.  Students will be asked to bring in one family photo or a small heirloom to share with the class.
Tuesday
Who We Are:  Students will share their family photos and/or heirlooms.    Students will continue to work on their Coat of Arms and Family Tree.  
Wednesday
Who We Are: Students will discuss degree of impact based on their gathered information from the interviews. (Example: My grandparents moved from __?__ to the United States. This affects me today because____. ) Students will begin to create a quilt square that represents various aspects of their heritage.
Students should have completed their Grandparent interview and have it at school today!
Thursday
Who We Are:   Students will use their knowledge of heritage to complete a quilt square that represents their personal heritage.  As a class, we will share their personal squares and create a class “quilt”.  
Friday





Extra! Extra! Chavura News

  • Students should be using Quizlet at home several times each week to practice their Wordly Wise vocabulary words.
  • Remember to check your child’s “Keep at Home” folder each Monday!
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