Math Fact Showdown

Tomorrow we begin our Math Fact Showdown.  Students will be given 90 seconds to complete 40 basic math problems.  Students who meet the expectation will move on the next level – those who fail will continue until they pass.  This will separate the “boys from the men” so-to-speak.  I would hope each of your children knows their basic facts.  Have them practice (even if they say they know them…).  I’m going to try to make a big deal out of this because if I don’t, the children who do not know their basic facts will flounder when we move to two and three-digit multiplication. 

 

I hope you hear the “nudging” in my words *wink wink*. 

 Again, there are tons of apps and online games for practice J

<3 Mrs. Siegel

Week of 9-17-12

Dear Families, This week we will cover the following content:


Reading-The focus skill is cause & effect;  More practice here: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/causeeffectl.cfm-The story this week is Mountains (Test Tuesday 9-25)


Vocabulary-Vocab from Mountains (on Tuesday’s Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City-Vocab from Writer's Log Lesson 4 (on Tuesday’s Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City


Science-Unit 4: Physical Properties of Matter


Math-Chapter 2 continued-Topics include: basic multiplication and division, models that represent multiplication/division, story problems related to multiplication/division-If your child does not know his/her multiplication facts (they will struggle with this chapter and the chapters following), it is their responsibility (with your encouragement of course) to practice at home.  There are tons of online resources available. http://www.multiplication.com/games


Writing-Writing expository (essay) plans


GrammarCombining Sentences (on Tuesday’s Reading Test)  Practice: http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/m-sco01.html


SpellingSee Spelling City for your list of words.  All assignments due before school Friday. (Test Friday 9-21)

Purple Letters

Purple letters will go home next week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mrs. Siegel

Week of 9-10-12

Dear Families,

A few things before we go into the "to dos" for the week.  First, I (reluctantly) will not be in school this week.  I have a kidney stone that needs attending.  I hope I can feel better as soon as possible so I can be back at school.  In the meantime, Mr. Cook has taken the reigns and knows all the drills (literally and figuratively).  No need to worry – your children are in great hands.  I will be in close contact as well as accessible by email.  So don't feel like you are "bothering" me.  I'll be bored enough sitting at home ;)

Also, for those of you who asked about the Think Central extra-credit, it seems as though some say "In Progress" which means the assignment was not yet complete.  Your child may have forgotten to do one last thing, so just log on again and finish it up for the extra credit.  Then log out and back in to see if it says "Complete".

This week Mr. Cook and the kids will cover the following content:

Reading

-The focus skill is cause and effect (Test Monday 9-24)  Extra Practice on www.superteacherworksheets.com 

-The story this week is Mimicry and Camouflage (Test Friday)

Vocabulary

-Vocab from Mimicry and Camouflage (on Friday's Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City

-Vocab from Writer's Log Lesson 3 (on Friday's Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City

Science

-Unit 1 continued (Test Thursday 9-13)  There are videos on Think Central for more practice.

Math

-Chapter 1 Test was today

-Begin Chapter 2 Tuesday - Topics include: multiplication, division, real-world application of said concepts, inverse operations

-Students who failed the timed multiplication test during the first week of school should be doing extra practice to catch up with the class.  They can do this at the following sites: http://www.multiplication.com/games/play/quick-flash-ii http://www.multiplication.com/games http://www.coolmath4kids.com/times-tables/Timernator-multiplication.html and dozens of apps for the iPhone

Writing

-Writing expository (essay) plans

Grammar

Simple Subject/Simple Predicate (on Friday's Reading Test)

Spelling

See Spelling City for your list of words.  All assignments due before school Friday. (Test Friday)

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Cook AND me.  

His email is seafire13@gmail.com

Friday Math Centers

Here are some pics from Friday.  The kids practiced for their math test Monday while working with their classmates.

Reading Test

The Reading test has been graded.  The class average is an 80%.  This is with a curve of 6%.  The highest without the curve was 94%.  I will curve a test when no student gets a 100%.  The test your child is bringing home today in the Wednesday Folder reflects their raw grade (before the curve).  I have applied the curve on Engrade.  The reading test includes the 9 questions about the story as well as the 8 vocabulary words (on the last page).  You will also see in the stabpled packet the grammar quiz and the Writer's Log quiz.  These are separate grades.  You will also see this in Engrade.

Today you will get several pieces of work in your child's Wednesday Folder.  I ONLY need the test back.  Anything with a "Sign and Return" stamp needs to be returned.

Happy Wednesday!

Mrs. Siegel

Week of 9-4-12

Dear Families,

This week we will cover the following content:

Reading

-The focus skill is main idea and details (Test Monday 9-10)  More practice here: http://www.k12reader.com/subject/main-idea-worksheets/ 

-The story this week is The Grand Canyon (Test Friday)

Vocabulary

-Vocab from The Grand Canyon (on Friday's Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City

-Vocab from Writer's Log Lesson 2 (on Friday's Reading Test) Practice on Spelling City

Science

-Unit 1 continued (Quiz this week and Test Thursday 9-13)  There are videos on Think Central for more practice.

Math

-Chapter 1 continued (Quiz Thursday and Test Monday 9-10)

-Topics include: place value, forms of numbers, rounding/estimating, number lines

-Students are having difficulty recalling procedures for rounding/estimating numbers (2nd and 3rd grade skill).  Here is a site for practice. http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/tens.cgi?A1=s&A2=5 

Writing

-Writing expository (essay) plans

Grammar

Subject/Predicate (on Friday's Reading Test)

Spelling

See Spelling City for your list of words.  All assignments due before school Friday. (Test Friday)