Midweek Update

We are having a productive week!  Please see below for class and school announcements.

Orchestra Field Trip - There's a typo on the field trip permission slip.  The orchestra excursion is on Wednesday, November 9th, not the 11th.  

Explorations - PLEASE sign up to lead an Exploration.  We need more parents to come and make this event amazing!  Please read my previous blog post for more information about Explorations and SIGN UP!  

Students took their math assessments today.  Students who didn't finish will be allowed to finish tomorrow.  I would recommend reviewing the videos in previous blog postings or completing the study guide if they haven't already done so.

In ELA we are focusing on character evolution and using text evidence to construct logical and detailed responses.  On Monday we began answering the question "In what ways has Kira changed?"  Each day we have read more of the book and added to our response.  Our writing style this term is opinion writing.   Today we discussed the components of an opinion essay and practiced a basic way to format an opinion paragraph.

 

 In social studies we concluded our unit on Reconstruction and we are beginning our new inquiry into migration and innovation.  

We are also continuing our work in learning how to communicate effectively and treat each other with kindness.  Then next few activities will focus on integrity and honesty.  I used bags of M&Ms to illustrate the point that it can be disappointing when we deal with people who are not consistent inside and out.

T3W1

I hope everyone had a good weekend!  We are wrapping up assessments from term 2 and beginning our new term 3 Unit of Inquiry.  Our Unit of Inquiry is Where We Are In Place and Time and our Central Idea is Innovation and Migration Are Key Factors in Shaping Our World.  

ELA - We are continuing to read Gathering Blue and students have made some astute observations about symbolism and character motivations.  Our writing style for this term is Opinion writing...my FAVORITE!  Students will learn about how to build effective, evidence-filled arguments.

Math - I'll be assessing the term 2 content on Wednesday and students will begin module 3 on Thursday.  I am spending the first part of the week reviewing so students should be prepared when they take the end-of-unit module. Module 3's focus is on adding and subtracting fractions.

Science - The cells and genetics assessment is on Wednesday.  This term students will be inquiring into magnetism and electricity.

Social Studies - The Reconstruction assessment is on Tuesday and today we launched our migration unit today.  Students will inquire into the motivations for movement and what people have endured as a result of these migrations.

Mid-Week Update

During our morning meetings this week we focused on why and how we apologize and forgive.

Social Studies:  We are currently studying Reconstruction.  Students who earned 1s and 2s on their Civil War assessment can correct the problems they missed, revise/correct the Emancipation Proclamation short answer question, and turn in the corrections to me on Friday.

Math:  Students are learning about decimal division.

 

ELA:  Students are completing their informational papers this week.

Exploration Sign-Ups!

College & Career Explorations, November 15th

Each year at F.AVE, we offer students a chance to learn about different careers and college opportunities in our community. But we need your help, parents!

We need parent and community volunteers to come in and teach our students all about your amazing career! In the past, we have had a wonderful variety of classes to offer: sports clinics, cake decorating, architecture, disease prevention, real estate, poetry writing, cooking classes about sushi or French food, and so much more! What do you have to offer F.AVE students to open their world up to new ideas and opportunities?

Our first exploration will be on Tuesday, November 15th from 8:30 - 10:00 AM. The session will be 90 minutes, so we do suggest time for a presentation, some discussion, and a hands-on activity. If you would like a teacher's help, contact your child's teacher ahead of signing up, perhaps they can partner with you!

Sign Up Here - Deadline to sign up is midnight on Sunday, November 6th.

If you have any questions, please contact our media specialist, Corinne Smith at cosmith@csdecatur.net or contact your child's classroom teacher.

T2W6

Unit of Inquiry:  Who We Are

ELA - Students are completing their informational papers this week.  We are continuing our literary study of Gathering Blue and students are using informational texts to analyze main ideas, supporting details, and text features.  Last week we read and discussed some primary sources, including the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation.  Although they can be difficult to understand at this age, I'm helping students develop the skills they need to tackle challenging texts.

Math - We are continuing our work with long division and students are going to start learning about decimal division mid-week.  PLEASE have your child continue practicing their basic math facts.  I'm seeing that many of them get slowed down during long division and multi-digit multiplication because they aren't as proficient as they should be with their basic facts.
Fact Practice
Math Flashcards

Science - Students will be inquiring into learned and inherited behaviors.  Last week we extracted DNA from peas and students can try it at home using the same instructions that are posted in Classroom. (Students will need their Google logins to access Classroom.  Here's the standard formatting:  24studentname@csdecatur.net, student+lunchnumber)

Social Studies -  This week students are learning about the after effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction.  

Homework
Math (Lesson 24, Lesson 25)
Study for the Reconstruction and Science Assessments
Read for 30 minutes daily
Math Fact Practice (10 minutes daily)

Upcoming Assessments - click on the links below to access the quizlet for each
Reconstruction Assessment - Tuesday, November 1st 
Cells & Genetics Assessment - Wednesday, November 2nd

Explorations are scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th. If you have a special talent or skill that you would like to share with a group of students, please let me know.  We always need parent volunteers to help make Explorations awesome!  I typically run my own; however, I can also assist a parent who wants to teach an Exploration but needs a little assistance with crowd control. : )

Here are some questions your child should be able to answer by the end of the week.

Chris rode his bike along the same route every day for 60 days.  He logged that he had gone exactly 127.8 miles.  How many miles did he bike each day?  Show your work to explain how you know.

What was the purpose of the Freedmen's Bureau?  How and why did Reconstruction eventually fail?

What are genes made of and what's their function?

T2W5

ELA - Students will continue working on their informational papers.  Additionally, they will keep analyzing informational and literary texts.  

Math - Our focus this week is multi-digit division.
Review Videos:  Lesson 20, Lesson 21, Lesson 22, Multi-Digit Division

Science - This week we are learning about inherited traits and DNA.

Social Studies - The Civil War assessment is on Thursday.  Students received their class materials back along with a study guide.  Students can use their notes, class materials, and quizlets to complete the study guide.  The study guides, not the class materials, are due on Thursday.
Civil War Causes Quizlet
Civil War Causes

We have spent some time on our classroom culture and communication skills.  Today, students role played different situations and discussed better ways to communicate.  

T2W4

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

Here is what we have on the agenda for this week:

Math:  Students will take the mid-module assessment on Wednesday, October 12th.  This week's homework will look like it's more; however, we will be working on the mid-module study guide in class on Monday.  Students should have most of it done and they should review it in preparation for the assessment on Wednesday.

Homework:  Mid-module Study Guide
Videos:  Writing Expressions, Multiplying Multi-Digit Numbers, Multiplying By Powers of 10, Multiplying A Decimal By A Power of 10

ELA:  Students will continue working on identifying main ideas and supporting details.  They will analyze multiple texts about events, topics, or people.  Students will begin working on their summative essays this week.  This term's style of writing is informative and I'm going to continue working with students to help them with their research and writing skills.  

Lastly, we are continuing our novel study of Gathering Blue.  We began our reading last week by comparing/contrasting setting and character details between The Giver and Gathering Blue.  This week we are going to continue our analysis of character, setting, and plot details.

Science:  We will be focusing on the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.

Social Studies:  Students will continue inquiring into Civil War events (battles, military campaigns, Emancipation Proclamation) and people (Lincoln, Grant, Lee, etc...).  The Civil War assessment will be on Thursday, October 20th and students will have class time to complete their study guides.  Students can also study with the Civil War Quizlet.

Genius Hour:  Students completed their Underground Railroad maps and connections last week.  In addition to completing a 3D map, students chose to work on an ELA, science, or math connection.  On Thursday, students shared with students who completed the same connection, and then they shared with students who worked on the other tasks.  For the remained of the term during Genius Hour students will work on a biography project.

Here are some questions your child should be able to answer by the end of the week:

-How can we organize our research and our writing?

-What were the perspectives of different Civil War leaders?

-A container of Oregano is 17 pounds heavier than a container or Peppercorns.  The total weight of both is 253 pounds.  What is the weight of the peppercorns in ounces?

-What are some similarities between plant and animal cells?

Announcements:

MOVIE NIGHT AND PARENTS’ SOCIAL: OCTOBER 14, 6:45 – 9:00 PM

--- Tickets for F.AVE Movie Night must be purchased in advance.  Purchase your tickets here. Deadline for buying tickets is Thursday, Oct. 13.

PLEASE help us out! It’s easy! Donate baked/store-bought goodies to concessions. Sign up at http://signup.com/go/ea1UBu 

Drop-off is available for F.AVE students only. Parents and siblings of F.AVE students may also purchase tickets to attend. Learn more about the movie here. 

Join other F.AVE parents after drop-off for our first ever Parents' Social:  We're meeting at Kavarna - 707 E. Lake Dr., which serves a variety of snacks and beverages and is a short walk from school. It's a great jumping off point to meet some fellow parents before heading out for some kid free time in Oakhurst. We hope to see you there!