Homework for Today

We had a very busy day in class! Here is our homework:

Spelling - test Friday and 3 activities

Reading - We have been studying this story for 2 weeks, our test will be Friday (including an Extended Response prompt)

Writing - bring in artifacts for your writing notebook

Fluency - read, due Friday, don't do questions (but be prepared)

Math - 5th grade (10 multiplication problems from worksheet - do on loose leaf paper, do estimates on the worksheet)

6th grade (page 60)

Social Studies - Scavenger Hunt worksheet - due Friday

I know this seems like a ton of homework. Please know that your child has been given adequate time to begin this work in class. I am trying to build some independent work time into each day and also building work endurance so your child can learn to use time wisely. If your child is bringing home this work and it has not been started or not much has been done, I would appreciate you talking about how he or she is getting started and using time in class.

Thanks!

Genres all around!

I apologize for not posting yesterday. As your child might have told you, I had to leave early to take care of my daughter who was home sick. The substitute teacher left a very nice report about how well the students got along (for the most part). I always like to know that the students behave for a substitute in the same respectful way toward each other and the teacher regardless of me being in class or not. That speaks a great deal to their character. Please speak with your child about your expectations for this.

This week, we have been talking about the different types (or genres) of writing. TOday we did some practice on categorizing material based on what genre we thought it would fall under. The groups did a great job at this. We spend a great deal of time working in small groups. THis mimics what real life is like, being able to work together in small groups effectively. Please discuss with your child what you expect from them during our small group work time (listening to others, speaking respectfully, focusing on the task, etc.) Tell them about how important it is for you in your work to be able to work well in a small group. If you don't work outside the home, you can list the many ways you keep your family running by listening to each other and talking respectfully. THank you for supporting this at home. If the kids hear the message at home AND school, it is greatly reinforced in both places!

Here is our homework:
Spelling - Unit 6 3 activities due Friday and test Friday

Fluency - read about Bill Cosby (remember! We are working on fluency - reading iwth speed, acccuracy, AND expression!) read it to a parent, get one signature, and look at the questions, but DO NOT ANSWER them. We will do this on Friday morning.

Math - 5th grade has link 2.7 6th grade has 2.4

Reading - our reading test for Yang, the Third and Her Impossible Family is on Friday. Kids were supposed to read the story again (we've read it already in class) and for homework answer questions #3 at the end of the story.

KEY WORD FOR ONE MONSTER BUCK = COOPERATION!! :-)

Thank you, Parents!!!

Bully Lesson

Today we had an assembly on bullying where we witnessed some fancy magic and learned some great strategies for dealing with bullies. We learned the "FANTASTIC" approach to dealing with bullies. Here is what itlooked like:
F = Friends first
A = Avoid hot spots
N = Negotiate situations (use I statements)
T = Travel with friends
A = Avoid conflict (walk away, say "Thank you!" - sarcasm, Agree with the bully)
S = Share wtih a teacher
T = Talk to a parent
I = Ignore this person (don't give in or "feed" the situation)
C = Count to 10 (Chill out)

Anyone can be the victim of a bully. I am going to share this information with my daughters to prepare them for the day when it happens to them (if it hasn't already, which I bet it has). Knowledge is power here!

Hope you all have a great weekend. Spelling list Unit 6 went out today. Kids should be filling in as much weather info in their weather folders as possible (don't take too much time to do this - it is an informal assignment) My math class have journal page 42 and 43 ( it was assigned Thursday - due MOnday) and the whole class was given the assignment to bring in some artifacts to inspire their writing (photographs, pictures, magazine clippings, advertisements, movie stubs, etc.) Please know these things will be taped or glue into thier writing notebooks, so send them cautiously.
THanks!!

A bunch of giggles!

Today, I determined that I need to always have the video camera on for any presentations. Your kids know how to put on a great show. Especially O.B. and his group! HILARIOUS! We put on some of our presentations today where the kids acted out the 4 types of clouds. Great job, everyone! Today, letters for 3 clubs came home today. Know that there is NO bus service this year for Homework Club!


Here is our homework for tomorrow:
math - 5th - Journal pages 42 and 43
(we don't have math tomorrow due to an assembly, so this work is due by MOnday)
6th grade - 2.3 link

spelling work and test tomorrow

Vocabulary to study for our story this week:
Accompany
audition
sonata
grimaced
accompaniment
simultaneously
Have your kids tell you about the "I Know, "I Have" activity we did today to reveiw all the vocabulary in the upcoming story!

Cloud-mania

Have you noticed your child has become more interested in the weather? I hope so. We have been studying different types of clouds and the properties those clouds have. At recess, we are looking up at the clouds to see if we can identify them. Today in class, we worked with small groups to develop a skit about the 4 main cloud types. TOmorrow, these skits will be performed and I look forward to seeing the groups that can correctly demonstrate the types of clouds in an entertaining way. One suggestion was to have the group become "The Cloud Family," where each member took on the name of their specific cloud and then "became" that cloud, acting like that cloud would. I even developed my own skit that I will ask volunteers to help me perform (another idea for writing). ANother suggestion was to become a band called "The 4 Clouds." We'll see if any kids were inspired and applied this knowledge to their group's skit. Ask your child about his or her group's skit, what role he or she played in developing it, and what it is. Also, your child has a weather folder (blue) with 4 weeks worth of charts. They are to try to accumulate all the data possible (using the online Weather Channel, the nightly news, or their own observations). Thank you for the support you give at home.

Here is our homework for tonight:

Spelling - 3 act. due Fri.

Math - 5th grade (journal p. 41 #1-5) Students should have their SRB to complete this data landmarks sheet (just look up the word in the index and turn to that page).

Weather folder data

THANKS!

What's Happening!

Tuesday is a busy day for me with my graduate classes at night, so sorry when I cannot post right away. Today we began our Guided Reading classes. Please talk to your child about what they are doing to become abetter reader. Children in 5th grade should start becoming aware of strategies they are to use to understand material better.

These include:
working to decode using strategies like chunking up parts of words they know

Rereading for meaning (if they have been reading but can't tell you what they have read, then it is time to start rereading - I periodically ask myself, "What did I just read?" and if I can't answer, then I reread.)

Using picture clues to help construct meaning of the text

Using words around a word to tell what the unknown word could be

These are just a few. If you would like more - keep posted - I will put some more up!

Homework for today:

math - 5th link 2.4

spelling - 3 activities

no fluency this week

study the 4 types (nimbus, cirrus, cumulus, and stratus) of clouds (are your notebook pictures and descriptions done??)


:-)

HOMEWORK

Eeeks! I can't believe how many typos were onmy earlier posting - that's what I get for being in a hurry! Here's an update!

Fluency will be passed out tomorrow

Spelling - Unit 5 contract (any 3 activities)These are due on Friday morning

Math - 5th - journal page 37, 38, and 39 (1-4 only) **class had 15 minutes to work in class

Reading - Finish extended response question:Why did the weroance come up with a new test? Time was given in class to begin.

Science: Study the 4 types of clouds we studied in class today- be able to demonstrate with the cotton balls.

Weather Folder: Try to take as much data for Monday (today) as possible (use the news, internet (Weather Channel) or just what you observe outside).

Chinese Culture Challenge

HI everyone!
As you may have read in the previous post, we are lucky to have a new teacher join us for Literacy, Mrs. Eaton. This week, we are starting a new story and are focusing on different cultures and how it feels to move to a new place and understand the culture of the people who surround you. For a challenge, check out this website:

http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-culture.html
This is a great site to learn more about the Chinese culture. Read a little and write a bit to teach the class during some extra time! What can you teach us about this culture?

Do you have any sites that would teach us about other cultures? Sit down one night with your parent/child (always have a parent with you for safety) and google a country you are interested in. Find out something interesting you can share with the class.

What TROOPERS!!

Yesterday was a very full day! So full in fact, that I forgot to post last night! Sorry about that. I am grateful to hear so many of you are enjoying this form of communication.

We won't have many days like yesterday, where so many tests and quizzes fell on one day. I hope your kids have survived, they sure did well and had great stamina for it all. They must have been super energized about having a day off today.

Speaking of today, we teachers spent the day looking at all of the data that we have been busy collecting from the first day of school and were talking about how to best meet the needs of all of our students. One way we do that here at Cowlishaw is by providing a Guided Reading program. This is a block fo time where we group kids according to what we think their needs are (using data from assessments) and provide instruction based on those needs. For some kids, these groupings are fluid, they should change during the course of the year, if not by the teacher, then the skill that that is being focused on. Some of the skills we focus on in guided reading groups are specific comprehension strategies like self-questioning, summarizing, and using a text format. Some groups will work on fluency goals. Be sure to ask you child what they are doing in guided reading so you can support that at home.

Speaking of fluency, I want to thank those of you who are taking the time to listen to your child read the fluency passage each week. Please don't just listen once...to build fluency, kids need to read it repeatedly. Fluency is more that just the speed at which a child can read, it has to do with accuracy and expression, too. Make sure your child is reading aloud with up and down tones and using voices when appropriate. You can use ANY reading material to work on this! THANK YOU! Also, be sure to go over the questions on the back with them so they are prepared to answer those questions on Friday (they only have a limited time to answer these since they are expected to understand what to do as they go over the questions during the week).

Homework for this weekend includes:Spelling list - pretest Monday - Unit 5 (can you believe this??)
Math - 5th grade Link 2.3 (the lesson 2.4 sheet is extra credit)
Reading Challenge (optional)

This week, Mrs. Eaton, our ELL teacher, will begin in our classroom during Literacy as my co-teacher! We are so lucky! Please ask your child what creative things we are doing with our reading story. Did your child tell you about the game we played with our reading story called "Hot Seat?" Oh, they did an amazing job and the two hot seat people were great under pressure! What a great class!

TO finish this novel of a posting, progress reports are coming home on Friday. Please look at the checklist carefully and let me know if you have any questions or would like to come in for a conference. Parent/Teacher conferences are not until early November, but I am happy to meet with you earlier in order to put things in place for your child's success!

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Grezlik

DUE FRIDAY

Parents,
If you have not yet sent in the money for the Storyworks magazine, please do that tomorrow so I can put the order in. It costs $6.60 for the year andthis magazine is chock full of amazing writing examples and stories that we will use during our writing, reading, and guided reading blocks. If you can't afford the entire amount, please just send in what you can.

HOMEWORKMath 6th - test tomorrow
5th - journal p.35 (lots of kids finished this in class)
Spelling
test
2 activities

Fluency
this should have been read to you and your signature should be on it...the questions should not be completed

Science
quiz over layers of the atmosphere

Reading
Sees Behind Trees - reread, come up with your own name (similar to the names in the story), and our test over the story will be tomorrow

Time and bully management

While we had lots of time to work on our work in class, some kids are still working on time management with independent work time, so if your child has too much work for home today, please talk to him or her about how time is being used in class. TOday, Mrs. Akin (our new psychologist) came in and we role played how to deal with bully situations in and around school. Please talk to your child about the responsibility they have to stand up for themselves and also what they can do as a bystander when they are witnessing a bully situation.


Here's the homework for today:
Spelling - 2 activities

Fluency - practice reading the passage

Reading - Read story "Sees Behind Trees" in the reading book, complete "Stop and Go" sheet

Math - 6th grade - study guide 5th grade - journal page 32 and 33 and study link 2.2 (6-11 only) We had lots of time in class to work on this, only 2.2 should be homework.

Science - continue to study layers of atmosphere (not just the names of the layers but what is found in each)

Thank you for you support at home!

Outside time

Oh, the kids wish every day could be like today. We are working on harnessing our sensory input while writing. This means being able to put into words what we hear, see , smell, touch, etc. We went outside and sat on the grass with our writing notebooks today. It was beautiful. Ask your child what they wrote about what they heard, felt, and smelled. We are getting ready to read a story about a character who uses these senses for an important reason.

Homework:
Short week - 2 spelling activities due THURSDAY!! TEST THURSDAY!
(Only O.B., M.C., and K.S. are off contract - means no spelling activities are due because they have gotten 100% on their alternate lists words)

Math - 6th grade (accel.) - 1.11 link 5th grade - scale measurement (if your child cannot explain what they are to do, please have them measure one item in the house using either inches or centimeters - write the item and the measurement down and we'll complete at school.

FLUENCY - your child should read the passage on King Midas to you but DO NOT complete the questions on the back. Please sign so I know you were read to. Thank you. Fluency is a very important component to reading success!

STORYWORKS - letter went home on Friday. Bring in $6.60 for the Storyworks magazine for the entire year. Each month of the school year, we will use this magazine to develop our reading abilities (and we'll use it just for fun reading, too!) It is a great resource and the kids will bring it home when they are done with it for the month! You will love it!

Did you get my list-serve email this weekend? IF not, be sure to give me a current email address to send you important information.

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY !
THANK YOU, PARENTS!

Science, science, and more science

I just got back from attending Metea Valley's first home football game! How fun! I even saw a few Cowlishaw parents there! AND THEY WON! WOo Hooo!

Today in class, we worked at applying what we are learning about the atmosphere by creating a model of the atmospheric layers. Your child had lots of time today to work on this with guidance from me and other students. Please help your child remember to try to finish up the coloring (after labeling with black marker) the different levels and parts of their representation. They should study the model and know the layers, the altitudes of the layers, and some of the things that can be found or happen in those layers.

Next week, we will continue our study of cloud types and phases of matter.

5th grade math had time today to work on the math boxes that will be graded first thing Monday morning. There are only about a dozen (boxes, not pages) that will be graded. Kids were reminded that these boxes are perfect for practice during the unit and are encouraged to use any available "free time" to complete what they can using their SRB. If students did not finish, these will need to be completed at home.

Spelling list 4 was sent home to study for the pretest (if desired).

Thank you for your continued support at home. Make sure your child is reading every day, if possible. Have a great weekend!!

DUe Friday

Today we watched a little bit of a Bill Nye video on the phases of matter. We are studying the layers of the atmosphere and are building onto what we know about solids, liquids, and gases. One of our assignments today is to write 2 questions (and the answers) about the information in the video. We have been developing our notetaking skills this week, learning about how an outline looks and should be read. Some of us have been creating ways to take notes so that the information in our notebooks can be accessed easily. Ask your child what method they prefer for notetaking. Researching the best ways to take notes (this can be done online) would make for a great sharing lesson with the class, since there are so many ways to take notes! If your child needs more information from the video, check it out on youtube (if available)...just google "you tube bill nye phases of matter."

In addition to those questions, spelling activities (2) and fluency are due, and we'll have our spelling test.

Thanks!

a little lesson in factorization....

Today in Math, we were challenged by the task of taking a big number and factoring it down to prime numbers. In addition, we were then required to write the final factorization using exponents. Here is what one looked like (taken straight from the study guide). using a calculator is ok.

1080 (a composite - find 2 factors that make that number)
2 x 540 (1080 is even, so 2 will always break down an even number)
2 x 2 x 270 (520 was even too - hey so is 270...will this madness ever stop??)
2 x 2 x 2 x 135 (ok, here's a new one.. 135 is not divisible by 2, but it is by 5)
2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 27 (nearing the end..I can feel it - what makes 27? 3 and 9)
2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 3 x 9 (9 is a composite, so I need to break that down! )
2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 3 x 3 x 3 (all primes, so that part is done - now the fun part, put those primes together!)

Ok, I don't know how to make an exponent on the computer, but here is what it would read like: 2 to the 3rd power (since there are 3 of them) times 3 to the third power (since there are three of those) times 5 (no exponenet needed since there is only one).
SO..... the prime factorization of 1080 is what is in bold right above. I hope this helps. Try a smaller number first.

HOMEWORK
5th grade - math test tomorrow (study guide due and finish 1.9 - time was given in class today)

Fluency

Spelling activities

band/orchestra tomorrow

bring environmental club sheet tomorrow (if interested)

GOAL BOOKS SIGNED?? $2 in your bank!!

See you tomorrow... :-)

Bring on the WEATHER

Yes, we are beginning our study of weather. Today's science homework is to find out how much of the earth is covered by water. We will learn how the water on earth affects the weather. We will study the layers of the atmosphere and do some neat experiments.

Here is our homework for today:
Math (5th) we will have a test over Unit 1 on Thursday and the study guide is due back tomorrow. IF your child doesn't have their SRB (reference book), remind them of your expectations to be prepared to study for a test.

Spelling - ONLY 2 activities this week and next - due to the shorter weeks.

If your child is off contract (5 students), no activities need to be turned in (but studying should still be done!)

FLuency - your child should read this to you and you should sign it somewhere on the page or on the back. THEY ARE NOT TO DO THE QUESTIONS AT HOME (although they can study them and talk tbout them with you).

LATE START TOMORROW _ Be here and in your seat working by 9:15 (doors open at 9:00)
:-)

Over the weekend

Parents,
Another successful week! Next week, we do not have school on Labor Day! I'll see your kids Tuesday morning. Remember that we have late start on Wednesdays for the rest of the year.

Some kids do have some homework to finish up that they did not finish today in Math (journal page 25 and the top of page 26 (5th grade) and 6th grade has 1.8). Also, Unit 3 spelling list went home, the pretest for that will be on Tuesday and next week, only 2 spelling activities are due on Friday.

This week, we began using the laptops that our school received this year. Our class learned how to unplug them, carry them, and care for them at their desks. We were very excited to use them in our classroom. A suggestion was made for kids to purchase a "flash drive" or "zip drive," which is a little memory holder for them to keep their work on. They really just need one that has 512 megabytes, unless they are going to use it for LOADS of pictures or data. A small one for writing projects should run you about $5 - 7. You can pick one up at Target or Walmart in the video section. Just ask a worker to show you where they are and just tell them your child will be using it for school work - documents, papers, etc. This is completely OPTIONAL (a safe way to protect your work).

Have a great weekend!
:-)

The importance of knowing the facts!

If you are checking this blog send this word to school with your child: Responsible. That word will earn them one monster buck.

Thank you for taking the time to look at this blog. I hope you find it helpful and a resource to help your child at home.

Due tomorrow:
Math (5th) study link 1.7

3 spelling activities

fluency - should have been read at least once to a parent and signed. The questions on the back should not be completed until class tomorrow.

we have our first reading test over the story, "Hot and Cold Summer" Your child should have their reading book at home to reveiw the vocabulary and the story.

we take our 2 minute math fact test on Fridays. If you are noticing that your child is not advancing through the levels of the math facts each week, please take some time to sit down with him or her(3-5 minutes each night) and make some flashcards and practice together. Make sure your child is reading the entire fact, including factors and the product. If your child struggles with a fact, tell the product and have him or her repeat the whole number sentence 3 times. This repetition will greatly increase their memory of the fact. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for supporting your child. From this point on in school, knowing those multiplication facts, automatically, is necessary for success! Please let me know if you would like extra Otter Creek tests for practice at home. I am happy to provide flashcards for home as well!

Have a great weekend and Happy Labor Day to all!

Happenings

We had a terrific day today in 5G. Did your childtell you that we have earned our first Game Day? This is a class incentive for following our Rules of Thumb for the classroom. This class could be a role model for how cooperative grouping should look. No matter how the kids are placed in groups, they are meeting my expectations. We are having a fun time modeling what each part of our day should look like. Ask you child what brain break we did today? Who knew "Simon Says" could be a brain break? Thanks for the idea, Rumi! Tomorrow, we get to use the laptops for the first time. I can't wait.

Homework:Math: 5th - link 1.7 (kids had time in class to work on this and it will be graded tomorrow) our test will be next week on Wednesday or Thursday (we will do the first study guide together in class on Tuesday - subsequent study guides will be done as practice at home and we will go over in class).

Spelling: Everyone is still on contract this week - so that means 3 activities due Friday

Fluency: Your child should read the passage about the crayon to you at least one time (building fluency) and you should sign it when they do. This is due back on Friday and the questions on the back should not be done at home (although they can be looked at and discussed).
Writing: mental homework - think of a good school memory you can share during "storying" tomorrow

See you tomorrow! Get your fingers ready for the laptops!!

Science Fun!

Sorry I didn't post last night, I couldn't get on - I must have added something and it was preventing me from getting on anywhere. Luckily, I took off a few things I added and now it seems to be fine. Here is our homework for yesterday:

MONDAY
Math - (5th) Link 1.6 and (6th) Link 1.5
Spelling - 3 activities due Friday - test Friday
Fluency - read to at least one parent and have him or her sign the sheet by Friday. Questions can be looked at and discussed, but NOT filled in. We will do this in class on Friday morning.

TUESDAY
Spelling and Fluency - same as above
Math : (5th )Journal box page 19 (6th)box pages and link 1.6
Science - study the steps to the scientific method (kids should have science journals at home)

We continued our investigation of pendulums using the scientific method today. Ask your child about that! Also, ask your child about Crazy 8's!!