Baseball....and hot dogs!

So excited that baseball is back! Well, almost. Spring Training is here and that makes me happy! To celebrate, we had hot dogs today. They were DELICIOUS, don't think I've made a better one. We'll have to do that again very soon.

Today was also READ ACROSS AMERICA. We went to Mrs. Neuman's room and had a fabulous reader. Loved the books she read. I also read a book on working on the Great Wall. Be sure to take the AR quizzes!

We read part of our new selection and did a drawing activity with it to help monitor and clarify. We also did some work with our spelling words.

In math, we started Topic 14 by solving equations with more than one operation. 

We had our Ancient China test today. We finished up the day by working on team names. 

Such a fun, rainy day! 

Have a wonderful weekend! Sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns -- don't forget!

Unikitties and Baby Unicorns

Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow. Right? Right!
Today we listened to some nifty crocodile stories. Loved them! Can't wait to see what you do with tonight's writing prompt!
We started a new selection. Today we did a close reading on Gifts from the Greeks. We used an organizer to write Topic, Main Idea, and Details. We worked on vocabulary as well as took a spelling pretest.
In math, we had our Topic 13 test. How did you do?
In social studies, we worked on filling out a study guide for Ancient China. This is a way to review material and get you ready for your test. Test will be tomorrow!
Tomorrow is Read Across America! YAY!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (questions due tomorrow)
• Studies Weekly due tomorrow 
• math -- review what you know in front of Topic 14
• writing: write a story using the words sequin, glub, cure
• spelling -- missed words 5x each

Let's add unicats!

Sounds like I really need to see the Lego movie and find out what a unicat is. Do you think we'll be able to be about sunshine and rainbows with the rain that is in our forecast?
Today we took the selection test for The Great Wall. We also finished our writing about the quote from yesterday.
I asked you to give me the name of the chapter book you will be using for your Bloom's Ball. I need those by Friday, if you haven't decided.
In math we worked on the problem solving lesson of reasonableness. This is an important lesson! Please make your notecard to help you study for tomorrow's test.
I am really enjoying Pippi Longstocking too. Are you?

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency
• spelling -- related words
• math -- practice 13-7 (1-4) and notecard
• Studies Weekly worksheet due tomorrow
• Writing -- write a scene that involves a crocodile. Use the word "nifty"

Sunshine, Rainbows, AND Unicorns!

Continuing with the sunshiny, rainbowy days! Today I added unicorns!
We went to the book fair this morning. I bought three books for the classroom. I may have to go back and purchase some more things!
We read the link for our selection and worked on reading a time line. Then we responded to a quote from the selection using details and quotations from the text.
In math we learned the formula for simple interest

Interest = Principal x Rate x Time

We also reviewed what we have learned about taxes, tips, and discounts.

Finally, we finished the day with a writing assessment (responding to a picture prompt).

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (Great Wall)
• spelling -- practice test
• math -- worksheet 1-10
• Studies Weekly due Friday
• writing -- hamster picture

Sunshine and Rainbows

Do you feel it?! Sunshine and rainbows? Tomorrow I'm adding unicorns! Really, I am!
Today we met our new Assistant Principal. Very exciting!
We learned about cause and effect. We looked at the Ming Dynasty and what caused that to weaken. We also took a cartoon and rewrote as a story.
Remember to let me know what chapter book you are going to do for your Bloom's Ball by Friday.
In math, we worked on discounts. We figured tax and even tips after a discount has been taken.
I read a non-fiction book on China to the class. Take the AR quiz!
We read about Confucius and his work. We made tiny Confucius sayings books.

Homework

• reading log
• fluency (Great Wall, Great Jump)
• spelling choice
• LA -- compare/contrast the book and movie of Bridge to Terabithia (at least three things each)
• math reteach 13-6 (1-4)
• writing -- raccoon/cat picture
• Studies Weekly due Friday

Happy Thursday!

Today was awesome!
We went to the library. Love going there! We finished reading The Great Wall and used a summary hand to record important facts/details/events from the selection.
We also retook the STAR test. I am excited to see the results and will have a print out for you tomorrow.
In math we learned how to find a percentage of a number and to figure out what percentage a number is of another number. One of my favorite lessons!
Finally, we watched part of Bridge to Terabithia. So exciting to see it on the new projector!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (Silk Road) -- quiz tomorrow
• spelling choice
• math practice 13-5
• Studies Weekly due tomorrow
• writing -- gave you a picture prompt 

Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!
Today we read part of The Great Wall and took notes on facts from the selection. You shared your notes with your partner. Then we worked on spelling and comparing with adjectives. Does anyone remember the academic language used -- what form is it when we compare two things? Or three or more?
In math, we estimated with percents.
Remember tomorrow is library day! Friday we have Read Across America; can't wait!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (silk road)
• spelling -- choice
• math -- practice 13-4 (1-12 only)
• Studies Weekly worksheet due tomorrow
• writing -- what would you wish for if you had only one wish?

Tuesday!

Today FLEW BY. Just flew!
We started a new selection in language arts called The Great Wall. To start off, we listened to a read aloud about Pompeii, which was special since I visited there over winter break. I showed some pictures I took there. We talked about cause and effect; specifically, what happened (effects) because of the volcanic eruption (cause).
We worked on vocabulary for the new selection and took a spelling pretest.
Then -- we listened to the story we are going to reproduce for our play. We assigned roles. Can't wait to get started on the props and costumes!
In math, we talked about percents greater than 100 and less than 1.
We finished The Bridge to Terabithia. I always tear up at the end :(
We listened to a Cinderella type story from China called Yeh-Shen. We compared and contrasted the story elements with a traditional Cinderella story.
Finally, we worked on making bricks for a small scale sized Great Wall in the classroom. Each brick is about a friend and why that person is a friend. Loved reading those!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency -- silk road
• spelling -- missed words 5x each
• math -- practice 13-3
• studies weekly due Friday
• writing -- write a scene that involves a safety pin

Monday

Today we started the district Blueprint B assessment. We worked through half of the assessment today and will finish tomorrow.
We did some work on our scale drawings.
In math, we started Topic 13 and worked with percents.
We finished the day putting together the dragons for Wednesday. Almost finished!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (Ping)
• studies weekly due Friday
• math practice 13-1 and enrichment 13-1
• write about something you cannot find on the Internet

Wednesday

I am so excited about the Ancient China work we are in the middle of completing! We have two different types of dragons being constructed. We painted. Sewed. Colored. Can't wait to put them together Friday! 

Today we took the district writing test over problem/solution. 

We also worked on scale drawings. We did some work with scale drawings in the book and then started on Ancient China pictures. We are enlarging the pictures. Cannot wait to see how they turn out!

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (China)
• spelling choice
• math practice 12-6
• studies weekly and worksheet due Friday
• writing: write a story that starts with a pyramid

Behave for the substitute! I will see you Friday!

Tuesday

Today went by very quickly!
In language arts, we continued our "Think of Three" activity. You talked to ten classmates and discussed the three things each of you picked out as most important in the selection. We came back together and generated a list of things that were most commonly listed. Then we talked about author's bias and how it relates to this selection. We practiced finding bias. Finally, we talked about three suffixes.
In math, we worked on similar figures. Similar figures are figures that are the same shape and have proportional sides.
In social studies we did a close read on a passage about daily life in Ancient China.
We spent the last fifteen minutes outside.

Homework:

• reading log
• fluency (China)
• studies weekly due Friday
• spelling -- choice
• math -- practice 12-5
• writing: write a scene that takes place before a tower