January 25th

We have been keeping busy lately!  Students have all set new goals for the quarter, and they are working towards achieving their goals for 2016.

Here are some dates to keep in mind:

Tomorrow, January 26th- Sheldon Concert Hall Field Trip (we will return by lunch)

Jump Rope for Heart information will come home tomorrow, and the donations may be brought in from February 8-10

Wednesday, February 10th- Early Dismissal at 1:40

Friday, February 12th- Class Valentine's Party

Monday, February 15th- NO SCHOOL for President's Day


In reading, students are in research groups studying different popular issues.  Their topics include:

• Should zoos be banned?
• Is space or ocean exploration more important? 
• Should killer whale shows be banned?
• Are extreme sports worth the risk?
• Should plastic water bottles be banned?

They are very engaged in this, and they are learning to analyze nonfiction to help support their arguments.  Last Thursday they participated in mini debates within their research groups, and they are now looking for more evidence to support their side.

In writing, we are also continuing to study argument writing.  Students are still researching and writing a letter to Dr. Parker about whether or not we should serve chocolate milk in schools.  Below are pictures of students working with their writing partners to gather evidence from the articles they read about chocolate milk.  After we finish this piece, students will choose their own topic and write another argument essay.

We are working on chapter 6 in math, which deals with multiplication and division of decimals.  This is a challenging chapter, and we will be having a short quiz on Wednesday over lessons 6, 8, and 9. They have a study guide that should have come home today.  

In science, we are learning about light.  Next, we will move on to classifying living things.  Some of the topics covered will be vertebrates, invertebrates, and food chains.  I am including a few pictures and videos of our student created experiments from two weeks ago.

Have a wonderful week, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

January 7

Thank you so much to the parents who helped plan the Christmas party!  The kids had a blast, and it was a great party!

We are having a wonderful start to the third quarter!  The students came back refreshed from our time off, and they have been working hard.

Some important dates coming up:
Friday, January 8- 6:30 PTO movie night at Long
Wednesday, January 13- Early release
Monday, January 18- NO SCHOOL

We are learning about persuasive texts in both reading and writing.  In reading this week, students have been analyzing articles on a variety of interesting debatable issues.  They are learning to identify the claim the author is making, as well as the reasons and the evidence.  Next week they will be in a research group where they will investigate an issue of their choice.  After gathering evidence on both sides of the issue, they will engage in mini debates about their topics.  The students are very excited about this!

In writing, students were presented with the idea of whether or not we should continue to serve chocolate milk in the cafeteria.  We will be examining a variety of articles and video to collect information about the topic.  After reading the evidence, they will use their research to write a persuasive letter in favor of chocolate milk or against it.

We have been learning about multiplying decimals this week in math.  We will continue with multiplication and move on to decimal division soon.  In our math centers, students have been using an online journal called Seesaw.  The journal allows you to take pictures or videos.  When the students are playing a math game at the hands on center or doing a problem solving activity, they make a video with their group.  The goal is for them to use math vocabulary and to explain their thinking on the video.  In the next few weeks after they get more pictures and videos in their journals,  I will send you a link to see what the students have been doing.

Science has been a lot of fun this week!  We are continuing to learn about matter.  The students did an experiment where they mixed vinegar and baking soda to create carbon dioxide.  First, the students mixed the vinegar and baking soda in a bottle.  They then quickly put a balloon over the bottle top, and they witnessed the carbon dioxide come up and blow up the balloon.  This helped solve a common misconception, so now hopefully all students understand that gas takes up space.  I included a video of one group performing the experiment.