Week of 11/02/09- GOLD Book Math

Welcome Max T!
Max joined our GOLD Book math group this week and is moving along in his new math book (and doing very well!)

Since each student is working on different material, please read the assignment notebook for daily assignments. As customary, each student needs to complete at least 30 minutes in their math books nightly. Their work for each problem must be clearly identified and outlined in their graph notebooks.

The proper format should include the following information:

Date, page number

WORK Column ANSWER Column

Problem #1



Several times a week the class will be given "review quizzes" which will include a general overview of basic math operations to continually reenforce the foundations of math. Some evening assignments may include a worksheet if a student needs additional support in a certain area. Also, I may give certain pages in the book that appear to be repetitive, but it is based on your student's earlier performance in that area.

Unit Reviews, quizzes, homework and class participation are factored together to determine the student's final grade in class.

Lunch Bunch/Study will be assigned if a homework assignment or class goal is not met.

I will provide daily assignment entries in my blog if they vary from the "30 minutes" a night requirement.

Regards,
LouAnn

Week of November 2, 2009 - Homework

Is it November already?

Yet another successful week under our belts...

What great Halloween costumes we donned! We had witches, a gypsy, a very authentic mummy, a Clone Trooper from Star Wars and an Angel/Devil...all were very creative and interesting! Thank you to all parents for assisting with the Halloween party and your contributions. What a fun time!

Reading: We are moving along in Charlotte's Web and the story is becoming very interesting as the plot unfolds! The small reading group (Joseph, Grace, Taylor and Sam) is also making progress in reasing Rent a Third Grader and completing sections of their book reports.

Writing: We reviewed the steps in the Writing Process and published a story on Halloween in our writing journals after pre-writing, drafting and editing/proofreading. Our artistic abilities shone as we were not only authors but illustrators as well!

Geography and Social Studies: We are becoming very familiar with reading maps: grids, legends and indexes. We can identify capitals, cities and boundaries and provide directions to various destinations using the Compass Rose.

Library: We visited the library and students chose a chapter book and a"fun" book for their personal reading.


Homework Schedule:

PLEASE NOTE: Students are expected to read at least 20 - 30 minutes each evening and respond in their Reading Journals a couple of times a week to communicate their thoughts on their reading. This assignment is not always written down each night unless something specific is required.

Spelling Words: Word List 5
assist, avoid, depart, exile, expert, harvest, haul, inn, mar, mate, navigate, protect, vat

Dolch words:
made, many, off, or, pull

Monday 11/02/09

• ELA (English LanguageArts):

1. Read 20 - 30 minutes/journal entries or book report pages
2. For the students reading Rent a Third Grader: please prepare the Venn diagram page in the book report.

• Social Studies: Complete "Picturing the US" handout.
• WW: Review List 5 spelling words and properly plan to complete each exercise in the section. All sections need to be completed by 11/5, but it is helpful to prepare at least one section a night to become more comfortable with the words and definitions.
• "Hootie" The Take Home Owl Project will be completed and brought back to school by Joseph and Taylor Cirone and another student will take it home and complete the assignment. Have fun and whooooooooo will be next to take home Hootie......

Tuesday 11/3/09

• ELA:

1. Vocabulary Packet: Complete pp 15 - 18. Please read directions carefully and do not go beyond the assigned pages.
2. Reading Comprehension: Please complete your next assigned section and make sure to prepare the "Write about it" questions if you have them. Please DO NOT go ahead until I correct your current section!:)

Wednesday 11/4/09

Thursday11/5/09

• WW: please complete the List 5 section exercises, pp18 -21
• WW: Pre-test

Friday 11/6/09

• WW: Test, spelling and definitions.

Week of October 26, 2009-Homework

Happy Halloween Week-BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Group 2 had a busy, interesting and fun week.

Historic Figures: Sharon Clark, founder of Clark School, visited Group 2. She enlightened and entertained the students on the founding and history of Clark School. We learned the following interesting facts:

• Sharon has three children (Jeff, our headmaster, is her youngest) and 5 grandchildren. All her children are entrepreneurs!
• Sharon grew up in Washington,D.C. and played in her high school band at the inauguration for President Dwight Eisenhower!
• Sharon has her Master's degree and attended Wheelock College in Boston.
• Ron Clark, her husband, was a minister and started the Clark School with her.
• The Clark School "antique", built in 1665, was home to her family as well as the initial school classrooms. The upstairs administration office was the master bedroom and Jeff's bedroom was the attic! The 1st floor front rooms were classrooms.
• Sharon's educational philosophy was centered on the belief that classrooms of small sizes with mixed grade levels provide more educational opportunities for learners.
• The Clark School barn/garage is ranked as one of the oldest barns in the country.
• Clark School was founded 30 years ago.
• The Clark School antique building played a role in the historic "underground railroad" movement providing a safe house for escaping slaves. There is a "hollow" area between the 2 fireplaces in the Goup 5 rooms where slaves were secretly hidden.
• Sharon is very proud of her children (especially her grandchildren) and everything about Clark School!

Science: Brody, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel visited to continue our lesson on the life cycle of dogs. Our log books were updated as he was weighed and measured and the students made observations of changes in his appearance and behavior.

Language Arts: Students continued with the reading of Charlotte's Web, wrote book reports, friendly letters, reading response journal entries and poems.

WW: Students did a great job on their Wordly Wise spelling tests.

A.M./Morning Work: A great job in completing these early morning handouts on A-B-C order, dictionary skills, plurals and money$.

Activities: Pumpkin picking was fun and chilly. We will utilize the pumpkins for a math lesson on Monday.

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Please Note: We may not record "reading" in the Assignment Notebook each day, however, reading is expected each night for at least 20 minutes. The more the better! If students are reading other subject material, this may be counted as "reading". Students are always working on different reading activities. Some nights, writing exercises such as book reports or reading responses may be worked on in lieu of reading. Please continue to read to your child as much as possible! This provides great modeling and bonding!

Monday 10/26/09

• Reading: 20 - 30 minutes, reading journal responses, book reports
• WW: Please make flashcards ONLY IF you find they are helpful to learn the spelling and definitions of your WW words. (Some students feel that flashcards are not necessary to aid their learning process.) We will continue to make Dolch Word flashcards and put them on our "rings". Please study all of your words! (AND make a plan to complete the WW List 4 Exercises, pages 15 - 18- due 10/29/09.)
• WW Words: assemble, cloak, entire, even, gay, irrigate, nibble, omit, ram, reduce, ruin, vast.
• Dolch Words: found, gave, goes, green, it's

Tuesday 10/27/09

• Reading: 20 minutes
• SS: complete pages 8 -13 in Workbook

Wednesday 10/28/09

• LIBRARY VISIT: Please bring in library books and reconcile any fees or missing books!
• Reading: 20 minutes
• Reading Comprehension: Read next section and complete questions.

Thursday 10/29/09

• Reading: 20 minutes
• WW: Pre-test
• WW: Complete Wordly Wise List 4 Exercises: pp 15 - 18

Friday 10/30/09

• Halloween Party: If appropriate, students may wear costumes to school or bring the costume and change after lunch. Please leave all weapons home! The party starts at 2:00PM. All are invited!
• WW: Spelling/Defintion test

Week of October 19- Homework

Is this fall or winter?

The students had a very good week.

We visited the Danvers Public Library and chose 2 books each. We will be visiting the library every other week on Wednesdays. Our next visit will be on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 around 11:00AM. If your son/daughter has any overdue books or fines, please reconcile this with the library prior to our next visit.

Pajama Day was fun and we had some very interesting attire!

We are progressing in our group reading book, Charlotte's Web, completed the first 3 chapters and performed very well on our 1st story quiz!

A special thank you to Sam Kirby's mom, Jeanne Argento for bringing in their new puppy, Lulu, a Westie, last week. This was a special treat and the newest member of Sam's family is adorable, but not as cute as his sister Kate!

Also, another "thank you" to Sam's mom for printing very "cool"name labels for Group 2's notebooks and workbooks and supplying us with 3-ring binders! We are very appreciative of her generosity.

A very special guest, Sharon Clark, will visit Group 2 on Thursday to educate the students on the founding of the Clark School!

In true Fall fashion, we are planning to go "pumpkin picking" this coming Friday, 10/23, at Connors Farm. (However, our day may change if the weather fails to cooperate!)

Monday 10/19/09

• Reading: 20 - 30 minutes /journal entries or work on book reports if your independent reading book is completed.
• Wordly Wise Book 1: Finish flashcards with definitions, review WW words and Dolch words and complete Exercise 3A.
• WW: All students are now in the Wordly Wise Book 1. For those who may have completed this section last year, this will be a good review. Review the exercises and make sure your answers are correct. Our WW words include the following: absorb, bridle, ewe, fragrant, gallop, glide, limp, narrow, odd, outlaw, refresh, ship, tithe, trample. Our Dolch words: does, don't, fast, first, five.
• A.M. Work: Last week's A.M. worksheets are due if you did not complete them in class:)!

Tuesday 10/20/09

• Reading: 20 - 30 minutes/journal entries/book reports.
• Reading Comprehension: Read next chapter story, answer questions and complete "Write about it" activity (Attach lined paper if necessary).

Wednesday 10/21/09

• Reading: 20 - 30 minutes/journal entries/book reports.

Thursday 10/22/09

• Historic Figures: Our special guest will be "Sharon Clark" who will discuss the founding of the Clark School.
• Reading: 20 - 30 minutes/journal entries/book reports.
• WW: Pre-test and complete Section 3 A, B, C and D exercises.

Friday 10/23/09

• Pumpkin Picking at Connors Farm.
• Reading: 20 -30 minutes/journal entries/book reports
• WW: Spelling/Definition test.

Week of October 12- Homework

The Hulbert attendees are back! This will be a short week since Monday is ColumbusDay!

Monday 10/12/09

• Day off- sleep late!

Tuesday 10/13/09

• Library: Visit to the Danvers Public Library.
• Reading: 20 minutes/journal response
• Reading: AND Bring in Flat Stanley project!
• Handwriting: See individual books for pages assigned.
• Wordly Wise Book 1: Complete flashcards and definitions - ally, breeze, conceal, cub, dreary, dusk, furious, hollow, splendid, turf, uniform, weapon.
• Blue Vocabulary Book- Lesson 4: Complete flashcards and definitions - elegant, emerge, contribute, nestled, assemble, weary, nutritious.
• Dolch Words for both groups: best, both, buy, call, cold.

Wednesday 10/14/09

• PAJAMA DAY!
• Reading: 20 minutes/journal response.
• Reading Comprehension Book: (All books) Read next chapter story, answer questions and complete the "write about" activity.
• Money Quiz $$$$.

Thursday 10/15/09

• Reading: 20 minutes/journal response
• WW/Spelling: Pre-test
• WW/Spelling: Word List 2, pages 2 - 8
• Blue Vocabulary Book, pages 14 -17
• Science: What Am I? handout.

Friday 10/16/09

• Reading: 20 minutes/journal response AND Charlotte's Web Quiz- Chapters 1 - 3
• WW/Spelling: Test

Week of October 5 - Homework Schedule

Since the majority of the school is at Hulbert, we will be the faithful ones to remain behind to work!

We will follow a very similar schedule with some minor changes since some of our teachers are away.

Monday 10/5/09

• Martial Arts with Jason.
• Wordly Wise: Finish making flashcards (white ones) with the vocabulary word on one side and the definition on the back. This week's words are: alight, archer, cathedral, crew, hoof, instruct, linger, miser, observe, swarm, weary and wily.

***Last week's words are on the ring. All cards should be kept in the plastic bag to keep all words together. Please review the spelling and definitions of the WW words. Dolch Words (most commonly used words) need to be reviewed for spelling only.***

• Vocabulary Blue Book (Zoe, Joe, Grace): Please do as above. Your new words are as follows: tremble, giddy, boast, resourceful, consequence and rescue.
• Reading: 20 minutes/journal. If you took home a Book Report, please complete. If you have a copy of Charlotte's Web, please bring it in for this week's group reading.

Tuesday 10/6/09

• Cheese pizza lunch and picnic (if your child does not want pizza please pack a lunch).
• Art with Jodi.
• Reading: 20 minutes/ respond in Reading Journal.
• Flat Stanley Project: Please finish coloring Flat Stanley. Address the envelopes and return with their contents so that we may mail them out this week!
• Social Studies: Quiz on the US Military/Lt. Piatelli's presentation (see study guide).
• Geography: Complete Mapping Handout

Wednesday 10/7/09

• Apple picking at Connors Farm: We will walk to the farm after lunch with Group.
• Reading: 20 minutes/Journal Entry
• Movie Snacks: Please bring in your contribution to the movie snack- see flier that went home on Friday- thank you! (Movie to be determined!)

Thursday 10/8/09

• Group Snack and Movie!
• No early dismissal: pick-up at 2:45.
• Reading: 20 minutes/Journal Entry
• WW: Spelling Pre-Test
• WW: complete Section 1 pp 1 -3 (in WW book), complete Lesson 3 pp 10 -13 (in Vocabulary Blue Book).
• Historical Figures: Quiz on Benjamin Franklin (see study guide)

Friday 10/9/09

• Corn Maze at Connors Farm with High School and Group 1.
• Reading: 20 minutes/Journal
• WW: Spelling/Definition test
• Geography: Fantastic Seats handout

Week of September 26: Highlights

Group 2 had an exciting week.

1. We finished reading Flat Stanley!

• We will be sending home the project on Monday and will need to have you address the envelope to your family or friends who will be "hosting" Flat Stanley's vacation! A letter of explanation and the contents of the mailing will be available for you to review.
• We look forward to receiving some interesting letters and photos back from Flat Stanley's trip!
• The students took a quiz on Flat Stanley to measure their comprehension and vocabulary skills. Great Job!

2. A special guest, 2nd Lt. Enrico Piatelli, visited with Group 2!

We had a very interesting and informative visit with 2nd Lt. Piatelli from the U.S. Army. As part of our social studies and historical figures lessons on "How People Make a Difference" in our commnity, we learned a great deal about the United States military.

Lt. Piatelli is a resident of Danvers, MA and attended St. John's Prep in Danvers. He recently graduated from the Military School at Norwich University in Northfield, VT as a 2nd lieutenant with a degree in business. He has been undergoing various training and "boot camp" sessions throughout his 4 years at Norwich and played on their varsity hockey team since his freshman year. He is being sent to Oklahoma and then Georgia for additional training and then he is being deployed to Afghanistan. His goal is to become an Army Ranger, the most elite level of the U.S. Army. He met with Group 2, gave a brief presentation, answered their questions and took photos with the class. The students learned the following facts:

• There are 5 divisions of the U.S. Military: the Army, the Marines, the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Air Force.
• In order to be in the Army, a soldier must possess the following characteristics (which is defined in an acrostic poem for the abbreviation of the word "LEADERSHIP"): Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Self-less Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.
• Members of the Armed Forces are committed to their country and protect people at any expense.
• The Army chooses their lieutenants according to their G.P.A, mental and physical strength and experience. (Good grades are important in all aspects of life!!)
• A soldier's backpack can weigh over 100 pounds!.
• Once a soldier is deployed overseas, they cannot come home for a very long time.
• When soldiers are in combat they carry food called "MRE'S" which are vacuum-packed and can last up to 4 years! (The students did not want to try any of these samples!)
• The success of the army is based on team work and good listening skills- just like the students of Clark!

3. We reviewed capitalization, punctuation, wrote a friendly letter to Lt. Piatelli and a "I Am" biography poem, reviewed our lesson on Benjamin Franklin and constructed educational kites, moved along in our Wordly Wise books, started to review Dolch Words and progressed in our Reading Comprehension books.