Happy New Year!!

Classroom Supplies

We could really use some erasers for the pencils. The type that goes on the end of the pencils would be the best. The large pink ones that we brought are either all written upon or torn up. A pastime that makes them mostly unusable. And, we are almost out of pencils. We have plenty of notebook paper.

Upcoming Dates

Monday, January 17^th—No school for all grades!

Reading

We will be getting back in to novels this week. The students will have choices: 4^th grade: Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Anastasia Krupnik, or Superfudge. The 5^th grade choices will be: Maniac Magee, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, or The Trumpet of the Swan.

Language

Latin Word Root quiz is Thursday this week (scrib-write or written).

Math

Update soon

Science

We will begin with rocks and the rock cycle.

Social Studies

Update soon

Spelling

4^th and 5^th graders will now be taking spelling tests in cursive   and in blue or black ink pen. They may not use red ink on spelling tests. When studying with them, you may want to have them practice using pen and cursive.

4th grade spelling words Unit 16 Jan 3^rd -7^th Two syllable words ending in –y,

–ey, or -ie with a long e sound

BASIC: lonely, merry, steady, hungry, starry, melody, duty, drowsy, plenty, daily, eighty, empty, injury, turkey, valley, hockey, chimney, alley, movie, prairie

CHALLENGE: envy, fiery, mercy, discovery, mystery

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  A One-Person Band

performance, strum, banjo, lyrics, harmonica, cymbals, beat, tambourine

4th grade spelling words Unit 17 Jan 10^th – 14^th  Changing final –y to –I and adding a suffix

BASIC: hobbies, copied, countries, pitied, families, spied, ladies, studies, butterflies, tiniest, easier, laziest, happiest, friendlier, busier, breezier, prettiest, noisier, healthier, funniest

CHALLENGE: heaviest, categories, communities, multiplied, qualities

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Tools

screwdriver, sandpaper, bolts, clamp, wrench, chisel, pliers, hinge

5th grade spelling words Unit 16 Jan 3^rd -7^th VV Pattern

BASIC: cruel, diet, ruin, trial, create, riot, dial, actual, patriot, museum, casual, pioneer, visual, realize, genuine, area, annual, audio, theater, violet

CHALLENGE: diagnose, media, appreciate, society, prior

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  The Color Wheel

indigo, aquamarine, vermilion, apricot, spectrum, hues, primary, complementary

5th grade spelling words Unit 17 Jan 3^rd -7^th final schwa + /l/ sounds

BASIC:  label, angel, level, channel, quarrel, central, legal, normal, local, global, whistle, puzzle, angle, needle, struggle, bicycle, stumble, article, pupil fossil

CHALLENGE: identical, vehicle, mineral, colonel, artificial

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Geometry

polygons, rhombus, obtuse angle, acute angle, rectangle, right angle, triangle, hypotenuse

December 15, 2010

This is an amazing bit of video from NASA. You may need to copy and paste the address if the link does not work.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html 

Please sign and return the midterms that came home last week.  J

Classroom Supplies

We could really use some erasers for the pencils. The type that goes on the end of the pencils would be the best. The large pink ones that we brought are either all written upon or torn up. A pastime that makes them mostly unusable. And, we are almost out of pencils and tissues. We have plenty of notebook paper.

Upcoming Dates

The General Music Holiday Program will be Thursday, December 16^th @ 2:15. The Band and Orchestra Holiday Program will be Tuesday, December 21^st @ 2:15.

Student Council Holiday Projects

 The student council at Poly Drive is sponsoring two holiday projects. One is to benefit hospital patients at Billings Clinic. They are asking for UNWRAPPED new Christmas tree ornaments. The ornaments will be delivered to the patients with their dinner on Christmas Day.

The second one benefits the Montana Rescue Mission. They are looking for donations, again, UNWRAPPED, of diaper wipes, gift cards, pizza coupons, city bus passes, shaving cream, toothpaste, stocking caps, winter gloves, and socks.

Beginning November 29^th (Monday) students can bring the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree in the gym hallway. The gifts will be delivered Friday, December 17^th.

Reading

We are reading A Christmas Carole. It is the script from the 1984 version of the television production starring George C Scott. We will watch it on Wednesday, December 22^nd.

Language

No new Latin Word Roots this week. The redo quiz for cogn & termin will be MOnday. 


Featured Latin Word Root drawings this week are by Bailey (exterminate) and Layla (determination).

Math

4^th grade:

Chapter 2 tests were returned today. If your child did not get an 80% or higher on it, they can correct it, have you sign it, and list the page in the book that describes the concept to raise their grade to a 79%. Chapter 3 pretest was given today for 4^th graders.

5^th graders took their Chapter 2 test today. Most of the 4^th graders did very well on their Chapter 2 test. I challenged the 5^th graders to do as well.

Science

An optional extra credit element quiz will be on Friday. Students who want to try it will be provided with a list of the elements (minus the ones they were quizzed on last week). They need only provide the element symbol. I will give x-tra credit points in groups of 10. So if they get 10 correct, they will get 10 extra credit points. If they get 15 correct, they will get 10 x-tra credit points. If they get 20 correct, they will get 20 x-tra credit points.

Most mobiles will be coming home on Friday. A few have just gotten up and will stay up until the 22^nd.

Students are researching their element. Element posters are due Friday.

Social Studies

ALL students are beginning map work. Finishing up maps this week.

Spelling

Personal spelling words AND spelling test on Friday.

No spelling the week of Dec 20^th.

4th grade spelling words Unit 15 Dec 15^th -19^th      More words ending in –ed or –ing

BASIC: wiped, covered, mapped, pleasing, slipped, putting, traveled, seeking, visiting, mixed, shipped, phoning, offered, smelling, hiking, checking, fainted, landed, becoming, wandering

CHALLENGE: amusing, entertained admitted, stunning, starving

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Maps

key, boundary, capital, international, political, symbol, directions, grid

There will be no spelling the week of December 20-22^nd.

5th grade spelling words Unit 15 Dec 15-19^th      VCCCV Pattern

BASIC: conflict, orphan, instant, complex, simply, burglar, laundry, laughter, employ, anchor, merchant, improve, arctic, mischief, freckles, purchase, dolphin, partner, complain, tremble

CHALLENGE: anthem, illustrate, function, conscience, apostrophe

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Alaska’s Arctic Region

frigid, climate, whiteout, midnight sun, permafrost, tundra, caribou, kayak

December 8, 2010

MID TERMS ARRIVING TODAY!  J

Geography Bee

Collin and Henry were terrific representatives from our class in the Geography Bee! I appreciate their participation and their composure. The Geography Bee also emphasized for all of us how knowing where places are can be important. The winner of the Geography Bee was  Chase Kirby. Elena Borges was the runner up. They are both 6^th graders.

Upcoming Dates

 The General Music Holiday Program will be Thursday, December 16^th @ 2:15. The Band and Orchestra Holiday Program will be Tuesday, December 21^st @ 2:15.

Student Council Holiday Projects

 The student council at Poly Drive is sponsoring two holiday projects. One is to benefit hospital patients at Billings Clinic. They are asking for UNWRAPPED new Christmas tree ornaments. The ornaments will be delivered to the patients with their dinner on Christmas Day.

The second one benefits the Montana Rescue Mission. They are looking for donations, again, UNWRAPPED, of diaper wipes, gift cards, pizza coupons, city bus passes, shaving cream, toothpaste, stocking caps, winter gloves, and socks.

Beginning November 29^th (Monday) students can bring the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree in the gym hallway. The gifts will be delivered Friday, December 17^th.

NEW: Featured Latin Word Root Drawing—rejuvenate by Sarah!

 Language

Latin Word Root quiz is Thursday this week (juven and ven/vent).

Math

Chapter 2 for 5^th grade: Many students struggled with the Distributive Property. They know how to multiply with the traditional algorithm and were confused as to why they needed to learn another method. The reason is two-fold: The Distributive Property is very important in algebra, and they need to become flexible, mathematical thinkers.

Chapter 2 for 4^th grade: Introducing variables in equations and how to represent them is the new lesson for 4^th graders. Mental math addition was not a problem for most of the 4^th graders. The mental math subtraction was a different story. There is a ws that will come home. Both sides are graded, but I did not input the side with the subtraction on it. We will continue to weave this in as we go through the book.

Science

Most atom mobiles are up! They will come down in about 1 week. That is because we are not supposed to have anything hanging in our room, and the law of gravity will take over with some of the nuclei after more than 1 week.

Students are beginning their research on an element.

Element quiz on element cards (students have them) is on Friday this week.

Social Studies

ALL students are beginning map work. We will all start by locating places and labeling them. 5^th graders will be doing countries; 4^th graders will start with the 50 states. Spelling and capitalization counts! Remind them to take their time on the maps.

5^th graders: Took Chapter 2 test (open book). We will be moving quickly through Chapter 3 as well.

5^th grade map projects: Evaluations will be coming home today and tomorrow. IF your child did not get a C or better on the project, I expect them to bring that grade up (the effort part of the class). That map will be due on WED, DEC 15^th. Please sign the evaluation that I send home today IF your child needs to redo it and return it to me ASAP.

4^th graders are still working in Chapter 2 learning about basic types of maps (rainfall, population density, elevation maps, regional maps) and doing activities with them. We should be done this week, with an open book test to follow (they thought that concept was a good one!).

Spelling

No personal spelling words this week.

 4th grade spelling words Unit 14 Dec 6^th-10^th     Words ending in –ed or –ing

BASIC: rising, traced, dancing, striped, handled, dared, raced, escaped, stripped, slammed, winning, snapping, bragging, dripped, begged, skipped, hitting, spotted, dimmed, spinning

CHALLENGE: urged, striving, whipped, breathing, quizzed

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Fables

 advise, boastful, compete, crow, rival, conduct, attention, moral

4th grade spelling words Unit 15 Dec 15^th -19^th      More words ending in –ed or –ing

BASIC: wiped, covered, mapped, pleasing, slipped, putting, traveled, seeking, visiting, mixed, shipped, phoning, offered, smelling, hiking, checking, fainted, landed, becoming, wandering

CHALLENGE: amusing, entertained admitted, stunning, starving

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Maps

key, boundary, capital, international, political, symbol, directions, grid

There will be no spelling the week of December 22-23^rd.

5th grade spelling words Unit 14       December 6^th-10^th  VCV pattern

BASIC: exact, credit, vivid, modern, panic, cousin, menu, novel, human, award, behave, basic, evil, nation, robot, select, item, police, prefer, deserve

CHALLENGE: autumn, nuisance, logic, column, laser

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY: The Balance of Nature

Ecosystem, impact, detrimental, consequences, organism, nourish, beneficial, recovery

5th grade spelling words Unit 15 Dec 15-19^th      VCCCV Pattern

BASIC: conflict, orphan, instant, complex, simply, burglar, laundry, laughter, employ, anchor, merchant, improve, arctic, mischief, freckles, purchase, dolphin, partner, complain, tremble

CHALLENGE: anthem, illustrate, function, conscience, apostrophe

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Alaska’s Arctic Region

Frigid, climate, whiteout, midnight sun, permafrost, tundra, caribou, kayak

There will be no spelling the week of December 22-23^rd.

December 1, 2010

Assignment notebooks

Just a friendly reminder to ask for it.  J

Online Grade Glitch

The glitch is gone. Grades are  updated through December 1st.

Successnet

Successnet is the online component to the math series we use. I have put in a request to have the math coach sign me up for it. After she does that, I can input the students' names, and they can access the entire math book from home using the Internet. A parent letter will come home with the instructions and passwords. However, this will not happen until the math coach signs me up. So I will let you know when that happens.

Upcoming Dates

The Geography Bee will be @ 8:35 on Tuesday, December 7^th in the Gym. Parents are welcome to attend. Collin, Ana, and Henry are the students who will represent our class. The students were chosen after they took a pretty tough geography quiz taken that all the 5^th and 6^th graders at Poly Drive were given. Students from the other classes will be participating as well.

 The General Music Holiday Program will be Thursday, December 16^th @ 2:15. The Band and Orchestra Holiday Program will be Tuesday, December 21^st @ 2:15.

Student Council Holiday Projects

 The student council at Poly Drive is sponsoring two holiday projects. One is to benefit hospital patients at Billings Clinic. They are asking for UNWRAPPED new Christmas tree ornaments. The ornaments will be delivered to the patients with their dinner on Christmas Day.

The second one benefits the Montana Rescue Mission. They are looking for donations, again, UNWRAPPED, of diaper wipes, gift cards, pizza coupons, city bus passes, shaving cream, toothpaste, stocking caps, winter gloves, and socks.

Beginning November 29^th (Monday) students can bring the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree in the gym hallway. The gifts will be delivered Friday, December 17^th.

Reading

We are going to take some reading time and hit social studies and science hard. It will be another week before we get new novels.

Language

We are continuing with our expository writing. We are done for the moment with verb quizzes. Latin Word Root retake quizzes were given and were a HUGE success. Grades were much improved!

NEW: Featured Latin Word Root Drawing—by Sidney!

Math

Chapter 2:  Mostly a review of multiplication for 5^th graders and addition and subtraction for 4^th graders.

Chapter 2 for 5^th grade: Most of the new concepts are multiplying by decimals and multiplying using the Distributive Property.

Chapter 2 for 4^th grade: Introducing variables in equations and how to represent them is the new lesson for 4^th graders. They are also doing some problem solving and sneaking in a little multiplication of decimals (by multiples of 10) occasionally (as the 5^th graders get their lesson).

Science

Our room will soon be a sea of atomic mobiles. Most students have finished building their nucleus and are on to the electron shells. They have had a short introductory lesson on electron configuration (s, p, d, f orbitals) and can write the configuration for their atom.

Social Studies

This has suffered. We are going to hit it hard on Thursday, Friday, and next Monday. Atoms just seem to be more interesting!

5^th graders have begun Chapter 2 Native Americans and their Land.

4^th graders are working in Chapter 2 learning about basic types of maps (rainfall, population density, elevation maps, regional maps) and doing activities with them.

Spelling

Personal spelling words were taped in to the assignment notebooks on Monday, November 29^th.

4th grade spelling words Unit 14 Dec 6^th-10^th     Words ending in –ed or –ing

BASIC: rising, traced, dancing, striped, handled, dared, raced, escaped, stripped, slammed, winning, snapping, bragging, dripped, begged, skipped, hitting, spotted, dimmed, spinning

CHALLENGE: urged, striving, whipped, breathing, quizzed

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Fables

 advise, boastful, compete, crow, rival, conduct, attention, moral

5th grade spelling words Unit 14       December 6^th-10^th  VCV pattern

BASIC: exact, credit, vivid, modern, panic, cousin, menu, novel, human, award, behave, basic, evil, nation, robot, select, item, police, prefer, deserve

CHALLENGE: autumn, nuisance, logic, column, laser

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY: The Balance of Nature

ecosystem, impact, detrimental, consequences, organism, nourish, beneficial, recovery

November 24, 2010

A Happy and Safe Holiday to all!

Online Grade Glitch

As of Tuesday, November 23, my Reading and Language grades are not showing up on the online grading web site. I have a guru or two that I am consulting. Reading and Language are the two areas that I have the most grades in. I will try and have this resolved before we return on Monday.

Upcoming Dates

There will be a Geography Bee here at Poly in December. The date will be up next week. The General Music Holiday Program will be Thursday, December 16^th @ 2:15. The Band and Orchestra Holiday Program will be Tuesday, December 21^st @ 2:15.

Student Council Holiday Projects

 The student council at Poly Drive is sponsoring two holiday projects. One is to benefit hospital patients at Billings Clinic. They are asking for UNWRAPPED new Christmas tree ornaments. The ornaments will be delivered to the patients with their dinner on Christmas Day.

The second one benefits the Montana Rescue Mission. They are looking for donations, again, UNWRAPPED, of diaper wipes, gift cards, pizza coupons, city bus passes, shaving cream, toothpaste, stocking caps, winter gloves, and socks.

Beginning November 29^th (Monday) students can bring the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree in the gym hallway. The gifts will be delivered Friday, December 17^th.

Reading

We are going to take some reading time and hit social studies and science hard. It will be another week before we get new novels.

Language

We had quizzes on Tuesday, November 23rd on the “to be” verb forms, helping verbs, and linking verbs. Another quiz will be given on Tuesday, November 30^th to students who did not receive a C grade or higher. The first quiz papers (from Tuesday) will be on their desk on Monday, November 29^th.

We are also having Latin Word Root quizzes every Thursday. The students need to be able to write the definitions for the prefixes, suffixes and root words for the word root introduced that week. (This is at the top of each sheet.) Many of the prefixes and suffixes  repeat week-week. Eventually, it will just be a matter of memorizing the roots themselves.

I told the students I am gradually raising the proverbial bar.

Math

Chapter 1 tests have been returned. Those who did not receive a 79% or higher on the test can raise it to a 79% by:

1.   1.  Correcting the problems they missed.

2.    2. Writing the page number in the book that describes that concept. (It is too easy to copy another person’s answers. No learning occurs there.)

3.    3. Having a parent signature on the test.

We have pretested on Chapter 2. I am anticipating spending 7 days on Chapter 2. Then we will head on to Chapter 3.

Science

We are continuing on with atomic structure, molecules, and compounds. We will be making models of atoms next week. A brief lesson on spdf orbitals and the electron configuration will be presented before the models are made. Those who would like to follow that configuration will be welcome to. We'll see how easily this is understood. Since it is basically patterning, I am anticipating most will catch on. 

Social Studies

5^th graders have begun Chapter 2 Native Americans and their Land.

4^th graders are working in Chapter 2 learning about basic types of maps (rainfall, population density, elevation maps, regional maps) and doing activities with them.

Spelling

If your child has personal spelling words, they should be taped into their assignment notebook on Monday, November 29^th.

4th grade spelling words Unit 13 November 29^th-Dec 3^rd   Compound Words

BASIC: somebody, fireplace, nearby, toothbrush, homesick, anything, goodbye, forehead, classmate, flashlight, haircut, driveway, airport, forever, mailbox, 

make-believe, twenty-two, baby-sit, all right, alarm clock

CHALLENGE: field trip, absent-minded, life jacket, skyscraper, nevertheless

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Tooth Care

gums, prevent, decay, plaque, toothpaste, fluoride, hygienist, cavity

4th grade spelling words Unit 14 Dec 6^th-10^th     Words ending in –ed or –ing

BASIC: rising, traced, dancing, striped, handled, dared, raced, escaped, stripped, slammed, winning, snapping, bragging, dripped, begged, skipped, hitting, spotted, dimmed, spinning

CHALLENGE: urged, striving, whipped, breathing, quizzed

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Fables

 advise, boastful, compete, crow, rival, conduct, attention, moral

5th grade spelling words Unit 13      November 29^th-December 3^rd VCCV pattern

BASIC: pattern, arrive, suppose, sorrow, tunnel, suggest, common, scissors, bargain, journey, object, shoulder, permit, subject, custom, perhaps, lawyer, timber, publish, burden

CHALLENGE: narrate, mentor, attempt, collide, ignore

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY: Native Americans

culture, ancestors, oral, belief, myth, ceremony, rituals, legends

5th grade spelling words Unit 14       December 6^th-10^th  VCV pattern

BASIC: exact, credit, vivid, modern, panic, cousin, menu, novel, human, award, behave, basic, evil, nation, robot, select, item, police, prefer, deserve

CHALLENGE: autumn, nuisance, logic, column, laser

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY: The Balance of Nature

ecosystem, impact, detrimental, consequences, organism, nourish, beneficial, recovery

November 18, 2010

Upcoming Dates

Picture retake day is Tuesday, November 16^th from 8:30-9:30. November 23^rd is an EARLY OUT day. Students will be dismissed at NOON. There will be a Geography Bee here at Poly in December. The date will be up next week. The General Music Holiday Program will be Thursday, December 16^th @ 2:15. The Band and Orchestra Holiday Program will be Tuesday, December 21^st @ 2:15. Students from Poly Drive will be  performing at Barnes and Noble on Sunday, November 21.

3:00 K and 1  (they actually will begin singing around 3:10)

3:30 2 and 3   (begin at 3:40)

4:00 4, 5, and 6 general music  (begin at 4:10)

4:30  Select Choir

Each group will sing for about 5 minutes - 2 songs, except Select Choir, which will sing more - not much of a time commitment for anyone.

Barnes & Noble Bookfair.

This is new to me. Apparently, the idea of the Barnes & Noble Bookfair is to purchase books that I have selected. A percentage of the purchase goes to Poly Drive School, and the books come to our classroom. I am currently thinking that I would like “book sets” for our literature circle reading. I will ask the literature coaches in the district what their suggestions would be.

There is a small, white “voucher” coming home in Wednesday Watch folders. You need to present the voucher on Sunday, November 21^st to participate.

Reading

This week all students have finished reading their novels. After the Thanksgiving break, we will begin new novels.

Language

Verb forms (to be and helping verbs) and subjects and predicates are grammar areas we are working on.

The “stop light writing” process is continuing.

Math

This week we have been working on algebra and logic. I am pulling small student groups back to the table for review or instruction on areas that were troublesome for them. We will begin Chapter 2 after Thanksgiving. I anticipate getting through Chapters 2, 3, and maybe 4 before Winter Break. You may be seeing the math book home more as we go through these chapters.

Science

We are continuing on with atomic structure, molecules, and compounds. We will be making models of atoms next week. THANK YOU for signing the notebooks for extra credit.

Social Studies

5^th graders are evaluating their continent projects.

4^th graders are working in Chapter 2 learning about basic types of maps (rainfall, population density, elevation maps, regional maps).

Draw-off

A student-generated idea has sprung this past week. The concept is that those who enjoy drawing can have a format for featuring their drawing, and then students can vote on their favorite. Although I initially had some concerns (hurt feelings), I have allowed the students to move forward with this as long as the drawing is not done in place of the lessons students are to be working on; as long as we do not have people in tears or with hurt feelings; as long as everyone who wants to participate gets an opportunity. This is a project in its infancy. We’ll see how it goes. If you are hearing things at home about it, particularly if your child is upset by it, please let me know.

Another idea, a talent expo, piggybacked off of the draw off idea. This one, too, is voluntary. The time frame for auditioning and having a final sharing is still in the works. I will keep you updated.

Spelling

4th grade spelling words Unit 11 November 15th-19th  More Vowel + /r/ sounds

BASIC: learn, dirty, worn, sore, thirst, burn, record, cure, board, course, worth, early, return, pure, world, search, worse, thirteen, sport, current

CHALLENGE: curious, thorough, earnest, portion, foreign

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY  Basketball

sportscaster, halftime, dribbles, teammate, court, backboard, rebound, offense

5th grade spelling words Unit 11      November 15th-19th   Final schwa + /r/ sounds

BASIC: cellar, flavor, molar, chapter, mayor, anger, senator, passenger, major, popular, tractor, thunder, pillar, messenger, calendar, quarter, lunar, proper, elevator, bitter

CHALLENGE: stellar, clamor, tremor, circular, adviser

REAL-WORLD VOCABULARY: Architecture and Design

architect, real estate, exterior, interior, dimensions, pantry, design, fixtures