The end of the 1^st Trimester is near!  The 1^st Trimester grading period ends next Friday, October 18^th.   Reports will be sent home on Friday, November 1^st.

Accelerated Reader (AR) is factored into the reading grades.  All of the students have received their individual AR goals for the 1^st trimester.  Their goals are calculated based upon their individual level.  The 1^st Trimester goal is ½ of a trimester goal since we didn’t get really started using the chrome books until several weeks into the school year.  The students are given time each day to read in class and take AR tests.

Mathematical Writing:  We have been working closely with our Instructional Coach on writing responses in math.  It is a bit challenging and time consuming, but worth the effort.  The students are currently working on evaluating other students’ work using a rubric with Success Criteria, then they will evaluate their own work using the criteria.  Our future objective is for them to write a mathematical response using what/why justification.

Next Week in the Classroom we will . . .

Math:

• We began Chapter 4, Multiplication Facts and Strategies. The Chapter 4 Test is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 21^st.
• Memorize and testing on Skip Counting (the students have been equipped with two, light blue skip counting sheets). Most students are working on the 6’s, but one student has memorized the 8’s and is moving forward.  To help memorize the skip counting numbers, students are to touch each number and say it aloud.  They will also be asked to write them 5 times each evening.  After students show mastery on one number, they will be moved on to the next number.

Spelling:  words with silent letters (wr, kn, and gn)

Reading:  We’ve been reading the genre Narrative Nonfiction, specifically biographies and autobiographies.  Students have been continuing to practice “sequencing”

Writing:  Simple and compound sentences; summaries

Social Studies:  complete landforms

Science:  Each month we receive Harvest of the Month (HOTM) that consists of a sample of a healthy food.  We taste the food and learn about its nutritional value.  This month we tasted watermelon.  We are schedule to taste pears in November.

We have also investigated “Why Leaves Change Colors” via Mystery Science.  Next we are studying weather, which will review/teach the phases of matter.

Our “Leaf” art is hanging in the office.  Stop by to look when you get a chance.  If you can’t, it will hang in our classroom window for the month of November.

Upcoming Dates:

October:

24^th, Thursday:  APEX Fun Run

25^th:  Minimum Day:  Spirit Wear: “-er” Day (i.e. dancer, surfer, baseball player, etc)

November:

1^st:  Report Cards come home

6^th:  Excel Picture Make ups

11^th:  Veteran’s Day ~ No School

22^nd:  We Track off; Minimum Day:  Spirit Wear:  Color Rush – one color from head-to-toe