MATH, SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS - OCT 4 -8, 2010

MATH: Our multiplication time test for next week will be

x0-x5.

We are looking at rounding off numbers to the nearest ten and the nearest hundred. On Monday, October 4, the class will have a test on rounding off to the nearest ten. On Thursday, October 7, there will be a test on rounding of to the nearest hundred. Corresponding pages in the text are pages 61 through 71.

SCIENCE: We are working on seed dispersal. We will have a test on this Tuesday, Oct. 5th. The science notebook will be labeled Botany Part 4. This is the section that needs to be reviewed.

SOCIAL STUDIES: Thanks to the students in 3A for creating an informative and attractive display on Choluteca for Fiesta Catracha. The food sampling will be tasty and appropriate so thanks to Erica Simon for orgainzing this.

Have a great weekend,

Kathy Vega

Literacy News: Week of October 4-8

The word wall words for the week are:

1. when
2. where

3. for
4. family
5. sure

Students are expected to learn these words and spell them correctly all the time. It's important to review all word wall words on a regular basis for students to master the spelling of these words.

Reading Goals:
This week our focus will be making and confirming predictions as we read different stories. Students know that good readers are always thinking and predicting. As good readers, students should also confirm the predictions they make. This will be our focus all week, and an assessment on making and confirming predictions will be on Friday/Oct. 8.

Language Goals:
This week we are going to review what are plural and singular nouns, and students will learn the rules for spelling different plural nouns. These rules are found in the language book pgs. 80-83.

*You add s to most nouns: books, pencils, markers, etc...

*Add es if the noun ends with ss, sh, ch, or x: foxes, benches, dresses, etc...

*Drop the y and add ies if the noun ends with a consonant and y: baby= babies, candy= candies, etc...

See the Language Book for extra practice.

Writing Goals:
Following our 6+1 Writing Model, the next trait we will introduce and teach to the students is: VOICE.

Please look at the 6+1 Voice Rubric below that will be used to assess this trait in your child's writing at the end of this month.

Click on image to view\print.

This week we will start to explore what is voice, by reading books that clearly show this trait. Students will begin to understand and explain what is VOICE in writing. They will work on activities to practice writing with voice.

News/Special Announcements:
* Next Monday/October 11 is a holiday! Rest and enjoy!!

Thank you,
Mrs. Lila Paredes

MATH & SCIENCE CLASS - SEPT 27 - OCT 1, 2010

MATH: On Wednesday, Sept. 29th, the class will be tested on ordering numbers. The corresponding pages in the math text book are pages 64-67. The class will then take a look at rounding off numbers to the nearest ten and nearest hundred. Next weeks time test will be x5.

SCIENCE: On Wednesday, Sept. 29th, the class will be given a test on the pollination of flowers. All of the information to study is in the science notebook. The pages have been marked with an x (Part 3 Botany).

3A is organizing for Fiesta Catracha which will be celebrated on Friday, October 1st. Our department is Choluteca and the class already has plenty of information about it. We will need, however, any products or traditional art forms you may have at home for our display table. Please send in any items you may have at home. We will also have a sampling of foods from Choluteca from 2:00-2:30. Traditional Honduran clothes may be worn that day, however, this is optional.

Have a great weekend,

Kathy Vega

Literacy News: Week of Sept. 27-Oct. 1

Literacy News: Sept. 27-Oct. 1

The new word wall words are:
1. great
2. before
3. pretty
4. which
5. who

The Word wall test will be this Friday/October 1st. The Language Skills that will be evaluated in this test are common and proper nouns and the capitalization rules studied throughout the week.
*Please review all word wall words on a regular basis. These are words students must know how to spell.

Reading Goals:
This week we will focus on: Problem and Solution/Decision Making. Students will practice finding the problem/s in the story and their solutions. Students will also discuss the solution and think of other possible ways to solve the problem in the story. There will be a short reading quiz on problem and solution this Friday/Oct. 1st.

Language Goals:
Last week students learned to identify nouns in sentences. This week our focus will be common and proper nouns. This fits in perfectly with capitalization rules. Students will learn that you need to capitalize names of particular persons and places, and we will work on a list of things that we capitalize: brand names, days of the week, months of the year, titles, holidays, etc...
Use language book pages 86-89 as a reference.

Writing Goals:
Last week we started our writing assessment for ORGANIZATION.
This week students will finish their writing piece that shows the 2 writing traits they have studied and learned about so far: IDEAS and ORGANIZATION. I'm so happy and proud of the excellent stories students are writing! Their pieces show good organization and great ideas!
For Character Education: We will be discussing and writing about how to be respectful with others. This is an excellent opportunity to reinforce this very important trait at home.

Thank you,
Lila Paredes

Literacy Update: Week of September 20-24

Thank you,

Literacy News: Week of September 20-24

The new word wall words for this week are:
1. their
2. there
3. our
4. laugh
5. exciting
* The test will be on Friday/Sept. 24.


Reading Goals:
We will continue working with sequence of events and using transition words and phrases to help us tell events in the order in which they happened in a story. This week, students will also focus on practicing what good readers do. We have talked about and practiced choosing "just right books". This is the first step to being a good reader. However, while reading, there is a lot of thinking taking place. Students will be using context clues, making predictions, visualizing, and making connections as we read different types of text. They will learn that all these are good readers' behaviors.


Language Goals:
This week students will review what are nouns (words that stand for a person, place, or thing). They will practice identifying nouns in sentences.


Writing Goals:
Continue practicing how to write a piece showing excellent organization. A good organized piece should have a title, good lead, beginning, middle, and ending with a good conclusion. As students write, they will be expected to use transition words and/or phrases. This week they will be writing the piece that will be used to assess organization. They will use a checklist as a guide to follow and keep focused. The read alouds this week are good models of books that have good organization.


News/ Announcements
*Please take note of the early dismissal on Monday/Sept. 20. Dismissal is at 1:00p.m.



Lila Paredes

MATH & SCIENCE CLASS - SEPT 20 - 24, 2010

MATH: When we return from the September holiday, there will be a multiplication time test on Wednesday (Sept 22nd). It will be the x4 table. The class will be working on graphs and ordering numbers from least to greatest and greatest to least.

SCIENCE: We will continue working on Fiesta Catracha on Monday and Tuesday. We will then return to our Botany unit and discuss the pollination of flowers.

Have a great holiday,

Kathy Vega

***Upcoming Early Dismissal****

Please take note: Upcoming Early Dismissal
On Monday/ September 20, students will be dismissed at 1:00p.m.
Please make the necessary arrangements.

Literacy Update

Literacy News for Sept. 6-10

and Sept. 13-14

This week we will be introducing 8 word wall words. The students will be tested on these words on September 14, before the Independence Day holiday.

Word Wall Words:

1. really

2. says

3. favorite

4. until

5. want

6. feel

7. fill

8. beautiful

Please check your child's portable word wall to make sure he/she has added all the words, and practice all words with your child on a weekly basis.

Reading Goals:

• We will continue working on identifying story elements (title, characters, setting, plot, problem, and solution). Students will have a story elements test this Thursday/Sept. 9


• We are practicing this in class, but a way to practice at home is by reading a short book and asking your child to tell you all the story elements and 1-2 important events in the beginning, middle, and end of the story (plot).
  

Language Goals:

• Students will learn what are run-on sentences, how to fix them, and work on avoiding writing run-on sentences. As a reference: Use Language Book Pgs: 18-19.


• They will also learn what are compound sentences and the rules for writing these. As a reference, use the Language Book Pgs: 16-17.

Writing Goals:

The Writing trait we will be focusing on the month of September is :Organization.

• Next week, we will begin by using a graphic organizer or a "plan" (similar to a story elements map) to organize ideas before writing a story.


• Then, students will learn what are excellent story leads (beginnings), and they will practice writing interesting leads that go with their plan.


• We will also be listing transition words and phrases that help us organize our writing. Students will be using some of these as they write their stories.

Announcements:

1. Progress reports go out this Friday, Sept. 10. Please sign and return them by Monday/Sept. 13.
2. Children's Day is on Friday/September 10. It will be a FREE color's day!!!

3. Have a wonderful Independence Day holiday (Sept 15-17)!! Rest and enjoy!!

Thank you,
Mrs. Lila Paredes

MATH & SCIENCE CLASS - SEPT 6 - 10, 2010

MATH: Next week we will continue to explore place values through the hundred thousands. Students are expected to use place value blocks, expanded form, standard form and word name. They should also know the value of a digit. A place value test will be given next Thursday, Sept. 9th. The corresponding pages in the math text book are pages 51-62.

Our time test for next week will be x3. Please remember to practice at http://www.multiplication.com/

SCIENCE: Next week we will concentrate on food chains and photosynthesis in our Botany Unit. There will be a test next Wednesday, Sept, 8th. Students will need to study Botany, Part 2, in their science notebooks.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kathy Vega

School Wide Parent Presentation

Please click on the pages for more information

Left page is in English

Right page is in Spanish

Thank You