Here's what we have been up to this week:
Math: We focused our attention this week on the relationship between multiplication and division. We practiced both using shortcuts, strategies, and fact family triangles! On Monday we get to learn a game called Baseball Multiplication!
Writing: We are moving from writing personal narratives to personal essays. To begin to feel comfortable with how to begin an essay, we have been reading other personal essays, deciding what the "big idea" was, and picked out the evidence from the paragraphs that supported the "big idea". We will be doing this a lot as a class, then we will move into doing this activity independently, and finally the kids will begin writing essays on their own!
Reading: Our narrative non-fiction unit continues with learning how to summarize by using the "Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then" approach. It has the kids pinpointing the main character, what they wanted (a goal, an item, etc.), what gets in the way, how does the main character respond, and what happens at the end. We have done a few of these together and the kids are getting very good at it!
Science: Presently the kids are studying light, which includes shadows, why shadows change, prisms, refraction and reflection. If you have any books about lights, you child can bring them in to share with the class!
Another busy weeks comes to a close! Have a great weekend : )
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
December PTA News
- This Friday morning, you can donate your bottles and cans to the 5th grade camp fundraiser by leaving your bag of donations on the Royal & Morrison corner lawn. This is only a small donation by an individual, but adds up nicely. The 5th grade parents would greatly appreciate your help.
- We currently have 181 PTA members and are shooting for 200. We're soooo close! If you haven't joined, please do so ASAP. PTA does so much for all of our students - being a part of it is something that everyone should do!
- Thank-yous go to the many, many teachers that are supporting the terracycle effort. Your terracycle bins are coming!!!
- Food for fundraising is coming! The week of January 21, there are a variety of opportunities to eat good food and have someone else donate to Pattengill. On Monday, the 21st of January it will be Uncle Andy's Pizza (yummy take-out ). Tuesday, the 22nd, will be Bagger Dave's from 5:00 until 9:00. Wednesday, the 23rd, will be Noodles from 4:00 until 9:00. Thursday, the 24th, plan on an Atomic Dawg night. Friday evening, the 25th, is Movie Night at Pattengill, and pizza will be sold. I am planning to eat out that entire week!
- This Friday (the 7th) a few people are needed to help move the Caring and Sharing donations on a trailer that has been donated for the purpose. This will happen at 3:30 and should be very quickly done, depending on the number of volunteers. If you can help, please show up at the Oakshire buzzer door and we will make short work of it!
- New PTA board members are needed. Many of the posts do not require more than a few hours per week (although the amount of time may vary from one month to another). This is a great way to support the PTA and your school. The post of President requires 2-3 hours per week and the job includes presiding over the meetings and various other coordination and communication jobs. The President-Elect supports the President and does various other jobs that amount to 1-2 hours per week. The Vice President serves at the coordinator for the Hot Dog Roast and the Ice Cream Social. Committees that run the two events report to the VP. The Secretary takes the minutes at each meeting. The post of Treasurer includes all PTA cash operations/reporting and banking responsibilities; this job requires 3-5 hours per week with Sept./Oct. and May/June being the most active. Please think about taking on one of these jobs - this is a great way to network with other Pattengill parents and provide a fabulous service for our school community.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sight Words
Happy Monday!
I would like to let you know that I have posted a couple of new links on my school website. The first is a list of first- and second-grade sight words that students should already be familiar with and spelling correctly in their writing and spelling tests. The second post is a list of third grade sight words that the kids should be getting more familiar with and spelling correctly by the end of third grade. Also, there are activities and flash cards you can print out and use at home! Copy, paste, and use however works best at home!
I would like to let you know that I have posted a couple of new links on my school website. The first is a list of first- and second-grade sight words that students should already be familiar with and spelling correctly in their writing and spelling tests. The second post is a list of third grade sight words that the kids should be getting more familiar with and spelling correctly by the end of third grade. Also, there are activities and flash cards you can print out and use at home! Copy, paste, and use however works best at home!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Week of 11/5-11/9 2012
Happy Friday Families!
The week was short but we accomplished a lot!
Reading:
We finished "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the kids loved the book! We made many connections to the main character, Opal, and enjoyed reading about her triumphs and tragedies. The kids did much reflecting in their reader's notebooks and did some sharing as well!
Writing:
As a class, we reviewed areas of paragraph writing that I noticed needed attention after grading their work. We payed close attention to word use (ex: over using words like "fun", "cool", and "awesome"), adding a title to our work, and transferring our ideas from the hamburger organizer to a paragraph on lined paper. The kids are enjoying it and are getting into the swing of it!
Math:
Our unit begins with studying measurement. We worked on measuring to the nearest whole, half, and quarter-inch, feet and yards. We also learned about the metric system and measured using millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, and meters. We measured and compared the length of objects found around the classroom. Next week we will continue to look at measurement as we work with area and perimeter.
Social Studies:
The kids have been working on their MI brochures and after giving them 6 days to work on them, they are completed and have been scored. I am going to have the kids look over their brochures and scored rubric on Monday and both pieces will be shared with you during your child's conference!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
The week was short but we accomplished a lot!
Reading:
We finished "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the kids loved the book! We made many connections to the main character, Opal, and enjoyed reading about her triumphs and tragedies. The kids did much reflecting in their reader's notebooks and did some sharing as well!
Writing:
As a class, we reviewed areas of paragraph writing that I noticed needed attention after grading their work. We payed close attention to word use (ex: over using words like "fun", "cool", and "awesome"), adding a title to our work, and transferring our ideas from the hamburger organizer to a paragraph on lined paper. The kids are enjoying it and are getting into the swing of it!
Math:
Our unit begins with studying measurement. We worked on measuring to the nearest whole, half, and quarter-inch, feet and yards. We also learned about the metric system and measured using millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, and meters. We measured and compared the length of objects found around the classroom. Next week we will continue to look at measurement as we work with area and perimeter.
Social Studies:
The kids have been working on their MI brochures and after giving them 6 days to work on them, they are completed and have been scored. I am going to have the kids look over their brochures and scored rubric on Monday and both pieces will be shared with you during your child's conference!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Unit 2 Math Test
Hello Families!
The Unit 2 math test has been postponed until Thursday, November 1st. Have a great, safe Halloween!
The Unit 2 math test has been postponed until Thursday, November 1st. Have a great, safe Halloween!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Week of 10/22-10/26
Last week we were busy, busy, busy! Take a look at just a few things we worked on:
Social Studies: The students are wrapping up the first unit in our Michigan studies curriculum by creating a brochure that will be sure to attract the attention of prospective tourists! Each student was given a rubric of what needs to be in their brochure and how it will be graded. The kids are really enjoying working on these!
Reading: We began Book Clubs on Monday. The groups and books were chosen by me. This first go-around will focus mostly on the social aspect of book clubs (teacher expectations, group expectations, noise level, conversations, etc.).
Spelling: The "Words Their Way" program is in full swing! Spelling tests were on Friday and I will have them graded and given back to the students by tomorrow, Tuesday the 30th. The students are graded in three different areas as you will see on the top of the test paper. The three areas graded are handwriting, spelling, and punctuation/grammar. Grades will range from 1-4 and align with report card grades. "1" means area of concern, "2" is beginning, "3" is developing, and "4" is secure. For the spelling portion of the grading, spelling words and correct spelling of grade-level sight words are assessed.
Follow this link to view grade-level sight words: http://www.mrsperkins.com/dolch-words-all-alpha-printable.pdf
Feel free to print it out!
Conferences are right around the corner! Please make sure you turn in your blue conference sign-up sheet by this Friday, November 2nd!
I hope your week is off to a great start!
Social Studies: The students are wrapping up the first unit in our Michigan studies curriculum by creating a brochure that will be sure to attract the attention of prospective tourists! Each student was given a rubric of what needs to be in their brochure and how it will be graded. The kids are really enjoying working on these!
Reading: We began Book Clubs on Monday. The groups and books were chosen by me. This first go-around will focus mostly on the social aspect of book clubs (teacher expectations, group expectations, noise level, conversations, etc.).
Spelling: The "Words Their Way" program is in full swing! Spelling tests were on Friday and I will have them graded and given back to the students by tomorrow, Tuesday the 30th. The students are graded in three different areas as you will see on the top of the test paper. The three areas graded are handwriting, spelling, and punctuation/grammar. Grades will range from 1-4 and align with report card grades. "1" means area of concern, "2" is beginning, "3" is developing, and "4" is secure. For the spelling portion of the grading, spelling words and correct spelling of grade-level sight words are assessed.
Follow this link to view grade-level sight words: http://www.mrsperkins.com/dolch-words-all-alpha-printable.pdf
Feel free to print it out!
Conferences are right around the corner! Please make sure you turn in your blue conference sign-up sheet by this Friday, November 2nd!
I hope your week is off to a great start!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Words Their Way
Good afternoon!
Last week I sent home a note stating that we would be beginning our spelling program this week. Today, all the students were given their first word list and word sort. Each Monday the kids will be given two lists (containing the same words). One list will be sorted out in class and put in their "Word Sorts" folder. The other list will be taken home so that they may use it to practice their words at home. Attached to the letter were two pages of fun ways to practice spelling at home.
The list that your child has started on is based on an assessment from the same company. This program targets spelling patterns, instead of generating a random list of "third-grade words". There is a pattern and flow to the lists, some skills build upon one another, some are independent of other lists.
Thank you for your patience during the first couple of weeks of the program as we work out all the details!
Last week I sent home a note stating that we would be beginning our spelling program this week. Today, all the students were given their first word list and word sort. Each Monday the kids will be given two lists (containing the same words). One list will be sorted out in class and put in their "Word Sorts" folder. The other list will be taken home so that they may use it to practice their words at home. Attached to the letter were two pages of fun ways to practice spelling at home.
The list that your child has started on is based on an assessment from the same company. This program targets spelling patterns, instead of generating a random list of "third-grade words". There is a pattern and flow to the lists, some skills build upon one another, some are independent of other lists.
Thank you for your patience during the first couple of weeks of the program as we work out all the details!
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