Happy Halloween!

THIS WEEK’S CURRICULUM:

Math

Monday – Check Products of 2-Digit Numbers

Tuesday – Practice Multiplication

Wednesday – Quick Quiz #3 and Reteach Day

Thursday – Multiply 1-Digit by 4-Digit Numbers

Friday – Reteach Day

Reading

Monday – Characters’ Motivations and Struggles

Tuesday – Develop Complex Ideas

Wednesday – Recurring Themes and Details

Thursday – Motifs

Friday – Analyzing Self as a Reader (End of Unit)

Writing

Monday – No Writing Today Due to Halloween Party

Tuesday – Revision and Editing Checklists

Wednesday – Publishing and Sharing

Thursday – Publishing and Sharing

Friday – No Writing Today Due to Half Day

Science

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday – Food Chain Centers

• Please use this link to study for the upcoming Science Test.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• All October book orders placed online through the Scholastic Book Club have been submitted and books should be arriving soon.  Thank you to all families who ordered books.  Thanks to your purchases, every student in our class will receive a book to take home once orders come in.  We also earned $20 in books for our classroom.  The November flyers will be sent home tomorrow, and the order will be submitted by next Friday (11/11/16) to ensure a quick delivery to our students.  Please consider ordering some fun books for your child on their reading level.
• Please remember that this Friday, November 4th is a half day for students as teachers finalize grades and prepare for conferences.  I hope to see all of you at conferences next week!

LOOKING AHEAD

11/2 PE Cares Alward Teams

11/4 ~ EARLY RELEASE @ 12:15pm

11/7, 11/9-10 ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences

11/7-11/11 ~ Book Fair

11/15 ~ PTC Meeting @ 7pm

11/18 ~ Popcorn/Spirit Friday

11/22 ~ JET’S Pizza Night

11/23-25 ~ THANKSGIVING BREAK

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We have another great week ahead!

Math

Monday – One-Digit by Three-Digit Multiplication

Tuesday – Multi-Step Word Problems with Quick Quiz #2

Wednesday – Multiplication Review Day

Thursday – Two-Digit by Two-Digit Multiplication

Friday – Different Methods for Two-Digit Multiplication

***Students have done amazing with their multiplication facts.  I already have 11 students who have completely passed all of their facts and will be invited to our Pizza Party before winter break.  Those students will now be challenged with their 11s and 12s facts before trying to solve as many mixed facts as possible.  The better we become with our facts, the easier all of the other math will be.  Keep practicing.  I’m so proud.

Reading

Monday – Thinking Carefully About the Objects Characters Hold Close to Their Hearts

Tuesday – Paying Attention to the Ways in Which Other Characters Treat the Main Character

Wednesday – Using Precise, Exact Words to Describe Characters and Their Actions

Thursday – Searching for Patterns to Push Our Thinking About Characters

Friday – Keeping Theories About Characters in Mind as We Continue to Read

***Remember to be reading every single night.  Our goal is 400 minutes a month, but I am happy to see so many students going above and beyond that number.  🙂

Writing

Monday – Expanding the Turning Point In Our Stories

Tuesday – Creating Powerful Story Endings

Wednesday – Revising Our Stories for Meaning and Clarity

Thursday – Revising By Combining Short Sentences into Longer Ones

Friday – Revising by Varying the Length of Our Sentences

***Students are being incredibly creative with their current realistic fiction pieces.  We can’t wait to show off our improved writing at parent-teacher conferences.

Science

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday – Animal Adaptations

***We will be learning through interactive centers this week.  Should be a fun new twist to our usual science lessons.  Be sure to check in with your child to see how they like this format for learning.

Other Announcements

The change war will take place October 27-November 4.  The class with the most money gets to keep the money to buy books for the classroom, but the BEST PART is that all other donations will go towards books for children who otherwise couldn’t afford them.  Our change can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK

10/25 ~ Hudsonville Turkey Trot

10/26 ~ Holiday Posters and Rebounders RSVPs Due

10/27 ~ Mother/Son Event @ Rebounderz

10/28 ~ Popcorn/Spirit Friday

LOOKING AHEAD

10/31 ~ Halloween Parties

***Parade at 1pm, with Party to Immediately Follow Until Recess at 2:10

11/4 ~ EARLY RELEASE @ 12:15pm

11/7, 11/9-10 ~ Parent/Teacher Conferences

11/7-11/11 ~ Book Fair

11/15 ~ PTC Meeting @ 7pm

11/18 ~ Popcorn/Spirit Friday

11/22 ~ JET’S Pizza Night

11/23-25 ~ THANKSGIVING BREAK

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.  I look forward to meeting with all of you during Parent-Teacher Conferences at the beginning of November.

Looking ahead to this week…

Math

We continue our study of multi-digit multiplication this week.

Monday – Estimating Products

Tuesday – Using Place Value to Multiply

Wednesday – Algebraic Notation Method

Thursday – Comparing Methods of One-Digit by Two-Digit Multiplication

Friday – Discussing Different Methods

• Students have been doing a great job on their basic facts quizzes and are quickly earning their “pizza toppings.”  Please continue to encourage your child to study their facts every night.  Having these facts committed to memory will not only benefit them as we study multi-digit multiplication, but also as we move into long division.

Reading

We are continuing our read aloud of The Tiger Rising while discussing important reading skills related to realistic fiction.

Monday – Using Our Empathy for Characters to Make Predicitions

Tuesday – Predicting HOW Events Will Happen

Wednesday – Stepping Outside the Story to Develop Ideas About Characters

Thursday – How Actions Reveal Information About Characters

Friday – How Surprising Actions Influence Our Opinion of Characters

• Students should continue to read texts on their level as well as take the Reading Counts quizzes once they finish a book.  Ask your student how they’re doing on their quizzes.  These quizzes help reveal whether or not the student is understanding what they are reading.
• Reminder – if you’re interested in making a book purchase for your child through our Scholastic Book Club, please do so my October 31st.  I will be submitting all classroom orders on Monday, 10/31/16.  Please visit our classroom site, or use our classroom code (QHP2K).

Writing

We are working on writing our first realistic fiction piece.

Monday – Creating a Conflict that is Believable

Tuesday – Planning and Organizing a Story with a Story Mountain

Wednesday – Creating Strong Leads with Details About the Setting

Thursday – Developing Characters Using Description and Action

Friday – Developing Characters Through Dialogue and Thoughts

Science

We will continue our study of Ecosystems.  This week students will be asked to explore the Ecosystems in their backyards.  We will also continue to observe and chart the plants we are growing in the classroom.

Announcements / Upcoming Events

• Students will begin formally participating in a Super Switch this week.  For 30 minutes a day, students will be regrouped according to their individual needs and be provided with small group instruction to help bridge any gaps they might have.  These groups are fluid and will be changed multiple time throughout the school year, but they are designed to help your child maximize their growth.
• Our school will participate in a Lockdown Drill on Tuesday at 12:35.  This drill is designed to ensure the safety of all students and staff in the event that a lockdown would become necessary.  I just wanted to give you a heads up in case your child comes home discussing a school lockdown.  This is only a drill!
• Jets Pizza Night will be this Tuesday, 10/18.
• Picture Retakes will be on Wednesday, 10/19.
• The Walk-a-thon will be this Friday, 10/21.  Please be sure if you have been collecting donations that they get turned in to school by Friday.  4th Grade will be walking with 5th grade from 1 – 1:45.
• Our Halloween party will be next Monday, 10/31/16.  The parade will begin at 1:00 as it has in years past, and then students will return to the classroom for their party until recess at 2:10.
• Conference slips will be sent home today.  If for some reason the time you were assigned does not fit your needs, please contact me as soon as possible so that I may make any necessary changes.  I still have some open time slots from 4:00 – 5:15 on Wednesday, and from 5:00 – 5:45 on Thursday.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Welcome to another fabulous week of learning!

Students have been working hard in all subject areas and are moving on this week to their second unit in all areas.

Math

We will be starting our study of multiplication.  Students will participate in daily fact practice as well as applying their fact knowledge to more difficult multiplication problems.  Please make sure your child is practicing their facts every night.  They will be working toward a pizza party as they earn their “toppings” with each fact quiz they pass.

0s/1s – Crust

2s – Sauce

3s – Cheese

4s – Pepperoni

5s – Ham

6s – Sausage

7s – Onion

8s – Green Pepper

9s – Mushrooms

10s – Pineapple

***Students will take one fact quiz per day so they will know which set of facts to study at home each night.  In order to “pass” the quiz, they must correctly answer 18/20 basic facts in one minute.  If they pass, they will move on to the next factor the following day.  If they do not pass, they will repeat the quiz the following day.

***Although students will be earning “toppings” for each quiz they pass, students will be working toward a cheese pizza, pizza party.

Reading

Students will be beginning a unit on character analysis within Realistic Fiction books.  Students are encouraged to be reading realistic fiction texts so that they can effectively participate in classroom discussions around their books.  Also, please ensure your child is reading every single night at home, even if it only for a few minutes.  Students become better readers and writers with every page they read.  If you haven’t made a scholastic book purchase yet, please remember that you have until October 31 to make purchases using our classroom code.

A Note from Mrs. Fellows – PIZZA HUT BOOK IT! PROGRAM

Writing

Students will spend some time this week comparing their first personal narrative to their final personal narrative in order to assess their own growth as writers.  They will then apply their knowledge of personal narrative writing as they begin their realistic fiction writing unit.

Science

Students will begin their first official science unit this week on living things.  Students will also be growing their own plants in the classroom during this unit as well.

Announcements

• Early dismissal for students on Friday, 10/14/16
• Keep collecting donations for the Walk-a-thon
• Gather Box Tops and send them in with your child
• Order books using our classroom code (QHP2K) if you’re interested

AWESOME NEWS

Columbo’s Floors-to-Go in Jenison is AMAZING!  They donated a beautiful carpet for our classroom that the students and I are absolutely enjoying.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

In honor of homecoming this week, Alward students can show their Eagle Pride by participating in a Spirit Week.  Please help your child celebrate being an Eagle by helping them prepare for the week.

Monday:  Sweet Dreams  Day (Comfy day  PJ’s / sweats)

Tuesday:   Taste the Rainbow Day – Wear your grade’s color!

K-Yellow       1st-Green     2nd-Purple     3rd-Blue     4th-Orange      5th-Pink 

Wednesday: Willy Wonka Hat Day – Wear your favorite Hat

Thursday:  Now-n-Later Neon Day – Wear neon colors

Friday:  Eagle Pride is Sweet Day – Wear your Maize and Blue

Go Eagles!

Math

Students will be spending this week reviewing place value concepts as well as addition and subtraction strategies as they prepare for their first math test.  Students will participate in a test review on Wednesday and the results of that review will allow me to determine groups for final reteaching on Thursday before their test on Friday.  Students should review their homework and remembering sheets that have been sent home in preparation for their test.

Reading

Students have been working on monitoring this understanding while reading, and those skills will continue to be worked on this week.  Students will be working with their longterm reading partners to discuss the books they’re reading.  Students have done a wonderful job tracking their minutes in their planners so far.  Students may choose to use the October reading calendar or may continue to use their planners, whatever works better for your family.  I will be looking for a total of 400 minutes read by the end of the month.  Individual reading assessments will also be finished this week, which means all students should have their fall reading levels by the end of the week.  For reference, the fall 4th grade benchmark is to be reading at a level Q.

Writing

Students will work this week on writing a new personal narrative, applying the skills that have been taught throughout the unit.  At the end of the week, students will write a final personal narrative and be given the opportunity to compare this piece of writing to their first attempt at the beginning of the school year.  This will be done in order to identify areas of growth and to celebrate their writing accomplishments.

Social Studies

Students have worked so hard learning economics concepts since the beginning of the school year.  They were able to see in action on Friday during a very successful Market Day.  On Monday, students will review the key concepts before taking their economics test.

Students will also have the opportunity this week to watch the movie Stone Fox in order to compare key elements of the film to the book we read in class.

Specials

Monday – Library and Music

Tuesday – Art

Wednesday – Gym

Thursday – Music and Computer Lab

Friday – Art