Greetings Families,
I hope your weekend has gone well. I had the pleasure of taking my daughter, Karis, out Friday night for her birthday. Today, we celebrated Ruth's 1st and Karis's 4th birthdays at the park with some friends. Thus, my weekend has been a little busy, but good.
On Monday, I will be sending out progress reports for students who have a D or F in any subject. Some parents may be surprised to receive this. As I will explain in the progress report, a few of the students receiving this is largely due to homework not being completed. Please remember that I am not forcing students to do their homework during recess anymore. I tell them who didn't turn something in and I email you to let you know. They can turn it in the next day, but I ask them about it or remind them once I've emailed you.
Here are the lessons for this week:
Science: During week 4, students studied how mountains are formed. During week 5, they will take a closer look at the mountains. They will be introduced to some of the most important mountains, the animals that live in the mountains, how mountains serve as barriers between nations, and how people use the mountains and their resources. On Monday, students will have a quiz on geology. On Thursday, students will have their final quiz on life science. Next week, both the Monday and Thursday quiz will cover meteorology.
Math: In math this week, students will be looking at decimals up to the hundredths place. Last week, we took the unit 6, chapter 1 test and the students did very well. I hope to see this standard of learning continue. The better students know money, the easier learning fractions will be. Whenever possible, please allow them to handle money on your behalf or quiz them regarding money. Your efforts in this way won't go without reward.
Language Arts: After taking a week to write their opinion essays, this week students return to grammar. In grammar this week, students will be introduced to three new terms: predicate nominative, predicate adjective, and indefinite pronouns. If it's been too long since you were taught these or you're like me and never learned them, here is a refresher. A predicate nominative is a noun found in the predicate that renames the subject noun. For example, Josh is a boy. A predicate adjective is found in the predicate and modifies the subject noun. For example, Josh is kind. An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that doesn't refer to any person, amount, or thing in particular. For example, all, another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, someone are indefinite pronouns. Try to make sure your child stays on top of homework in grammar this week as there is a test Thursday.
Spalding will continue as normal. Students finished reading Prince Caspian last week and will discuss it some this week. Please have your child bring Carry On, Mr. Bowditch to class on Monday so they are prepared when Ms. Maguire starts reading it to the class.
As a side note regarding reading, please ensure that your child is reading nightly. We no longer require a reading log, but the expectation remains. Your child should read for 20 minutes each night. On most Friday's, they are required to write a summary about what they are reading. Some of these have been quite poor and this is likely due to three possible reasons. First, students aren't reading and therefore struggle to write. Sometimes their summaries only cover a page or so from a book, which means they aren't summarizing what they've read that week or they are only reading one page a week. Second, students might be putting the minutes in, but aren't really reading to remember or comprehend. This is one of the reasons we want students reading more often and reading things they enjoy. We want them to learn to remember what they read. To develop the skill of reading to understand and know, not simply to forget. We want reading to be different from watching television. I can watch a show and forget what it was about within a few hours because I'm simply amusing myself (a - prefix meaning not, muse - baseward meaning to think = amusing means to not think). However, nightly reading isn't for amusement, though it should be for enjoyment. Students should be engaging the reading so that they are excited and trying to figure out what is happening. This isn't meant to be a recommendation for the Harry Potter stories, but it is something I like about them. I like that there is great depth to the stories and there are many sub-stories all intertwined and they often reveal themselves later in the series. If you forget something from the first book, you likely won't understand what is happening in later books. The books lend themselves to improving comprehension because poorer reading won't allow one as much enjoyment. So, students should be reading to comprehend. You can support this by asking them what they are reading about and discussing the meaning of the book or the author's purpose for writing it. Third, some students are just rushing their summaries and are not giving them the effort they deserve. This is most unfortunate because it is harming their grade even though they are doing the nightly readings. However, poor marks because of poor effort is a logical consequence and I would rather them learn to give better effort now when the consequences are small as compared to when the consequences are great.
History: In history, the story of America's birth is starting to reach towards a climax. With the French and Indian War ended, the noise of sedition is starting to come. Students will start to understand the pains of American colonist when they are reading about and discuss the Stamp Act, which required colonist to purchase British paper, and excluded colonial paper from being sold in the colonies, as a tax to support a British army in the colonies. The colonists thought this was unnecessary because there was no need for a British army in the colonies since the French had been expelled. The colonists were more than capable of protecting themselves from the Native Americans. This happened in March of 1775 and then in May of 1775, the British imposed the Quartering Act, which required colonist to house and feed British soldiers. For the colonists, this was unthinkable because the rights of Englishman prevented unwarranted searches and unlawful taking of land, but again the colonists were not afforded the same rights and priveledges of Englishman who resided in Great Britain proper. As such, students will start to see why the colonists are growing more and more displeased with Great Britain.
To end the week, there will be a quiz on chapters 1-8.
Important Dates
- February 6, 2017 – Science Quiz – Geology
- February 6, 2017 – Bring in Book: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
- February 9, 2017 – Science Quiz – Life Science Review Quiz
- February 9, 2017 – Grammar Quiz
- February 10, 2017 – Half Day
- February 10, 2017 - History Quiz - American Revolution, Chapters 1-8
- February 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 13, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 14, 2017 – Great Hearts Day
- February 16, 2017 – Picture Day
- February 16, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 16, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 2 – Decimals
- February 17, 2017 - Athletic Field Day - Wear Yellow Shirt & No School Lunch
- February 17, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 20, 2017 – President’s Day
- February 22, 2017 - History Test - American Revolution, Chapters 1-10
- February 23, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- February 24, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 3 – Decimals
- February 24, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 25, 2017 – Fun Run & Family Picnic
- February 27, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- February 28, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Cumulative – Decimals
- March 2, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- March 3, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 6, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapter 1 – Adding and Subtracting Decimals
- March 6, 2017 - Sciencey Quiz - Geology
- March 10, 2017 - Science Test - Geology Unit Exam
- March 10, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapters 2 & 3 – Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
- March 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 13-20, 2017 – Spring Break
I hope your weekend has gone well. I had the pleasure of taking my daughter, Karis, out Friday night for her birthday. Today, we celebrated Ruth's 1st and Karis's 4th birthdays at the park with some friends. Thus, my weekend has been a little busy, but good.
On Monday, I will be sending out progress reports for students who have a D or F in any subject. Some parents may be surprised to receive this. As I will explain in the progress report, a few of the students receiving this is largely due to homework not being completed. Please remember that I am not forcing students to do their homework during recess anymore. I tell them who didn't turn something in and I email you to let you know. They can turn it in the next day, but I ask them about it or remind them once I've emailed you.
Here are the lessons for this week:
Science: During week 4, students studied how mountains are formed. During week 5, they will take a closer look at the mountains. They will be introduced to some of the most important mountains, the animals that live in the mountains, how mountains serve as barriers between nations, and how people use the mountains and their resources. On Monday, students will have a quiz on geology. On Thursday, students will have their final quiz on life science. Next week, both the Monday and Thursday quiz will cover meteorology.
Math: In math this week, students will be looking at decimals up to the hundredths place. Last week, we took the unit 6, chapter 1 test and the students did very well. I hope to see this standard of learning continue. The better students know money, the easier learning fractions will be. Whenever possible, please allow them to handle money on your behalf or quiz them regarding money. Your efforts in this way won't go without reward.
Language Arts: After taking a week to write their opinion essays, this week students return to grammar. In grammar this week, students will be introduced to three new terms: predicate nominative, predicate adjective, and indefinite pronouns. If it's been too long since you were taught these or you're like me and never learned them, here is a refresher. A predicate nominative is a noun found in the predicate that renames the subject noun. For example, Josh is a boy. A predicate adjective is found in the predicate and modifies the subject noun. For example, Josh is kind. An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that doesn't refer to any person, amount, or thing in particular. For example, all, another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody, someone are indefinite pronouns. Try to make sure your child stays on top of homework in grammar this week as there is a test Thursday.
Spalding will continue as normal. Students finished reading Prince Caspian last week and will discuss it some this week. Please have your child bring Carry On, Mr. Bowditch to class on Monday so they are prepared when Ms. Maguire starts reading it to the class.
As a side note regarding reading, please ensure that your child is reading nightly. We no longer require a reading log, but the expectation remains. Your child should read for 20 minutes each night. On most Friday's, they are required to write a summary about what they are reading. Some of these have been quite poor and this is likely due to three possible reasons. First, students aren't reading and therefore struggle to write. Sometimes their summaries only cover a page or so from a book, which means they aren't summarizing what they've read that week or they are only reading one page a week. Second, students might be putting the minutes in, but aren't really reading to remember or comprehend. This is one of the reasons we want students reading more often and reading things they enjoy. We want them to learn to remember what they read. To develop the skill of reading to understand and know, not simply to forget. We want reading to be different from watching television. I can watch a show and forget what it was about within a few hours because I'm simply amusing myself (a - prefix meaning not, muse - baseward meaning to think = amusing means to not think). However, nightly reading isn't for amusement, though it should be for enjoyment. Students should be engaging the reading so that they are excited and trying to figure out what is happening. This isn't meant to be a recommendation for the Harry Potter stories, but it is something I like about them. I like that there is great depth to the stories and there are many sub-stories all intertwined and they often reveal themselves later in the series. If you forget something from the first book, you likely won't understand what is happening in later books. The books lend themselves to improving comprehension because poorer reading won't allow one as much enjoyment. So, students should be reading to comprehend. You can support this by asking them what they are reading about and discussing the meaning of the book or the author's purpose for writing it. Third, some students are just rushing their summaries and are not giving them the effort they deserve. This is most unfortunate because it is harming their grade even though they are doing the nightly readings. However, poor marks because of poor effort is a logical consequence and I would rather them learn to give better effort now when the consequences are small as compared to when the consequences are great.
History: In history, the story of America's birth is starting to reach towards a climax. With the French and Indian War ended, the noise of sedition is starting to come. Students will start to understand the pains of American colonist when they are reading about and discuss the Stamp Act, which required colonist to purchase British paper, and excluded colonial paper from being sold in the colonies, as a tax to support a British army in the colonies. The colonists thought this was unnecessary because there was no need for a British army in the colonies since the French had been expelled. The colonists were more than capable of protecting themselves from the Native Americans. This happened in March of 1775 and then in May of 1775, the British imposed the Quartering Act, which required colonist to house and feed British soldiers. For the colonists, this was unthinkable because the rights of Englishman prevented unwarranted searches and unlawful taking of land, but again the colonists were not afforded the same rights and priveledges of Englishman who resided in Great Britain proper. As such, students will start to see why the colonists are growing more and more displeased with Great Britain.
To end the week, there will be a quiz on chapters 1-8.
Important Dates
- February 6, 2017 – Science Quiz – Geology
- February 6, 2017 – Bring in Book: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
- February 9, 2017 – Science Quiz – Life Science Review Quiz
- February 9, 2017 – Grammar Quiz
- February 10, 2017 – Half Day
- February 10, 2017 - History Quiz - American Revolution, Chapters 1-8
- February 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 13, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 14, 2017 – Great Hearts Day
- February 16, 2017 – Picture Day
- February 16, 2017 – Science Quiz – Meteorology Review Quiz
- February 16, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 2 – Decimals
- February 17, 2017 - Athletic Field Day - Wear Yellow Shirt & No School Lunch
- February 17, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 20, 2017 – President’s Day
- February 22, 2017 - History Test - American Revolution, Chapters 1-10
- February 23, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- February 24, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Chapter 3 – Decimals
- February 24, 2017 – Spalding Test
- February 25, 2017 – Fun Run & Family Picnic
- February 27, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- February 28, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 6 Cumulative – Decimals
- March 2, 2017 - Science Quiz - Geology
- March 3, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 6, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapter 1 – Adding and Subtracting Decimals
- March 6, 2017 - Sciencey Quiz - Geology
- March 10, 2017 - Science Test - Geology Unit Exam
- March 10, 2017 – Math Test – Unit 7 Chapters 2 & 3 – Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
- March 10, 2017 – Spalding Test
- March 13-20, 2017 – Spring Break