January 30, 2018

Dates to keep in mind:

Plant Study Guide due Thursday 2/1

Plant Test - 2/2

Grammar Unit 8 Test  -  Thursday, 2/1

Japan Test - Tuesday 2/6

January 29th

We had 5 students out today!  We missed them and hope they get well soon!!

Today we began reviewing for Az merit tests.  We read an article and discussed Characters, setting, theme, plot and point of view especially in fiction writings.

We began Unit 8 in math.  Today we multiplied a 2-digit number by a decimal number and before w multiplied we estimated to make sure that we are putting the decimal in our answer int he right place. 

In our literature study we discussed the words obstinate and imperious. These were words describing the main character in our story.

In grammar we diagramed sentences with Indirect Objects.

In history we took the Russia test.

In Science we reviewed the parts of a plant and their jobs, listed the 6 characteristics to scientifically determine if something is "wick".  We use the information to define hydrotropism,  gravitropism, phototropism, and thigmotropism.  Tomorrow we will do an experiment to view gravitroposim.

upcoming tests:

Spelling - Friday 2/2
Grammar Unit 8 Thursday  2/1
Math Unit 8 Test - Monday 2/12

Today:

Students took their spelling test and took a pretest for the history test on Monday. Please remember:

• Russia Test Monday 1/30 
• Plant Test Friday 2/2
• Grammar Test Thursday 2/1

Next Week:

ELA: We will begin prep for AZ Merit. We will finish studying tenses and test on it.

Literature: We will continue to read Secret Garden

Math: We are beginning our unit on multiplying and dividing with decimals.

Science: We will do a science experiment on tropism in plants and then test on their knowledge of plants on Friday.

History: We will test on Russia and then begin our unit on Feudal Japan.

Roots and Spelling:

Primus (L) first

•        Derivatives to use: Primary, primer, prime, prime number, primitive, primate

Secundus (L) second

•        Derivatives to use: Second, secondary, secondhand  

Tertius (L) third

•        Derivatives to use: Tertiary, tertiary color, tertial (third row of feathers on a bird)

Quartus (L) fourth

•        Derivatives to use: Quart, quartile, quarter, quarter note, quartet (etc)

Spelling Words:

choir, compete, deceive, determination, determined, discoveries, involve, lily, lilies, vascular

Today:

• Students took their decimals math test. They will get the tests back ASAP in order to make corrections.
• Students received their history tests back. Please make sure that if they got a low score, they make corrections for half credit.
• Spelling Test Friday 1/26
• Russia Test Monday 1/30 
• Plant Test Friday 2/2
• Grammar Test Thursday 2/1

Permission slips needed for 2^nd-5^th grade scholars!

Sandoval Karate will be providing our 2^nd-5^th grade scholars the opportunity to experience karate as part of our Schole program. All students who wish to participate must have a completed permission slip. Click here for the link to sign up each of your children with their own form. Alternate activities will be provided for those without a permission slip. Forms must be completed by Feb 19^th. Please email Ms. Wuerfel with questions.

Thanks!

January 23, 2018

We had a good productive time reviewing for the math test today.  Students should finish the workbook review tonight and we will go over it right before the test tomorrow.

Today we looked at how to diagram sentences with indirect objects.

We also explored the author's use of the "garden" in our story as a picture of what is happening to the main character and what a great literary device this is.

We made a hypothesis about what we expect to happen with flowers and celery put into colored water.

In history today we read about Peter the Great and filled in our timeline of events in Russia from 800AD to 1724AD

We got a treat.  At the end of the day the students went t to see the CPA JV boys 1st quarter of their basketball game.  It was exciting and exhilarating.  The students got to see in action the basketball skills they are learning in PE.

January 22, 2018

Today we worked hard at reviewing for the Unit 7 math Test on Wednesday, and students are finishing that review for homework tonight - we will go over it carefully tomorrow. I was disappointed that so many students did not have their study guide which was given out last week and due today done.

We continued reading The Secret Garden and discussed static and dynamic characters.

In grammar we found object pronouns and tomorrow we will find Indirect objects in a sentence.

In our study of Russian history we compared two czars, Ivan the great and Ivan the Terrible.

In Science we compared vascular and nonvascular plants as well as angiosperm and gymnosperm plants.

Today:

• students took a cumulative math test for us to see how much they know from last semester.
• We are preparing to look through microscopes tomorrow.
• Our next math test is next Wednesday, January 24th on decimals.
• Students will have a grammar test this Friday assessing their understanding of direct objects, helping verbs, and verb tenses.
• We had such a great discussion today about the beginning of Russia – Slavs, Vikings and Mongols – ask your kids about it at dinner tonight.
• We also enjoyed discussing all of the personification and foreshadowing we discovered in our literature study.  Some of the examples your scholars came up with were excellent - great figurative language that conjured up beautiful word pictures.
• I love your sweet children! 

Week of January 16 - 19

MATH

Wednesday 1/17/18 - Semester 1 Cumulative Test

Thursday - Friday  -  Finish Unit 7 on Decimals

Unit 7 Test - Wednesday 1/24/18

GRAMMAR

TEST  - Ch 7 Direct object, Transitive Verb Pattern 2 sentences  - Friday, 1/19/18

SPELLING / ROOTS

Homos - Greek - same, common joint  -  Derivatives:  homonym, homogenous

Heteros - Greek - other , different  -  Derivatives:  heterogeneous, heterodox

Cardo, cardinis  -  Latin  -  hinge  -  Derivatives:  cardinal (clergy), cardinal points, cardinal edge

porta - Latin  -  door, gate, entry  -  Derivatives:  port, airport, portal

Words:

conference

conferred

confer

really

amusement

angrily

approval

available

avoid

banana

LITERATURE

The Secret Garden - Chapters 4 - 7 or 8

HISTORY

Age of Exploration test - Tuesday 1/16/18

SCIENCE

Microscopes and plants

January 12, 2018

Week of January 16 - 19

MATH

Wednesday - Quarter 1 Cumulative Test

Thursday - Friday  -  Finish Unit 7 on Decimals

Unit 7 Test - Wednesday 1/24/18

GRAMMAR

TEST  - Ch 7 Direct object, Transitive Verb Pattern 2 sentences  - Friday, 1/19/18

SPELLING / ROOTS

Homos - Greek - same, common joint  -  Derivatives:  homonym, homogenous

Heteros - Greek - other , different  -  Derivatives:  heterogeneous, heterodox

Cardo, cardinis  -  Latin  -  hinge  -  Derivatives:  cardinal (clergy), cardinal points, cardinal edge

porta - Latin  -  door, gate, entry  -  Derivatives:  port, airport, portal

LITERATURE

The Secret Garden - Chapters 4 - 7 or 8

HISTORY

Age of Exploration test - Tuesday 1/16/18

SCIENCE

Microscopes and plants

January 12, 2018

Social Studies

Test preparation  sheet given today - Due Tuesday 1/16/18

Test - Tuesday 1/16/18

January 10th

I was out yesterday with cough, fever and splitting headache so I was pretty much "Down for the count" and did nothing but try to sleep.  I am a bit better today and will try to come in tomorrow.

SCIENCE:

The next two days, students will be working on a small microscope poster entirely in class (not taken home for homework). They will need to put a picture of the microscope and some interesting/basic facts on the poster. In preparation for that, our scholars are given the option to bring a picture and some basic facts of the microscope of their choice for class tomorrow. I will also provide some research, but if students would like to do their own thing or find their own picture, they are welcome to do so. 

MATH:

This week and next we will finish unit 7 on decimals .  Students should be reviewing the skills taught so that they are prepared.  I also encourage nightly reviewing of multiplication facts.

LANGUAGE:

We have started our study of The Secret Garden  so all students need their own copy of the book in class daily.  As extra credit or challenge work the students can research about the Victorian Age and the presence of Great Britain in India, and if they are more science oriented Cholera. 

We have now begun our study of direct objects and transitive verbs (pattern 2 sentences).  Students will be asked to diagram these types of sentences.   

HISTORY:  Our test on the Age of Exploration will be Tuesday, January 16th. 

January 8, 2011

Welcome back!  Hope you had a great week end! 

We are now back to a regular schedule.  Students have their spelling words and roots for the week.  They need to be studying them and their math multiplication facts at least 5 min  - 2 separate times per night.  And don't forget to encourage your scholar to "interleave" their homework by doing part of their math then part of their Language then return to their math and finish their language.

January 5th
I have shared with some, but I would like to share with everyone some good practices I suggest after reading "Make It Stick" by Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel.  Set aside an "academic" time each evening, (approximately I hour):  break up the time by using a timer so that students practice "interleaving".  Maybe it looks like this:  3-5 minutes practicing math facts; Read for 20 minutes;  5-10 min. doing part of the math homework;  3-5 minutes reviewing roots and spelling words;  5-10 min finishing math homework; 5-10 minutes on other homework;  3-5 min. reviewing math facts, 3-5 min reviewing spelling words.

Today we finished up the presentations of the winter projects.  I was very pleased, "Jazzed", at the growth I saw in the class as a whole from the way they presented from our first project presentations earlier this year.  

The only thing left is the reflection paragraph.  We worked on it in class today after the presentations.  I believe most students got almost done with their rough draft.  They need to have the rough draft edited by 2 people and then they can write the final copy.  If they desire they can type the final copy.  It is due January 11th, but they can turn it in anytime.

The only other homework for this week end is to finish their handwriting from today - Pages 54-56

Students that want to finish up their extra credit math packet given for the break may do that this week end and turn it in on Monday.

Future dates to Remember:

LANGUAGE
We begin our study of The Secret Garden on Monday - students need to have their book here by Monday.

First spelling and roots test of the new year and new Semester is Friday Jan. 12th.  Start the year off right by studying them daily for just a few minutes.

sal, salis - Latin - salt:  derivatives: salt, salary, saline, desalinate

mare - Latin - sea, ocean:  derivatives:  marine, marina mariner, submarine
naus - Greek - ship, boat:  derivatives:  nautical, astronaut, nausea
navis - Latin - ship, boat:  derivatives:  navy, navigate, navigable, circumnavigate
change
chapter
welfare
column
disappoint
volunteer
ancestor
advantage
beneficial
depth

HISTORY
Age of Exploration test - Tuesday 1/16/18

SCIENCE
Next week we begin our study of microscopes.

January 4th

• If your child did not bring their essay, poster or packet to school today, they must bring it in tomorrow to receive full credit.
• If your child did not do their presentation today, they will do it tomorrow, so please have them ready!
• Your child must write a reflection paragraph about their presentation discussing what they learned. They should explain what they learned from doing this project. What did they find difficult and what was easy? Some topics to discuss might be doing research, writing the essay, time management, etc. They may also discuss what they learned from their peers based on their presentations like what they found interesting about a certain person or what they learned from their peers that could make them better presenters, writers, etc. This paragraph should be 5-7 sentences and written on a loose leaf paper. It is due on 1/11, but I will give them time in class to work on it.
• Your child should have the Secret Garden book with them by Monday 1/8 at the latest.