RosenfeldRoadsters

To enhance communication efforts, I have begun mass emails to all class members in lieu of posting to this blog.  All notices and homework attachments are sent regularly to all classmates.  If you have not been receiving them, please email me at Myra.Rosenfeld@cobbk12.org

Our day was awfully busy to not have very much to write here.  We went to the media center to check out fiction books for our January book report (a circle book).  Instruction will come home later this week but the students have already made one in school, so they know what to do.  We learned about a baby Polar bear born in the Berlin Zoo and raised by the zoo attendant.  Knut is SO-O-O cute.  He has videos on the Berlin Zoo website and his own book!

We also had Arts Alive ... Thanks Mrs. Archer.  We turned the lights out and sketched our own Michelangelo (sp?) by nightlight on the "ceilings" of our desk.  The kids really enjoyed it, and boy, did we get some wonderful sketches. 

At the end of the day, we went to the computer lab to begin research on a fruit or vegetable as part of our nutrition unit.  A small project will be explained later this week or early next week. 

In the midst of our business, we did do some vocabulary development with Wordly Wise; took a mid-year test in math, and did some brainstorming for a persuasive writing piece.  Not sure if I posted the flashcards for WW #8 so here they are.  Download lesson_8_flash_cards.doc

Question of the day:  What is the difference between the identity property of addition and the identity property of multiplication?

What a great day.  Today was Target day and many of our classmates were out with other teachers.  Our lessons were all done with small group (4-10 students) which alllows me great 1:1 time.  I love it.

In math RAP we worked with fractions of a set (like 1/3 of 12, 3/5 of 10, etc) and in our general math class we worked on exemplar strategies and practiced division facts.  We'll start taking fact fluency tests again tomorrow. 

Language arts was spent finishing the Harris Burdick stories as most students had not done so.  It was a perfect time to work individually with students and I felt it was time well spent.  Good day.  We also did WW exercise 8.1, learned about homographs (different than homophones) - spelled the same but pronounced differently and have different meanings.  Like record, live, does, present, etc. and DOL (attached)  Download week_18_monday.doc

No question of the day but if you read this tell me the secret password "bellyhoppers and porteedos" for a WTG.

Boy, this week is going fast too.  Where does all our time go?

In math RAP we did mystery numbers.  The students will start doing these and making up the clues.  In our general math group, we continued exploring fractions ... part of a group.  Homework tonight, front and back.

In language arts we discovered that the /s/ sound can be made with ci, ce, cy, s and ss spelling patterns.  We had some classwork that a few have to finish for homework.  Don't forget the spelling contract.  We also wrote some more on the Harris Burdick stories.  These will have to be completed at home as we are out of time to devote school time to it.  They have to be submitted by Monday.  DOL (attached)  Download week_17_wednesday.doc and fiction organizational patterns rounded out language arts.

For our nutrition unit, we read lesson 1 in the health book and discussed what we read as a whole class.  A project will be coming home soon. 

Our days are certainly busy.  We started today with a look into fourth grade.  We got to watch the Geography Bee in which fourth and fifth graders compete.  Congratulations to Sam Keller who is our 2008 champion.

In math, we review some multiplication facts, worked on simplifying word problems and identifying fractions.  Homework front and back tonight.

In Reading we worked some more with fictional organization pattern (plot, problem, solution) as we read Tacky the Penguin.  We explored the /j/ spelling patterns and discovered that /j/ at the end or middle of a word can be spelled ge or dge and that when the vowel is short, the spelling pattern is usually dge like in dodge, fudge, fidget and long vowels are usually with a ge.  We also introduced unit 8 Wordly Wise words, unit 10 Sitton words and spelling contracts.  Three different spelling contracts went out.  They are due Wednesday 1/16 (not Monday - Friday as the contract states).  We also did DOL (attached)  Download week_17_tuesday.doc and worked on our Harris Burdick stories.

What an incredible first day back.  I trust everyone had a wonderful, restful break.  I heard all about the gifts and the "I dids ...".  Sounds like all the kids had a profitable holiday.

We started our day with RAP doing fraction vocabulary and then corrected our DOL (attached)  Download week_17_monday.doc.  This spelling unit is words that end with "y".  We practiced today.  Differentiated word lists will come home tomorrow.  We'll continue to work on Sitton skills as well.

Math pretest for this quarter was administered today then we played a logic game of Fiddle Faddle.

Reading and language arts centered around the book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.  We discovered organizational patterns for fictional texts  (character, plot, problem, solution).  We determined that usually:  somebody wants something but a problem happens so the character has to find a solution (somebody, wants, but, so).  Our book report will follow this format.  We worked some more on our Harris Burdick stories.  They have to be submitted by Monday.

Health (no science or social studies) was on nutrition. 

Question of the day:  Fractions with the same denominator are called ______________.

We are winding down the year and it is finally winter!

Today was filled with fun activities.  We did our subtraction timed tests.  Two more students finished the test 100% in less than 5 minutes!  (90% in 7 minutes is passing).  We did an exemplar in math and previewed some of our fractions unit for January.  We worked on our Chris van Allsburg Harris Burdick stories and practiced the spelling rule "change y to i then add -es or -ed" to verbs ending in y.  Then Kelsey's mom came in for our Arts Alive lesson (Norman Rockwell) and we finished the day watching part of the G-rated Polar Express to culminate our Chris van Allsburg study for December.  Great day... no homework except study for WW test tomorrow.

Just 3 more school days in 2007!  Can you believe it?

The days are winding down with fun, exciting activities.  In math RAP this morning, we put on our thinking caps while organizing differences.  In spelling, we learned about changing the y to an i before adding -er or -est and when to use -er (comparing two things) and when to use -est (when comparing 3 or more things).  The students worked with a partner to start the reading exercise for Wordly Wise.  The WW test has been postponed until Thursday to give us an opportunity to complete the stories and do the hidden message puzzle.  A review came home today for homework.  WW flashcards attached.  Download lesson_7_flash_cards.doc

Math posttests were done today along with a geometric-multiplication challenge.

During language arts, we finished Grandpa and Frindle groups and took the AR tests.  Harry group will really try hard to finish before break.  We also got to visit with Mrs. Bernier, our guidance counselor.

Our afternoon was rounded out by finishing our American Government powerpoints.  I'm going to send them home via email.   

Thanks to Mrs. Collins for taking care of the class while I got to enjoy extra time during lunch with collegues with whom I seldom get to visit.  It was wonderful!

No question of the day.

We look forward to the end of the week with great anticipation.  Actually, the kids are doing great staying on task.

Math:  exemplar and timed test (addition) and word problems in math RAP

Language Arts:  Classwork:  5 Ws and and H (who, what where, when, why, how) on TFK article on the Nobel Peace Prize. In spelling - drop the e and add ing or add ed (or irregular verb).

We went to the media center to hear a special reader and get a treat at the end of the day.

No question of the day.

What a good, fun day we had today.

The day started with the holiday sing.  A cheerful way to begin... and then we went to specials.  During math, we reviewed the unit over the whole quarter (division and geometry).  We'll take a practice test Monday and the post test will be Tuesday.

Language Arts:  literature groups; we are trying desparately to finish the chapter books (novels) before the break.  We practiced adding suffix to words that end in silent e; completed lesson 4 in Wordly Wise (test Wednesday); and worked more on Harris Burdick or the invention advertisement.

We shared about 1/2 of our American Government powerpoints.  I'll send them home after all have shared.  They really turned out nice and informative.

No question of the day.  Have a good weekend.