Sunday, September 15, 2013

Week of September 16



MATH 

Fourth Grade Math
We begin Chapter 2: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers. Students will cover Lessons 1 - 3 this week while learning several strategies for multiplication. They will receive a handout to complete notes on the strategies for use through the entire chapter.  There will be a short quiz on Friday, mainly covering multiplying by powers of 10 (10s, 100s and 1,000s).  We continue weekly Multiplication Facts timed practice drills.  The expectation is 30 problems per minute. 

Fifth Grade Math 
We wrap up Chapter 1 with algebraic Lessons 10, 11, and 12:  writing numeric expressions and solving expressions using orders of operations. Thursday will be a review day, covering chapter 1 skills.  Students will also review some geometry skills this week. Friday is the Chapter 1 Test.    

Math Help - Office Hours 
Beginning This Week 
Tuesday and Thursday:  7:15am - 7:45
4th Grade Monday:  2:25 - 3:15 
5th Grade Wednesday: 2:25 - 3:15

SCIENCE

Fourth Grade 

4th grade is learning more about measuring length and volume. (Lesson 2)  We will be writing science vocabulary cards for metric terms.  I will demonstrate how to measure a the volume of a regular and irregular object.  We should be ready for a quiz on Lesson 2 by Friday.
 

Fifth Grade 

5th grade is learning about the plates in our Earth and plate tectonics. (Lesson 2)  They will be learning how earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain formations are caused by plate movements. 

Reading, Spelling & Vocab Highlights
Reading:  Storytown Lesson 4: Biography, The Daring Nellie Bly
           Comprehension strategies: Monitor Comprehension by rereading, and,
              summarizing skills in Woolly Mammoth essays
           Focus on skills:  character motives, summarizing, author point of view
           Writing: students become literary critics while peer editing Woolly  
              Mammoth essays 
           Comprehension Test: Friday
           Genre: Identify characteristics of biography - compare to autobiography     
           
Spelling: Lesson 4 
           Mrs. Hall's students correct workbooks on Thursdays. 
           Mrs. Stillo's students correct workbooks on Fridays.
           The workbooks should be written in cursive. 
           Spelling Test Friday
           Each Friday, students hand in a 5x each assignment written in cursive 
           Reminders:  
               - bonus words are treated as extra points on the test,
               - Pretests signed by parents worth 3 quarterly extra credit points, 
               - "Spelling Expectations" card is taped inside student workbooks 

Vocabulary:  Unit 2 Vocab Test is Monday, September 16. 
           Unit 3 - Vocabulary index cards containing definition, part of speech,
                pronunciation, synonyms and antonyms are due on Friday. 

 Religion

We continue with Chapter 1 discussing our need to communicate, and God's gifts of Faith and Grace, and communicating with prayer.   

Other Fifth Grade News
Remember to Read ---> 4 book reports due October 25th

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email Mrs. Hall at dhall@stjosephdg.org, or, Mrs. Stillo at dstillo@stjosephdg.org.