Friday, November 22, 2013

Two Ways to do 2 Digit Multiplication and other Details


Today we began 2- digit multiplication!  The students were excited to learn this skill.  I showed the students different ways to solve this type of problem.  The first way is a traditional method.  (The way I learned in school).  The other way is a called lattice multiplication.  At first it looks intimidating, but sometimes this way is easier for the students to solve. After practicing both methods several times I let the students decide which way they would like to solve their problems.   Take a look!

Other details:

  • No Friday homework this week!  Happy Thanksgiving!
  • We do not have school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Enjoy the long weekend!
  • Spelling tests will be Monday and Tuesday for the Green and Yellow groups.  The lists are in the binder for students to study.

Turtlehead Multiplication (Traditional)



Lattice Multiplication





Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Rocks Rock!

Hi am Jack. I'm class blogger of the week. Today we learned how to make rocks and we observe rocks. When we were making the rocks, we used sand, gravel, pebbles and suger water. Now, we have to wait in till Christmas break!!! This is my favorite unit in science! :)














Friday, November 8, 2013

Writing Celebration and other Details

Today we celebrated our writing! Our class has been working especially hard in writing and I am so proud of their growth!  Students have been writing realistic fiction stories for the past several weeks. At the beginning of our unit we work on creating a story arc to map out our stories.  Then we had several lessons over dialogue, creating interesting characters, using "show not tell" sentences, and creating interesting leads. Students also met with writing partners throughout the unit to help come up with ideas and revise their stories.  Once students created their final drafts they created a cover to go with their story.  Today they shared their stories in groups and gave out awards!  Ask your child about their story!

Next week:
  • Monday is our Veteran's Day Assembly.  It will begin at 9:00.  Please encourage your child to wear patriotic colors!
  • Wednesday is Early Release.  Please make sure your child knows what they are to do at dismissal. Thank you in advance!
  • We will have a social studies test over chapters 4 and 5 on Wednesday.  The study guide was sent home yesterday.
  • Friday homework this week is a math page.  It is due next Friday!
Have a great weekend!

























Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Rams Visit!

Hi I'm Kiley I'm the class blogger this week. Today the Rams orginisation came to our classroom and we made cards for our service men and women who can't be home off the holidays. For a special visit  from Rampage the Rams mascot and we got a picture with him. I was happy to have done something so nice for all the wonderful service men and women.














Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween and Details

Thank you to everyone who came to parent teacher conferences! I am  pleased with all the hard work the students are doing as well as their progress.  Also a big thank you to all who help organize a great Halloween party!  The students had lots of fun.  Here are a few pictures of our day!

Check out our costumes!  

Watching our buddies during the Costume Parade.

Getting tattooed!

Decorating milk jug ghosts.

Our finished ghosts all lit up!

Party games!






That's all folks!
Next week:
  • We will have a Unit 3 math test on Friday, November 8.  Study guides were sent home with students today.
  • Picture retake day is Friday November 8.  
  • Friday homework this week is a reading assignment.  It is due next Friday! 
If you have any questions, let me know!  Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Donze's Details 10-25


Here are some details for next week:
  • Conferences will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  If you are unsure of your time, email me and I will let you know of your scheduled time. Report cards will be emailed to you. I will not have a copy to give you at conferences. I look forward to meeting with you!
  • Mrs. Phoenix is in charge of our class Halloween Party.  She has requested each student bring in 1 or 2 milk gallon jugs, empty and clean, with the lid for a party activity.  Also if you have any items you would like to donate items for goodie bags please send them in by the 29th.  Thanks!
  • Our Halloween party will be next Thursday (Halloween Day).  Our costume parade will begin at 1:30 and parties will begin at 2.  Students are allowed to bring their costumes to school with them and change for the parade.  No violent or inappropriate costumes or accessories.  Thank you!
  • Students will have a quiz over factors and multiples on Wednesday. 
  • There is no Friday Homework assignment this week!  Happy Halloween!

We are off an running in second quarter! Here are some of the things we are working on in class.

In math students are working hard on mastering their multiplication facts. Several math stations are dedicated to practicing facts and we are taking daily quizzes over our facts. I am seeing improvements. Please encourage your child to practice their facts nightly.

We are finishing up our revising lessons in our Realistic Fiction stories. They have been working incredibly hard. I can't wait to read their finished stories!

In social studies we are beginning our chapters over the founding of St. Louis and Westward Expansion. This is a fun chapter. The students are enjoying learning about this time in our history!





Monday, October 21, 2013

Heritage Days

What a beautiful day for a field trip! We had a full day of fun and learning! We visited several stations to learn about how people lived in the 1800s.  We heard music from the time of George Washington, build a log cabin, played with pioneer toys, heard about the Corp of Discovery, washed clothes, visited a general store, learned how to square dance, saw a blacksmith create a nail and hook, and listened to Sacajawea herself! Ask you child about their day. Check out pictures of our day below!

Our journey begins!



Our first stop was to listen to music.  We heard music people would dance to like "Push That Pig Foot Further in the Fire", "June Apple" and Irish jig!


Next we visited a station to learn about pioneer toys.  We learned how to play Stick Pull, where you have to pull against each other until one person is standing.  We played Graces, a game that uses sticks and hoops.  Another game used a stick and "shoes" to toss a beanbag back and forth.  Everyone made "Buzz-saws" with a button and string!






The Mountain Man taught us about Lewis and Clark.  He told us about the equipment they had to take when exploring the Louisiana Territory.

At the wood working station, we learned about tools pioneers had to use to create square logs in order to build homes. Some students were able to build a cabin!




The blacksmith showed us how to make a nail and hook from iron!  Did you know iron has to be heated to 1800 degrees in order to be pliable? 



Sacajawea told us her role in the Corps of Discovery.  What an amazing journey she had!


At the Mercantile, we learned about items that would be sold at a general store.  The general store sold a little of everything and had the only phone in town! After learning about different items we got to check some products out!




Our last adventure took us to laundry day.  We learned about the types of clothing ladies and gentlemen wore.  We also learned how women did the laundry and how the men got the water.  A few of us got to try it out!