Ask Teacher: Homework, links and your comments
Today we learned about comparative and superlative adjectives. We compared the Forty-niners to the Ravens. That was interesting. We will have our reading test and our spelling test tomorrow.
It is our math test tomorrow. Students should have brought home a paper to practice. We went over the information in class today. Then at the last recess I invited anyone who wasn't getting it to stay and get help.
Remember, tomorrow is maroon and white day. Wear your colors!
We re-read our story today. Students went into different groups and Mrs. Reeder read with one group while I read with another. The other two groups did the reading on their own. We took our spelling tests. Students also worked on their spelling pages 88-89
In math we corrected last night's homework. Students who did not turn the paper in will get a zero until it is turned in. We continued to work on fractions and figuring out how to find common denominators. This is a skill that comes with practice and with a knowledge of the multiplication tables.Students who didn't finish today's assignment pg 525 1-9 have that as homework tonight.
Students read a short excerpt from the book, "Island of the Blue Dolplins." We also studied spelling words, which are all plurals, and our vocabulary words. I have kept a few students in for a few minutes of recess so we can read parts of the story again to help with reading fluency.
In math class we continued working on equivalent fractions and ordering fractions. Students are understanding this, but they do have a homework sheet that went home to help them understand the concept. They must show all of their work showing how they figured out the answer.
We will have our spelling test tomorrow.
Spelling words:tomatoes, countries, dollars, eagles, inches, leashes, monkeys, numbers, smudges, taxes, relishes, sandwiches, umbrellas, bicycles, ferries, arrows, ages, times, tides, cliffsWe will have our reading and spelling test tomorrow, but we are going to skip the math test and use our time on figuring out fractions. Many of the students are understanding, but there are some who are really struggling with order fractions with different denominators. We reviewed it today, but it isn't strong with them yet.
We reviewed our story and worked on metaphors in class. One group had to come up with a metaphor and another group had to guess what it meant. We discovered that it was easier to determine the intended meaning of a simile than a metaphor.
In Social Studies we continued telling our own family's story of migrating to Idaho. Those students who didn't have their paper in were given a paper to take home so that parents would know to help them.
Tomorrow is 100 days of school so the children will have a party at 2:00 to celebrate that event.
To help your child with ordering fractions: They need to be able to see the least common multiple (we haven't used that phrase yet) or the lowest number that both numbers can divide into evenly. So if you have a fraction of 2/6 and 3/4, what is the lowest number that 6 and 4 divide into evenly. That would be 24. Next, what identify fraction (a fraction that equals 1 like 2/2, 3/3, 4/4 etc) can you multiply 2/6 by to give it a denominator of 24. That would be 4/4 and you would have 8/24. Then what identity fraction can you multiply 3/4 by to give it a denominator of 24. You would multiply it by 6/6 and have 18/24. Then it is easy to see that 18/24 is larger than 8/24.
Students took their spelling tests today. The tests are graded and should be back to the students so they can study tonight and tomorrow night. Students also re-read the story, Shadow of the Bull, Those who have missed school have been asked to take it home and read it.
In math we are comparing fractions. Students are learning that fractions compare very differently to whole numbers. They still need practice on equivalent fractions.
Students were supposed to bring in information about who, why, and when their families came to Idaho. Those that brought in the information did a good job.
In Social Studies today we learned more about the first groups that came to Idaho. Students are supposed to go home and ask these four questions: 1. When did our family first come to Idaho (generationally so this could include grandparents and great-grandparents) 2. Who came first? 3. Why did they come? 4. What nationality is your family? This will be a part of our lesson tomorrow.
In our math class we began comparing different fractions and deciding which fraction is larger. First we used our fraction blocks and then we did a work sheet to see if we could understand the difference. Tomorrow we will be going over our math test so the students can learn from their mistakes.
Our spelling test is tomorrow. We reviewed the spelling and vocabulary words today. Then we talked about our story from yesterday. Students who were absent were asked to take the book home to read it.
Lastly, a packet went home today. Students are to fill out as many of the postcards as they can and then return the entire packet tomorrow. This project helps get money for the school, so if you can help the students do this, please do.
Homework pages went home today. Please encourage your student to do the work. I am counting it for a homework grade. We read, Shadow of a Bull, today and worked on our math. Then we stopped to watch the swearing in of the President and listen to his speech. I am just thinking, the next time this happens they will be in 8th grade and much more aware of what is going on in the world.
In math we are still working on equivalent fractions, but it is going one step further. Students are given two fractions that are equivalent, however either the numerator or denominator is missing on one of the fractions. They must show their work, how did they get the answer. By showing their work they can logically recognize if the answer makes any sense. We also are doing the simplest fraction which basically is, how far can you reduce the fraction. Most of the students did not finish in class and should have worksheets to take home.
On Friday, at 2:00, we will be celebrating the 100 days of school with a short assembly. As it is Martin Luther King day today, students received a little booklet about him today. I encouraged them to talk about it with their parents.
We took our tests today. We also learned a little bit about bacteria. Did you know that if you don't follow the directions on your bacterial soap, you could be killing good bacteria? After our math tests students were allowed to play the multiplication game with dice.
After Show and Tell, and since Martin Luther King Jr day is Monday, we watched a movie and wrote down some of the quotes of Martin Luther King Jr. We discussed the importance of being kind to everyone around us and treating them respectfully.
We studied for our math and reading tests tomorrow. Some students asked if they could take their reading books home and I assured them it was fine. Some students will also have a spelling test. Please study. We also finished reading about invertebrates. We learned quite a lot. Did you know sea stars eat mussels by pulling the shell apart and then putting their own stomach on the mussel and sucking it up? That was quite intriguing to the students.
Our math test will only be about fractions. Students will need to be able to show if a fraction is equivalent to another fraction. If shown a picture, they will need to be able to write the fraction for the picture. Then if given a fraction they will need to be able to draw a picture to represent the fraction. On a number line, students need to be able to identify how many parts are shown, and then identify which part, labeled A, B, or C is a specific fraction. These all have been reviewed with the students.
Students who did not finish their math papers in class are taking them home to finish as homework. They will be allowed to check their work as they come into class tomorrow so they can quickly see if they did it correctly and get help if they did not.
Students took their spelling tests today. The tests are corrected and students were asked to take them home. We read more about invertebrates today. We also reviewed our math test today. Students are to correct their mistakes and to return the math paper tomorrow all corrected. We will continue to review the missed problems so students will conquer the material.
In Social Studies we are studying the counties of Idaho and learning the song. Students did pretty well with that. I am starting this early so they can get the song deep into their heads.
After finishing our story today, we learned about cause and effect. The students wrote sentences to practice. Then we started reading about invertebrates. Students will start writing a five paragraph on the article.
We worked on fractions again today. The students are understanding them, but they are struggling trying to make sense of 1/2 is equivalent to 2/4 and how to get it there. It will come in time. This is a very new concept.
In Idaho History the students got into groups to decide what they would be able to take along if they were settlers moving west on the Oregon Trail. Listening to the actual supplies was quite a surprise for some of them. I think it was the bacon that surprised me. I would have taken the trip just so I could eat bacon everyday!
Students took home the Scholastic Book orders last week. They need to be either turned in or done online (LJ87V is the online code for our class) by tomorrow.
Homework went home today. The spelling words, reading, math, vocabulary and writing assignments are included on that page. Please make sure that is completed and turned in on Friday morning. In spelling we are learning the spelling of the /sh/ sound. It is spelled with "sh" at the beginning and the end of words. The /sh/ sound is spelled with "ti" or "ci" in the middle of the words. We also covered the meaning of the vocabulary words which are: reservation, ominous, desolately, physician and maneuvered
Today we read about a Native American doctor in Nebraska. It is interesting how things have changed in just the last few years medically. We are still learning about fractions. Today was the first day we did the math to find equivalent fractions. Students learned that 1/2 and 3/6 were equivalent. Then they learned that by multiplying or dividing, we can prove the fractions are equivalent.
In Social Studies we began learning about the homesteaders that came into Idaho.
Spelling words are: shawl - attention - shelter - education - information - shatter - addition - publish - ambitious - shoulder - social - special - delicious - official - ancient - physician - vicious - instruction - directions - accomplish
We are preparing for tests on Friday. We reviewed out story, took fluency tests and reviewed our division skills. It went well.
We looked at the sliver of the moon this morning, fortunately, we could still see it. We write the weather everyday. We took our spelling test today, then we moved on to learning how to write a business letter.
In math we are continuing fractions. I think the students are understanding so far. Today we talked about Benchmark Fractions. Those are the ones easily recognizable like 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 1/4 and 3/4. I am sending home the papers everyday so you can see what we are covering. A few of the students will have homework tonight as they didn't finish their work in class.
We finished reading our story. It was very interesting and generated a lot of discussion. We also studied for our spelling test tomorrow. There is a mistake on the homework handout on the spelling list. The last word should be "cheek," not "reach."
We are still working of fractions in math. I sent home a paper that should help the students prepare for math test on Friday. It does not have to be returned, but it would help if the students work through the problems.
In science the students are learning about biomes.
Homework pages went home today. Students should do all of the requirements, spelling, reading, math, writing and vocabulary. It shouldn't take longer than 40 minutes each night, 20 minutes to read, five minutes to write about their reading, five minutes a night on math and 10 minutes a night on vocabulary. This homework grade will be added to the report card this trimester. It will help prepare the students for the ISAT tests they will be taking. Completing their homework will also teach them responsibility. At first, they need a little encouragement.
Today we read half of our story, reviewed the spelling words and then introducing the vocabulary. Tomorrow we will finish the story and then start writing a business letter.
In math, we are having fun with fractions. As the students get the concept, they will be able to use these fractions in the things they do everyday.
Friday is test day and we took our reading and spelling tests. We didn't take a math test as we have just begun a new section on fractions. We did review the test we took before Christmas so the students could recall what we learned so long ago. Every morning we review these concepts and the language arts concepts. This should help the students be prepared for their ISAT tests as well as learn the information they need to write and speak well. We still have a lot of sickness so make sure everyone gets a lot of sleep and healthy food this week-end.
This afternoon, after show and tell, we learned about Kwanzaa, a holiday that celebrates the African American culture. We watched a short video, talked about the origins of Kwanzaa and then made a little mat that teaches the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The mats were a bit of a challenge, but they turned out nicely.
It has been cold the last couple of days. We had all but the last recess inside today. We have been studying hard for our spelling test, which will be tomorrow. It will be the type of test when students circle the correctly spelled word. We played, "Sparkle" today so the students could better prepare for their test. Those that were out were asked to finger-spell the words so they could continue practicing.
We reviewed our reading story so the students will also be ready for their reading test. We are working on fractions, currently just identifying them. We also practiced typing today. We had the computer lab in our room and so the students were able to use Mavis Beacon. Hopefully it will warm up a bit tomorrow.
