Hey Monday!

Welcome Winter!  It was quite a cold day today, but our learning was very electric.  Today, we spent some time learning about static electricity.  Students conducted a lab to investigate how static electricity can impact our lives.

This week we have a lot of different things going on at F.AVE.  We will have our mid-module Math assessment on Wednesday.  This assessment will cover adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.

Here are a few reminders:
1.  Georgia Power Visit - Tuesday, 12:30 pm
2.  Literary Cafe - Wednesday, 6 pm
3.  Thanksgiving Luncheon - Thursday, 1 pm

Suddenly Monday!

Welcome back to another great week!  We had the privilege of being coached this morning for Literary Cafe.  The students had a great time, and our coach was AMAZING!  We learned to turn the  butterflies (not cockroaches) in our stomachs into positive energy.  It was very exciting to learn about presenting to an audience.  We will be using this information to practice for Literary Cafe.  Also, Students should all be working on memorizing a piece for Literary Cafe.

Biography Project
We will be presenting these projects to our classmates next week after Literary Cafe.  Grades on these projects will be sent home on December 2 in order to ensure that all students have been able to present.  The projects all look amazing, and I'm very impressed with all the time that students put into this project.

Information about Graded Work
Students received their graded assessments in their red folders today.  Please sign and return those papers so we can create our portfolios next Monday.  Many students did not have their binders in class today, so we had to move the portfolio creation to next week.  Please remind your student to bring their binder to class.

As you review your student's graded work, I ask you to think about the level of analysis that is being completed for each question.  Is your student identifying the answer, but not applying the facts to that answer?  Many students are very good at stating the answers to questions.  I need to see more answers that show me why the answer is correct.  Students will be expected to do higher levels of analysis on their assessments to receive 4s.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  I can show you exactly what I'm expecting.

New Adventures

S.S. - We are officially driving cattle into the west.  We learned today that cows can drive cars (not really) :)  Seriously, we worked on developing an understanding of the reasons behind the cattle drives and how the desire for beef and cattle skins led to the creation of towns throughout the western plains states.  Tomorrow your student will get the opportunity to "herd" cows.

Math:  We are starting to work on adding fractions with unlike denominators.  Students will begin with models, and we will slowing move to finding the least common denominator.

ELA/Reading:  We are working on making inferences while reading fictional text.  Students are using their own fictional books to do the activities that we are working on this week.  Students are also working on their Social Studies brochure during reading block.  In writing, we are working on research based opinion writing.  As always, we are working on grammar and spelling everyday.  We do not have any new vocabulary words this week because we are working on practicing for Literary Cafe.

Science:  In science, we are working on electricity.  Students will be completing a lab on static electricity on Thursday.

Parent Reminders
TYBEE MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT (6 pm - 7 pm)
LITERARY CAFE - NOVEMBER 19 - If you would like to help set up our classroom, please let me know.  I will be out of the building during the day of the 19th for a mathematics training, so I really could use a lot of help.

Here's to another great week of learning!

Mrs. Prophet

Help Wanted!

We are in need of creative people to help decorate our classroom for Literary Cafe on November 11.

The theme of Literary Cafe this year is a French Cafe.  I would love to have some help brainstorming ideas for classroom set up.

Also, I will need help setting up the classroom that day because I will be at a workshop.  Let me know if you have any creative ideas.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Prophet

Blue Monday!

Hello Everyone!

We had a great day kicking off our new UOI - "Where We Are in Place and Time".  I will miss everyone tomorrow, and I can't wait to continue our hard work on Wednesday.  Tomorrow is a great day to have a discussion with your student about the rights and responsibilities of US citizens.  We began to discuss voting rights last term, and many students are very interested in the history of the right to vote.  This fits in with the work that we did during the 1st and 2nd terms, and it would be a great review for all of our students.

Some students need new notebooks to begin this term.  Please check with your child about their UOI notebook.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRYNN, BROOKLYN, MARY, AND TORI!
These four students entered an original piece of writing into the Adam Gidwitz fairy tale contest.  The Snow White and Fuzzy story was selected as a winner last week as part of the Little Shop of Stories contest.

New Adventures This Week

Math:  We began our study of fractions today.  Students were given a preassessment, and we introduced the connection between fractions and division.  We will be working on equivalent fractions this week, and introducing the addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators.  We will continue our work on computation during our workshop time because many students still need more practice with long division.

Science:  We will begin our inquiry into electricity and magnetism this week.  Students will work on a preassessment on Wednesday, and we will introduce some basic vocabulary the rest of the week.

S.S:  We began our new S.S. unit today.  We spent time investigating primary source pictures of migration and innovation.  Students were asked to make observations about the scenes in each picture.  Our students will begin analyzing the Homestead Act, and migration along the cattle trails during the 19th Century.  We will be specifically focusing on the Black Cowboys of Texas, the Great Western Cattle Trail, and the Chisholm Trail.

ELA:  Students were given a homework assignment today to prepare a short written piece that can be shared during Literary Cafe.  This should be a poem or a short story.  Additionally, we will begin working on writing persuasive opinion pieces this week.  We will start with the structure of an opinion essay, and move into supporting an opinion with research based evidence.  Also, we will continue to work on spelling, punctuation, and grammar on a daily basis.

Reading:  We are shifting our focus this term to literature.  We will be using Wonder to discuss the impact point of view has on storytelling.  We will also begin working on inferencing this week.  Students will also continue to work on all previously developed skills during Reading Workshop.

Dates to Remember

• Village Gathering - Nov. 6 from 8:45 - 9:15
• Literary Cafe - Nov. 19 from 5:30 - 8:30
• Tybee Parent Meeting - Nov. 11 from 6 - 7 pm.  

Classroom Needs

• Pink Gummy Erasers
• Glue Sticks

Have a great night!

Mrs. Prophet

Graded Work Information

Parents - ALL graded assessments will be sent home next Monday as part of your child's portfolio for Term 2.  I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Have a great night.

Mrs. Prophet

Trick or treat!

Congratulations on finishing term 2.  I am excited to announce that 4 of our students won a writing contest.  These students entered a fairy tale mash-up contest at Little Shop of Stories, and they were selected as winners last night.  I will have a picture of the winners on Monday!  Congratulations to this fabulous team of students who demonstrated commitment, creativity, and enthusiasm!

End of Term Info
I'm so excited to see all the amazing presentations the students created!  They all look amazing.  We will be using these projects to practice our presentation skills for Literary Cafe.  We wrapped up our assessments today.  I will do a full term wrap up later this weekend.

Be safe tonight!  I look forward to seeing pictures and hearing about the amazing adventures students have this weekend.

Mrs. Prophet

Slow Motion!

Hello Everyone!

I wish this week could move in slow motion, but we can't stop time.  Monday was gone in the blink of an eye.  We are having another great week in Room 262!  The students are working to complete our Civil War Scrapbooks.  Also, don't forget that our Biography Project is due on Friday (if you have turned in a flash-drive, I will be sending those home with you by the end of the week).

New Adventures This Week

Math - We are working on long division.  So far, students have worked on problems with single digit quotients, double digit quotients, and triple digit quotients.  We will be developing our understanding of remainders and decimal division tomorrow.  We will also review their study guide tomorrow in small groups during math time.  The end of term assessment is on Thursday.

Social Studies - We finished fighting the Civil War.  It is now time to begin discussing Reconstruction.  Students will be working on a Sharecropping activity tomorrow.  I also have a surprise in order for them to experience what life might have been like during this period of time.  We will have our Reconstruction assessment on Friday mcorning.

Science - We have wrapped up our studies of cells, genetics, and microorganisms.  We will play a review game of jeopardy tomorrow, as well as review the study guide information.  Our end of term assessment will be on Thursday.

ELA - Students completed the end of term writing assessment today.  Students also began work on the end of term UOI assessment.  I am impressed with the progress the students are making in their writing.  Many students still need to complete a battle essay by the end of this week.  Next term, we will have an intensive focus on spelling and grammar skills during workshop.  

Reading - We will have our Reading assessment tomorrow.  Students need to make sure they know the different types of text structure used in informational text.  Some students were confused about the differences between sequence and chronological.

Text Structures to Know 
-Sequence:  Steps in order (does not show time - think step by step, directions)
-Chronological:  In order of time (dates, timeline, ages)
-Problem/Solution:  Basically cause & effect with an opinion, and an answer.

         -Cause/Effect:  Explains reasons why something happened, or explains the effects of     something

        -Compare/Contrast:  Shows what’s in common and what’s different

Parents - Students received information in their red folders from the office about ordering pictures.

Important Dates
October 31 - Author Visit
November 6th - Village Gathering  (I will send out more information in our weekly email)
November 11th - Tybee Parent Meeting  (6-7)
November 19th - Literary Cafe

Have a great night!

Mrs. Prophet