Last Day of May

• 1st/2nd - Literacy Block
• We started the day with breakfast, and then moved to collecting homework.  I was shocked, that with 3 days off, how many students had excuses for no homework.  NOT GOOD!  We have 4 weeks of school left, and many students are going to see very low scores on report  cards from lack of completing work!
• Then we went over the shortened spelling list for this week.  We are only doing 10 words since we had a day off.  Still working on compound words so it should be a good week for spelling.
• Then we moved into ReadyGen Lesson 3b.6.  The focus was using key ideas and details to focus on main idea and using illustrations to understand difficult text.  We reread "WEATHER" together.  We answered some questions and then did some turn and talk activities with the concepts.  Finally, we did a KWL chart using pg. 30 as our guide.  What did we KNOW about smog, what did we WANT to learn about smog, and finally, what did we LEARN about smog.  Students did 7 minutes of independent work, and then were allowed to partner work for 8 minutes to finish.  We went over the possible answer for each section before moving into our mini-lesson on writing.  The writing will be done in Social Studies though.
• 3rd/4th - Math Block
• We started by going over homework from the weekend.  Again, more than half didn't do their homework.  It was on the blog!  I am tired of excuses.  
• I then reviewed the vocabulary from the last few sections and introduced the vocabulary for the new section.  We reviewed the "I Can" statement and knew that today's focus was classifying shapes by sides and angles.  
• We did the number talks and the daily number review before moving into the mini-lesson with professor Burger and the interactive unlocking the problems with Rebecca Rabbit.  We went over each section step by step to make sure they understood the criteria for polygons.  (Must be a closed shape, must NOT have any curved surfaces, must be made of connect line segments).  Then we talked about the different polygons (Triangle, Quadrilateral, Pentagon, Hectagon, Octagon, and Decagon.)
• We did the unlock the problems and the share and show (I do, and we do).  Finally, students did the on your own sections (you do) and we checked them for understanding.  We finished with enough time to start their homework or to quietly read for the last 5 minutes before lunch.
• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Science (Sub In Class - Ms. Galan is doing 4th grade Science Testing)
• 7th - Social Studies
• Using the reading skills we learned and practiced in Literacy in short non-fiction text on China.

Homework:

• Math 
• GoMath 12.3 Practice/Homework pages
• Study Vocabulary for Chapter 12
• Literacy 
• Study Spelling Words
• Reading Comp Wk26/Day 1 and Spelling 2x Each
• Review: Adjective and Adverbs
• Read 45-60 minutes for AR test

Happy Memorial Day!

This is not just a day off from work or school.

This is a day to remember all the brave men and women who 

have served in the armed forces so that we can 

say we live in the home of the free and the brave!

We Thank You!

We Salute You!
We Honor You!

Happy Memorial Day!

Easy Friday

• 1st - Science (Sub in Classroom)
• 2nd/3rd - Math Block
• We started the class by checking last night's homework.  Then Mrs. Avalos did number talks and the daily number review.  Finally we put on the On Demand Math Video for GoMath 12.2 (angles).  We did the interactive unlock the problems before moving into group work.
• Students worked in small groups to do the Show and Share and On Your Own problems. After working problems on the board, we wrapped up early because the administrative team asked if a person interviewing for a position could do a demo lesson with our class.
• 3rd/4th - Demo Lesson
• Ms. Agosto did a demo lesson with the students on character traits.
• 4th - Literacy Block
• Students had a few minutes to buddy study for their Spelling Test on compound words.  Then we took the test on compound words before heading to lunch.
• 5th - Lunch (no recess)
• 6th/7th - Literacy Block
• We started the period going over the questions for the Stuart Little end of book test.  Students took the test.  When complete, they went on the computers to work on Waggle ELA and Math as Mrs. Avalos and myself continued to do one-on-one portfolio work with students.

Homework

• Math 
• GoMath 12.2 Practice/Homework pp 701-702
• Literacy
• Reading Comp Wk25D4
• Adverb Practice #38
• Read 45-60 minutes for AR

Thursday

• 1st / 2nd - Literacy Block
• ReadyGen Lesson 3B.5.  The focus was using the text to focus on the steps of a process, in this case weather.  We finished reading the book "Weather" and then worked on following the steps in a weather process.
• Students also took their AR test on the text.
• 3rd/4th - Math Block
• GoMath Lesson 12.1.  The focus was learning vocabulary for geometry and working with plane figures that were open and closed. 
• I did Number Talks today.... the kids acted shocked that I could do them.  Mrs. Avalos is the lead in Math, so when I did the number talk.. SHOCKED!
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Health Lesson - Mr. Hoffman
• 7th - Social Studies 
• Wrap up the chapter and end of chapter review.

Homework

• Math 
• GoMath 12.1 - Practice/Homework in text
• Literacy
• Reading Comp Wk25D3 / Spelling Practice
• Adverbs #37
• Reading 45-60 minutes (AR Tests needed)

Portfolio Work Wednesday

Today our focus moved to Math Portfolio Work....

• 1st - Literacy
• We started the day with breakfast and then moved into the last chapter of Stuart Little.  We read the last chapter and then did the AR test as a class.  Students were told they could do their independent AR test later in the day after they finished their Math portfolio work.
• 2nd - 4th - Math Portfolio Work / Quiet Free Choice Time
• We went over the expectations for the day.  They would be doing the independent math work at their desk.  Mrs. Avalos would be pulling students to the back to do the one-on-one math problems (8 in total) with her.  I would be pulling students to the front, one at a time, to read a 100 word text.  While they read I would use running records to test their oral fluency.  
• When students finished their math work, they were allowed to read quietly, work on spelling words, work on math vocabulary, partner read, take AR tests, or Waggle.  The only rule was they had to be actively working and were not allowed to talk so that Ms. Avalos and myself could test students one on one.
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - P.E with Mr. Hoffman and Sub
• 7th - Portfolio / Quiet Computer Time
• I finished my oral fluency testing and Ms. Avalos continued with the one-on-one math process work.  Students worked quietly on the computers.

Homework

• Math - Study Math Vocabulary for Chapter 12
• Literacy
• Read 45-60 minutes independent book (AR test by Friday)
• Reading Comp Wk25D2 / Spelling Practice
• Language - Adverbs

Testing Tuesday

We are starting our "End of Year Portfolio Work" as of today.  This means... more testing!

• 1st - Literacy Block
• We started the day with breakfast, then we moved into reading "Stuart Little".  We answered some key ideas and detail questions and then prepped the room for some portfolio work.
• 2nd / 3rd - ELA Portfolio Individual Work
• Students read two texts.  One was a fiction and the other was non-fiction.  For each text they had to answer 4 key idea and detail questions as well as respond to 2 short response questions.  So they had a total of 8 multiple choice and 4 short response to work on in the 2 periods.  Starting tomorrow, I have will be pulling students up one by one to do the oral fluency assessment.  The will read 100 words from a third grade text and I will do a running record to see if they can read the small passage with greater than 90% accuracy.  The writing section is already done (All the PBA's we have been working on all year.)  Me and your child will look at their portfolio and pull out their two best PBA's to put in their end of the year promotion portfolio.  The only writing they will have to do is fix anything that is less than a 2.  If all their PBA's are above a 2, then they are done!
• 4th - Math 
• Since we just had portfolio work for ELA, we decided to do math games.  We passed out math sheets and then had students come up to the board and roll the smartboard interactive dice.  They had to add the dice, then multiply the sum by 4.  Then they had to mark the # on their board.  When everyone had a chance to roll the dice, they had to look at their results which made a bar graph of sorts.  They had to look at the results and create 3 problems that someone cold answer by looking at their graph.
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Science with Mr. Hoffman and Sub in the classroom
• 7th - Social Studies - Finished Unit 3 on China (in SS book)

Homework:

• Math - Study Chapter 12 vocabulary
• Literacy
• Read 45-60 Minutes independently (AR test by Friday)
• Reading Comp Wk25D1 / Spelling Practice on (Fill in and Circle the Correct)
• Language - Adverbs with -ly

Monday News

• 1st/2nd - Math Block
• We started the day with Breakfast and then did Number Talks.  Afterward, I read the questions to Chapter 2 PBA to the class, we discussed what good mathematicians would do, then students had time to work on the questions.  
• Afterward, students did the "SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW" for Chapter 12.  We went over the "what you should know" from 2nd grade to make sure they remembered what they were taught last year about 2 dimensional shapes.  Homework was to study the vocabulary words for Chapter 12.
• 2nd/3rd/4th - Literacy Block
• We started the period off finishing Chapter 13 of Stuart Little.  We answered some key ideas and details questions and then moved into finishing the "Writing" section of ReadyGen Lesson 3B.3.  The focus was using supporting details of informational text to find the main idea of the text.
•  We moved into today's lesson, ReadyGen 3B.4.  The focus was using illustrations and text to gain meaning of the topic.  We read pages 22 - 27 on the different stages of water in the weather cycle.  Then students worked on filling out a web graphic organizer on snowflakes.  They looked at a picture on page 24 and wrote what they SAW only.  Then they reread the page and found three facts that helped them understand snowflakes better. 
• Finally we looked at the writing section of 3B.4.  Again, it was using facts and details to support main idea.
• 5th - Lunch and Recess
• 6th - Dance with Mr. Nunez
• 7th - Water/Bathroom Break & Spelling Pre-Test and Activity
• After dance class, the class needs bathroom break and to get water.  With 31 students, these two tasks actually take a great deal of time.  When we were all settled, and after 6-7 students left to go practice for the Aladdin Musical - we did the spelling pre-test.  The words this week are compound words.  Many of the words in the list we have had already as spelling words, so they just have to combine it with a second word to make the new spelling list. 

Homework

• Math 
• Study Chapter 12 Vocabulary Cards (Test Friday)
• Literacy
• Spelling 2x Each / cursive practice
• What are Adverbs? practice
• Independent Reading 45-60 minutes

Fun Friday

• 1st - Science
• 2nd /3rd / 4th - Math
• We started the class by going over the GoMath Chapter 2 End of Chapter Review/Test.  We went over it problem by problem and discussed any misunderstandings and to make sure students knew how to attack each and every problem on the actual test (they are quite similar, just different numbers!).
• I read each question out loud for students who have questions read and re-read for them.  Other students worked ahead at their own pace.  When they finished, they read quietly, took AR tests, or used the ipads to play math games.
• 4th - Literacy Block
• With the extended time for testing, it only left us about 25 minutes for literacy so we started reading Chapter 13 of "Stuart Little".  
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Fun Friday / Spelling Test
• With Fun Friday, we stay outside until 1PM instead of our usual 12:45.  They get an extra 15 minutes if they are good.  We stayed for Fun Friday, then came in and did bathroom break, water break, calm down time.  Students had 10 minutes to work with partners to study for their spelling test.  We then took the spelling test.
• 7th - Literacy Block
• We ended they day doing the SLUETH reading from ReadyGen Lesson 3B.3.  It added more information to our study of weather by telling us about meteorologist and also spotting aspects of the writing that made it an opinion piece as well as an informative piece of writing.

Homework

• Math
• Study for Performance Task on Monday
• Literacy
• Reading Comp Week 24 Day 4-5
• Independent Reading 45-60 Minutes

Thursday Review

• 1st / 2nd - Literacy
• After breakfast, we moved right into literacy block.  We collected homework from the past two days.  Then we moved to the reading area while a few students "retook" their STAR READING Test.  Today we read pages 16-21 of Weather and went a little more deep into CLOUDS.  ReadyGen Lesson 3B.3 was about using the text to answer questions and also using context clues to be able to understand figurative language (literal and non-literal meanings). 
• We did an activity with literal and nonliteral and then transitioned into reading Stuart Little Chapter 13.  We were about 1/2 through the chapter when we decided it was time to move into MATH.
• 3rd / 4th - Math Block
• We passed out the computers and ipads, moved students around, passed out some headphones, got out paper and pencil... and then the students logged onto STAR MATH and took their LAST Star Math Test of the year.  I am SO happy to say that almost all of our 31 students showed growth on the test.  We will have a few of them retest in the morning to see if they can do better.  
• After everyone had finished their STAR MATH and had time to work on WAGGLE for a bit, we went over last night's GoMath 2.7 homework.   Tonight they have to do the Chapter 2 review so we can go over it tomorrow and then take the test.  After that, just Chapter 12 left! Then we will go back and hit multiplication and division again... more practice needed!!!
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Physical Education 
• 7th - Social Studies
• Unit 3 - History and Government of China

Homework:

• Math 
• GoMath Chapter 2 End of Chapter Review
• Literacy
• Spelling Practice / Reading Comp Wk24 Day 3
• Adverb Review

Talkative Tuesday

Parents:

Please talk to your children and remind them that school is a place of learning, not a place to talk to your friends and goof off.  The amount of talking and lack of work today was very alarming.

• 1st / 2nd - Literacy Block
• After breakfast, we moved into literacy.  (ReadyGen Lesson 3B.2).The focus today was using the skills of cause in effect in terms of the pages in the Weather book read today.  We also focused on the different types of informational writing and what they looked like.  We read pages 10-15 in the Weather book, did a Cause and Effect activity. We were unable to do the writing activity that used the weather forecast to create a T-Chart comparing and contrasting today's weather with the forecast for tomorrow due to all the talking.  
• 3rd / 4th - Math Block
• GoMath 2.6 was the focus today.  We solved problems using data on a bar graph.  The students spent more time talking than following the steps we had put forth for working with bar graphs.  I spent 35 minutes going over, step by step, the classwork because students were not focusing and following the steps.  The word problems can be quite tricky if you don't concentrate and following the steps.  
• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Science with Ms. Galan
• 7th - Social Studies
• Unit 3 - Land and Economy (Read and Answer Questions)

Homework

• Math 
• Go Math 2.6 practice/homework pp. 123-124
• Bar Graph Practice Sheet
• Literacy
• Spelling Practice / Reading Comprehension Practice
• Read 45-60 minutes (STAR TEST TOMORROW)

Gorgeous Monday

So even though the weather started off a bit nippy, the sky is a beautiful color blue, the clouds are white and fluffy, and the temperature is pleasant and cool.  So much to be thankful for, it is impossible to be upset on a gorgeous day like today!!!

• 1st / 2nd - Math Block
• Ms. Avalos is the lead for math instruction.  Today, the focus was using bar graphs to answer questions.  Students had to be able to look at a data table and create a bar graph. They practiced doing both vertical and horizontal bar graphs.  As usual, we started with breakfast, then number talks, followed by daily number review, the mini-lesson, modeling, working on problems together, than into independent practice.  We finished by going over the daily work to check for understanding.
• 3rd/4th - Literacy Block
• I took the lead for Literacy instruction.  We started with the spelling pre-test, then moved into vocabulary for today's lesson - ReadyGen 3B.1.  As we start our new non-fiction unit on weather, we focused on using key ideas and details.  Today, we used this focus to fill out a KWL chart with reading.  In writing, we focused on using adverbs and descriptive words to help explain difficult topics in non-fiction writing.  

• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Dance with Mr. Nunez
• 7th - Social Studies - Unit 2 - Section 2

Homework

• Math 
• GoMath 2.5 Practice/Homework pp.117-118
• Literacy
• Spelling 2X / cursive practice
• independent reading - 45-60 minutes 
• (STAR TEST Wednesday!!)

• 1st - Science with Ms. Galan
• 2nd - Catch Up Time
• We had to do MOSL makeups, some kids worked on finishing their PBA, and the others worked on Waggle in the front of the room quietly.
• 3rd/4th - Math Block
• GoMath Lesson 2.4 was the focus today.   It was using Bar Graphs to answer word problems.  The students seemed to understand that it didn't matter if they were vertical bar graphs or horizontal bar graphs, they needed the same parts and were easy to read. 
• After doing number talks and the daily math review, we watched the on demand video segment that explained today's lesson.  Then we unlocked the problems using the interactive lesson.  Students worked with partners to solve the problems and work with the graphs.
• 5th - Lunch / Recess
• 6th - Extended Recess / Math Wrap Up
• We have extended recess for 15 extra minutes on Friday for "Fun Friday" when the students work hard all week and earn it.  Today we were lucky enough to do just that.  When we came back in, we reviewed the classwork and then played a dice game with the entire class on the smartboard where they had to add the sum of the dice and then multiply it by 3.  They had a good time and practiced adding and multiplying at the same time.
• 7th - Literacy Block
• We have been taking it easy on literacy this week since they have had the MOSL which was two days of writing, and have been working on drafting, revising, editing, and publishing their PBA's.  Today we ended our day with our spelling test and then reading Stuart Little, our class novel.

Homework

• Math - GoMath Lesson 2.4 Practice/Homework page
• Literacy
• Reading Comprehension Week 23 Day 4
• Reading Practice - (45-60) minutes each day this weekend 
• STAR READING TEST IS WEDNESDAY!!!
• MUST SHOW IMPROVEMENT!!!

Thursday - Last MOSL Day

• First period we reviewed writing opinion essays based on our practice work with "which is better, cats or dogs?"
• 2nd - 3rd- MOSL
• Today was the ESSAY section of the MOSL.  Students worked independently to complete an opinion essay using the sections they did yesterday as details.
• 4th - Math Block
• We did the mid-chapter check up for Chapter 2.  After working on it, we went over it question by question.  Then we checked the last two night's homework on picture graphs.  After making sure they "got it"... we did a quiz where they had to make a picture graph and answer a few questions using their graph.
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - P.E with Ms. Galan and Mrs. Avalos
• 7th - Catch Up / Free Choice
• Some students worked outside with Mr.  Johnny and Ms. Garcia to complete their PBA.  Some students earned free time to WAGGLE or play Cool Math Games.  Some students who didn't earn free choice time, they had to read a book.

Homework

• Math - Picture Graph Handout
• Literacy
• Spelling Practice / Reading Comprehension 
• Spelling Test Tomorrow
• Read 45-60 Minutes - STAR TEST next week!

Wednesday

• Internet was up and down all day... could not post!

• 1st - Homework Check - MOSL Review
• 2nd - 4th - MOSL 
• Today we had the first section of the MOSL.  MOSL stands for Measure of Student Learning and it is a two day reading/writing in house formative assessment.  We took the first MOSL in September.  This second MOSL is to measure their growth in readind and written response.  They had to read two articles.  With each article they had to give a reason and details to support their reasons.
• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - PE with Mr. Hoffman
• 7th - Class Novel - Stuart Little "Chapter 12

Homework:

• Math 
• Pictograph Handout
• Literacy
• MOSL Practice part 2 (Essay about Better Pet using work from before)
• Spelling Practice / Reading Comprehension (2 sided)

Tuesday May 10th

• Mrs. Avalos was not here today.  She had an appointment.  Mrs. Hernandez subbed with our class today.  Today was a very low key day.  We kinda split the class in two.  At the back of the class was Mr. Johnny, Ms. Liecea, and Ms. Garcia.  They were working one on one with students who needed help with their PBA.  At the front of the room it was business as usual with me and Mrs. Hernandez doing regular instruction.

• 1st/2nd - Literacy Block
• After breakfast, we moved into literacy.  Some students worked in the back on their PBA, others stayed up front and worked with the class.  We reviewed the last chapter of Stuart Little and then did guided group reading of chapter 11 - The Automobile.  We stopped throughout the chapter to answer questions, to talk to partners about what they would do, and to make sure we understood the text.  Finally, we finished the chapter and went over a series of "key ideas and details" questions to make sure students comprehended what we read.
• We previewed our next unit 3B by looking at what we had to do and looked at the first article in our text collection on weather instruments.  Then we started talking more in depth about what expect on the MOSL tomorrow and Wednesday.  I told the students they were lucky because the MOSL was an opinion piece, so we have just covered that. We then practiced for 30 minutes writing hooks for our introduction paragraphs.  I gave them several different "opinions" and they created hooks for each situation.  
• First Paragraph is the INTRODUCTION
• Needs a Hook
• Needs where you got your information from
• Needs your "In My Opinion..." and what you will prove
• Second Paragraph is the BODY
• Needs your first reason
• Needs details FROM THE TEXT to support that reason
• Needs your second reason
• Needs details FROM THE TEXT to support that reason
• Last Paragraph is the CONCLUSION
• Needs a "So in Conclusion..." to restate what you were talking about.
• Needs a quick reminded of the reasons (no details)
• Needs a sum it up sentence to end it
• We are splitting the writing up over two days.  Tomorrow they will read the texts and then answer a series of short response questions.  Thursday they will write their opinion essay about the texts.  Make sure that students get plenty of sleep and have a big breakfast to keep them fueled and ready to write tomorrow.  The MOSL is very important.  This shows how much they have improved in writing between September and May.  This is one of the tools we look at to see GROWTH.  
• 3rd/4th - Math Block
• The internet was down, so we did not start by watching the On Demand Video or the Interactive lesson.  Instead we used the Smartboard lesson and worked through the Unlocking the Problems and Share and Show the good old fashioned way.   We did our lesson on "using data to create picture graphs" (GoMath 2.3).  After working through all the modeled instruction and shared learning, students worked independently to complete their assignments.
• We met back and went over the classwork. Noticing that students were still having problems using the KEY as the multiplier in their picture graphs, we went ahead and did the homework/practice page in class and went over it step by step to try and practice this skill in more detail.
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Science with Ms. Galan
• 7th - Preparing for the MOSL
• In preparation for tomorrow's MOSL, we read two short texts and went over how to answer the short response questions.  Students had to complete for homework.  We will discuss tomorrow before the MOSL to make sure everyone feels ready.

Homework

• Math 
• Pictograph - Fish Tank
• Study Multiplication Facts
• Literacy
• Ready 45-60 minutes independently (next week is STAR TESTING)
• Spelling Practice / Reading Comp
• MOSL Practice Short Answers

Rough Monday

• 1st / 2nd - Math Block
• The day started with breakfast and the students doing an enrich activity that went with the lesson we had on Friday for GoMath 2.1.   After finishing breakfast and going over the enrich activity, we moved on to GoMath 2.2 - Using Picture Graphs.
• We did the on demand video tutorial, then the interactive "unlock the problems" before students went off to work on the show your work section.  We came back together at the end of independent work and went over each question to check for understanding and to clear up any misunderstandings.  It seems that some students are still having issues with looking at the picture key and using that to figure out picture graphs.  Some are just having trouble reading the word problems.
• 3rd / 4th - Literacy Block
• Today I promised the students that they would have one period to finish their PBA's... and then we would do ReadyGen Lesson 3B.1.   We spent all of last week "Pre-Planning" for the PBA.  It was a rough week because 12 students out of the 31 were being pulled for NYSESLAT testing, but for the other 19, it should have been business as usual.  
• Last week we completed the unit, we did web mapping and outline of the two books for the PBA, we created an outline using our web maps/outlines, we went over how to write an introduction, we went over how to turn the outline into paragraphs.   The only thing the students had left to do was to use the models (on the blog) to create their intro, their three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.  Five paragraphs.  We did all the pre-planning together.    Today we came in and some students had NOTHING to start from, no pre-planning that we did last week, no rough draft that I told them to write.. NOTHING.  
• We spent both period working on the PBA.  10 students have finished out of 31.   We did not get to ReadyGen 3B.1. 
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Dance
• 7th - Health Lesson on Viruses
• Today we finished our lessons on Viruses and HIV.   We have been talking about what a virus is, how it gets into your body, and your bodies natural defenses.  Today we talked about the HIV Virus and how you can catch it and how to protect yourself from getting it.  

Homework:

• Math 
• GoMath 2.2 Homework/Practice
• Literacy
• Spelling Practice
• Finish PBA

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Raining!

Looks like people were a little afraid of the rain today...we had 5 people absent... and then when the 11 students left to take the NYSESLAT test, man, we were down to 15 students... well, 20 if you count the visitors from other classes... but it was just ODD to have such a small class when we are used to 31 students and 5 adults...

• 1st and 2nd - Math Block
• After breakfast, we did number talks and the daily number review.  Then we passed out the first volume of the math book and headed back to Chapter 2!  Today we did lesson 2.1.  In lesson 2.1, students had to use problem solving to organize a data table and use the data table to solve problems.  After doing the On Demand Math Video and the interactive unlocking the problems, students worked to solve and create tables to solve word problems.  After completing their independent work, we checked for understanding and tried to clarify any misunderstandings that students had.
• 3rd and 4th - Literacy Block
• After reviewing the introductory paragraph we wrote yesterday, we decided to change it and make it even more simplistic.  We then used Anthony's planning page to take his "notes" and make a solid paragraph with a topic sentence that comes from the "reason" and with supporting sentences that come from "details".  We added linking words and phrases and made sure to explain our details.  After co-writing and modeling, students were tasked to go back and start working on turning their outline into paragraphs and writing their PBA.

• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Physical Education - Mr. Hoffman
• 7th - Special Arts and Crafts Project

Homework

• Math 
• GoMath 2.1 Homework/Practice 
• Literacy
• PBA - Use lined paper to write final copy of PBA
• Reading Comprehension (2 sides)

Thursday in 304

• 1st - 2nd : Literacy Block
• After breakfast, students went right to reading Chapter 9 of Stuart Little "Narrow Escape".  After reading and answering a series of key idea and detail questions, we looked at the upcoming PBA in detail.  We went over the task, broke it down, and then looked at the rubric.  Finally, we spent the remainder of first period modeling how to write an introduction again - using a HOOK, stating the topic, and finally your opinion that you will prove.
• Second period was used to create their outline for writing the PBA.  We had spent the previous day coming up with reasons and supporting details as a class.  Today was picking which reasons you wanted to use, which details would support them, putting them down on your planning guide, and making it your own.  Students who didn't finish must finish for homework.  Tomorrow we will model how to turn an outline into a body paragraph and students will write their PBA.
• 3rd - 4th : Math Block
• After finishing chapter 11 on perimeter and area, today we went back to look at the last section of chapter 10 which was using word problems to solve questions on measurement. 
• Students will work on the Chapter 10 end of chapter test for homework before me move on to Chapter 12.
• 5th - Lunch 
• 6th - Physical Education with Mr. Hoffman
• 7th - Health Lesson #2
• Yesterday we covered "how does a virus make you sick"... the take away was that it has to enter your body.  Outside of the body, a virus can't survive and will die.  So the only way to catch a virus is to let it enter your body via your mouth, nose, eyes, or open wound in the skin.   Today's lesson was "How does the body fight disease?"   The body has several things that help you to keep from getting sick.  

Homework:

• Math - Chapter 10 End of Chapter Test (617-622) 
• Literacy
• Study for Spelling Test
• Finish PBA Planning Sheet
• Spelling practice/Comp. Practice

Rainy Tuesday

Wait..I thought it was APRIL showers bring MAY flowers... 

Why is it raining TODAY???  

Oh well, keep calm and carry on as they say!

• 1st/2nd - Literacy Block
• We started with breakfast.  Afterwards, we moved into reading Chapter 8 of our class novel - Stuart Little.   We did a group guided read of chapter 8, stopping to ask key detail and main idea questions along the way.  Afterward, students worked to answer 6 questions on the smartboard from today's reading.  
• We then moved into ReadyGen Lesson 3A.17.  Our focus was to look at the task for the PBA and then to reread "Knots on a Counting Rope" and "Storm in the Night" to look for reasons and details that would support the opinion prompt for the PBA.  We used a tool called "Inspiration" on the computer to create an outline that the students will be able to use when they start writing.  This type of reading together, discussing together, finding details together... it leads to better understanding of the task, the texts, and next steps.  
• 3rd/4th - Math Block
• Ms. Avalos passed out the Chapter 11 test.  Students worked on the Chapter 11 test and then worked on a review sheet until time was complete.
• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Science w/ Ms. Galan
• 7th - Wrap Up - Social Studies - Unit 3 Chapter 2

Homework:

• Math
• Finish classwork
• Literacy
• Spelling Practice Sheet
• Reading Comp Week 22 Day 2
• Stuart Little - Chapter 8 Review

Post Spring Break Monday

Math Vacation Packet and 

Literacy Cereal Book Report 

Due no later than WEDNESDAY!!!

• 1st - 3rd - Math Block
• After breakfast, Ms. Avalos went over Number Talk with the students.  Then she did the Daily Number Review before moving into GoMath Lesson 11.9 - Same perimeter, different area.  
• After watching the On Demand Video explaining the concept, she then moved to the interactive lesson to unlock the problems.
• We broke into groups and did the classwork.
• Finally, we met at the front for the students to go over the problems together and explain their thinking.

• 4th - Literacy Block
• We started the literacy block doing our Spelling List #22 pre-test.  After taking the test, the students did a self check so they could see what they needed to study.   Then we reviewed Chapter 6 from Stuart Little before reading Chapter 7 - The Sailboat Race together and answering some comprehension questions.  They will work on Sequence of Events from Stuart Little tonight for homework.  
• We moved to the writing lesson of ReadyGen Lesson 3A.16 with a focus on revising their writing.  They have been working on an opinion essay about why cats make the best pets.  Today they are looking at it more closely to see where they can make changes, add details, make it flow better.  They will focus on this tonight for homework.  We will be starting our end of the unit PBA in just a few days.
• 5th - Lunch/Recess
• 6th - Dance
• 7th - Wrap Up - Social Studies - Asia Section 1

Homework

• Math
• GoMath 11.9 "Practice/Homework" 
• Literacy
• Stuart Little Sequence of Events
• Spelling 2X each
• Reading Comp Week 22 Day 1
• Writing - Finish/Revise "Cats Make the Best Pets" opinion essay