Skill Review Friday - Social Studies Block

What a nice casual learning day after a week of testing....

• We started the day by reviewing the BUS SAFETY video again.  It is that time of the year when trips are planned so it is good to review safety before the trips begin.
• Then we broke into our skill review groups (based on reading level) and worked on a new text this week about being SHIPWRECKED!  Each group worked on their own skill based on the needs of their reading level.
• Next we read the section in the social studies book about Valley Forge and how George Washington trained the group that finally won the Revolutionary War.  We then read section 3 of chapter 4 about The New Government and The Constitution.  We stopped and took time to go over important details like states rights vs national rights, the balance of power, and the Great Compromise between large states and small states in terms of congress.
• We ended the day by watching the video "Shh! We're Writing The Constitution" and then students had to write an opinion response to "Should we have the Second Amendment - The Right to Bear Arms?"  We went over the reasons for and against, and then they had to write their opinion response with two reasons either for or against the 2nd Amendment.

Homework:

• Reading - 30-45 minutes IR
• Social Studies - NewsELA - "Westward Expansion:  The Louisiana Purchase"

Thursday - Day 3 ELA State Test

ELA STATE TEST IS OVER!

We had 100% attendance all three days, so for our classes, 

the 2017 NYS CC ELA STATE TEST is OVER!

We return to regular class schedule and activities tomorrow!

Investigating Volume

The volume of a rectangular prism is equal to the number of unit cubes that make up the prism. Each unit cube has a volume of 1 cubic unit.

Step 1 Count the number of unit cubes in the bottom layer of the prism. There are unit cubes that make up the length of the first layer. There are unit cubes that make up the width of the first layer. There is unit cube that makes up the height of the first layer. So, altogether, there are unit cubes that make up the bottom layer of the prism.

Step 2 Count the number of layers of cubes that make up the prism. The prism is made up of layers of unit cubes.


Step 3 Find the total number of cubes that fill the prism. Multiply the number of layers by the number of cubes in each layer. 3 3 8 5 unit cubes Each unit cube has a volume of 1 cubic inch. So, the volume of the prism is 24 3 1, or cubic inches.


Keep up the great work !

ELA State Test Day 1 - DONE!

The hardest day is over!  We had five texts to read and 35 questions to answer!  Tomorrow will be less texts, less multiple choice, but will add a few short responses and an extended response.  

Remember, multiple choice counts for 65% of the test, so make sure you read carefully, answer all questions, and do your best.  The short response are worth 2 points (one for the answer, one for the two pieces of evidence). and the extended response is worth up to 4 points!  If you want a four your have to have an introduction that states what you writing about (its in the question bullets), answer all the bullets using text evidence, and a conclusion.  Make sure you use your transition words to make the writing flow, and add some VOICE to make it interesting.   You got this!

Transition Words To Remember!

Rainy Monday

Today we finished test prep by going over the second text and questions from our Class Unit Test on Thursday.  Now it is up to your children to show what they have learned this year!

Next, we went over the unit 3A.  We looked at the new theme (Curiosity) and what the new PBA they were working toward at the end.  This PBA involves two different writing pieces, so it will be a little more challenging.

Next we looked at Chapters 1-3 of our new Text "George's Secret Key To the Universe".  We did a lot of stop and jot with characters, plot, setting, and predicting what would happen next. We will take our time as we read this class novel, and again, a lot of stop and jot and thinking about what we have read.

No Homework this week due to state testing.

Tuesday, ELA Book 1  

Wednesday, ELA Book 2, 

Thursday, ELA Book3

Get plenty of rest, eat big breakfast and be ready to show what you know!

Assessment Friday

WE DID IT!  WE finished all of the materials and assessments for Unit 2B today!  Just in time for STATE ELA TESTING next week!

• Yesterday we did the end of the Unit Exam.  Today for test prep we read the first story from the exam and then worked on the comprehension, vocabulary, and short response from the test they took yesterday.  Talk about powerful test prep and learning from exposure.  It was immediate and direct feedback and we talked each question through so even those who did miss questions understand why.  That's powerful learning!
• I would also like to add, 2/3 of the class passed the Unit Exam.  The exam is really quite challenging, more so than the State Test.  If the kids can do that well on the State Test, then I am sure I will see good returns when scores come in.  The state exam is just longer.. not harder, just longer!   I am very optimistic that our 501 and 502 superstars are going to show big gains in their learning.  I know they can do it! 

• Next we went over a few of the student PowerPoint projects, again to review information that made people famous for their courage.
• I then moved into modeling how to set up an introduction paragraph again (Hook, Topic, Prove).  I then modeled how easy the body paragraph would be using the notes they took, and ended showing how a simple conclusion is formed.
• Finally, students were given 45-60 minutes to write their PBA.  This is call on demand writing.  They have to read the prompt (we did together), think about what they have learned, and then use the time to write their response.  This is EXACTLY what they will be doing next Wednesday and Thursday on the writing section of the ELA  State Test!

Homework:

• Bring Back Signed Pink Papers for Mr. Fernandez about:
• Math Spring Break Boot Camp in prep for MATH STATE TEST!
• NewsELA- "The World's Newest Glacier is Growing"

Thinking Thursday

• Today was the first of our 2 day end of the unit assessment day.  We started the day with our Test Prep where we looked at student work from question 43 of our text yesterday.  Students are now able to tell me if they are getting a Zero, One, or TWO on their short responses.  This is great!  Next we went over question 44 and they did the same, wrote their responses, and then shared on the digital camera and self score.  
• Next we went to do the end of unit assessment.  I told the students to go slow, take their time, ask questions, because this end of unit 2 exam was going in their portfolio's as proof of student learning and growth.  We had some really great scores, some ok scores, and some not very good scores.  
• We ended the day "reviewing" the different genres and doing one side of the homework together to make sure they understood the different genres.  The back side is a quiz to do on their own to show mastery.

Homework:

• read 45 minutes, summarize, and log
• practice sheet - genres

Rocking Wednesday!

• We started the class by reading a new text "Man of the House".  We then talked about how the character "showed" he was upset.  The simple answer is "HIS ACTIONS".  Then they had to go back to the text and show two examples of how he was upset.  This is great practice for the writing section of the ELA State Test which is NEXT WEEK!
• Today was lesson 2B.18, the last lesson for the unit.  We had our mini-lesson comparing the theme "courage of convictions" across the three texts we have read during Module 2B.   After talking about the similarities and differences, and talking about characters who showed courage and conviction through their actions, students worked on filling out a graphic organizer to show that they understood the concept and connections.
• Finally, students presented their PowerPoint on the hero they selected.  Students took notes on the "what made them a hero" section to use this information in their PBA which will be written in class on Friday.  I gave them the advantage to copy down facts that friends and classmates gathered to show courage through actions.  If they paid attention in class, took notes, their PBA is literally almost half way written.
• Tomorrow is the End of the Unit TEST!  They will have to read two articles that are similar to what we just read and answer comprehension questions, vocabulary questions, and do a couple short responses to show they learned the concepts covered over the last 18 lessons.  

• Next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the ELA State Testing Days!  Make sure your children are getting plenty of rest, eating big meals, and are positive and ready to show that all the hard work and effort we have put forth this year was worth it.  Again, I want to make this very very clear... A LEVEL 3 MEANS - I AM ON GRADE LEVEL!   A LEVEL 4 MEANS ABOVE GRADE LEVEL!  Our children should be getting 3's and 4's!  No excuses!

Homework:

• Read 30-45 minutes - Log your summary and get signature!
• Relax and get ready for Unit Test Tomorrow!

Tuesday Review

• We started by going over the second round of questions that went with our Test Prep for the poem "The Grass."
• Next we did lesson 2B.17 where the focus was comparing and contrasting text structure and main idea of two text Escape to Freedom and Angel Island.  After discussing several comprehension questions to refresh them on both texts, students were released to work independently on 5 questions about the two texts. 
• We then had a brief mini-lesson on digital projects:
• Titles
• Using Bullets
• Capitalizing names, days, and specific places.
• Starting sentences with capitals, ending with punctuation.
• Opinion Slide needs two supporting details.
• Listed commonly misspelled words
• Then students had the rest of class to work on their Hero PowerPoints so we could share tomorrow.  The information shared will be used when they write their next PBA starting Thursday and DUE Friday!

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes, Log and get signature
• Comprehension/Vocab "On the Mountaintop / Don't Forget the Stamp"
• Finish PowerPoint DUE WEDNESDAY!

Main Idea... Craft and Structure.. Simile and Metaphor....

• We started with Breakfast and collecting homework.
• Then we did Test Prep by reading "The Grass" by Emily Dickinson and answered three questions.  I let the students try and answer then first, then we went over each of them to make sure that students knew the right answer and WHY, and how to select the best when you are not sure.
• Next, we read pages 114-121 to finish our text Angel Island.  Our focus was on looking for figurative language (similes and metaphors) and also to make sure we understood the main idea of each section.  Close reading and craft and structure!
• After they finished their work locating similes and metaphors on pages 114-116, students were released to complete their Hero PPT's. 

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes, log
• Two Sided Practice "Comprehension / Vocabulary"

Skill Review Friday

• We started the day doing Test Prep from our Test Prep Review package.
• Then we moved into Skill Review Friday.  Skill groups changed based on the most recent STAR Reading Test. Students need to be reading daily for 45-60 minutes on their own.  We try to get 20 minutes in a day, but that means that at home they MUST be doing the other 30-40 minutes on their own.  If they do not read, do not learn new words and phrases, they will not progress as we hope!
• We ended the day doing Social Studies, studying how the colonies became the united states (Chapter 4, Section 2).

Homework:

• Read 30-45 minutes, Write Summary, Log
• NewsELA "The Real Story of St. Patrick's Day"

Thursday in Room 403

For Test Prep we read an article about Black Beard the Pirate.  The article was really interesting and we used it as a jump off to open some maps and look at the areas he used to sail around South Carolina and North Carolina.

We did lesson 2b.15 with a focus on main idea and also how to explain relationships and interactions between two more more individuals and events in history.  We also looked at sequence of a section and ended with doing a graphic organizer for the section as well as answer several comprehension questions.

The students had the remainder of the period to work on their Hero PowerPoints.


Homework:

1. Read 30-45 minutes, summary log
2. Vocabulary - I Don't Mean Washington DC
3. Work on Hero PPT

The Day After - Where Is Everyone?

Today was an interesting day.  In 502 we had five students not show up today.  That is literally 1/4 of the class that didn't show up.  In 501 we had three students not show up today.  That is about 1/8 of the students not showing up.   We have just 9 days until the state ELA test, and you need to be here!  No excuses!  If I can make, you can make it.

For Test Prep we read an excerpt from The Seeker and then worked on answering a short response question using RACE format.  The students are getting really good at recognizing what makes a 2 and writing with text evidence.  I am proud of their effort and progress.

Next we did lesson 2B.14 in Readygen.  We read pages 106-107.  Our focus was being able to tell me the main idea and with craft and structure, to be able to discuss the text structure and text elements and why the author used them.

After we finished, students worked on their HERO PowerPoint projects (the link for the template is in the last post!).  We will be presenting on Friday so no time to waste!

Homework:

• Read 30-45 minutes (even if that reading is on your Hero)
• Read/Vocab Sheet
• Work on PPT project

Hero Project

Hey Class:

Below is the link for your Hero Project.

Click on it and download the template.

Then fill it with your information!

Have Fun!


Hero Project

Monday - 3/13/2017

Dear Families,


 Throughout the next few weeks, our math class will be learning about dividing whole numbers by unit fractions and dividing unit fractions by whole numbers. We will also learn how a fraction represents division. You can expect to see homework with real-world problems that involve division with fractions. Here is a sample of how your child will be taught to use a model to divide by a fraction.

Activity Use real-world division situations such as sharing a pizza, pie, or orange equally to help your child practice division with fractions.



Querida familia,

Durante las próximas semanas, en la clase de matemáticas aprenderemos a dividir números enteros entre fracciones unitarias y fracciones unitarias entre números enteros. También aprenderemos de qué manera una fracción representa una división. Llevaré a casa tareas para resolver problemas de la vida diaria que incluyan la división con fracciones. Este es un ejemplo de cómo aprenderemos a usar un modelo para dividir entre una fracción.

Actividad Use situaciones de la vida diaria que involucren divisiones, como compartir una pizza, un pay o una naranja en partes iguales para ayudar a su hijo o hija a practicar la división con fracciones.

Homework:

Monday- 5.1 495-496

Tuesday -SNOW DAY   515-516

Wednesday Lesson 5.3  (tentative)

Thursday 5.4

Friday - 5.5

*please look out for differentiated homework.

SNOW DAY!!!

Monday in 403

We started the class by going over homework and then doing test prep.  I am hoping the students notice that for the entire year, their homework has been "test prep" all along.  Reading articles, answering questions, using text details.  With 11 days left until the state ELA test, I hope they are ready and up for the challenge.

Today the focus was on rereading sections and looking for main idea, reasons for events, and details to support those reasons.  We reread pages 103-105 and did various comprehension questions.  After students worked on filling out a graphic organizer to reinforce today's learning focus, we talked about informational presentations and research.  We talked about people we have studied and how they would do their presentation.

We will be working on this on Wednesday and Thursday and presenting on Friday.  Tomorrow, on their SNOW DAY, they should continue to do research on the person they choose.

Homework;

• Read 30-45 minutes
• Reading/Vocab "Volcanoes" and "All About the Clothes We Wear"
• Famous Hero - RESEARCH for PowerPoint

Thursday!!!! PTC and Report Cards

• Thursday is a 1/2 day

• Ms. Cruz from 8:00 - 9:45

• Mr. McDougall 9:45 - 11:00

• Lunch 11:00 - 11:30

• Dismissal at 11:30

Ms. Cruz, Mr. McDougall, and Ms. Campos 

will be in Room 403

• Afternoon PTC Times
• 12:30 - 2:45

• Evening PTC Times
• 4:30 - 7:30

Wednesday in Review

• The day started with breakfast and a quick trip to the Book Fair so students could buy or make a list of books that interested them!  The Book Fair will be open tomorrow during Parent Teacher Conferences!
• Next we had a really good session of writing short response answers. Students shared their short responses from last nights homework and we looked at it and graded it together.  On a short response you can get a 0, 1, or 2.  Almost everyone who shared had 2's and those who didn't now understand why they got a 1.  With just over 2 weeks before the state test, this is making me feel good!  SLOW DOWN!  Read!  Check your work!
• Then we did lesson 2B.12.  We started a new article out of the text collection about Angel Island, the immigration station on the west coast that was set up to handle immigrants from Asia and Europe.  Our focus was on using the text to support answers (citing evidence) and main idea and supporting details.  

Homework:

• Independent Reading 45 minutes, Log
• Test Prep - Writing Short Response  Question "Most Beautiful Place"
• Vocab/Reading Comp Practice  Sheet

Chapter 7: Multiplying Fractions

Dear Families,


 Throughout the next few weeks, our math class will be learning about multiplying fractions and mixed numbers. We will also be using area models to help understand fraction multiplication. You can expect to see homework with real-world problems that involve multiplication with fractions and mixed numbers.

Activity Use recipes to practice multiplication with fractions and mixed numbers. Work together to solve problems such as, “One batch of the recipe calls for 2 1/ 4 cups of flour. How much flour would we need to make 1 1/2 batches?”


Querida Familia,


Durante las próximas semanas, en la clase de matemáticas aprenderemos a multiplicar fracciones y números mixtos. También aprenderemos a usar modelos de área para entender la multiplicación de fracciones. Llevaré a la casa tareas con problemas del mundo real que involucren la multiplicación con fracciones y números mixtos.




See you soon!


D. Cruz

Monday in 403

• Today we focused on catching up on Test Prep.  The focus was making sure we read closely so that we could answer constructed response questions effectively and completely.  We read a myth about Thor and the Frost Giants and then worked on two short response questions.  You have to make sure you ANSWER the question, and then give two pieces of text evidence.  Super easy!
• Next we did lesson 2b.10 in ReadyGen.  The focus was finishing the rest of our book "The Great Migration" and then doing a compare and contrast activity with the second part of the text and a short poem included in the text.  
• Students also took the AR test for the book we finished. 
• 502 did a good job working today, but 501 was more interested in having conversations with their friends than working hard even though we discussed that the ELA State Test is in 3 weeks.  Not good!  

Homework:

1. Read for 45 minutes - long
2. Double Sided Homework
1. Reading Comp - PG 13 Movies
2. Vocabulary Practice - Cool Nouns

Report Card Day/Night is Thursday!!!!  

12:25- 2:45 and 4:30 - 7:30

Skill Review Friday

 Today was a pretty straight forward day....

• Students started by doing silent reading while other students either took, finished, or retook their STAR reading levels.  Parents, I can tell you are not checking to see if your children are reading because many are not moving.  That means they are only reading while at school.  To improve in anything, you must practice!  Set a reading time at home where the family turns off the TV, the Phones, the distractions, and everyone reads for 30-45 minutes.  Trust me, it will make a huge difference in family time and reading ability.
• We did Test Prep from the Vacation Packet.  We read the next article and then talked about why certain answers were right and others were wrong. It can literally come down to one word being wrong and the answer is wrong.
• Next we did our Skill Groups.  All groups read the same article, but based on student need and ability, they work on different skills.  The groups are listed above.  Ask your students about the real life article about being trapped on a high floor during a fire.  SCARY!
• Finally, we moved into our new unit is SS.  The focus today was an INTRO to the United States looking at the different land-forms you might encounter.  We did a couple Map activities to practice using critical eyes when reading any text, map, or document.  

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes, log
• SS - NewsELA "Bessie Coleman" Black Female Pilot (with 4 questions)  
• Our SS NewsELA articles will be about famous women this month for Women's History Month!

Crazy Couple of Days...

This has been a crazy week for sure....

Trip on Tuesday...

Wednesday we had STAR Reading Level Testing and an assembly by Healthy You talking about Test Anxiety and how to combat it.

Today we had an in class assembly with the Turn2Us Healthy You members to review the strategies we learned yesterday in the assembly.  They got to play jeopardy while reviewing the skills and strategies to remain calm and anxiety free during testing.

We had enough time to get through half of Lesson 2B,9.  The focus was on main ideas and how the paintings tied in with the text.  We didn't get to the writing section,but hopefully we can loop that in with tomorrow's lesson and be caught up!

Homework:

1. Read 45 minutes, log
2. Descriptive Details Lesson 2B.9 Worksheet