Wednesday in 403!

After being out yesterday recovering from Wisdom Teeth Removal on Friday, it was nice to be back with the kiddos and back in action!

Students had 20-25 minutes of quite independent reading to start the class.  They must take a AR test on a book they have read on their own before attending the next field trip!!!!  Then we read chapters 14 and 15 in our class novel "George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt".  We discussed several comprehension questions to check for understanding.

WE did lesson 5 of ReadyGen Unit 3B.  The focus today was compare / contrast and cause and effect relationships in the reading.   The topic today in space was THE MOON!

After students completed their classwork, they got in their Buddy Study groups to continue to research their planets.  They will have research time until Friday. Starting next week we will start putting our information together, planning our PowerPoint Slides, and creating our final project.

Homework:

1. Read for 30-45 minutes (AR test must be taken before next trip!)

Portfolio Day

• Today was the first of several portfolio days that we will be having as we approach the end of the year.  As you know, it isn't just classwork and tests that decide if your child will be ready for middle school, there are several things we look at...
• State ELA and Math Test
• Math Performance Tasks - Writing Performance Tasks
• STAR Reading and STAR Math
• Portfolio Blackline Masters
• Classwork/Tests/Quizzes
• Attendance
• Make sure that you are here each day so you can get your portfolio ready and be able to defend the question.. "Why should you be promoted to sixth grade?"  

Star Classroom - Reading AR Reward Trip !

Since our students reached their reading goals, they were treated to a trip to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The Long Haul yesterday.  The ticket and a kid's pack of small drink, small popcorn, and fruit snack was given to each student who completed all their assignments.  Students who didn't attend will get a gift card from AMC Movies once all missing assignments are turned in.  I am so happy to say that since the students behaved so well on this trip, we have planned another trip on June 7th to the Natural History Museum to see the Planetarium movie and SPACE exhibit.   The cost of the trip is $7 and bring a bag lunch since we will eat in Central Park for lunch if the weather is nice.

It's Monday!

• Welcome to Monday and a new unit!  We started Unit 3B - The Solar System in ReadyGen today.  First we went over the unit slides to see what the goals for the unit are, and then we looked at the new vocabulary words for the unit as well as the outcome project, the PBA at the end.  I told the students that depending on how fast we get through the lessons, and how field trips and promotion activities fall, we may or may not get to the PBA for unit 3B.
• Next we ready Chapter 10 of George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt and answered questions to check for understanding.
• I let the students do a book tour of the new anchor text "Our Solar System" by Seymour Simon. I challenged them to see how the book was arranged and if there were any text features that stood out.   We focused on Main Idea today.  We read pages 4-11, took some time to pull some extra stuff up on the internet to secure their understanding with visuals, and then did an independent activity with main idea. 

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes (STAR TEST COMING)
• Reading Comp - Paul Bunyan Meets Babe Crossword

Thursday ELA!

Class 501

• Started the morning with breakfast.  Then we went over how to write an opinion piece by looking at two different powerpoints to remind students of the ease of writing an opinion piece:
• Introduction
• Hook
• Topic
• Opinion
• Body
• Opinion
• Supporting detail from Text 1
• Explanation of detail 1
• Supporting detail from Text 1
• Explanation of detail 2
• Supporting detail from Text 2
• explanation of detail 3
• Supporting detail from Text 2
• explanation of detail 4
• Conclusion
• Restate details
• Restate opinion
• After reviewing, students went to work on the Spring MOSL Day 2.   When they were done, they were able to finish their PBA, Read Quietly, or work on the Ipads.

Class 502

• Lesson 3A.18 from ReadyGen.  The focus was comparing and contrasting characteristics of characters and structure over the three texts from unit 3A.  
• We read Chapter  9 of George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt and then answered a handful of comprehension questions to make sure they are understanding the developing action.
• Students worked independently to finish their compare and contrast of lesson 3A.18
• When done, students could work on PBA's, silent reading, helping others revise and edit, or working on the Ipads.

Homework:

• DEAR (FINAL STAR COMING UP!!)
• Class 502 - Reading Comprehension "The Snake Charmer"

Tomorrow is Picture Day!

PBA's are Due tomorrow or get a ZERO

Movie Permission Slips due Tomorrow - no slip, no go!

ELA Wednesday

Class 502

• Started the morning with breakfast.
• Next we did a quick review of "main idea" and "supporting ideas"
• Then we read an article that showed the pros and cons of taking down confederate statues in the south and discussed taking a side and holding your opinion throughout your writing.
• Finally, students worked on their Spring ELA MOSL Day 1.  That was two articles they had to read and two short response questions to answer on main idea and supporting details.  Tomorrow they will write an opinion essay using the two articles. 

Class 501

• We started by reading Chapter 9 of our class novel "George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt".   We then answered a lot of comprehension questions to make sure students were understanding the text.
• Next we reviewed all three texts we have been working with in Unit 3A and did an activity comparing the conflict of each story and how the characters handled them.  Looking back and finding connections among text is sometimes difficult, but the students seemed to make the connections.
• Finally, students worked on their PBA's.

Homework:

• DEAR
• Reading Comprehension Worksheet "The Snake Charmer" (Only 501)

Crazy Tuesday!

Ms. Cruz was out sick today so the day was a little different than planned.  We had a full house in 502 with all 21 students showing up.  We also took in 10 of Ms. Cruz's group so we were almost at capacity of 32.

We worked on lesson 3A.17 with a focus on comparing and contrasting characters and themes with the stories we have studied in this unit.

We read another PRO/CON article, this time with the subject of is it ok for professional athletes to protest during a game?  We group read the article, pointed out the PRO's and CON's, and then answered the comprehension questions.

Finally, we read chapter 8 of our class novel "George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt" and answered a plethora of comprehension questions.

Finally, students worked on finalizing their sci-fi story and book review for their current PBA.  Since tomorrow and Thursday we have the ELA MOSL, students will have until Friday to get their final PBA's turned in.   15 students in 502 have turned theirs in, while only 3 in class 501 have theirs finished.  Of course, I didn't see 501 for the past 3-4 days, but they knew the assignment. I didn't even give homework so they could work on it.  FRIDAY or it is a zero!

For the half of the group that was finished, we put on "The Sandlot" while the rest of the class worked on their PBA's.  The theme of working together to accomplish a hard task is the same theme that was used in the texts we have been reading this unit.

Homework:

• DEAR
• Finish Sci-Fi story and George's Secret Key to the Universe Book Review

NYSESLAT DONE!

So glad that for the most part, the NYSESSLAT is over!  There is still small parts to be administered, but the parts that cause our schedule to change like the have for the past 3 school days is over.

Today we went over another article that was PRO/CON on passing laws to protect against global warming so students could have more exposure to articles that take a side.   Then we worked on creating a class movie review of "Race to Witch Mountain" since students have to write a book review of our class novel "George's Secret Key to the Universe".

While the other students were testing, we watched Back to the Future and students were able to make connections between our class novel and the movie.  Both are science fiction, both have scientist who have amazing machines, and both have regular guys who save the day.   It was pretty cool to see that they understood these connections and what the genre of sci-fi really is.

Tomorrow is our first day back on our regular schedule.  Students will be working on their end of Unit 3A test and completing and finalizing their PBA's to be turned in.  We will also be working on getting the room ready for open school night.

Homework:

• DEAR
• Finish PBA Story and Book Review

Math's up?

Dear Family,

Throughout the next few weeks, our math class will be working with data and graphs. We will learn how to make and use line plots and line graphs to analyze data and solve problems. We will also learn how to plot and name points on a coordinate grid. You can expect to see homework that includes making and analyzing line graphs.


Activity Look through a few newspapers or magazines to find data displays. Then work together to write and answer questions about the information displayed.



Querida familia,


Durante las próximas semanas, en la clase de matemáticas vamos a trabajar con datos y gráficas. Aprenderemos cómo hacer y usar diagramas de puntos y gráficas lineales para analizar datos y resolver problemas. También aprenderemos a anotar y nombrar los puntos en una cuadrícula de coordenadas. Llevaré a la casa tareas para aprender a hacer y analizar gráficas lineales.


Actividad Busquen datos presentados de diferentes formas en periódicos y revistas. Después escriban y contesten juntos preguntas sobre la información que se muestra.



Ms. Cruz

Race to Witch Mountain Movie Review

End of the Week

This week has been really odd with the testing of NYSESLAT.  We have not been switching classes the past two days.  We will not be switching classes on Monday either.  Students who take the NYSESLAT in our class (7 of them) leave around 9 AM and come back around 11:30.  16 students from Ms. Mirabal's class who do not take the exam come to our classroom while the other 16 are testing.  As always, we have made the best of it and carry on!

We wrote a movie review today so the students can see how to write the book review for George's Secret Key to the Universe.  The sample is on the blog so students can look back and see how it should be formatted.

Students should be working on their 2-3 page science fiction stories and their 1 page book review for their PBA's that will be finalized next week.  No excuses!  We have had ALL week to work on them and NO HOMEWORK to distract.  JUST PBA WORK!

Homework:

• Finalize 2-3 page Science Fiction narrative 
• Finalize 1-2 page Book Review of "George's Secret Key to the Universe"

Sample Movie/Book Critique

• Use this to help you model your "George's Secret Key to the Universe" book review.  
• Introduction with Hook and either Read it or Don't Read It.
• First reason to read or not read (Plot Summary)
• Second reason to read or not read (favorite events of story and why)
• Last reason to read or not read (discuss favorite characters and why)
• Conclusion (restate your opinion)

Unit 3A is Winding Down

In ReadyGen Lesson 15, we focused on comparing and contrasting characters and their actions between two different text.  It was interesting because one text was scifi and the other was nonfiction.  We were still able to see how they had traits in common and some that were very different.

We went over the PBA for Unit 3A in detail, talked about each aspect, and then went over the rubric in great detail as well.  It is very clear what they need to do to get a 4 and show growth this school year in their writing.  We then went over the planning documents they are to use tonight to create their plan for writing before sitting down to draft their story TONIGHT.  Tomorrow will be a revise and edit day so they MUST plan and write tonight.  It is their only homework so they have no excuses.

Finally, we finished by reading Chapter 4 of George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt.  We talked about the different elements of their PBA that we noticed in the chapter and then students answered questions to show understanding of the text read.

Homework:

• Story Planner B (Basic Plan)
• Story Planner A (extended plan with Beginning, Middle, and End)
• Draft PBA
• Have another person read and help revise PBA

Great Surprise for Teacher Appreciation Week!

One donor just gave $235 dollars to support our classroom!  That is amazing....

Monday in 403

Our focus today was working with Cause and Effect in terms of literature.  We finished reading our text on Michael Collins and then worked on a Cause and Effect activity and answered some comprehension questions.

We also read chapters 2 and 3 from our new class novel George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt.  After reading each chapter we answered comprehension questions to check for understanding.

Homework:

1. read for 30-45 minutes to prep for upcoming STAR test
2. Describing Characters worksheet to prep for upcoming PBA

TGIF!!!

• Like usual, I over-planned today!  We only got about half of what I planned done, but we did have some catch up time and we started a new class novel.
• Students finished their advertising posters to hang up around the school.
• We did our skill review Friday groups with an interesting article about these crazy "Spheres" that are all over Costa Rica and no one knows why!!
• Then we started our new class novel "George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt", the second novel in the series by Lucy and Steven Hawking.  The kids loved the first book, so I got donations and we got a class set of the second set using donorschoose.org.  If you ever want to donate, here is the LINK!
• We read the prologue and the first chapter and then the students answered 14 comprehension questions in their reading journal.

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes (FINAL STAR TEST COMING UP!)
• Reading Comp - Special Delivery!

May 8 - 12th - Teacher Appreciation Week!

Thursday - Math Testing is DONE!

Thank Goodness the Math State Test is DONE!  I want to congratulate class 502 for having 100% attendance each day!  I think I heard Mr. Hernandez say that would earn a class an ice cream party!!!!

Regular scheduling will return tomorrow!  So expect homework to start back tomorrow as well!

Good job Kiddos!  I am proud of you!

Math State Test

Day 1
and
Day 2
are Complete!
We have had 100% attendance
for both days so far!!!
Let's keep it up!
ONE MORE DAY!
Day 3
SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW DAY!

1. Go to bed EARLY and get extra rest!
2. Eat a big breakfast with complex carbs and a BIG glass of Orange Juice
3. Be positive, you can do this!

Monday in ELA

• We started a new text today in our Text Collection "The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon".  This is a story about the third Apollo 11 astronaut, Michael Collins, and his experience of going to the moon, but never getting to land on the moon.
• We read pages 6-11 and focused on new vocabulary and understanding main ideas and supporting details. 
• We ended the day discussing what a science fiction narrative should include and had them thinking about ideas for their upcoming PBA where they have to write a science fiction narrative that continues with the text we just finished.  They will also have to write a critique of the book as well.

Homework

• Go to bed early
• Eat a big breakfast
• Be ready to Ace the Test!