Ninety-Third Day of School

In Writing today, We drafted our facts using our plans from the day before.

We have begun retracing our steps from earlier in the year analyzing western narrative structure. We will be dissecting stories for their beginning, middle, and end. Recall that the beginning will often tell the reader the setting and characters. The middle of the narrative holds the conflict while the end reveals the resolution. At home, young readers can be guided to keep an ear peeled for clues which tell what part of the story they are reading.

Ninety-Second Day of School

In Writing today, We planned our facts for the drafting process by 'quick'sketching'.

In Science, we experimented with air resistance by constructing parachutes.

Ninety-First Day of School

Today in Writing, we began the informational writing process again. We chose a new topic and planned the writing by touching and talking.

In Health, we discussed computer and fire safety as well as hazardous materials.

Reading Logs are due on Friday.

Ninetieth Day of School

We are now one-half the way through the school year.

In Writing today, we took a first pass at revising by adding details. Our revising process:

1. Reread
2. Ask: Is this clear? Is this enough information?
3. If 'no', add for clarity. Add details.

Writing samples were collected for scoring purposes. A rubric score of 3 was achieved if writing fit the target genre and if at least 4 of 5 of the required standard elements were included. Scores have been posted to Schoology. 

Eighty-Ninth Day of School

In Writing today, we drafted closings for our informational writing. Ideally, closings are directly related to the main idea. A closing may also be a question:  Do you know any other true heroes?

In Social Science, we learned the 7 continents and the 5 oceans (tested). A map will be sent home shortly for studying purposes.

Math Test Results

Of  20 students taking the test, 15 passed with an adjusted score of 12 or better. Four students achieved a perfect score.

Eighty-Seventh Day of School

No Writing today. Instead, we spent our time working on discovering and verbalizing main ideas.

In Science, we observed the actions of air with a number of different items. Students should have already discussed with a parent at home the elements of weather (tested) and shared their study notes.

Eighty-Sixth Day of School

In Writing today, we wrote opening statements for our informational pieces. The opening statement will catch a reader's attention while giving them an idea of the direction of the writing.

Eighty-Fifth Day of School

In Writing today, we drafted the two facts we sketched and planned on Friday. That means one sentence for each sketch. We didn't begin our first sentence on the first or second line in order to save room for our opening/introductory statement (tomorrow).

There will likely be a Math Test tomorrow.

Eighty-Fourth Day of School

In Writing today, we made plans for drafting by 'quick-sketching' and labeling our ideas. Keep in mind that quick sketches are just that, very simple representations of a writer's ideas which come directly from their 'touch and talk' which can be labeled with words likely to be used later in drafting.

In Science, we kicked off our weather unit by discovering the basic elements of weather (tested).

Eighty-Third day of School

In Writing today, we touch and talked our first 'all about' piece. Basically that meant telling something about our topic, and then telling something else. Hopefully both of the things we told were related by by our focus word (see previous entry).

In Social Science, we reviewed the elements of a quality map and discussed and examined aerial views.

Eighty-Second Day of School

In Writing, we reviewed our lists and decided upon one for our first topic. We attempted to pair our topic with a focus word. For example, if one were to choose the topic motors, a focus word could be parts. A main idea for the writing could then be: A motor has many parts. Another example of a topic: Roberto Clemente, with a focus word of hero may yield the main idea: Roberto Clemente was an American hero. Still another example of a topic could be puppies, with a focus word of do may produce the main idea: Puppies do many things.

Students are bringing home the template paper for writing an 'all about' informational selection today.

In Social Science, we discussed and examined the important parts of a quality map: title, cartographer's name, key or legend, and date (tested).

Eightieth Day of School

In Writing today, we began our unit on "all about" informational texts. This is the unit where students will share their expertise on particular topics which interest them. Today we brainstormed a list of areas of knowledge.

In Music, we continued to explore the difference between rhythm and beat.

Math Test

Of the 17 students taking the Chp 3 Math Test, 9 passed with an adjusted score of 13 or better. One student achieved a perfect score.