Season's Greetings!

Here are some updates from Room 49!

Report cards and conferences:

We have completed the first trimester of the year!  The students brought their report cards home last week. I look forward to discussing their progress with you later this week.

What we're learning:

Math: Division!  This week the students will practice using the partial quotients method to solve long division problems.

Reading: We are taking a break from book groups and diving into Greek Mythology!  The students LOVE learning about the interesting world of Ancient Greece and Mount Olympus.

Language Arts: The students will add to their writer's toolbox as we learn new figurative language skills.  Be on the lookout out for our next holiday writing assignment!  

Holiday Happenings

A note went home today announcing the plans for holiday activities in our classroom.  Students will be creating a holiday traditions card, sharing books, and creating unique 3D paper ornaments!  If you have any questions about these holiday activities, please let me know.  

November Happenings in Room 49

Greetings from Room 49!

This week marks the end of the first trimester of the school year.  Students will receive their report cards after the Thanksgiving Break (12/4), and conferences will be on 12/10 and 12/11.  If you haven't signed up for a conference please email me, or contact the school office to schedule one.  

The students will be taking trimester assessments this week and next Monday.  These assessments help us track student progress and plan future instruction. 

Homework Assignments:  The Thanksgiving story and illustration/craft are due on Monday.  Students should also be studying for their Northeast Region test, which will be on Tuesday.  This is the first region test so please work with your child to help them review and study all the information sent home.  

Our annual Pajama Drive is going on until 12/11.  Thank you to the families who have already sent in PJ's!  Students and teachers will celebrate by wearing their PJ's to school on 12/10.

And finally, THANK YOU for sending in all the wipes.  Cold and flu season is upon us and I will do my best to help the students stay healthy while in our classroom!  

I look forward to meeting with everyone during parent/teacher conferences.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!  

Haunted House STEM Challenge!

Check out the students' haunted house creations!

Click HERE!

Happy Halloween!

We had a GREAT morning on Friday!  Thank you to ALL the parents who visited the classroom and helped the students complete the STEM Challenges.  The students built Pumpkin Towers, raced Ghost Boats, and designed Candy Corn Catapults!  Click HERE to see all the pictures from the morning (Thank you to our photographer Sharon Turcotte!)

On October 30th the class will spend the morning planning, building, and testing Halloween themed creations.  These STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Challenges will spark the students' creativity and engage them in hands-on cooperative learning activities.

Parents are welcome to come any time between 9:00-11:00 to work with small groups as they rotate through the challenges.  We are busy collecting supplies and need your help!  If you have any pieces of cardboard (even cereal boxes), toilet paper or paper towel tubes, please send them to school with your child by next Thursday.  Thanks for your help!  

*Remember, it's also Crazy Hat Day on 10/30! 

What's new in Room 49

Social Studies and Science: Today the students took their first Social Studies test.  Next Tuesday will be their first Science test.  Study guides were sent home a week prior to the assessments.  Reviewing the study guide, making flashcards, and asking questions are great strategies to help your child feel confident and prepared for tests.  

Reading: Book Groups will begin this week.  The students are looking forward to reading and discussing a book of choice with a small group.  

Writing: Using "Be a Better Writer" strategies the class will practice using vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and strong adverbs in their writing.  We will also continue to write in journals throughout the week.

Math: Multiplication!  This week we have been reviewing the concepts and vocabulary essential for understanding multiplication.  Next week we will begin practicing strategies for multiplying larger numbers.  Students should continue to practice their facts.  They have all been enrolled in Xtra Math and should use this site as one way to memorize their facts through 12x12.  

October!

The first full week of October brings new lessons and activities to Room 49!

Math -Our first math test will be on Tuesday 10/6.  A review was sent home for homework on Monday night.  The next math unit will be multiplication -keep practicing those facts!  We are also creating multiplication haunted houses.  

Reading- Last week we finished reading Frindle, by Andrew Clements.  This week the students will begin meeting in realistic fiction book groups.

Language Arts - The students will practice "Be a Better Writer" strategies to strength their writing skills.  

Social Studies - The class is hard at work on their Treasure Islands!  There will be a map skills test next week.  A study guide will be sent home on Wednesday.  

Science - The students are learning about the states of matter and molecules.