Week of 3/4/13
A huge thanks to Mrs. Major and Ms. Masters for popping popcorn on Friday! We need some more book baskets since many of ours have broken so I will be purchasing those over the weekend.
Another big thanks to the Champoux Family for taking Sparky over winter break. Spring break is March 29-April 7. I need another volunteer to take him. Please let me know if you are interested, the sooner the better!
Please make sure you have seen all of the paperwork that came home last week. March is reading month and there was a pledge sheet to help encourage kids to read and raise money for new computers for the lab. Sign up genius is up and running to see when you can come in and read to us. So far, only 1 parent………..pls. do that a.s.a.p.
Field trip slips for next Monday’s trip are due by Wednesday, March 6.
This week in:
Writing-Students are beginning to research and take notes on the historical event of their choice today and tomorrow. Please ask your child what he/she is researching. I’m excited to see how our skilled writer’s use their creativity in writing the historical fiction story. Our focus is on organization and voice this time. Students will be completing the first copy and revisions by the end of the week. Final copy will be due next week Monday so writing homework may come home during the week and weekend if they are not able to keep up.
Reading-Last week we were practicing identifying the main idea and details. This week’s focus is that skill as well as adding on identifying the author’s purpose. Students are practicing this skill while reading the Time for Kids Magazine in class as well as some articles for reading homework too. They are also midway through the historical fiction book they began. Please ask your child to tell you about it. They should be able to tell you the characters, setting, some events and the problem so far.
Math-Students will continue to read, collect, and analyze data from graphs and also create graphs based on data. Our class will be having some fun also because we will be practicing those skills based on the participation of the school during Spirit Week.
Busy, busy, we are! I look forward to a week filled with fun and loads of DuVall spirit! Have a wonderful week 
March is Reading Month Calender
Click on the link below and it will show you the calender for the month!
Friday, March 1, Spirit Week is next week!
Week of 2/25
This Friday, March 1, is our popcorn sale. I am looking for at 2 parents to pop and distribute popcorn to the classes. If you are able, please send me an email. Thanks so much in advance!
March is reading month! I will put the available reading times on sign up genius (Tomorrow it will be up) so you can see what is available. If you don’t see a time that works for you, drop me an email and we will find something. We LOVE to have at least one family member from each student read to us. It takes about 10-15 minutes and should be a book you have read before (Practicing is a good idea too). Any level book will do, I read all different types of books to them and they love everything. Don’t forget nonfiction and/or magazine choices. I look forward to seeing you!
Information regarding the Martian Marathon can be picked up in the office. The deadline for early registration is March 10. The information in the office is not the registration form. It is information about registering.
DuVall Running Club will be starting the second Thursday in March and will most Thursdays until the race which is on April 13. Permission slips to participate can also be picked up in the office beginning in March.
For more information, see Mrs. Rosenau after school.
This week in:
Writing-Students will get their research papers back on Wednesday. After seeing how they did, the papers are going to get read by Mrs. Rosenau’s 3rd grade class since they are working on reading nonfiction and identifying text features. Students are excited to share their work with someone besides me! For the next 2 weeks students will be working on writing historical fiction. They are going to write in journal entry format. They will have to do some research and note taking on a historical event first. After, they will begin to write from the point of view of someone who was involved in that event. We will be working on voice, organization and having sensory details.
Reading-Students began reading their historical fiction book over break (Sorry for the homework but it couldn’t be avoided). They will meet tomorrow for book club to discuss the events so far. We will take the next 2 weeks to complete the reading. Many students will need to bring home nightly reading to stay caught up. In class, strategies for Daily 5 lessons include: defining adjectives that are character traits, separating main ideas from details and identifying sensory details that “show, don’t tell”.
Math-Unit 6 is all about graphs. We will be reading, interpreting and creating line plots, line graphs and stem and leaf plots. They will also be practicing their measuring skills with a ruler.
Have a wonderful week! Don’t forget to let me know if you can pop popcorn!
Week of 2/11
MEAP test scores went home with the kids last Thursday. Please check to make sure you got yours!
Thursday is the Valentine’s party at 2:15. I could use a couple more helpers, please go to sign up genius if you are able.
We have no school next week for Winter Break.
Information regarding Martian marathon registration can be picked up in the office. Note: it is not the registration. It is information about registering.
This week in:
Writing-Students are finishing the first draft of their research today (and tonight if not completed in class). Tomorrow and Wednesday they will be revising and editing. Final copy is due Friday.
Math-Unit 5 test will be tomorrow, it covers adding/subtracting fractions, making equivalent fractions, story problems with fractions, reading decimals and changing fractions into decimals/percents. Study island is a perfect took for practice in any of those skills.
Daily 5-Students have been struggling a bit with identifying the main idea and details in nonfiction pieces of writing. We will continue to practice this week and they will have some homework for practice reading as well. We are also practicing identifying the author’s purpose in a piece of writing. Students will be reading their second leveled book that is historical fiction this week and practicing their reading strategy. Historical fiction chapter books will be given to them by the end of the week for a small bit of reading homework over the break.
That’s it for this week, enjoy the brief warm up!
Week of 2/4
No posting last week, I could never get caught up!
Late start this Wednesday. It is also Science Challenge night from 6-7:30.
Next Thursday is Valentine’s Day. We will have short party from 2:15-3:15. There will be a sign up on sign up genius. We are going to make the giant snowflakes that we made last year but in red. I will need some extra hands for the multiple staples we have to help with please!
This week in:
Writing-Students are researching an animal and writing a research report. Today and Wednesday will be the reading and note taking days. First copy writing will be Thursday and Friday. It will be due next week Wednesday so you may seem some related homework this weekend if they are having difficulty with staying on task in class.
Daily 5-Students will be choosing a historical fiction book in class tomorrow to read and share in book club for the next 3-4 weeks. They will begin reading Wednesday so you will probably see some reading homework coming home to stay caught up. Please ask your child what he/she is reading and to tell you about it. In class we are working on identifying the main idea, supporting details, author’s point of view and author’s purpose all this week.
Math-We worked a solid 4 days on adding/subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. MOST students are doing fine but some are really struggling with the multiple steps. If you are wondering where your child falls on that spectrum, go to math-drills.com and print a sheet for them to practice (Answers are included on website ) so you can see or have them go to studyisland to practice. This week we are working on changing fractions to decimals and percents, with and without a calculator. Test on fractions will be early next week, probably Tuesday. It will include fractions: adding, subtracting and changing into decimals and percents.
Have a great snowy week.
Week of 1/22
Friday, Jan. 25 is 1/2 day.
A huge thanks to those parents that went to Cranbrook with us, especially the couple that saved us and were able to drive because we were short. The kids had a great time!
This week in:
Daily 5-I begin DRA’s today, a reading assessment required by the district. We are still focusing on nonfiction reading during Daily 5. Students will still be working on identifying the main idea with supporting details and also asking questions before, during and after reading.
Writing-Students finished up their speeches on Friday. Those will be on the bulletin board downstairs across from Mrs. Liepe’s room. If you have time to check them out, please do, they are great. Students will complete a district writing assessment prompt tomorrow and writing about the topic of their choice the rest of the week, working on including commas!
Math-Students will be ordering fractions, finding equivalent fractions and changing fractions into decimals this week.
Be warm!
Week of 1/14
Wednesday, Jan. 16 is a late start. We are also going to Cranbrook. We plan on leaving by 9:50 and will be returning around 3:15. Drivers are: Mrs. Champoux, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Burpee, Mrs. Hutchinson, Mr. Major, Mrs. Velas and Mrs. Miller. Parent drivers should come to school with the kids at 9:35 and plan on being back on the road by 9:50. Please make sure you have filled out the proper paper work in order to drive! If you need to do that still, please come in earlier than 9:35 so Cathy isn’t scrambling. When your child comes home, please ask them to tell you at least 3 specific details about Cranbrook.
A yellow sheet went home last week explaining this year’s Science Challenge. It will be Feb. 6 from 6-7:00 in the evening. If your child is participating, there are packets in the office explaining ALL of the details needed.
Next Monday, Jan. 21 we have NO SCHOOL for M.L.K. day.
This week in:
Math-We are taking the Unit 4 test on Tuesday. We took the district Star Math assessment yesterday. The score will be posted on the next report card. Unit 5 is Fractions, Decimals and Percents (Oh Goody!). We will begin this week with a review of fractions-the single most difficult concept in math for 4th-5th graders . Feel free to talk up any concepts related at home to help.
Reading-Yesterday students took the SRI test on the computer to measure their reading level. This score will also be on the next report card. I will begin another assessment next week, the DRA. At this time of the year everyone must be tested so it will take about 3 weeks. I can generally get 3-4 students done a day. Everyone will be reading nonfiction text for the test. We have been reading that a lot lately so hoping they will be great. During Daily 5, we are practicing identifying the main idea in articles or paragraphs and finding the clues to support it. We will also be learning about author’s point of view.
Writing-Students are finishing up a campaign speech this week. They have to write persuasively from the point of view of a fruit or vegetable. They are trying to convince readers that they are the best to eat. Students researched their chosen fruit/veg last week and using that information to write the speech. So far, they look fantastic!! Next week is the district mid-year writing prompt for assessment. It will be a persuasive piece.
The end of the marking period is Jan. 25, next Friday.
Have a wonderful week.
Week of 1/7/13
Happy New Year, I hope you had a wonderful holiday and were able to enjoy your family! Please take the time to look at the photos page as I added pictures from when we made the “gingerbread houses”. Thanks to everyone for sending in such great candy choices to create great houses with. All of the left overs we will use as math manipulatives as the year goes on. An enormous thanks to all of my parent helpers, I could NOT have done it without you: Mrs. Martin, Ms. Masters, Mrs. Hutchinson and Mr. & Mrs. Major!
This week in:
Writing-Today we are filling in a resolution sheet for the new year. It’s fun to see what students will work to achieve this year personally and in school. We will begin writing a persuasive piece later this week. It will include research of a vegetable or fruit to convince others which is best. We will work on this over the next 2 weeks.
Daily 5-We will review behavior and work expectations today since we’ve had some time off. This week’s focus is on determining the author’s purpose and point of view in informational text. For the next 2 weeks students will be reading nonfiction text mostly.
Math-We will review long division today and the steps to get thru. We will also do a times multiplication test. We will also be dividing with decimals and deciding what to do when an answer has a remainder in story problems.
That’s it for this week. We will be trying to get back in the groove of school routine again. Have a fabulous week!
Week of 12/17
Please take a look at the photos page. I just added photos from the Super Science assembly all of the kids participated in. They LOVED it, hope you heard about it, if not, ask your child.
Tuesday, 8:15 there is a safety meeting in Mrs. Strez’s room.
Wednesday, at 9:00 a.m. students will be making a craft to give as a gift for someone at home. Please make sure your child brings in $3.00 and a small picture of him/herself. Thanks to PTA for getting this activity organized! At 2:00 we will be having our holiday celebration in the cafeteria. Clean up and all things will be easier in that room instead of ours. Parents who are helping please come in by 1:45 to get everything and set up to get organized. Kids will go outside for a few minutes with Mrs. Ranka while we set up. We will do gingerbread houses first and then snack after. Thanks to everyone for sending in cardboard and various other items for our projects! I’m hoping they turn out very cool-we shall see !
Friday is the holiday sing along at school in the gym at 2:30 if you would like to attend. We are off from school starting Friday until Monday, Jan. 7.
This week in:
Math-Unit 3 tests went home Friday, hope you saw them. We will begin Unit 4 today-Division. This week we will just review the basic facts and repeatedly practice the long division steps.
Daily 5-Students will be finishing up their mystery chapter books this week and having the final book club. All of the students seems to be really enjoying them. I’m very proud of the amount of reading they’ve been able to do and how responsible they’ve been about taking it home when they are behind to stay caught up….a very big step for maturity! Strategies this week will be comparing/contrasting 2 pieces of nonfiction reading and identifying the main idea with supporting details (nonfiction also).
Writing-I’m about 1/3 done checking the compare/contrast writing that was due Thursday. I’m hoping to finish up tomorrow. Students are now working on identifying powerful adjectives that describe the mood of a book, movie or song. We did an activity with You-Tube last week and will continue with it this week. I’ve been reading about how powerful music and videos are with kids and learning so I’ve been trying some new things-the kids are eating it up!
A huge thanks to the families that purchased books from the book fair to donate to our classroom library-we LOVE new books!
The Rathwell family has volunteered to house Sparky over the break-Hooray! We will need someone to volunteer over the February and Spring breaks too.
Students will get a holiday gift from me that will include the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum free pass with purchase of one paid admission. Please take advantage of this over break if you have time. It’s a fabulous museum and a fun way to spend an afternoon (Plus, there’s good lunch spots in Ann Arbor too!).
Have a wonderful, safe holiday!
