Hi,
I hope you had a great long weekend with family and friends. I enjoyed a soccer game with Emma on Friday night and Blair's first spring rowing regatta as a Texas Longhorn on Saturday. Unfortunately, I fell while walking at the regatta and broke my arm. I am in a sling and I am fine, but I will need to see the orthopedic doctor to be sure. The break is in my right arm, so typing and writing is a challenge. Luckily, I will be administering the test Tuesday instead of taking it. :)
Writing Camp was wonderful! The children worked so hard and hopefully had fun, too. They planned, drafted, edited, revised, and wrote final copies for two expository compositions. We also worked on revising and editing letters and passages, as well as hiking around the school and doing some free writing. I am very impressed with their effort and their results. Thank you to all the parents who were able to come to our celebration and to those who donated supplies. Writing Camp is one of my favorite times of the year!
Service Club will meet after school on Monday from 2:45-3:45.We will talk about and make posters for the food drive and the kickball tournament. We are scheduled to volunteer at the Round Rock Serving Center this Saturday from 9-10:30 am. All are welcome to come and help.
Monthly Book Challenge-Read an informational book (nonfiction)-Google form or paper copy due due by Thursday, March 31. We will have a special treat and lunch in the classroom on Friday, April 1.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, March 28-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club from 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing Test-no visitors at school, go to bed early, eat breakfast, remember to read carefully, plan, draft, revise, edit, reread, and write your final copy, take your time, take breaks, do your best
Wednesday,March 30-5th grade testing
Thursday, March 31-Monthly challenge form due
Friday,April 1-Monthly challenge lunch treat, wear college shirts, reading response letter due, no spelling or vocab, homework packet due
Saturday, April 2-Volunteer at RR Serving Center from 9-10:30
Have a wonderful evening! Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,Pam
A place for my students, our families, our friends, and me to comment and reflect on our lives in our classroom.
Bartholomew Bats!
Our school is located in Round Rock, Texas which is near Austin. Austin and Round Rock both have huge populations of Mexican Free Tailed Bats that live under our bridges. A colony of bats lives beneath the Ann Richards/Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin and in Round Rock, another colony resides under the Interstate 35 bridge over McNeil Road. Each evening from March to about October, the bats fly out from beneath the bridge and search for insects to eat. The emergence of the bats is a wonder to watch. We are also thankful that all these millions of bats eat the bugs by our homes.
Our class mascot is the Bat to honor the mammals that live so close to us and help us. (also because Bat and Bartholomew both start with the letter B!) The bats in Central Texas live together in a group and help take care of the young. Then they migrate together as a team. Our class will also live together in our classroom, work together as a team, and help each other out. We are the Bartholomew Bats!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Writing Camp Rocks! Celebration on Thursday at 2:00. Send in camp letters for your camper. Reading Response Letters due on Thursday.
Hi,
Writing Camp is going very well. We are having fun singing camp songs, going on hikes, and writing!!!!! We took a hike around the school and wrote beautiful poetic sentences about what we saw, heard, noticed, realized, etc.... Some of the kids wrote about a noisy cardinal and the bicycles using personification. We also brainstormed, planned, drafted, revised, and edited expository compositions about something that we would banish if we were ruler of the world. The kids want to banish pollution, cigarettes, drugs, war, and conflict. Deep topics for 4th graders. One sweet child wants to banish hot dogs to prevent the extinction of pigs. They are doing a great job stating their central idea and reasons with examples to support their central idea. Then they are ending with a strong conclusion.
Tomorrow we will begin brainstorming, planning and drafting a second prompt for another expository composition. We will conference and discuss strengths in our writing and ways to improve. We will also continue doing some revising and editing practice and sing more camp songs.
Thank you to Sam's family for the huge tent for our room. It is awesome and definitely makes our classroom campground very exciting and authentic.
Don't forget to send camp letters to your camper and to come to our celebration on Thursday at 2:00. I am excited to celebrate all the hard work of our writers.
Reminder-Reading Response Letters are due on Thursday. Be sure to continue to read everyday.
STAAR Writing test is on Tuesday.
Thank you for sharing your child with me. I love Writing Camp!!!!!
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Pam
Writing Camp is going very well. We are having fun singing camp songs, going on hikes, and writing!!!!! We took a hike around the school and wrote beautiful poetic sentences about what we saw, heard, noticed, realized, etc.... Some of the kids wrote about a noisy cardinal and the bicycles using personification. We also brainstormed, planned, drafted, revised, and edited expository compositions about something that we would banish if we were ruler of the world. The kids want to banish pollution, cigarettes, drugs, war, and conflict. Deep topics for 4th graders. One sweet child wants to banish hot dogs to prevent the extinction of pigs. They are doing a great job stating their central idea and reasons with examples to support their central idea. Then they are ending with a strong conclusion.
Tomorrow we will begin brainstorming, planning and drafting a second prompt for another expository composition. We will conference and discuss strengths in our writing and ways to improve. We will also continue doing some revising and editing practice and sing more camp songs.
Thank you to Sam's family for the huge tent for our room. It is awesome and definitely makes our classroom campground very exciting and authentic.
Don't forget to send camp letters to your camper and to come to our celebration on Thursday at 2:00. I am excited to celebrate all the hard work of our writers.
Reminder-Reading Response Letters are due on Thursday. Be sure to continue to read everyday.
STAAR Writing test is on Tuesday.
Thank you for sharing your child with me. I love Writing Camp!!!!!
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Pam
Friday, March 18, 2016
Camp Write-A-Long Begins on Monday!!!!!
Hello,
The four days after spring break will be our amazing fourth grade Camp Write-A-long!!!!!!!
We will write all morning and engage in some fun camp activities, then we will do math activities in the afternoon. Your child can bring in a sleeping bag or blanket, pillow, small stuffed animal,and flashlight. They can dress in camping clothing all week.
Please see the Sign up genius for some supplies that we need to make our camp spectacular.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A4BA8AD292-writing
Camp Letters
We also encourage you to write a letter to your camper. You can ask family members also to write about camping experiences, write about writing, write to tell your camper how much you miss your camper while he/she is away at camp, or whatever! Be creative! We will have a mail call each day. You can send letters in or you can email them to me and I will print them out. In the past receiving letters at Writing Camp is a big deal for the kids. Thank you in advance.
Writing Camp Celebration
Parents and families are invited to attend our Writing Camp Celebration on Thursday, March 24 at 2:00. Our campers will share their writing with you and their camp experiences. Thank you for celebrating all of our effort and hard work this week. We will also sing some camp songs for you!!!!
Dates to Remember:
Monday, March 21-Writing Camp starts, Bring sleeping bag, reading log, and writing challenge papers. Writing club after school from 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 22-24-Writing Camp continues!
Thursday, March 24-Writing Camp Celebration at 2:00.Reading Response letter due, no spelling or vocabulary this week
Friday, March 25-no school
Monday, March 28-turn in reading logs, Service Club after school from 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing Test for 4th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Relax, read, write, enjoy beautiful weather (hopefully), and enjoy time with family and friends.
See you on Monday! Don't forget Spring Break Reading Challenge Logs, Spring Break Writing Challenge papers, and sleeping bag or blanket. Camp Write-A-long is amazing! Be ready for some fun!!!!!
Sincerely,
Pam Bartholomew
The four days after spring break will be our amazing fourth grade Camp Write-A-long!!!!!!!
We will write all morning and engage in some fun camp activities, then we will do math activities in the afternoon. Your child can bring in a sleeping bag or blanket, pillow, small stuffed animal,and flashlight. They can dress in camping clothing all week.
Please see the Sign up genius for some supplies that we need to make our camp spectacular.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A4BA8AD292-writing
Camp Letters
We also encourage you to write a letter to your camper. You can ask family members also to write about camping experiences, write about writing, write to tell your camper how much you miss your camper while he/she is away at camp, or whatever! Be creative! We will have a mail call each day. You can send letters in or you can email them to me and I will print them out. In the past receiving letters at Writing Camp is a big deal for the kids. Thank you in advance.
Writing Camp Celebration
Parents and families are invited to attend our Writing Camp Celebration on Thursday, March 24 at 2:00. Our campers will share their writing with you and their camp experiences. Thank you for celebrating all of our effort and hard work this week. We will also sing some camp songs for you!!!!
Dates to Remember:
Monday, March 21-Writing Camp starts, Bring sleeping bag, reading log, and writing challenge papers. Writing club after school from 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 22-24-Writing Camp continues!
Thursday, March 24-Writing Camp Celebration at 2:00.Reading Response letter due, no spelling or vocabulary this week
Friday, March 25-no school
Monday, March 28-turn in reading logs, Service Club after school from 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing Test for 4th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Relax, read, write, enjoy beautiful weather (hopefully), and enjoy time with family and friends.
See you on Monday! Don't forget Spring Break Reading Challenge Logs, Spring Break Writing Challenge papers, and sleeping bag or blanket. Camp Write-A-long is amazing! Be ready for some fun!!!!!
Sincerely,
Pam Bartholomew
Friday, March 11, 2016
Happy Spring Break! Read Everyday! Spring Break Writing Challenge!
HI,
We had a busy week. We took a STAAR Ready Math test and worked hard on reading and writing expository compositions.
Volunteer tomorrow at the Round Rock Serving Center from 9-10:30. Some members of the FCE Service Club will be there and everyone is welcome to join us.
The Maturation Video was today. Ask your child about it.
Look for the Spring Break Reading Challenge paper in your child's backpack. I also attached it below. The expectation is for everyone to read at least 100 minutes for the week. There will be a prize table and the students with the greatest reading time will be first to choose a prize. Challenge yourself and read! Be sure to record completed books for the 20 Book Challenge. I also attached the reading forms which you can print and complete or you can complete them online on the google forms. Happy Reading!
We also are having a Spring Break Writing Challenge. Your child has a packet with information. This is optional, but strongly encouraged. There is information about the writing process and expository writing. I also attached some fun videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sNHpXjRuL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhxRWDgPt3o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FOh_A1FotU
To view Implementing the Writing Process click on the link below.
http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/implementing-writing-process-30386.html
All children who return a piece of free writing as well as a plan, draft (with evidence of revision and editing), revision checklist, editing checklist, and final copy (one side of a piece of notebook paper-handwritten) will be invited to a super fun lunch on Tuesday. There will be some Minute to Win It games and some other surprises. Have fun writing and practicing the writing process. Be sure to write with your child. They love to hear about my writing and what I'm thinking as I revise and edit. Happy Writing!!!!
The four days after spring break will be our amazing fourth grade Camp Write Along!!!!!!! We will write all morning and engage in some fun camp activities, then we will do math activities in the afternoon. Your child can bring in a sleeping bag or blanket, pillow, small stuffed animal,and flashlight. They can dress in camping clothing all week. Please see the Sign up genius for some supplies that we need to make our camp spectacular.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A4BA8AD292-writing
I will be in the classroom on the morning of Friday, March 18 planning and setting up for camp. You can drop off items then. (decorations and bandanas). The food and tent can come on Monday morning.
We also encourage you to write a letter to your camper. You can ask family members also to write about camping experiences, write about writing, write to tell your camper how much you miss your camper while he/she is away at camp, or whatever! Be creative! We will have a mail call each day. You can send letters in or you can email them to me and I will print them out. In the past receiving letters at Writing Camp is a big deal for the kids. Thank you in advance.
Have a wonderful week of spring break. Relax, read, write, enjoy beautiful weather (hopefully), and enjoy time with family and friends.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
We had a busy week. We took a STAAR Ready Math test and worked hard on reading and writing expository compositions.
Volunteer tomorrow at the Round Rock Serving Center from 9-10:30. Some members of the FCE Service Club will be there and everyone is welcome to join us.
The Maturation Video was today. Ask your child about it.
Look for the Spring Break Reading Challenge paper in your child's backpack. I also attached it below. The expectation is for everyone to read at least 100 minutes for the week. There will be a prize table and the students with the greatest reading time will be first to choose a prize. Challenge yourself and read! Be sure to record completed books for the 20 Book Challenge. I also attached the reading forms which you can print and complete or you can complete them online on the google forms. Happy Reading!
We also are having a Spring Break Writing Challenge. Your child has a packet with information. This is optional, but strongly encouraged. There is information about the writing process and expository writing. I also attached some fun videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sNHpXjRuL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhxRWDgPt3o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FOh_A1FotU
To view Implementing the Writing Process click on the link below.
http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/implementing-writing-process-30386.html
All children who return a piece of free writing as well as a plan, draft (with evidence of revision and editing), revision checklist, editing checklist, and final copy (one side of a piece of notebook paper-handwritten) will be invited to a super fun lunch on Tuesday. There will be some Minute to Win It games and some other surprises. Have fun writing and practicing the writing process. Be sure to write with your child. They love to hear about my writing and what I'm thinking as I revise and edit. Happy Writing!!!!
The four days after spring break will be our amazing fourth grade Camp Write Along!!!!!!! We will write all morning and engage in some fun camp activities, then we will do math activities in the afternoon. Your child can bring in a sleeping bag or blanket, pillow, small stuffed animal,and flashlight. They can dress in camping clothing all week. Please see the Sign up genius for some supplies that we need to make our camp spectacular.
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A4BA8AD292-writing
I will be in the classroom on the morning of Friday, March 18 planning and setting up for camp. You can drop off items then. (decorations and bandanas). The food and tent can come on Monday morning.
We also encourage you to write a letter to your camper. You can ask family members also to write about camping experiences, write about writing, write to tell your camper how much you miss your camper while he/she is away at camp, or whatever! Be creative! We will have a mail call each day. You can send letters in or you can email them to me and I will print them out. In the past receiving letters at Writing Camp is a big deal for the kids. Thank you in advance.
Have a wonderful week of spring break. Relax, read, write, enjoy beautiful weather (hopefully), and enjoy time with family and friends.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Newsletter
Hi,
We had a busy and wonderful week. We finished reading Number the Stars, which is an amazing award winning book about a young girl in Denmark helping her Jewish friend escape to Sweden during WWII. Ask your child about it.
We celebrated Texas Independence Day with a Texas-shaped Rice Krispy Treat and the Texas State Song. We also celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday with a reading of Bartholomew Cubbins and the 500 Hats.
We had our lunch celebration for those who completed the monthly reading challenge of reading a historical fiction book. We discussed some of our favorite historical fiction books and watched a Dr. Seuss video. The Monthly Challenge for March is an informational book-something with facts, headings, charts, photos, etc.... This type of book is non-fiction and will teach the reader something. It could be arranged in chapters, but may not have chapters. Ask about any books in question. Have fun reading to learn and be sure to read the captions for the pictures, charts, diagrams, etc... Happy Reading!
This week, we will take the STAAR Ready Math test on Tuesday and will act out the Battle of the Alamo on Monday. The battle was on March 6, 1836.
This week in reading-We will read more about Japanese Internment Camps during World War II and will work on summarizing and using context clues to figure out tricky words. Keep reading everyday at home.
In writing- We will continue to draft, conference, revise, edit, and write a final copy for our friendship piece as an expository writing. We will also use a checklist and model revising strategies. We will continue to have some time to free write everyday.
In spelling-We will review plurals. (hero, heroes, shelf, shelves, etc...) We also will work on possessives vs. plurals. These words will need to be in context to be able to determine the correct spelling. (it is the girl's bike. The girls went for a ride.)
Vocabulary- We will science words this week. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-We will continue to learn about the Texas Revolution.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am, STAAR Ready Math Test
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due, wear college shirts
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Monday, March14-March 18-Spring Break
Monday, March 21-Writing Club 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts.
Monday, March 21-March 24-Writing Camp!!!!!! More info. to come.
Friday, March 25-No school-Spring Holiday
Monday, March 28-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing test for 4th grade, STAAR Math test for 5th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
We had a busy and wonderful week. We finished reading Number the Stars, which is an amazing award winning book about a young girl in Denmark helping her Jewish friend escape to Sweden during WWII. Ask your child about it.
We celebrated Texas Independence Day with a Texas-shaped Rice Krispy Treat and the Texas State Song. We also celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday with a reading of Bartholomew Cubbins and the 500 Hats.
We had our lunch celebration for those who completed the monthly reading challenge of reading a historical fiction book. We discussed some of our favorite historical fiction books and watched a Dr. Seuss video. The Monthly Challenge for March is an informational book-something with facts, headings, charts, photos, etc.... This type of book is non-fiction and will teach the reader something. It could be arranged in chapters, but may not have chapters. Ask about any books in question. Have fun reading to learn and be sure to read the captions for the pictures, charts, diagrams, etc... Happy Reading!
This week, we will take the STAAR Ready Math test on Tuesday and will act out the Battle of the Alamo on Monday. The battle was on March 6, 1836.
This week in reading-We will read more about Japanese Internment Camps during World War II and will work on summarizing and using context clues to figure out tricky words. Keep reading everyday at home.
In writing- We will continue to draft, conference, revise, edit, and write a final copy for our friendship piece as an expository writing. We will also use a checklist and model revising strategies. We will continue to have some time to free write everyday.
In spelling-We will review plurals. (hero, heroes, shelf, shelves, etc...) We also will work on possessives vs. plurals. These words will need to be in context to be able to determine the correct spelling. (it is the girl's bike. The girls went for a ride.)
Vocabulary- We will science words this week. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-We will continue to learn about the Texas Revolution.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am, STAAR Ready Math Test
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due, wear college shirts
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Monday, March14-March 18-Spring Break
Monday, March 21-Writing Club 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts.
Monday, March 21-March 24-Writing Camp!!!!!! More info. to come.
Friday, March 25-No school-Spring Holiday
Monday, March 28-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing test for 4th grade, STAAR Math test for 5th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Newsletter
Hi,
We took the STAAR Ready Reading test on Tuesday and will use this information to help us plan instruction and small groups. Overall, the children did very well. Continue to encourage your child to read more than the required 20 minutes a day. Talk to your child about the books that he/she is reading and tell them about your reading. Read together. I am so impressed with their excitement and joy when it is time to read!
Service Club on Monday-We will be glazing bowls for the Empty Bowl Project. Your child is invited to come, even if they didn't make a bowl. There will be extras to glaze. 2:45-3:45 in Ms. Arnold's Art Room.
Tuesday, March 1-Six Flags Reading Logs are due and we will have our Monthly Challenge Lunch.
Wednesday, March 2-Texas Independence Day, Sam Houston's Birthday, Dr. Seuss's Birthday-Early Release Day
This week in reading-We will read about Japanese Internment Camps during World War II using a book called Baseball Saved Us and discuss character changes. We will read nonfiction articles on Navajo Code Talkers and Japanese Internment and work on summarizing by chunking the main idea of each section. We will also use the context of the sentence, paragraph, or passage to determine the meaning in tricky words and multiple meaning words. We will continue with Number the Stars and discuss foreshadowing, predictions, inferences, context clues, and character traits as we read. Keep reading everyday at home.
In writing- Using the quote,Friendship is a sheltering tree, we brainstormed and free wrote about our friends and friends in movies, books, and TV shows. We will organize our examples and determine a central idea. We will draft, conference, revise, edit, and write a final copy for this piece as an expository writing. We will also continue to have some time to free write everyday.
In spelling-We will work on adverbs ending in ly for spelling this week. Last week, we focused on learning about complete sentences and identifying the subject and predicate. This week, we will work with commas after beginning phrases and clauses. (After the play, we went home.) We will continue to work on grammar, combining sentences, capitalization, and punctuation using mentor sentences and passages to correct.
Vocabulary- We will math words this week. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-We will celebrate Texas Independence Day and learn more about the Texas Revolution. The anniversary of Battle of the Alamo is on March 6, so we will discuss that as well.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, February 29-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2;45-3:45 (glazing our clay bowls for Empty Bowl Project) Monthly Challenge papers are due
Tuesday, March 1-Six Flags Reading forms due, Monthly Challenge lunch
Wednesday, March 2-Early Release 12:45, Texas Independence Day, Dr. Seuss's and Sam Houston's Birthdays
Friday, March 4-Hoedown for K-2, homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due, wear college shirts
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Monday, March14-March 18-Spring Break
Monday, March 21-Writing Club 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts.
Monday, March 21-March 24-Writing Camp!!!!!! More info. to come.
Friday, March 25-No school-Spring Holiday
Monday, March 28-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing test for 4th grade, STAAR Math test for 5th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
We took the STAAR Ready Reading test on Tuesday and will use this information to help us plan instruction and small groups. Overall, the children did very well. Continue to encourage your child to read more than the required 20 minutes a day. Talk to your child about the books that he/she is reading and tell them about your reading. Read together. I am so impressed with their excitement and joy when it is time to read!
Service Club on Monday-We will be glazing bowls for the Empty Bowl Project. Your child is invited to come, even if they didn't make a bowl. There will be extras to glaze. 2:45-3:45 in Ms. Arnold's Art Room.
Tuesday, March 1-Six Flags Reading Logs are due and we will have our Monthly Challenge Lunch.
Wednesday, March 2-Texas Independence Day, Sam Houston's Birthday, Dr. Seuss's Birthday-Early Release Day
This week in reading-We will read about Japanese Internment Camps during World War II using a book called Baseball Saved Us and discuss character changes. We will read nonfiction articles on Navajo Code Talkers and Japanese Internment and work on summarizing by chunking the main idea of each section. We will also use the context of the sentence, paragraph, or passage to determine the meaning in tricky words and multiple meaning words. We will continue with Number the Stars and discuss foreshadowing, predictions, inferences, context clues, and character traits as we read. Keep reading everyday at home.
In writing- Using the quote,Friendship is a sheltering tree, we brainstormed and free wrote about our friends and friends in movies, books, and TV shows. We will organize our examples and determine a central idea. We will draft, conference, revise, edit, and write a final copy for this piece as an expository writing. We will also continue to have some time to free write everyday.
In spelling-We will work on adverbs ending in ly for spelling this week. Last week, we focused on learning about complete sentences and identifying the subject and predicate. This week, we will work with commas after beginning phrases and clauses. (After the play, we went home.) We will continue to work on grammar, combining sentences, capitalization, and punctuation using mentor sentences and passages to correct.
Vocabulary- We will math words this week. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-We will celebrate Texas Independence Day and learn more about the Texas Revolution. The anniversary of Battle of the Alamo is on March 6, so we will discuss that as well.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, February 29-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2;45-3:45 (glazing our clay bowls for Empty Bowl Project) Monthly Challenge papers are due
Tuesday, March 1-Six Flags Reading forms due, Monthly Challenge lunch
Wednesday, March 2-Early Release 12:45, Texas Independence Day, Dr. Seuss's and Sam Houston's Birthdays
Friday, March 4-Hoedown for K-2, homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due, wear college shirts
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Monday, March14-March 18-Spring Break
Monday, March 21-Writing Club 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts.
Monday, March 21-March 24-Writing Camp!!!!!! More info. to come.
Friday, March 25-No school-Spring Holiday
Monday, March 28-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2:45-3:45
Tuesday, March 29-STAAR Writing test for 4th grade, STAAR Math test for 5th grade
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
Sincerely,
Pam
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Newsletter
Hi,
We had a short, but great week. We had a successful book fair and worked hard in class. Reading Number the Stars aloud is one of the best parts of our day. This historical fiction book is exciting and teaches us about the situation in Denmark during World War II. We will continue to read books and articles about World War II and will learn more about tolerance as we learn some history.
This week in reading-We will continue with Number the Stars and discuss foreshadowing, predictions, inferences, context clues, and character traits as we read. We will read non-fiction articles and practice identifying and understanding explicit and implicit headings and purposes as well as work on chunking information to summarize and comprehend effectively. We will also take the STAAR Ready Reading test on Tuesday, which will give us information about our areas of strength and areas for continued work.
In writing-we are finishing up the writing of our original fractured fairy tales and are continuing to free write everyday. We will also write our opinions and reasons to explain our thinking in reaction to a quote. Using quotes that discuss friendship, favorite things, challenges, etc..discussing them and writing to explain our thinking will help us write organized and thoughtful expository essays. We will chose an expository entry from our writer's notebook to take through the writing process this week. We will conference, revise, edit, and write a final draft.
In spelling-we worked on multi-syllable words and breaking the words into smaller chunks to spell them accurately. This week we will practice words that follow the rule-i before e except after c. We will also work on grammar, combining sentences, capitalization, and punctuation using mentor sentences and passages to correct.
Vocabulary- We will continue to work on words from academic reading. This will include words like textual evidence, implicit purpose, stated purpose, explicit, implicit, and theme. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-The students planned their own settlements and created posters to encourage settlers to come to their colonies. The children decided where in Texas they would build their town, what natural resources were available, and what services their town would offer. The posters had catchy phrases to persuade and reasons why their town is a great place to live. We will start learning about the Texas Revolution this week.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, February 22-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts, PTA Family Fun Night at Hat Creek Burgers
Tuesday, February 23-STAAR Ready Reading Test
Thursday, February 25-Art Show from 2:45-7:00
Friday, February 26-homework packet due, spelling test,vocabulary test, Reading response letters due, wear college shirts
Monday, February 29-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2;45-3:45 (glazing our clay bowls for Empty Bowl Project)
Wednesday, March 2-Early Release 12:45
Friday, March 4-Hoedown for K-2, homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
We had a short, but great week. We had a successful book fair and worked hard in class. Reading Number the Stars aloud is one of the best parts of our day. This historical fiction book is exciting and teaches us about the situation in Denmark during World War II. We will continue to read books and articles about World War II and will learn more about tolerance as we learn some history.
This week in reading-We will continue with Number the Stars and discuss foreshadowing, predictions, inferences, context clues, and character traits as we read. We will read non-fiction articles and practice identifying and understanding explicit and implicit headings and purposes as well as work on chunking information to summarize and comprehend effectively. We will also take the STAAR Ready Reading test on Tuesday, which will give us information about our areas of strength and areas for continued work.
In writing-we are finishing up the writing of our original fractured fairy tales and are continuing to free write everyday. We will also write our opinions and reasons to explain our thinking in reaction to a quote. Using quotes that discuss friendship, favorite things, challenges, etc..discussing them and writing to explain our thinking will help us write organized and thoughtful expository essays. We will chose an expository entry from our writer's notebook to take through the writing process this week. We will conference, revise, edit, and write a final draft.
In spelling-we worked on multi-syllable words and breaking the words into smaller chunks to spell them accurately. This week we will practice words that follow the rule-i before e except after c. We will also work on grammar, combining sentences, capitalization, and punctuation using mentor sentences and passages to correct.
Vocabulary- We will continue to work on words from academic reading. This will include words like textual evidence, implicit purpose, stated purpose, explicit, implicit, and theme. Practice vocabulary words using quizlet.com.
In social studies-The students planned their own settlements and created posters to encourage settlers to come to their colonies. The children decided where in Texas they would build their town, what natural resources were available, and what services their town would offer. The posters had catchy phrases to persuade and reasons why their town is a great place to live. We will start learning about the Texas Revolution this week.
Dates to Remember:
Monday, February 22-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts, PTA Family Fun Night at Hat Creek Burgers
Tuesday, February 23-STAAR Ready Reading Test
Thursday, February 25-Art Show from 2:45-7:00
Friday, February 26-homework packet due, spelling test,vocabulary test, Reading response letters due, wear college shirts
Monday, February 29-Wear FCE shirts, Service Club 2;45-3:45 (glazing our clay bowls for Empty Bowl Project)
Wednesday, March 2-Early Release 12:45
Friday, March 4-Hoedown for K-2, homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Monday, March 7-Writing Club after school 2:45-3:45, Wear FCE shirts,
Tuesday, March 8-PTA General Meeting 11 am
Friday, March 11-homework packet due, spelling test, vocabulary test, Reading Response Letters due
Saturday, March 12-Volunteer at Round Rock Serving Center 9-10:30
Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy time with your family! Thank you for sharing your child with me.
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