Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

Last week we started "Essay Boot Camp!"  We learned what an essay is as well as the structure of an essay.  We also chose our first essay topic and came up with a thesis and 3 supporting reasons, including 3 examples for each of those reasons.  Then, we started to freewrite about our topic to gain ideas.  Personal essay topics include sports, holidays, friends and family members, pets, objects, and a favorite book.  This week we are continuing to grow our essay ideas.  The Spelling Test will be this Friday, October 23rd.

Reading

In reading groups, we are reading debates from our StoryWorks magazines to prepare for our essay unit.  After reading the debate, we are deciding if we agree or disagree with the thesis statement.  We will continue reading these debates this week.  

Math

In Math we started Chapter 4.  We are learning many different strategies for multiplying by a two-digit number.  So far we have discussed multiplying by multiples of 10 and rounding numbers to get a multiple of 10.  This week we will continue to learn other strategies.  For homework each night, students should be studying their multiplication and division facts!   They can also work on completing their pie pieces on ALEKS at home.  

Social Studies

We have started social studies this week with Chapter 2, "Our State Today."  It discusses famous Missouri artists, writers, and athletes as well as popular festivals and big cities in Missouri.  

Other Important Info.  

• Click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!   
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, October 26th and Wednesday, October 28th.  If you have not signed up for a time slot, please do so  using the SignUpGenius link that was sent via email.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week we took a break from our writing units and wrote spooky poems using sensory details!  Students used awesome details.  Check out a couple of our poems below!   Today we started our new unit on essays.  We start "Essay Boot Camp" with a personal essay, writing about something that we love.  Then, we will write a persuasive essay.  We spend a lot of time in learning the structure of an essay.  New spelling words will be given out this week.  The next Spelling test will be Friday, October 23rd.  

Reading

As we are reading our read aloud, "The Tiger Rising," we are preparing for our persuasive essays and practicing giving text support to our answers by coming up with a list of debatable ideas about some of our characters in the book.  For example, "Sistine had friends in Philadelphia" and, "The tiger should be set free."  We will look for evidence in the text to either support or oppose these statements.  In reading groups, we are finishing our study of ecosystems.

Math

Students "showed what they know" today on the Chapter 3 Test.  We will start Chapter 4 ("Multiply with One-Digit Numbers") this week   Again, it is important that students study their multiplication facts at home!

Science/Social Studies

Food chain projects are due tomorrow, Tuesday 10/13.  The Chapter 4 Ecosystems Test is this Wednesday.  Students have their study guides.  Again, extra credit activities/practice activities can be found on the online textbook.  Students' usernames and passwords can be found on the login cards in the front of their binders.   The link to the online textbook can be found by clicking here.  After logging in, students click on "To Do" in the right-hand corner of the home page.  Then, the assigned activities will appear.  Click on the activity to complete.   After finishing an activity, click on the "I'm Done" button next to the activity.  These extra credit activities are due Friday.  After our ecosystems unit, we will resume with our study of Missouri in Social Studies. 

Other Important Info.  

• Click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!   
• This Friday, October 16th is a half day with dismissal at 11:50.  No lunch will be served.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  
• As a reminder, grades can be viewed using SIS at any time.  This Friday, October 16th, marks the end of first quarter.  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, October 26th and Wednesday, October 28th.  If you have not signed up for a time slot, please do so  using the SignUpGenius link that was sent via email.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week we finished our first writing unit!  On Friday, we celebrated our realistic fiction stories.  Students gave group members awards such as "Leadership with Leads," "Dynamite Dialogue," and "Creative Characters."  The Spelling Test will be Friday, 10/9.  

Reading

In reading groups, we are starting to read about ecosystems to add to our science studies.  

Math

This past week in Chapter 3, we reviewed strategies in remembering our multiplication and division fact families.  Multiplication is repeated addition and division is repeated subtraction.  We also reviewed the properties of multiplication.  Finally, we focused on identifying key words in word problems such as "times as many."  This week we will learn the order of operations as well as factors and multiples.  It is very important that students study their multiplication facts at home!

Many students have completed the "Addition & Subtraction" ALEKS pie piece!  Great job, students!  Remember, your child can log on to ALEKS at home.  Usernames and passwords are on students' login cards.  

Science

This past week in Science we started our Biome Quilt Project, in which each student researches a biome to find out more about its climate, plants and animals, and location.  Students have Monday in class to work on them, and then they are due Tuesday 10/6.  Extra credit activities/practice activities can be found on the online textbook.  Students' usernames and passwords can be found on the login cards in the front of their binders.   The link to the online textbook can be found by clicking here.  After logging in, students click on "To Do" in the right-hand corner of the home page.  Then, the assigned activities will appear.  Click on the activity to complete.   After finishing an activity, click on the "I'm Done" button next to the activity.  

Field Trip

Other Important Info.  

• To find the Reflection Journal prompts that were assigned this week, as well as old reflection journal prompts, click here. 
• As a reminder, current grades can be viewed using SIS.  Grades are updated weekly.  October 16th marks the end of first quarter.  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, October 26th and Wednesday, October 28th.  To sign up for a conference, you will receive a link via email to access SignUpGenius.  
• The Long Leaders after school group is looking for members!  Applications can be picked up in the main office and are due by October 9th.