Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling 

Students have finished their first informational books on the Louisiana Purchase, and they turned out great!  We will celebrate all of our hard work by reading them on Monday!  Next, students will choose their own topic for their second informational book.  Some students have already started to research their second book topic.  This includes science and social studies topics, such as the Titanic, World War I, Civil Rights, rocks, electricity, inventions, etc. We will follow the same format as the first book.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, 2/5.

The finished products!

Reading

This past week we discussed the book club roles "Careful Characterizer" and "Discussion Director" with our read aloud "Rump." See some examples below. 

Math

We have started Chapter 8 on fractions.  So far, we have reviewed factors and multiples, prime and composite numbers, equivalent fractions, and simplest form.  We have also compared and ordered fractions.  Coming up is mixed numbers and improper fractions.  

Making equivalent fractions 

Playing "Fractions Dots and Boxes" in the Games Rotation

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we are currently reading Chapter 6, "A Growing State."  Right now we are reading about slavery.  We learned about Harriet Tubman and are working on an underground railroad paper quilt!  

  Other Important Info.

• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  

Weekly Update

Happy Snow Day! 

Writing/Spelling 

Last week students finished Chapter 1 of their informational books on the Louisiana Purchase.  Now we are working on Chapter 2, which is due this Friday.  The entire first book (four chapters) is due January 29th.  After writing this informational book, students will then choose their own social studies or science topic to write their second informational book.  Students will receive their spelling words this week.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, 1/29.

Reading

In reading, we are learning how to research to support our informational books in writing.  Using our read aloud "Rump," we are also going over book club roles to prepare for our upcoming book clubs.  So far, we have discussed the Super Summarizer, Perfect Predictor, Clever Clarifier, and Cunning Connector.  Students are doing great with this!  More details about book clubs to come soon. 

Cunning Connector

Clever Clarifier

Perfect Predictor

Super Summarizer

Math

We have started Chapter 8 on fractions.  So far, we have reviewed factors and multiples.  Coming up in the next week is prime and composite numbers, equivalent fractions, and simplest form!  

Science/Social Studies

The Rocks Test will be now be tomorrow Thursday, 1/21.   Students get an extra day to study!  For extra practice and extra credit, visit the 12 activities and labs available on the online science textbook! Click on the science textbook below.  After logging in, hover over the "To Do" tab on the right-hand side of the page.  Click on that, and the activities will pop up.  Hit "I'm done" when finished to get the extra credit!    

After science, we will resume with Chapter 5 in Social Studies, "Becoming a State."

  Other Important Info.

• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

Before break, students finished our miniunit on journalism.  Mr. Schoenekase came in to cause a ruckus so the students had an event to write about as reporters.  Their articles turned out great!   Now we have started our informational unit.  In writing, students will write a 4 chapter book on the Louisiana Purchase.  After writing this informational book, students will then choose their own social studies or science topic to write their second informational book.  Students received their spelling words this week.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, 1/15.

Reading

In reading, we are learning how to research to support our information books in writing.  We are choosing the text structure that we want to use in our books to help our readers to understand what is important about our topic.  In reading groups, we continue to read our rocks trade books.  We also started a new read aloud.  It's our last Mark Twain Nominee that we will read as a class.  It's a fantasy book called, "Rump."  

Math

We are finishing Chapter 7 on patterns, and the Chapter 7 Math Test is this Wednesday, 1/13.  Students will get the study guide Monday.  We will start Chapter 8 on fractions this Thursday.  Students will need to use their knowledge of multiplication and division facts to help them with this upcoming chapter.  

Science

We are finishing our rocks unit before switching back over to Social Studies.  The Rocks Test will be next Wednesday, 1/20.   Students will get the study guide later this week. 

  Other Important Info.

• This Wednesday, January 13th is an early release day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home.  
• The school spelling bee is this Friday, January 15th at 2pm!  Good luck to our classroom representatives, Tyler Brower and McKenzie Atkinson!  
• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week we started our journalism unit by reading news everyday and learning that all good news stories begin with stating the 5W's (Who? What? Where? When? Why?) and using the inverted pyramid/triangle of journalism (see below).  We will resume with spelling after break.

Reading

We continued to read news and nonfiction texts during Reading this past week.  In reading groups, we also started our rocks books to go with our new science unit! 

Math

Students finished Chapter 6 in Math this past week.  We are starting Chapter 7 on patterns this week and will finish it after break. 

Social Studies/Science

We finished Social Studies Chapters 3 and 4 today with our test.  Now we begin our rocks unit in Science that we will continue after break!  

  Other Important Info.

• We held one of our classroom spelling bees today!  Our next classroom spelling bee is this Wednesday, December 16th.  Our classroom winners will then participate in the school spelling bee on January 15th!  Good luck, students!  
• Our Winter Party is this Thursday from 2:00-3:00.  As a reminder, there is no school this Friday, December 18th! 
• Winter Break starts Monday,December 21st.  School will resume on Monday, January 4th.  
• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week in writing, we finished our persuasive essays!  They turned out great!  We celebrated today, and pictures will be up on the next Weekly Update.  Our next writing unit will be a short journalism mini-unit.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, December 11th.

Reading

In reading this past week, we summarized nonfiction texts and decoded big words.  Nonfiction text can be tricky to understand sometimes, but we are doing a good job of comprehending what we read.   

Summarizing nonfiction text

Math

We have been working hard on learning the steps of long division.  Students are doing very well with this and most have all of the steps memorized!  The Chapter 6 Test is this Thursday, 12/10.  Students will receive the study guide tomorrow in class. 

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we have finished Chapter 4.  We are currently working on a class timeline of all the important events throughout Missouri's history, including all the big dates we discuss all year.  This includes Lewis and Clark's journey and westward expansion.  Timeline pieces are due this Wednesday, 12/9, and the finished timeline will be ready to view on the next Weekly Update!  The Chapter 3/4 Test will be this Friday.  Students received the study guide today.

  Other Important Info.

• Our classroom spelling bee will be held on Monday, December 14th and Wednesday, December 16th before winter break.  Our classroom winners will then participate in the school spelling bee on January 15th!  Good luck, students!  
• This Wednesday, 12/9 is an Early Release Day with dismissal at 1:40.  Make sure your child knows how they are going home.
• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week in writing, we made sure to add persuasive words and transition words in our essays.  We also discussed that we need to add facts that will persuade our audiences.  We will continue to work on these things and editing as we continue to develop our essays.  We will finish these persuasive essays by our celebration date of Friday, December 4th.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, December 11th.

Reading

In reading this past week, we continued to study the structure of nonfiction texts.  We will begin to look at more challenging texts that use multiple text structures.  Again, this is helping us to better read and understand nonfiction texts.  

We practiced identifying text structures by highlighting clues
and key words in short passages with our reading partner!  

Math

This past week we learned the steps of long division!  This is still challenging for some students, and we will continue to work on learning and correctly using the multiple steps.  Below is a picture Division Man, who helps us to remember those steps!  It is important that students keep up with the math homework pages that are assigned a couple times each week during the months of November and December.  It is also vital that they know their facts!

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we have finished Chapter 3 and have started Chapter 4.  Students find Chapter 4 pretty interesting as it explains westward expansion and Lewis and Clark!

  Other Important Info.

• Tomorrow students will take home The Great American Spell Check newspaper to help them in studying for the classroom spelling bee and possibly the school-wide spelling bee.  Our classroom spelling bee will be held in December before winter break.  Our classroom winners will then participate in the school spelling bee on January 15th!  Good luck, students!  
• Don't forget to be filling out the Six Flags Read to Succeed Reading Logs.  If a student is wanting to participate, they need to read 6 hours in addition to their class reading log minutes.  As a reward, they will receive a free admission ticket to Six Flags theme park. These reading logs are due Friday, February 12th.  
• Thanksgiving Break starts Wednesday, November 25th.  School will resume Monday, November 30th (an "E" day).  Have a great break!  

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling

This past week in our writing unit we participated in debates!  Students came up with some pretty persuasive reasons and evidence for their assigned point of view.  Check out some of our debates below- and don't miss the captions that provide information on the winning opinion!  New spelling words won't be passed out until after Thanksgiving break.  The next Spelling Test will be Friday, December 11th.

Most students voted, "NO."

Most students voted, "Yes."

By ONE vote, "Yes" won the debate!

The majority voted, "NO."

Reading

In our reading unit, we are studying how nonfiction texts are organized.  We are studying texts that are structured by chronological order, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem and solution.  This is helping us to better read and understand nonfiction text.  

Math

This week we will start Chapter 6, "Divide by a One-Digit Number."  Again, it is important that your child knows their multiplication and division facts.  They should be practicing facts for fluency on a nightly basis.  

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we are currently studying timelines in Chapter 3.  We will continue with Chapters 3 ("The First People of Missouri") and 4 ("The Arrival of Europeans") before resuming in our science units.  

Other Important Info.  

• This Wednesday, November 18th is an early release day with dismissal at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home.  

• The contest is almost over!!  Don't forget to click here to vote for Long Elementary to get new playground equipment!