Newsletter 9/20-9/24

Here's What's Happening...

English/Language Arts: We will finish up our station work on Monday, and then move forward into our next skill, which is reviewing Author's Purpose, as well as close reading.  Students will read a poem called "Kids Who Are Different" and engage in a close reading of this text.  Then, they will complete an extended response writing for the text, giving them another opportunity to practice using the RACES strategy.  We will discuss the importance of peer review, and engage in peer editing for our responses.  In addition, students will continue to practice Word Work List 2, and will have a quiz on these word parts on Thursday.

Science: Students will look for connections between important words from our first chapter, and use these words to create scientific sentences in an activity called Word Relationships.  Students will write their first scientific explanation on Wednesday.  In this activity, students will be answering our chapter question, "Why don't we see a lot of stars in the daytime?"  They will need to support their answer using evidence from the activities throughout the chapter, as well as use scientific words in their writing.  

Social Studies: We continue our learning about Cortes and Pizarro, as well as the formation of the colony of New Spain.  Students will learn about creating sequence notes, and especially about how sometimes texts do not present some events in chronological order. They will also utilize sources other than their textbook in order to gather a better understanding of Cortes and Pizarro, and be able to answer our Key 4 questions about them.  Students will complete an in class checkpoint for Lesson 2 on Thursday.

Advanced Math:  Students will wrap up learning about polygons and finding the area of polygons on Monday.  Then we will do some review of concepts on Monday and part of Tuesday.  On Tuesday, students will take a quiz on the first 8 lessons we have completed so far.  They can use their notes, their homework, and review our Desmos activities in order to prepare for this quiz.  The rest of the week will be focused on an introduction to surface area and polyhedrons.

Important Info:

CELL PHONE REMINDER!

I just wanted to send a gentle reminder that if students bring cell phones to school, the cell phone needs to remain in their backpack, turned to silent throughout the entire day.  This includes the end of the day, as we are waiting for bus dismissal.  I have had to give a handful of reminders about this over the course of the past few weeks.  If you could please stress to your student that cell phones need to stay away until students have left school premises, I would appreciate it!  Thank you!

Schedule of Events

• Monday, September 20th: Monday Choir Practice, 2:45-3:45pm
• Tuesday, September 21st: Tuesday Choir Practice, 2:45-3:45pm
• Tuesday, September 21st: Art Adventures, 2:40-3:40pm
• Friday, September 24th: No school, Teacher Institute Day