Ms. Bolene's Newsletter
September Updates
Today, I am sending home more work that has been graded. Please know that Las Colinas decided this year there will be no progress report during the 1st 9 weeks ONLY. If you have specific questions about how your child is doing so far in Math, Science, or Social studies, please do not hesitate to send me an email.
Here is a quick overview of what we are doing in class:
**Math**
--Reviewing 2D and 3D shapes, number of sides, vertices, similarities in shapes, right angles, what shapes we can use to build other shapes. We will be having some assessments next week reviewing this material. End of Unit test for this will not be for another 2-3 weeks I believe.
**Science**
--Unit 2—covering Properties of Matter, solids, liquids, gas, we just had an assessment on this today. We are about to begin reviewing changes in matter (heating, cooling, cutting) The refrigerator card is going home today. Please be reviewing this for our end of unit assessment coming up next week. I will have students write down on their calendar the exact date. Last time, we just did a review in class, but for this test, I will make a review that they can take home and study. We will have an assessment on changes in matter this week.
Another quick note: During every unit, we have small assessments that is usually comprised of a small number of questions. The grading scale for these assessments is much different than the end of unit multiple choice test. You may sometimes see a UPC written on their papers, which stands for understanding, procedures, and communication. All 3 categories are rated between a 1-4, 4 being full mastery. Then based on the total UPC score, will determine the grade. The UPC system helps students gain more points since showing their work or writing explanations can vary in being completely right or completely wrong. All of these assessments are combined as a part of the 75% total for summative grades. The formative grades are basically work they are doing in class, workbook pages, notebook work, group work, and homework.
I recently sent home a paper about how to order Scholastic books online and to put in our classroom code. Please let me know if you still need this information.
Parent Teacher conferences are beginning soon, and you will be contacted for a time. Also, picture day forms are going home today.
Of course an assembly, meeting, changes in schedule, testing, etc occur, so if there are any changes in information I have told you, I will be sure to send updates. Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me privately. Thank you!
Ms. Bolene
Email: bolenel@cfbisd.edu
Location: 2200 Kinwest Pkwy Irving, TX
Phone: 972-968-2245