Medcalf Minutes
May 9th 13th
Anderson Grove's Purpose and Direction
Purpose: The purpose of Anderson Grove Elementary is to prepare all students to achieve their greatest potential and to positively impact the future.
Values & Beliefs:
Family Atmosphere
Collaboration and Communication
Integrity
Continuous Improvement
3 Be’s – Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible
Be Known...
Anderson Grove is Known for Being a . . .
Collaborative
Dedicated
Positive
Community
Expectation of the Week: Cafeteria Behavior
Be Respectful
Ask permission to get up
Follow adult directions
Use indoor voice level
Be Responsible
Clean up after yourself
Line up quietly
Place trash in the trash can
Be Safe
Walk in a single file line
Sit facing forward with feet on the floor
Eat your own food
Social Skill of the Week: Following Instructions
Look at the person.
Say ‘Okay.’
Do what you have been asked right away.
Check back.
A Note from Mrs. Medcalf
As we head into the final month of school, spring fever and anticipation for exciting summer plans can start to creep in and create a distraction for our students. Though our remaining time together may be short, there is much to do! We have several content units to finish and will test right into the last week of school. Please help your child stay focused and reiterate the importance of finishing strong!
Please also see the information regarding the writing and oral presentation project below in the "Peek at our Week". If your child chooses to create a power point presentation, the link to our Symbaloo page with a blank power point presentation can be found here.
A Note from Mrs. Billquist
Third graders will be having their second oral presentation soon. Below are some tips to help your child prepare.
Practice the presentation a few times before the big day. If using visuals, practice with those as well.
Talk, don't read. Prepare note cards, but tell about the topic that was researched. It will be easier to do this if the presentation has been practiced a few times.
Take it slow. Sometimes students begin to speak really fast. When practicing, have them slow down.
Talk loud enough to be heard throughout the classroom.
Look at the audience.
Finish strong. Have a good ending so that the audience knows when the presentation is finished.
A Note from Mrs. von Nagy
All Library Books Due By Friday, May 20th!
The last day for student checkout this year is Friday, May 13th. The last day to turn in all library materials for the year is Friday, May 20th. Be on the lookout for overdue notices, which will be sent out weekly in May. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. von Nagy at evonnagy@paplv.org
Figurative Language Fun with Mrs. Wilson
A note from Ms. Johnson
Upcoming Events
May 9- “Bump Up Afternoon”- 2:20 to 3:00 - Students visit next year grade level
May 13- Last day for students to check out school library books
May 20-Last day for library books to be returned
May 25- 3rd-6th grade talent show - 1:30
May 26- Last day of school- 11:40 dismissal
Specials
Tuesday (Day 3) - Art
Wednesday (Day 4) - Guidance and Checkout Day
Thursday (Day 5) - PE
Friday (Day 6) - Art
A Peek at our Week
Reading – This week we will look at the interesting properties of magnets as children explore the question “How would your life be different without magnets?” In The Power of Magnets, students will read fun and unusual facts about magnets and their uses. Students will also read the photo essay Electromagnets and You to learn more about the special properties of electromagnets. Target Vocabulary: research, tools, familiar, gadget, invention, experiment, electric, power, prove, improve
At Home – Activities to Do Together
Vocabulary What role does technology play in your life at home? Discuss with your child how you use technology every day. Use this week’s Target Vocabulary words to help spur the conversation!
How Inventive…Not! Talk with your child about how life might be different if he or she did not have a certain invention. For example, ask your child to talk about what he or she would do if there were no telephones or light bulbs.
Magnificent Magnets Have your child describe what magnets do. Together research the various uses of magnets and/or electromagnets. Have your child write a short paragraph that tells about magnets and describes some of the problems they help solve. Be sure your child describes what a magnet does and how it solves one or more problems.
Writing – Passion Project - Students will present their projects to their classmates. Students should have a visual to aid their presentation such as artifacts or equipment to support their topic, a collage with facts and pictures, or a power point presentation. Please note when our student signed up to present:
Monday: Abram, Emma, Noah D., Caden
Tuesday: Addison, Caleb, Ewan, Ellie
Wednesday: Jayden, Paige, Taylor, Izzy
Thursday: Aspe, Chloe, Kiera, Madison
Friday: Marc, Kasidy, Noah M. Quin
At Home - Ask your child what their topic is and how they plan to share their information with the class. Many students seemed interested in creating a power point presentation such as the one they made 1st semester. Here is a link to Symbaloo with a blank power point for each student that they can edit to share their information. If this is the visual aid option your child chooses, please feel free to help them find pictures to support their topic! The link to our Symbaloo page is also available on the Anderson Grove Media homepage.
Math – Mathematicians will begin their new math unit this week, geometry and measurement. Students will discuss how 3D shapes differ from 2D shapes as well as similarities and differences between polyhedra and non-polyhedra.
At Home – Check out these sites for more information: http://jmathpage.com/JIMSGeometrysolids.html
http://www.starrmatica.com/standalone/starrMatica3DEarthExploration.swf
Social Studies – Students will continue learning about communities, the environment, and how the actions of people change our environment. We will continue to explore different types of communities, rural, suburban, and urban. We will also discuss the similarities of different communities that form a region.
Spelling – This week we will look at words with double consonants. Spelling list: jelly, bottom, pillow, happen, butter, lesson, cherry, sudden, arrow, dollar, hello, rabbit, letter, button, mirror, funny, better, stubborn.
At Home – Visit our class page at Spelling City, http://www.spellingcity.com/BeckyMedcalf/, to review this week's spelling list.
Thank you Families! Happy Mother's Day weekend!