Martin's Memos
Volume 2, Issue 7: October 12, 2018
This Week
Parents,
Please read through this information carefully and let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks!
-Ms. Kate Martin
Positivity Project
"When you choose to see the good in others, you end up finding the good in yourself." -Unknown
Photos of the Week: Enrichment Presentations!
What happened at the battle of Fort McHenry?
What are the constellations?
Will a mini greenhouse improve plant growth?
Has monopoly always been the same?
What are the most dangerous freshwater fish?
Who were the heroes of the Revolutionary War?
How can you create the best kinetic sand?
How does the stock market work?
Is anything faster than the speed of light?
What are the worlds of Norse Mythology?
What is the history and information about the Standard Poodle?
Why do people consider Lionel Messi the best soccer player in the world?
What Did We Learn This Week?
Math: Students continued in their math groups.
Yellow- I can understand rational numbers.
Green- I can x and / fractions and decimals.
Orange- I can complete operations involving decimals.
Social Studies (5th): I can act as a historian and learn how Europe influenced US history. Students completed our unit on "The Three Worlds" coming together to influence US history: Native Americans, Europeans and West Africa. Students took a test on Friday.
Reading: We continued to make generalizations and reason about change. Students will also reason about events and situations. In our small groups we used the "Notice and Note" strategy when reading. This week we focused in on the "Words of the Wiser" signpost.
Writing: We continued our persuasive writing essays. The students have now begun drafting using their templates as a guide.
Looking Forward to Next Week...
Positivity Project (P2)/Character Education: Integrity
Yellow- I can solve complex algebraic equations.
Green- I can solve algebraic equations.
Orange- I can fluently multiply with large numbers.
Science (5th): We will begin our unit on Matter & Energy in Organisms & Ecosystems.
Reading: We will continue to make generalizations and reason about change and reasoning. We'll continue learning the "Notice and Note" strategy. We will continue reading The Secret Garden.
Writing: We will continue our persuasive writing drafts.
THANK YOU for your book donations!
Thanks to those that purchased copies for the GATE program! :)
The Marx Family, The Billings Family, The Broughton Family, The Nowinski Family, The Lavallee Family, The Niezgoda Family, The Anderson Family, The Weadock Family, The Raymond Family, The Schaefer Family, and the Wloch Family!
Continuous Important Reminders...
Vision and Hearing Screening
Hearing Screening will be done, also by OCHD, on 10/12, 10/15 and 10/16. They will screen K, 2nd, and 4th graders.
Book It!
We can start for the month of October a little late! Our "prorated" October amount is 625 minutes. :) Students complete the log and a parent needs to sign to confirm they read that amount of minutes.
Logs need to be turned in by the last day of each month. This is when I'll be passing out the "Free Personal Pan Pizza" coupon!
Khan Academy: What is it? When should my child use it?
In class, the students use it if/when they finish their in-class math lesson with me. However, sometimes I ask that the students do this instead of homework pages. Students can always log on at home and work on it anytime.
Avondale GATE Internal Applicant Information Nights
Next Information Night for Internal Families: Oct. 24th.
Other Helpful Information:
-November 1-15 is the Internal Application Window. Online application and forms will be online during that window.
-Current students in GT program do not need to reapply.
-Students that are in Avondale Schools through school of choice but are not in the GT program are considered internal applicants.
-Students that have a sibling in the GT program and they want to apply but are not currently in Avondale Schools are school of choice applicants. These students must wait for that application window in the spring.
-The school of choice information nights are January 29th and February 7th.
-The school of choice application window is February 6-March 8.
Standards-Based Grading
3 = Meeting or Exceeding Grade Level Standards
2 = Adequate Progress Toward Grade Level Standards
1 = Limited Progress Toward Grade Level Standards
Please note that more detailed information will follow from Avondale Administration prior to report cards.
Fall Conferences
Box Tops!
Class Schedule
Ms. Martin’s Class Schedule
8:35-8:50: Morning Work/Welcome
8:50-9:40: Writing Workshop
5th Graders:
9:40-10:26: 5th Grade Specials
10:26-10:35: Snack (Healthy, Nut-Free)
10:35-11:30: Science/Social Studies with Ms. Martin
4th Graders:
9:40-10:35: Science/Social Studies with Ms. Gierman
10:35-11:21: 4th Grade Specials
11:21-11:30: Snack (Healthy, Nut-Free)
4th/5th Graders Return to their Teacher:
11:30-12:30: Math Workshop
12:31-12:53: Lunch
12:53-1:15: Recess
1:15-2:30: Reading Workshop
2:30-2:45: 2nd Recess
2:45-3:30: Enrichment
Woodland follows an “ABC” specials schedule. Tuesday, September 4th will start with “A” day and continue from there.
4th Grade students travel as a class together to specials. Their specials schedule is:
A-PE B-Music C-Art
5th Grade students are split among the three regular 5th grade classes. Their specials schedule depends on the teacher they attend specials with. It may change during the year.
Phou: A-PE B-Music C-Art
(Koen, Nicholas)
Davison: A-Art B-PE C-Music
(Xavier, James, Blair, Georgie)
McNaughton: A-Music B-Art C-PE
(Luca, Kayla, Aapratim, Annabel)Upcoming Important Dates
Normal School Hours: 8:32 - 3:39 (GT dismissal 3:34)
Half Day Hours: 8:32 - 11:45
Oct. 25: Elementary Conferences 4:30-8pm
Oct. 26: End of 1st Marking Period
Oct. 31: Halloween Party/Parade (More info to come from room parents)
Nov. 1: Elementary Conferences 4:30-8pm
Nov 2: Spirit Day/PBIS Assembly
Nov. 6: 1/2 day & Chuck E. Cheese Night 4-10
Nov. 8 & 9: ROARS store @ school
Nov. 13: PTO meeting 7-9
Nov. 14: Picture retake day & Current GATE Families Info Night @ Admin Building 6:30
Nov. 16: 1/2 Day
Nov. 20: 1/2 Day
Nov. 21-23: Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 7: 1/2 Day
Contact Me
Email: kate.martin@avondale.k12.mi.us
Website: katemartingt.weebly.com
Location: 6465 Livernois Road, Troy, MI 48098, United States
Phone: (248) 537-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017787916756
Twitter: @katemartin84