Martin's Memos
Volume 1, Issue 36: June 8, 2018
This Week
Parents,
Please read through this newsletter and let me know if you have any comments or questions. Please enjoy the end-of year slideshow I created below! :) Please see the movie permissions and email me if you would like to opt your child out.
Also....thank you so much for the beautiful birthday flowers and treats!!!
Have a great weekend!
Thanks!
-Ms. Kate Martin
Ms. Martin's GT Class 2017-2018 End of Year Slideshow!
End-of-Year GT Class Party!
The year has flown by and summer is around the corner!
The classes will combine for a party on Tuesday, June 12--kids will tie-dye t-shirts and a have a picnic lunch together. Don't forget to check the donated food items...and to remember what you signed up for :) (Sign up here) You do not need to send in a lunch on Tuesday. Pizza and the donated food items will be given out!
Thank you to Heather Shaw, Jennifer Wloch and Megan Marx for your help coordinating this!
Topics:
Writing & Reading: We had two days of reader's workshop (students should be finishing their lit circle books by next Wednesday) and are working on creating Mind Maps that have a big idea, theme, important belief, etc. about either Wonder of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. We also FINALLY finished reading Wonder!
Math: All Groups: We finished an extension activity about data analysis using presidential age data. We also completed an algebra activity in groups similar to Clue. The students had to figure out "whodunnit"!
Science: We learned how to complete Punnett Squares and we practiced learning about heterozygous and homozygous combinations. We also extracted the DNA of a strawberry in small groups!
Enrichment:Students started presenting their 6th enrichment projects.
Pictures of the Week
Monster Genetics
Enrichment 6.0 Presentations Begin!
About cells...
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Looking Forward to Next Week
Topics:
Writing & Reading: All 4 lit circle groups will meet on Wednesday! We will also have a Socratic Circle discussion about Wonder.
Math: All Groups: The students will be creating their own math "whodunnit" games or math board games.
Science: Review of genetics unit and a quiz.
Enrichment: Students will have options during this time to continue working on their 7th enrichment project, additional Khan Academy time, additional areas of interests, etc.
Pajama/Movie Day
Movie Permissions
Please review the following movie permissions. If you DO NOT want your child to watch one or both of these movies, please email me ASAP.
End of the Year Art Movie
As we reach the end of the year students are wrapping up and taking home all of the artwork we have worked on throughout the year. While we are finishing up the year students will be watching a American Animated movie The Iron Giant.
PERMISSION TO WATCH The Iron Giant
In connection with the different cultures we have learned about this year in the art room (The United States) the movie we will be watching is a modern day animated film that depicts many unique aspects of American culture.
The movie has a rating of PG.
Thank you for your consideration of allowing your child to experience The Iron Giant.End of the Year Culminating ELA Movie - Wonder
PERMISSION TO WATCH Wonder
In connection with the novel we read this year and our related activities, we will watch the movie interpretation of the novel by R.J. Palacio the last week of school. The movie has a rating of PG.
Don't Forget! Class Baseball Event at Jimmy John's Field!
Summer Learning
Optional Summer Book Club!
Optional Online Summer Book Club!
Who: Students in the GT program
What: Summer Book Club
When: Once per week, starts July 9th
Where: Online - Google Hangouts
Why: To help keep our reading skills up over the summer and to keep in touch
How:
Log in using your Avondale email OR personal email on www.google.com. Please let me know your personal email address if you aren’t using Avondale’s.
Click on the apps icon in the upper right hand corner. Look for: . If you don’t see it, click on “more”.
Look on the left rectangle for a message with more directions from Ms. Martin!
The Basics:
Choose one book (parent provided):
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Read the required amount each week.
After your weekly reading is complete, you must do two things each week by Friday:
Post your own thoughts, comments, or interesting details about what you’ve read.
Reply to at least one other classmate’s comment.
*We will learn about how to do this online before the end of the school year. I'd like to know who'd like to participate and which book they'll read before school is out.
More Summer Learning Ideas
Math:
Purple group math - Look for grade 4 materials
Blue group math - Look for grade 5 materials
Orange group math - Look for grade 6 materials
Remember that the students will always have free access to Khan Academy online. (khanacademy.org) The students just need to go to the website, log in with their current credentials, and then choose "subjects" in the upper left hand corner. They can then choose the grade level material they need to work on and then they will start the "missions"! Students can also go to khanacademy.org/mappers and continue to practice on their leveled skills, too.
Reading:
READ, READ, READ!
Have you used the Lexile Find a Book feature?
Go to https://fab.lexile.com/
Enter your lexile range.
Choose your areas of interests.
View your results!
Find the books at local libraries or online!
Check out other website sources for books!
goo.gl/o1s5CU
goo.gl/sxVUgf
goo.gl/oLTMS8
DON'T get too hung up on reading EXACTLY in your child's lexile. Find a balance! Maybe try encouraging your child to read every other book within their lexile. The purpose is to increase awareness that when we read within in our "zone of proximal development" we are challenging ourselves to come across new vocabulary and content.
Science and Social Studies:
Students will continue to have access to www.discoveryeducation.com using these credentials below. This website has thousands of videos, reading passages, interactive activities, etc. for science and social studies.
User - ghes5
Pass - ghes5
Khan Academy has more than just math! It also has middle school and high school level science and social studies courses. Have your child log in and click on "subjects" to check it out!
General Information
- Homework
-Independent Reading: Minimum 20 minutes
-Literature Circles: Reading and "job"
Math:
-www.khanacademy.com/mappers
- Please check your child's agenda nightly by initialing under "Parent Signature". I will also initial it in the morning to confirm they have written the correct information down.
- Friday Folders: Please take out all the sheets and return the folder MONDAY.
- Order online at www.scholastic.com and use our class code R3CHK if you need books! I will still check this over the summer if you'd like to continue ordering.
Upcoming Important Dates
6/12 End of Year Party @ 11:30
6/14 1/2 Day
6/15 1/2 Day - Last Day of School
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