Martin's Memos
Volume 2, Issue 13: November 30, 2018
This Week
Parents,
Please read over the newsletter and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Don't forget that our rescheduled meeting for current GT families to hear the plan for our move to Meadows is on Dec. 6 at 6:30 at the Administration building.
Report cards will come home on Monday. Please keep the actual report, but sign and return the envelope by Friday of next week.
-Ms. Kate Martin
Jackets/Coats, Hats, Gloves...
Unfortunately I still see students with only a jacket or sweatshirts. Now that the temperatures will consistently be in the 30's, please make sure your child has appropriate gear. Bring WARM JACKET, HAT, GLOVES, SNOWPANTS & BOOTS!
Sweatshirts aren't going to be enough! Remember that the students go outside unless the temperature is below 10 degrees. (Including wind chill) They go outside during lunch recess, 2nd recess and sometimes during P.E.
When it gets snowy, your child is welcome to leave their winter gear in a large bag in/under their cubby during the week. They must bring it home each Friday and bring it back on Monday.
Positivity Project
"Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle." -Ian Maclaren
Photos of the Week!
Peer Editing
Comparing the Earth's Spheres
Nonfiction Reading
What Did We Learn This Week?
Math: Students continued in their math groups.
Yellow- I can understand ratios and proportions
Green- I can understand ratios.
Orange- I can fluently multiply with large numbers. Place value.
Science (5th): We learned more about the lithosphere and how the earth's spheres interact/work together. We started to learn about science argumentation as well.
Reading: We will started learning how to read and respond to nonfiction texts in our new unit - "Reading the Weather, Reading the World"! We will learn the Nonfiction Notice and Note strategy and how that can help us understand a text.
Writing: We continued responding to nonfiction opinion texts. Take a look at the expectations. The students are now independently working on responding to an article about animal testing that will be finished today.
Enrichment: The students continued their Enrichment project - all students will be completing this individually. Enrichment 3.0 (FYI: Enrichment 2.0 is our community service project we had to put on hold until January!) This week we assigned presentation dates during the week of December 17th. Your child has their due date in their agenda.
Looking Forward to Next Week...
Positivity Project (P2)/Character Education: Kindness
Yellow- I can understand ratios and proportions
Green- I can understand ratios.
Orange- I can fluently multiply with large numbers. Place value.
Science (5th): We will finish this unit on 12/4 with a test. Then the 5th graders will start a social studies unit on Colonization.
Reading: We will continue learning how to read and respond to nonfiction texts in our new unit - "Reading the Weather, Reading the World"!
Writing: We will start personal narratives.
Enrichment: We will continue working on our enrichment projects.
Putting our Positivity Project to Work - - -Gleaners Food Drive!
The food drive runs now through December 12th.
Good News!
Meemic Scholastic Grant - $100
Avondale Education Foundation Dare to Dream Grant - $530
Continuous Important Reminders...
Box Tops!
GOOD NEWS! Our class collected the most Box Tops at Woodland! 387! We get to keep the "Box Top Trophy" in class and all students received a small prize.
Keep collecting and sending them in! Don't forget to label your child's name on the baggie so they can get credit.
Book It!
December goal = 525 minutes (Collected on December 21)
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.
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, and that 4th and 5th graders will still receive letter grades in addition to their standards based grading.
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 (GT dismissal around 11:40)
Dec 1: Holiday Breakfast @ 8:30-11am; Barnes and Noble Art Show
Dec. 6: Move to Meadows meeting for current families 6:30
Dec 7: Half Day-11:45am Dismissal
Dec 18: 3rd Grade Concert @ 7pm
Dec 24-Jan 4: Winter Break-NO SCHOOL; Return to School Jan 7th
Jan. 8: PTO Meeting 7-9
Jan. 21: No 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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017787916756
Twitter: @katemartin84