Miss Heckathorne's Classroom News
Starside Elementary
Contact Information
Email: checkathorne@usd232.org
Website: tinyurl.com/bnzhn4h
Location: Starside Elementry, West 91st Street, De Soto, KS
Phone: (913) 667-6270
Specials Schedule
11/11 T - Music/PE
11/12 C - Library
11/13 O - Art
11/14 M - Music/PE
11/15 E - Computer
What We Are Learning
Math
Topic 2: Generate and Analyze Patterns
Our objectives for the week are as follows:
- extending function tables by finding inputs and outputs
- determining the rules for patterns and function tables
- extending geometric patterns
- problem solving by using reasoning
Reading
Identifying Text Structure with Articles
Our objectives for the week are as follows:
- identifying the four main text structures within different types of text
- cause/effect
- problem/solution
- sequence
- compare/contrast
Summarizing with Picture Books
Our objectives for the week are as follows:
- retelling literature and including characters, setting, and plot
- creating a written and oral summary of picture books
Writing
The Land of Nod
Our writing prompt will be based off the poem listed above. The prompt is: "I would like to live in the Land of Nod forever - Agree or disagree with this statement and support your opinion with evidence from the text." The students are currently working on drafting their introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Science
Our Changing Earth
This week we are finishing Our Changing Earth. The students will learn about erosion, weathering, and natural disasters that shape the earth. The students will have the opportunity to learn from two hands-on experiments this week. We are also focusing on taking notes and integrating writing into science.
Reading Responses
This week the students will be sharing their weekly reading responses through an online flyer. The link is listed below, and we will add to our flyer each day this week. By Friday the flyer will be complete and I will re-send the link for parents to read and enjoy!
Spelling
This is our spelling routine:
Monday: Orally Read and Spell, Copy and Spell, Cover and Spell, Uncover and Check
Tuesday: Word Meaning and Spelling Dictation
Wednesday: Word Study Activities (syllables, missing letters, etc.)
Thursday: Edit for Spelling Activities
Friday: Spelling Test (Includes sentences that the students must write using the words)
On Friday, the new spelling list for the following week will be introduced, and important consistencies will be pointed out, such as a phonetic or structural element.
Our hope is that having more time focused specifically on spelling will increase scores and will help students to transfer learned spelling patterns into their everyday writing. This will also help the students to see the words in a deeper context.
Please help your child practice their spelling words each week. For now, you can still use spellingcity.com but you'll just need to manually enter the words. Thank you.
This Week's List:
fact
began
clasp
rapid
able
later
space
stranger
grade
display
main
explain
freight
neighbor
weigh
vein
April
ankle
Caring is Sharing Food Drive
We will be collecting nonperishable food items for our food drive. Students will receive community service points for donations and the class with the most food collected will earn a nacho/movie party.
Monday, Nov 11, 2013, 08:45 AM
Starside Elementry, West 91st Street, De Soto, KS
Picture Re-Takes
Picture Re-Takes will be Thursday, November 14th.
Starside
Our Mission:
Through a collaborative learning community we will build a foundation upon which all students can develop essential academic and life skills.
Our Vision:
Starside will be a Learning Community (staff students, parents, and community members) that collaborates to:
· Provide a safe, positive environment that promotes academic growth, good character, and values diversity.
· Implement researched-based strategies to ensure students achieve academic skill
· Maximize learning time to focus on essential skills
· Monitor student growth based on high expectations