This Week In Room 411
Week of April 25, 2016
Important Reminders
- Be sure you have signed and returned the permission slip for your child to visit LTMS next Monday.
- Your can earn clicks on their Comet Card if they return their Progress Report with your signature. These went home last Thursday. Of course, you can always view grades online through Skyward.
- April Reading/Math Calendars will be due next Monday.
- Measurement Math tests are coming home today. Some grades are lower than we were happy with. However, I do want you to know that students had access to calculators and conversion resources.
SPECIALS SCHEDULE AND IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK
Monday, April 25th
- M-Day: PE/Music (Program Practice)
- Band
- State Math Assessment
Tuesday, April 26th
- E-Day: PE/Music (Program Practice)
- Band
- State Math Assessment
Wednesday, April 27th
- T-Day: PE/Music (Program Practice)
- No Band
Thursday, April 28th (Program Practice)
- C-Day: PE/Music
- Band
- 5th Grade Music Program at 7pm, Students need to be in the classroom at 6:45pm. Do not come before this time as there will be no supervision or unlocked classrooms until 6:45pm.
Friday, April 29th
- O-Computers
- Vocabulary test is today. This is the last one of the year.
- Band
- 50 cent Friday
Monday, May 2nd
- M-PE/Music
- Band
- 5th grade tours Lexington Trails Middle School
WHAT WE'RE LEARNING THIS WEEK
Reading/Social Studies
This week we continue to integrate our reading and social studies standards. Students will participate in simulations on the First and Second Continental Congresses. They will also investigate the Declaration of Independence. If time allows, we'll begin analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each side as the war broke out.
Vocabulary packets are due this Friday. The test is also this Friday. This is also the last one of the year.
Writing
SCIENCE/STEM
This week students will focus on:
- developing a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment
Our STEM project will be to design and build a canoe that can float in a tub of water with sinking or taking on water. Materials to use include cardstock, clear glue, empty toilet paper rolls, craft sticks, scissors, and tape. They will have to figure out how to waterproof it. This goes along with The Sign of the Beaver. The class has had a great time with these projects and in working with partners they don't always get to work with during other parts of the day.
Math
This week our focus is on:
- identifying and graphing points on a coordinate grid
- measuring distance on a coordinate grid
- creating and interpreting coordinate graphs
Be sure to scroll down to the math resources. I have a couple of videos and links to math games that will help your child with our math focus.
Most days students will be able to finish their math practice in class. However, at home they could work on math facts, either through flashcards or www.xtramath.org. In addition, spend ten to fifteen minutes on www.frontrowed.com to practice our current concepts. If your child has mastered the ones for Numbers Base Ten, then move on to geometry as this is often one that interests students and one they can accomplish independently. Any time your child is requesting more math opportunities, direct them to this site. They are familiar with it.
Math Resources
Online Games
Videos
Last Week in pictures
Turn Markers Into Energy
Starside is on Twitter
Contacting Mrs. Martin
Email: dmartin@usd232.org
Website: http://se.usd232.org/pages/starside
Location: 35400 West 91st Street, De Soto, KS, United States
Phone: 9136676270
Twitter: @StarsideMartin