Martin's Memos
Volume 1, Issue 27: March 29, 2018
This Week
Parents,
Check out the good news and information below! Have a restful Spring Break and Easter!
Thanks!
-Ms. Kate Martin
Pictures of the Week
Mystery Reader!
Creating Graphs of Our Data
Experiments Continue...
Experiments Continue...
Experiments Continue...
Experiments Continue...
Proud Teacher Moments!
This week: Isaac, Wyatt and Fletcher!
Additional Amazing news! As long as I get ONE more baseball turned in on the Monday we return...every single student will have read a minimum of 600 minutes over the course of the last 4 weeks for March is Reading Month! That is 9,600 minutes for our whole class! WOW! It also means that everyone would receive a free baseball ticket for a game at Jimmy John's field! I think a fun class baseball day is coming! :)
Topics:
Writing & Reading: This week we completed literature webs to analyze a short story, vocabulary webs to analyze difficult words, and completed a reading passage by stopping/jotting and highlighting/labeling our textual evidence. We had some fantastic, in-depth conversations during our reader's workshop small groups today as well. We are working on our own persuasive essays in class as well. Additionally, the persuasive essay homework assignment was in last week's Friday Folder - I incorrectly labeled the due date... It is DUE 4/16.
Math: Purple: We continued our fraction unit. Blue: Started comparing fractions and decimals. Orange: We started a unit on algebra.
Social Studies: The students started their Wax Museum research. See below for the link! This will be done in class. (Due 4/18/18) The STUDENTS created a grading rubric - check it out here!
Enrichment: Students are continuing their 5th enrichment project...take a look at it here. This week was the LAST week in class to complete their work. This project is DUE on the Monday we return.
Looking Forward to Next Week
Writing & Reading: Students will continue working on their persuasive essay. We'll finish our read aloud From the Mixed Up Files and Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and our analysis. We will start to compare this book to our own novels in lit circles.
Math: Purple: Continue fraction unit. Blue: Continue comparing fractions and decimals. Orange: Continue algebra unit.
Social Studies: Students will continue to prepare for a Wax Museum! See the links below! This is again an IN CLASS project, but it concludes with an actual Living Wax Museum that everyone is invited to on 4/18/18 from 1:30-2:30!
Enrichment: The Enrichment project will be due the Monday after Spring Break! We will present these and think about what we want our 6th Enrichment project to be!
Standardized Testing Dates
5/1/18: Reading MAP
5/3/18: Math MAP
5/8/18: Reading m-STEP
5/10/18: Math m-STEP
All tests will be done in the morning. For the m-STEP only the GT 3rd graders will be testing in Ms. Gierman's room and the GT 4th graders will be testing in my room.
Self-Reflective Learning: Organization
This week we continued to discuss organization. What we realized was:
- Can help you cope with the world around you.
- Provides structure and order and can help you have less anxiety over work and due dates.
- Can help you set goals for things you need to accomplish.
- Using your agenda is a great tool to help you keep up with your work and remember important details or events.
*The week we return from Spring Break: Overcoming the anxiety and stress of testing.
Help Ms. Green!
Late Work
A late work policy will begin January 8th for my classroom. Students will receive -%5 off for each day any homework or project is turned in more than a day late. This means students will get a 1 day grace period. For example: If a project was due on Tuesday but was turned in on Thursday, it would be -5% off of the grade they earned. Keep in mind, absences a different situation. Students receive one day extra time for each day they are absent.
Lansing Field Trip
The Lansing Field Trip is scheduled for Friday, April 13. All 3/4 GT students will attend this field trip with the rest of the Woodland 4th graders.
We will be visiting the Impressions 5 Science Center in the morning and our Capitol Tours are in the afternoon. We will be leaving Lansing by 4pm.
Please note the following:
-We are leaving at 8:45 and returning to school around 5:45 pm. A parent or other previously designated adult must be at Woodland to pick up the student at that time.
-Students should bring a sack lunch that can be thrown away.
-Snacks/water will be provided on the bus to and from Lansing.
-Students should NOT bring electronics.
-Students should wear regular school clothes and comfortable walking shoes.
General Information
- Homework
-Independent Reading: Minimum 20 minutes
-Literature Circles: Reading and "job"
Math:
-Daily math homework M-Th
-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: They were sent home today! Please take out all the sheets and return the folder MONDAY.
- Bagel Sales! Pre-Order on Wednesdays of each week. All varieties cost $1, cash only. Bagels are delivered on Fridays.
- Order online at www.scholastic.com and use our class code R3CHK if you need books!
Upcoming Important Dates
3/30 Good Friday - No School
4/2-4/6 Spring Break - No School
4/11 1/2 Day
4/12 School of Choice GT Open House 6-7:30pm at Woodland
4/13 Lansing Field Trip (All 4th Grade/GT Students)
4/27 Talent Show
5/11 1/2 Day
5/28 Memorial Day - No School
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