Class News
What's happening in Room 217
September News
AM Class: ELA Homework
Reading homework- We have a reading comprehension packet that goes home on Mondays. This helps students practice a variety of reading skills that we learn throughout the year. This packet is due on Friday every week. If students are absent on Friday, I will accept the homework on the following Monday we are back or students can turn it in early.
Spelling homework- Every Monday students will receive their spelling words for the week. Students should pick 4 of their "menu options" from the back of their paper to do with their spelling words. Spelling is also due on Friday every week. If students are absent on Friday, they are expected to turn it in the following Monday or can turn it in early. Our spelling tests are given every Friday.
Homework that is turned in late will have points deducted.
PM Class: ELA Homework
Reading homework- We have a reading comprehension and fluency practice that goes home on Mondays. Please make sure you are practicing fluency with your student at home. (Fluency is rate, accuracy, and expression). Parents and guardians are encouraged to listen to their child's oral reading to monitor their mistakes and word count. Parents or guardians should initial next to the word count so I can see that students are practicing fluency. Fluency is key in helping our students become better readers! This packet is due on Friday every week. If students are absent on Friday, I will accept the homework on the following Monday we are back or students can turn it in early.
Spelling homework- Every Monday students will receive their spelling words for the week. Students should pick 4 of their "menu options" from the back of their paper to do with their spelling words. Spelling is also due on Friday every week. If students are absent on Friday, they are expected to turn it in the following Monday or can turn it in early. Our spelling tests are given every Friday.
Homework that is turned in late will have points deducted.
Announcements for Both Classes
- Health: We are starting Unit 1 of Health which focuses on Personal Health.
- Social Studies: We are also starting Unit 1 of Social studies which is Colonial Regions.
- Please continue to sign planners daily for notes or levels recorded.
- If you have not logged on to BCPS One, please take some time to log on so you can see your student's grades on our assignments. If you log on at some point during the week and notice there is a blank next to an assignment in the grade book, it usually means I have not finished grading that assignment for the entire class yet. However, if you see "M" that means the assignment has been graded for the class and your child's assignment was not in the pile of papers that were turned in. This could be either because your student needed more time to finish the paper, they forgot to put their name on it, or they forgot to turn in that assignment. If you ever notice a missing grade and see the assignment in your child's binder, tell them to turn it in the following day so I can get it in the grade book.
- Back to school night is now moved to September 29th. Hope to see you there!
Our Novels!
The novels we are reading are Out of My Mind and The White Mountains. I personally love both of the books and feel that the kids are loving them too. To get involved in their reading, I have some "dinner table" questions you can ask your students:
Out of My Mind:
- What is Melody like?
- What do you know so far about cerebral palsy? What would you like to know?
- What is Melody's school like?
- Who is your favorite character so far in the book?
- How does Melody's disability affect her academics, social life/relationships, and daily living?
- What was surprising so far in the story or in each chapter?
The White Mountains:
- Describe Will's character.
- What do you know about the Tripods?
- How is this society different from ours?
- What makes this book science fiction?
- Do you trust the Tripods, why or why not?
- What is capping?
- What do you predict Will will do next in the story?
- Is there anything in the story you wish you could change? What would it be and why?
Calendar Events
September 14th- Rosh Hashanah: School Closed
September 23rd- Yom Kippur: School Closed
September 28th- Interims go home this week
September 29th- Picture Day for all students
September 29th- Back to School Night Intermediate
If you would like to sign up for text reminders from me for the class click the button below!
About Me
Email: rtaylor5@bcps.org
Location: Woodholme Elementary School, Mount Wilson Lane, Pikesville, MD, United States
Phone: 410-887-6700