Blog Activity: Banning Best Friends at School?

Please go to the following link to read an interesting article called "Banning Best Friends at School?"  

http://teachingkidsnews.com/2012/04/03/banning-best-friends-at-school/

Read the article and then comment on this post in response to the following questions.  Please number your responses to each question and feel free to debate with one another.  That’s what makes this fun!

1.  How did you feel when you first read this article?

2.  Do you agree or disagree with the decision to ban "best friends" at some schools?

3.  Who should make the decision about who can/should play together?

Oregon Trail Activity

Please play the Oregon Trail game at http://westward.globalgamenetwork.com/cgi-bin/westwardtrail.pl.  Then write a comment on this blog post explaining what you learned from the game.  Try to relate it to Economics.  What did the game teach you about scarcity, goods, services, opportunity cost, barter, money, or making choices back in the 1800's?  Please leave well thought-out comments at least 3-5 sentences in length.
*If the game messes up, click the box for More Options and Select "Give Up and Start Over."

Week of March 26-31

Hello, parents!  We have a very busy week ahead.  Please read below to see what's coming up!

Scrimmage Testing

Tuesday and Wednesday morning we will run on a different schedule to allow for scrimmage testing to prepare the kids for this year's state test, the K-PREP.  Scrimmage testing will take place from 8:15-10:15am on both days, so students should get plenty of rest and come in ready to give their best effort.

Math Test

Last week's math tests was a doozy!  I sent home the tests today because the kids were anxious to receive feedback and I would like those who had difficulty to begin correcting and practicing for a retake on Friday.  Please note that I will be hosting ESS on Thursday for any child who is still struggling with these concepts.  If you would like your child to come and I did not already send home an invitation, please notify me and I will be happy to have him/her.  That afternoon we will review, review, review these fraction concepts in preparation for the retake on Friday.  

Frazier Performer

Once again, we will have an actor from the Frazier Museum coming to do a historical interpretation for us.  During last week's visit he gave an excellent portrayal of life during the Civil War and what it was like to be a Civil War soldier fighting against your own brother for what you believe in.  This week he will be depicting the life of a Kentucky frontiersman to show the kids what is was like to be one of the original settlers in Kentucky.

Here's what we're learning about this week!

Social Studies:  U.S. Symbols and Celebrations!  This week we will learn about the national holidays and all the great symbols that represent our country!

Math:  We are moving on to geometry!  This week we will learn to plot points on a coordinate grids and we will also begin learning how to calculate area.

Word Study:  This week we will review word endings.  I'm noticing several students struggling with adding -ed and changing words to make them plural.

Writing:  We will be learning how to complete On Demand Writing in response to a passage.  This is a new part that has been added to the state test this year which requires students to read a passage and craft a writing piece using information from the passage.

Reading:  Over the last couple of weeks, the kids have explored non-fiction reading through the writing of reading response letters on non-fiction books that they checked out from the library.  This week we will go further into non-fiction by reading biographies and collecting information on a famous/historical person to compile into a podcast!

Steps for Solving Fraction and Percent Problems

Good morning!  I've typed out all the steps for solving fraction and percent problems to help the kids study tonight.  We have practiced all of this in class.  Here is the list to help at home.

Steps for Solving Fraction and Percent Problems

Adding Fractions and Mixed Numbers

Step 1:  Change the fractions to equivalent fractions with like denominators.

Step 2:  Add.

Step 3:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Subtracting Fractions

Step 1:  Change the fractions to equivalent fractions with like denominators.

Step 2:  Subtract.

Step 3:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Subtracting Mixed Numbers

Step 1:  Change the fractions to equivalent fractions with like denominators.

Step 2:  If the top fraction is smaller than the bottom, change to mixed numbers and subtract.  If not, simply subtract the fractions you have.

Step 3:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Multiplying Fractions

Step 1:  Multiply the numerators.

Step 2:  Multiply the denominators.

Step 3:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Multiplying Mixed Numbers

Step 1:  Change the mixed numbers into improper fractions.

Step 2:  Multiply the numerators.

Step 3:  Multiply the denominators.

Step 4:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Dividing Fractions

Step 1:  Change the operation to multiplication and flip the 2^nd fraction upside down.

Step 2:  Multiply the numerators.

Step 3:  Multiply the denominators.

Step 4:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Multiplying Mixed Numbers

Step 1:  Change the mixed numbers into improper fractions.

Step 2:  Change the operation to multiplication and flip the 2^nd fraction upside down.

Step 3:  Multiply the numerators.

Step 4:  Multiply the denominators.

Step 5:  Simplify if the numbers in the new fraction share a common factor.

Finding a Percent of a Number

Step 1:  Change the percent to a decimal.

Step 2:  Multiply.

Finding a Fraction of a Whole Number

Step 1:  Change the whole number to a fraction.  E.g., 4 = 4/1

Step 2:  Multiply the fraction by the whole number.

Week of March 19-23

Early Release Day
Please remember that this Wednesday is an Early Release Day.  Students will be dismissed at 12:25pm.  If there is going to be a change in transportation, please send in a note.

ESS
I am sending home ESS invitations for some this week.  Due to the limited time I am able to offer ESS, not all students will be invited.  If your child receives an invitation, please let me know as soon as possible whether or not he/she will be in attendance.  Pick up will be at 3:45pm at the front of the building.

Frazier Museum Visitor
We will have an actor visiting this week to perform a monologue based on life during the Civil War.  The performance will be this Thursday afternoon.  He will return again next week to perform a monologue about Frontier Kentucky.  These should be interesting performances followed by question and answer sessions for the kids.

Upcoming Tests:
Local Government Quiz on Thursday
Math Test on Friday~Please help your child to study for this week's math test.  This material is new and complex.  I will send home study guides Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here's what we're learning this week!
Social Studies:  Local Government
Math:  Review of how to multiply and divide fractions, finding percents and fractions of whole numbers, and adding and subtracting mixed numbers
Word Study:  Figurative Language/Lessons with Mrs. Hammons
Writing:  Narrating as purpose for On Demand Writing
Reading:  Non-fiction Reading Response Letters

Blog Homework for 3/8/12

You should recall the article we recently read in class about Syria and the problems with their leader who refused to step down.  Please read the following article,  http://teachingkidsnews.com/2012/02/27/syria/ and respond to the blog post explaining your thoughts on the situation.  Do you think the leader should be forced to step down or not?  Why?

*Please write at least 5 complete sentences expressing your opinion.

Week of March 5-9

        Happy Monday!  I hope each of you and your loved ones were safe in the storms that hit Friday afternoon.   After a weekend filled with every kind of weather possible, I am sure we are all looking forward to a routine week.

Here’s what coming up this week…

Field Trip!

Please send your child with a sack lunch on Wednesday for our field trip to see the theatrical performance of “Number the Stars,” based on a novel about a child living during WWII.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

I will be holding conferences again Tuesday afternoon.  If you were unable to sign up, but would still like to discuss your child’s progress, please shoot me an e-mail to arrange a phone conference. 

Upcoming Tests

Division Facts Quiz…We’ve taken some time off from facts quizzes, but I am seeing a need for a little extra practice on division facts, so this week, I will give everyone a division facts quiz.

This week we’re learning about…

ü The Bill of Rights and responsibilities of citizens in social studies.

ü How to add and subtract mixed numbers and how to multiply fractions in math.

ü Figurative language in word study.

ü Writing to share an opinion “on demand.”

ü Understanding the structure and elements of poetry in reading.