Week of October 8-12

This week is a big one!  It’s our last week to collect donations for the Husky Hustle!

Husky Hustle

Don’t forget about the Husky Hustle coming up on October 12^th!  This is an exciting and fun fundraiser where the kids collect donations from family and friends to raise money for our school.  The money goes to sponsor them as they participate in a walking/jogging event during Related Arts on October 12^th.  Our class is off to a phenomenal start and the class who collects the most money wins an iPad for their classroom!  Please encourage and support your child in collecting money for this exciting event, but please make sure they are not going door-to-door collecting money unless it is from people they know.

Harmony Harvest

Also occurring this Friday, October 12^th is the annual Harmony Harvest!  The event takes place from 6-9pm and includes carnival games, inflatables, face painting, food and drinks.  I will be attending with my two little boys in tow!  I hope to see you there!

Harmony Harvest Auction Items

There will also be teacher auctions at the Harvest.  If you would like your child to attend Boys’ Night Out or Girls’ Night Out with myself and Mr. Tilley, please sign up at the Harvest with a classroom donation of $25.  These two events will take place after school and will include pizza, drinks, and fun activities!

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

Please dress your child appropriately for our field trip on Thursday, October 11^th.  We will be digging in dirt to experience what it’s like to do an archeological dig and we will be outside most of the day.

Math Facts

I cannot stress enough the importance of regular math facts practice.  I still see students making mistakes in larger problems due to inaccuracy with their basic facts.  Please work with your child daily on his/her basic facts.  This can include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Practice can be done orally, on the computer, or by writing out problems.

Upcoming Tests

Weekly Math Facts Quiz

Preposition Quiz on Wednesday

Math Test on Friday (A study guide will come home this Tuesday.)

This Week’s Learning Plan

Social Studies:  This week we will continue to study Native American cultural regions and how the natives adapted using the natural resources around them.

Math:  This week’s focus will be a review of addition, subtraction, estimation and multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.  We will also review place value a little as well as the concepts of mean, median, mode, range, maximum, and minimum which have also been incorporated into this unit.

Word Study:  We will continue to learn about prepositions and how to use them correctly this week, and we will then explore appropriate verb tense toward the end of the week.

Writing:  This week we are collecting information and drafting feature articles about famous historical people, many of which we’ve been studying over the past few weeks.

Reading:  Students will listen to stories about da Vinci and Galileo and compare and contrast the stories as they explore the accurate and fictional portrayals of these people through non-fiction and historical fiction.  The goal if for the children to see that history can be learned through fiction as long as we can track that which is accurate and that which is fictional.

Happy October!  Can you believe it’s October already?  We have a busy and exciting month coming up!  Please read below for further information.

Husky Hustle

As you already know, the Husky Hustle is coming up on October 12^th!  This is an exciting and fun fundraiser where the kids collect donations from family and friends to raise money for our school.  The money goes to sponsor them as they participate in a walking/jogging event during Related Arts on October 12^th.  Our class is off to a phenomenal start and the class who collects the most money wins an iPad for their classroom!  Please encourage and support your child in collecting money for this exciting event, but please make sure they are not going door-to-door collecting money unless it is from people they know.

Harmony Harvest

Also occurring on October 12^th is the annual Harmony Harvest!  This is another fun and exciting event that raises money for the school!  I will be there with my own children and I’d love to see everyone there!  The even takes place from 6-9pm and includes carnival games, inflatables, face painting, food and drinks.  There will also be teacher auctions at the event.  If you would like your child to attend Boys’ Night Out or Girls’ Night Out with myself and Mr. Tilley, please sign up at the Harvest with a classroom donation of $25.  These two events will take place after school and will include pizza, drinks, and fun activities!

Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

Our field trip to Riverside will take place on October 11^th!  Thanks to all who volunteered to chaperone!  If you were not contacted to be a chaperone (space is limited), don’t worry, other opportunities will arise.  :o)

Upcoming Tests

Math Facts Quiz on Wednesday

Preposition Quiz on Friday

What We’re Learning this Week

Social Studies:  Native American cultural regions will be the topic at hand as we read about and discuss how Native Americans in different parts of America adapted to their environment and created a life for themselves using the natural resources around them.

Math:  This week’s focus will be estimation and multiplication of whole numbers and decimals.

Word Study:  Prepositions will be the topic of discussion as we learn what prepositions are and how to use them correctly.

Writing:  We will begin exploring how to create feature articles about inventors and Renaissance people we’ve been studying over the past few weeks.

Reading:  Students will read a short story called Leonardo’s Wings, a historical fiction story to help them learn more about Leonardo da Vinci while also learning about the elements of a story including setting, characters, and plot.

Poetry Readings ~ 9/21/12

Below you will find readings of poems from the book Joyful Noise:  Poetry for Two Voices by the kiddos.  These readings were done after much practice and discussion over what characteristics make a fluent reader.  They were not easy poems to read because not only did the kids have to use inflection, rhythm, and read the words correctly, they also had to time it so they're reading was synchronized.  At times, you'll notice they were supposed to even read different lines simultaneously. I was very impressed with their efforts to read these poems fluently!

Fireflies by Wade & Steve

The Moth's Seranade by Ian & Ayush

Book Lice by Hana & Addie

House Crickets by CJ & Daniel

Mayflies by Emma & Karlee

Requim by David & AJ

Crysalis Diary by Breanna & Avery

Water Boatmen by Amber & Quinn

Grasshoppers by Spencer & Sam

Whirligig Beetles by Aidyn & Hannah

This final video is a class reading of the poem, Eletephony.
Class Reading of Eletephony

Week of September 24-28

MAP Testing

This week the kids will finish up MAP testing to assess their language skills.  The test will take place Thursday morning.  I will use this data to inform my teaching of each individual child and I will be happy to share with you your child’s MAP scores at parent-teacher conferences in November.

Husky Hustle

The Husky Hustle is fast approaching and many students are already out collecting donations!  Please encourage and help your child to collect donations to sponsor them as they walk in the annual Husky Hustle October 12 during Related Arts.  The donations this year will be going towards purchasing a class set of iPads to be shared school-wide and the class who collects the most donations wins an iPad for their classroom.  Please support Harmony and your child as he/she looks for sponsors.

Upcoming Tests

Social Studies Test on the First Native Americans and Their Land this Friday

Please go to http://www.tutorial.historyalive.com/ to study.

Here is what we're learning this week...

Social Studies:  This week we will be learning about the first inhabitants of the Americas and the various theories of their migration.  We will also explore the life of the Inuit tribe, a group of Natives living in the Arctic region.

Math:  A new unit on computation will begin this week as we learn to estimate, add, and subtract whole numbers and decimals.

Word Study:  We will explore the use of conjunctions to make complete sentences.

Reading:  We will begin reading about and taking notes on famous Renaissance artists and inventors as studnets learn how to gather information from multiple sources.

Writing:  Renaissance thinkers will also be the theme for writing as we explore how painters told stories through their painting and write about the works of different Renaissance artists.

Week of September 17-21

What's Happening in Mrs. Whitley's Class

Field Trip Forms for Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing

If you have not already returned your field trip form and money for the trip to Riverside, Farnsley-Moremen Landing on October 11, please do so at your earliest convenience.  The cost is $14 and it is a fabulous field trip that is unforgettable.  The kids will have the opportunity to tour a historic Kentucky home, create their own brick, and participate in an actual archeological dig!

Room Mom Correspondence

Last call!  If you would like to receive correspondence from our room mom, Beth McBride, please send her your name and e-mail address at captainmcb@aol.com. She is sharing the job of room mom with Liann Moeller. I'm lucky to say that we will have 2 wonderful ladies helping out this year!

U.S. Regions

As we wrap up our unit on the 5 regions of the United States, if you have any paraphernalia from any U.S. region (postcards, pictures, souveniours) that your child would like to share, please feel free to send it in. 

MAP Testing

This week the kids will participate in MAP testing to assess their skills in math and reading.  The tests will take place Monday and Friday morning.  I will use this data to inform my teaching of each individual child and I will be happy to share with you your child’s MAP scores at parent-teacher conferences in November.

Upcoming Tests:

Weekly Facts Quiz:  Please keep practicing those math facts!  I promise it will make all the difference if the kids know their facts!

Word Study Quiz over Homophones on Friday!  A list of commonly misused homophones will be in your child’s agenda.

Math Quiz over Place Value (whole numbers and decimals) on Wednesday

This Week's Learning Plan

Social Studies:  This week we will wrap up our study of the 5 major regions of the United States and at the end of the week we will begin studying the first inhabitants of North America.

Math:   As our unit on place value comes to an end, we will have short quiz Wednesday and then we will precede into a unit on mathematical operations with whole numbers and decimals.

Word Study:  Homophones will be the major focus of this week’s word study.  You will find a list of commonly misused homophones in your child’s agenda this week. 

Writing:   We will continue learning how authors play with words as we write our own poems and very short narratives using idioms, figurative language, and interesting word choice.

Reading:  Fluency is this week’s focus as we practice reading aloud poetry and even break into pairs to do 2-person readings from a collection of poems called Joyful Noise: Poetry for Two Voices.

Week of September 10-14

What's Happening in Mrs. Whitley's Class

Room Mom Correspondence
If you would like to receive correspondence from our room mom, Beth McBride, please send her your name and e-mail address at captainmcb@aol.com. She is sharing the job of room mom with Liann Moeller. I'm lucky to say that we will have 2 wonderful ladies helping out this year!

U.S. Regions
This week we are going to begin a short unit on the 5 regions of the United States.  If you have any paraphenalia (postcards, pictures, souveniours) that your child would like to share, please feel free to send it in.  We will begin with the Southeast and Northeast regions Monday and Tuesday, continuing into the Midwest Wednesday, the Southwest Friday, and finally the West next Tuesday. 

MAP Testing
During 3 different Friday sessions beginning this week, the kids will take a MAP test each Friday for approximately 1 hour to assess their math, reading, and language skills.  These tests will help to provide useful information so I can better meet their needs as learners.  If you'd like to know your child's score, I will be sharing this information at Parent-Teacher conferences this fall.

Upcoming Tests:
Weekly Facts Quiz:  Please keep practicing those math facts!  I promise it will make all the difference if the kids know their facts!

This Week's Learning Plan
Social Studies:  This week we will begin studying the 5 major regions of the United States.
Math:   A unit on place value will precede our upcoming unit on mathematical operations with whole numbers and decimals.
Word Study: This week's focus will continue to be on figurative language including similes, metaphors, rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.  We will also delve into synonyms and antonyms.
Writing & Reading:   Wrapping up the 6 traits of writing, students will write biopoems and short reports about the people they researched in biographies.  We will also read and explore idioms as we study how language is used in reading and writing.

Week of September 3-7

Happy Labor Day, everyone!  Please read below to see this week's important reminders.

Early Release
This week we will have our first Early Release Day.  Students will be dismissed at 12:25pm.  Please send in a note if your child's transportation will change on this day.

Room Moms
If you would like to receive correspondence from our room mom, Beth McBride, please send her your name and e-mail address at captainmcb@aol.com.   She is sharing the job of room mom with Liann Moeller.  I'm lucky to say that we will have 2 wonderful ladies helping out this year!

Upcoming Tests:
Thursday:  Social Studies Test over Geography (Students may go to www.tutorial.historyalive.com.  They will need to be able to do everything that is covered in the tutorial as well as be able to identify and label the 4 oceans and 7 continents, prime meridian, equator, and Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn on a blank map.

Friday:  Math Test over factors, products, prime factorization, divisibility, using exponents, and the order of operations.  (A study guide will come home this week.)

Here is what we're learning this week.
Social Studies:  We will do a geography review in preparation for their test on Thursday.
Math:  How to use parentheses in math problems and the order of operations will be introduced.
Word Study:  This week's focus will be on figurative language including similes, metaphors, rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.
Writing:  We will explore the 6 traits of effective writing and learn how to use them in our daily work.
Reading:  Students will begin learning to take notes as they select important information from biographies.