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March 7, 2010 Welcome Back! March 2010 1-5 School Closed - Spring Break 7 Lifetouch - Spring Individuals/Class Pictures 8 3rd Quarter Report Cards Released 15 Ident-A-Kid Identification Cards (new date) 19 Mobile Dentist There is a glitch when viewing SchoolNotes. Please be certain to scroll to the end of today's entry. I noticed large gaps between sections of information. It's here! As you know, students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the Maryland School Assessment (MSA). The dates of administration are March 9-10 (Reading) and March 16-17 (Math). It is important that students have a good breakfast that's low in sugar and arrive to school well rested and ready to do their best. Spring is in the air! The fifth grade team is concerned about the growing number of missing and incomplete assignments. This past week we noticed that only 50% of Math and Reading tests were returned signed by a parent. Fewer than 50% of Reading Logs are being turned in weekly, also signed by a parent. A number of students have admitted to losing their math vocabulary cards. The Story Wheel assignment will result in a letter grade deduction for every day it is late. Ms. Brown, Mr. Puglia, and I model assignments, encourage open discussion, and provide rubrics (guidelines) to help students gain a better understanding of the subject matter. Please encourage your child to always do their best. We appreciate your continued support in maximizing your child's educational experience. Oral & Written Communication Grades: Progress Reports will be released on March 12. Please refer to SchoolMax and review your child's Oral & Written Communication grades. I have corrected an error made in assigning the maximum number of points for the James Forten BWTL assignment. This resulted in a higher percentage for most students. The change may not be reflected on the Progress Report but will be updated for the 3rd quarter report card. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Language Arts: March is Woman's History Month. Every fifth grade student is required to read a level appropriate biography about a woman. (Please no Rosa Parks or Harriett Tubman.) Your child should already be reading 30 minutes every night. I will pass out the requirements for this assignment this week. The project will not be due until Monday, March 22. We have been reading "Mom's Best Friend." As student's read they are analyzing what the character says, thinks, and does as well as what others think of the character. Students will be asked to explain how the character changes from the beginning of the story to the end of the story. Next, we will read a realistic fiction story called "Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers". Essential Vocabulary (Yang the Second): impressed, scheme, solemnly, accompaniment, demonstration, heritage, impressed, noble, opera, tradition Strategy Focus: Questioning Grammar/Spelling: We will resume identifying adjectives, articles, and demonstrative adjectives. We will review review prefixes, and introduce interjections. Internet Safety Reminder: As previously mentioned in Mattaponi Matters, many students are using social networking sites on the Internet, some without parental permission. Social networking sites include Facebook, Bebo, My Space,and many others. Talk with your child about the dangers and safety when using these types of websites. President Obama was asked by a student what they could do to become president one day and he responded by saying “watch what you put on your Facebook page." You might think “not my child” but we request that you err on the side of caution, and check your computer’s websites visited. You might be surprised to see some of the websites children visit and know about. Hopefully, your diligence will protect your child when using the Internet. --------------------------------- February 16, 2010 Welcome Back! Reminder: Students should return having completed the Math worksheet on double bar and line graphs for Mr. Puglia. Ms. Brown assigned a problem of the week for science. Mrs. Madison assigned the MSA packet, "Snug in the Snow" to Mods I and 2. Mod 3 (homeroom) received the MSA packet, "You are Invited." Please check your child's supplies to make certain they have pencils, pens, and notebook paper. The fifth grade team has received a number of requests for extra credit work. The team gives numerous opportunities for students to improve grades through the assigned work. Therefore, extra credit assignments are not offered. It is important that students follow directions and turn in assignments in a timely manner. If students are absent or not in the classroom due to other commitments, they must make up missed assignments. ---------------------------------------------------- February 15, 2010 Welcome Back to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS I know that we are all well-rested and ready to get back to work. We encourage students to return to school with the necessary supplies, assignments, and a positive attitude. Black History Research Inventory - Research inventories and biography poems are due tomorrow. Students were given a template to use in writing their poems. The template may be found by scrolling to the bottom of the SchoolNotes page. Mr. Puglia's and Ms. Brown's class were to write a biography poem about themselves and one about their assigned African American. Mrs. Madison's class were to write a poem about themselves. Students in her homeroom who wish to move ahead may write the second poem using the template below. I will pass out the paper and directions for the quilt square this week. In addition, Mr. Puglia's and Mrs. Brown's class were given MSA practice packets. When answering the BCR's, students need to include the following: 1) part of the question along with the reason, 2) supporting details from the text, and 3) a connection from their own experience or an inference. All students were assigned questions 1, 3, 4 and 6 on page 358. They should also have completed vocabulary charts for Mariah Keeps Cool. Language Arts: We will continue to read Mariah Keeps Cool.Students will identify and explain the conflict and events in the plot. As we read, we will identify and explain the steps to solving a problem. To solve a problem we must: 1) define the problem; 2) consider possible solutions and evaluate each one; 3) choose the best solution and carry it out. After reading, students will explain how the actions of the characters affect the outcome of the story. Essential Vocabulary: detain, reluctant, suspects, amazingly, celebration, decorate, festive, honor, volunteered, spectators Strategy Vocabulary: identify,explain, predict, infer, conflict, plot, exposition, rising action,climax, resolution, internal-conflict, external-conflict Vocabulary: The class will identify and read words that have the prefixes sub- and sur- in order to figure the meanings of words. Example: sur- means over, above, or around render means give or deliver Surrender means to give over. Comprehension Skill: We will use details from the selection to draw conclusions and make generalizations. Grammar/Spelling: We will identify adjectives, articles, and demonstrative adjectives. An adjective describes a noun or pronoun and tells what kind or how many. A, an, and the are articles. A and an refer to any item while the refers to a particular item. This, these, that, and those are demonstrative adjectives that tell which one. ------------------------------- February 1, 2010 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS February 2 MSA Night - Reading/Math (6:30 p.m) PLEASE COME! February 3 Second Quarter Report Cards Released February 9 PTO Meeting (7:00 pm) February 12 Schools Closed (Professional Development) February 15 Presidents Day (School Closed) Students have been notified of their January Reading, Math, and Science FASST scores. Please check agenda books for notes from your child's teacher. Black History Research Inventory - Due Thursday, February 4, 2010. Students are encouraged to use library books and approved websites on Mrs. Madison's portaportal website. Scroll to the bottom of page for a copy of the assignment. portaportal.com Guest Access: Madison2 Language Arts: The reading theme is "Person to Person". Our first story is Mariah Keeps Cool. Students will identify and explain the conflict and events in the plot. After reading, students will explain how the actions of the characters affect the outcome of the story. Essential Vocabulary: detain, reluctant, suspects, amazingly, celebration, decorate, festive, honor, volunteered, spectators Strategy Vocabulary: identify, explain, predict, infer, conflict, plot, exposition, rising action, climax, resolution, internal-conflict, external-conflict Vocabulary: The class will identify and read words that have the prefixes sub- and sur- in order to figure the meanings of words. Example: sur- means over, above, or around render means give or deliver Surrender means to give over. Comprehension Skill: We will also draw conclusions and make generalizations about the text. Grammar/Spelling: We will practice using adjectives. ------------------------------- January 17, 2010 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS January 20 Science Fair (6:00-7:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room) January 21 Internet Safety Parent Workshop (6:30 at Gwynn Park Middle School) January 22 End of Second Quarter January 25 Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools closed for students) January 27 ESOL Information Night (6:30 pm) February 3 Second Quarter Report Cards Released February 9 PTO Meeting (7:00 pm) February 12 Schools Closed (Professional Development) February 15 Presidents Day (School Closed) Agenda Books should be signed by parents every week. Reading logs are due every Friday with a parent's signature. Black History Project guidelines will be distributed this week and the due date has been changed to February 8. Language Arts: We continue the theme "Voices of the Revolution." The class will identify the characteristics of a biography. We will read in order to identify and explain the theme of the text. Students will determine the author's purpose for writing. The author may write to inform, persuade, entertain. We will analyze the author's writing in order to explain his point of view or opinion about his subject. Essential Vocabulary: dread, encourage, influential, abolitionist, apprentice, assisted, captive, conflict, encouraged, privateers, tacking, enslavement Strategy Vocabulary: question, theme, topic, main idea, author's viewpoint, author's purpose Vocabulary: The class will identify and read words that have the prefixes sub- and sur- in order to figure the meanings of words. Example: sur- means over, above, or around render means give or deliver Surrender means to give over. Comprehension Skill: Students will practice reading and following directions. Grammar/Spelling: We will practice using possessives, contractions. and adjectives. There is reading, math, and science homework everyday. When there is no homework in a subject area, we have students write no homework in the agenda book under that subject. ------------------------------- January 4, 2010 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS January 4 - Classes Resume January 6 - Reading Formative Assessment January 18 Martin l. King Jr. Day (Schools closed) January 22 End of Second Quarter January 25 Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools closed for students) The Winter Reading/Social Studies, Math, and Science Packets are due on January 4 and will be counted as a classwork grade. Research papers are due Monday, January 4. (Late papers will lose a letter grade for every day the paper is late). They may be handwritten or typed. Remember all papers need a separate title page, and a separate reference page. Questionnaires are to be turned in with the final paper. Language Arts: We will finish our focus on poetry. A poem may include rhyme, rhythm, sensory detail, stories, descriptions, memories, dreams, or imagination. As students read, they will identify the mood of the poem. Do the words the author uses make them feel sad, excited, or like laughing. We will also identify words that indicate the tone of the poem. The tone describes how the author feels about his subject. The tone can be serious, humorous, angry, curious, excited, sad, etc. Our new reading theme is "Voices of the Revolution." We will identify and analyze fact and opinion statements in order to determine the author's purpose for writing and his point of view. The author's point of view is how he thinks or feels about his subject. Essential Vocabulary: Patriot, liberty, revolution, express, colonies, muffle, taxes, sentries, oppose, cargo Strategy Vocabulary: author's purpose, fact, opinion, evaluate, audience, viewpoint Writing: We will use details from the selection in order to write a character sketch. Study Skills: We will discuss the purpose of multiple reference sources, i.e., nonfiction books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and almanacs. Grammar/Spelling: Students will write and spell words that are homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. The words role and roll are homophones. We will be identifying and writing main verbs, linking and helping verbs. Verbs tell what action the subject is performing. The verb may be more than one word. The main verb is the most important word. The helping verb comes before the main verb. He will pull the rope. will is the helping verb and pull is the main verb A linking verb joins the subject to a word in the predicate but does not show action. The trail is steep in places. is = linking verb Reminder: Please check your child's agenda book for homework assignments. There is reading, math, and science homework everyday. When there is no homework in a subject area, we have students write no homework in the agenda book under that subject. Work Habits and Social Skills: Agenda books need to be signed every Friday. Weekly social skills and work habits grades are written in the agenda book by the homeroom teacher. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. ------------------------------- December 16, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS December 17 - Winter Concert December 18 - Second Qtr Progress Reports Released December 24-31 Winter Break January 4 - Classes Resume January 6 - Reading Formative Assessment The Winter Reading/Social Studies, Math, and Science Packets are coming home this week. The fifth grade team has assembled these packets based on the skills most needed by our students. They are due on January 4 and will count as a classwork grade. Language Arts: As part of our theme we are focusing on poetry. A poem is a piece of writing in which words are chosen for both sound and meaning. We are learning the characteristics of poetry. A poem may include rhyme, rhythm, sensory detail, stories, descriptions, memories, dreams, or imagination. Students will plan and write a poem that includes both sensory details and sets a mood. The mood is the feeling created in the reader by the words used in the poem. As students read, they will identify whether the poem makes them feel sad, excited, like laughing, etc. To help students remember what mood means, I ask them to think about what kind of mood they are in that day and what happened to create that mood. Students are also reading different kinds of literature in order to identify the tone. Tone refers to the attitude or feeling of the author towards the subject of his writing. As students read, they will identify words that describe how the author feels about his subject. The tone can be serious, humorous, angry, curious, excited, sad, etc. Remember, the tone is about how the writer feels about the subject he is writing about. Mood refers to how you, the reader feel based on what the author has written. November/December Research Paper: All research papers are due Monday, December 21. (Late papers will lose a letter grade for every day the paper is late). We have been using different research tools in order to gather notes for the paper. The questionnaire is to be used to organize information. Students will take the information from their notes and write their final paper on notebook paper (front and back) or it may be typed. Remember all papers need a separate title page, and a separate reference page. Questionnaires are to be turned in with the final paper. By scrolling to the bottom of the page, you will find a copy of the research questions that students have been using to gather their notes. Essential Vocabulary: amiss, image, tortuous, rhyme, rhythm, genre, poem, stanza Strategy Vocabulary: mood, tone, visualize Study Skills: Students will identify and use different reference sources in order to write a research paper. Grammar/Spelling: Students will write and spell words that are homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. The words role and roll are homophones. We will be identifying and writing main verbs, linking and helping verbs. Verbs tell what action the subject is performing. The verb may be more than one word. The main verb is the most important word. The helping verb comes before the main verb. He will pull the rope. will is the helping verb and pull is the main verb A linking verb joins the subject to a word in the predicate but does not show action. The trail is steep in places. is = linking verb Students will be exploring the suffixes -ward, -ous, -ive, and -ic. -ward means in the direction of. Example: homeward -ous means full of. Example: spacious -ive means tending to be or do, example: supportive -ic means relating to or characterized by example: realistic, poetic Reminder: Please check your child's agenda book for homework assignments. There is reading, math, and science homework everyday. When there is no homework in a subject area, we have students write no homework in the agenda book under that subject. Work Habits and Social Skills: Agenda books need to be signed every Friday. Weekly social skills and work habits grades are written in the agenda book by the homeroom teacher. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. ------------------------------- November 30, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS November 30 - Ms. Brown's homeroom to Owens Science Center (Bring a bagged lunch) December 18 - Second Quarter Progress Reports Released December 24-31 Winter Break Language Arts: Our continued theme is "Give It All You've Got." We are reading La Bamba. Students will be asked to identify the characters, setting, and events in the story. They will use story events and details to predict possible outcomes in the story. They will also use story elements to summarize what they have read. We will be identifying and explaining cause and effect relationships. The cause is the reason that something happens. To identify the cause, students should ask, Why did this happen? The effect is what happens as the result of something. To identify the result, ask "What happened as a result? Words such as because, since, so, and as a result are sometimes clues for cause and effect. Timelines will be used to show how text and pictures can represent information over a period of time. November/December Research Paper: The due date for the research paper has been extended from December 11 to December 21. However, I would encourage students who may be traveling for the holidays to submit their papers by December 18. Students will be given library time and class time to work on their notes. It is important that all students complete their Science Fair Project in order to include that information in their paper. Please scroll to the bottom of the page. You will find a copy of the Research Questions that students will use to gather their notes. They will be allowed to bring their notes home on December 11 to begin finalizing their papers. Essential Vocabulary: talent, rehearsal, pantomime, maneuver, beamed, debut, audience, duo, record, applause Strategy Vocabulary: cause, effect, summarize, setting, characters, plot, problem, solution Study Skills: Students will identify the characteristics of different reference sources. These include a telephone directory, thesaurus, dictionary, atlas, almanac, and encyclopedia Grammar: We will be identifying and using action verbs. Verbs tell what action the subject is performing. Student will be exploring the word roots spec, spect, opt in order understand the meanings of words. spec and spect - mean to look. example: spectacles, spectator opt means sight example: optical, optometry Parent Conferences: If possible, the fifth grade team would like parents who have a scheduled conference to bring their child. We feel that students should be apart of this important process. Scholastic News: We have begun using the Scholastic News to reinforce skills in reading, social studies, science, and health. If you have not already done so, please send in $4.50 to cover the cost of the magazine. Reminder: Please check your child's agenda book for homework assignments. There is reading, math, and science homework everyday. When there is no homework in a subject area, we have students write no homework in the agenda book under that subject. Work Habits and Social Skills: Agenda books need to be signed every Friday. Weekly social skills and work habits grades are written in the agenda book by the homeroom teacher. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. ------------------------------- November 8, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS November 2009 November 10 - First Quarter Report Cards Released November 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (School Closed) November 17 - Science Fair Help Night 6:00 pm November 18 - American Education Week (Parent Visitation, 8:30-11am) November 23 - Mrs. Puglia's Class to Owens Science Center November 24 - Mrs. Madison's Class to Owen's Science Center November 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday (Schools Closed) November 30 - Ms. Brown's Class to Owens Science Center Parent Conferences: If possible,The fifth grade team would like parents who have a conference scheduled for tomorrow to bring their child. We feel that students should be a part of this important process. Federal Impact Aid Survey: A survey was sent home with each student. It is imperative that student's return this form as soon as possible. This form impacts the amount of federal aid available to the school. Scholastic News: The fifth grade will be using the Scholastic News to reinforce skills in reading, social studies, science, and health. A sample copy of this child friendly news magazine was sent home along with each child. If you have not already done so, please send in $4.50 to cover the cost of the magazine. Language Arts: Our new theme is "Give It All You've Got." We will be reading Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion. Students will read to identify the author's purpose for writing and to evaluate what they have read. Evaluate means to make a judgment about the characters, story, and author. Students will use what they have read combined with their thoughts and opinions. We will also distinguish between facts and opinions. A fact is a statement that can be proven either true or false. An opinion is a statement that expresses what someone feels, thinks, or believes. November/December Research Paper: Students will be researching information for their Science Fair research paper during library time. They will be assigned their topics this week. You can best assist by taking your child to the library to find child appropriate books or resources. I would appreciate their bringing in a book on their topic. Essential Vocabulary: deduct, elements, transform, champion, challenge, coach, impatient, artistic, skater, competition, exhibition, presentation, discipline Strategy Vocabulary: autobiography, fact, opinion, evaluate, purpose Spelling & Grammar: Our spelling pattern is compound words. We will also learn to identify common and proper nouns. ☺
Work Habits and Social Skills: Agenda books need to be signed every Friday. Weekly social skills and work habits grades are written in the agenda book by the homeroom teacher. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. ------------------------------- October 25, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS October 29 - Lifetouch Pictures and End of 1st Quarter (This picture will appear in the 2009-2010 yearbook) October 30 - Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools Closed) November 10 - First Quarter Report Cards Released November 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (School Closed) November 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday (Schools Closed) Language Arts: We will be reading the tall tales Paul Bunyan and John Henry. Tall tales have exaggerated characters and events and sometimes explain how natural phenomenon or events came about. After reading, students will summarize in order to explain the most important parts. They will identify words and phrases that helped them to visualize events and also created a humorous or funny mood. October Book Report: Story maps for the October book report are due in class Monday, October 26. Do not send in a written book report. Missing story maps will receive a letter grade reduction for every day the assignment is late. Essential Vocabulary: deeds, hero, heroine, frontier, settler, pioneers, cascaded, protruded, Great Lakes, Grand Canyon, axe, ditch, lantern, cradle, toddler,lumberjack, bunkhouse, haul, exaggerate, confusion, requirements Strategy Vocabulary: tall tale, tradition, summarize Spelling & Grammar: Students will identify words that are related in meaning even though the vowel sound changes from long to short. Example: wise--wisdom Work Habits and Social Skills: Agenda books need to be signed every Friday. Weekly social skills and work habits grades are written in the agenda book by the homeroom teacher. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. ☺
Reminder: Please check your child's agenda book for homework assignments. There is reading and/or math homework everyday. When there is no homework in a subject area, we have students write no homework in the agenda book under that subject. October 18, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS October 19-23 October Book Fair October 20 & 22 Book Fair Family Night 5-9 pm October 20 Cherrydale Fundraiser Pickup 1-5pm October 20-21 FAST Mathematics Test, Grades 3-6 October 29 - Lifetouch Pictures and End of 1st Quarter October 30 - Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools Closed) I enjoyed seeing so many fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and significant others who come out to spend the day with their child. You are truly making a difference. Language Arts: We will continue reading the nonfiction text "Volcanoes." Students will read to categorize and classify information. A category is a group of people, animals, things, or ideas that are alike. To categorize means to find a name describing all the items in a group. To classify meansto arrange similar items into a group. As students read, they will usethe comprehension strategy monitor and clarify. When you monitor, youare checking to make certain that you understand the authors words,phrases, and ideas. When you clarify, you clear up your confusion. Youmay clarify text by rereading and using context clues. Students will identify main idea/supporting details and sequence of events text patterns. Fun Fact: Did you know that Hawaii is the world's largest lava structure? If the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa is measured from the sea floor, it is the world's tallest mountain. October Book Report: Please note the following changes to the October book report.Thank you to all students who brought in their mystery book to be approved. Thestory map for the book is due October 26. As a reminder, the book report will bewritten in class by students after I have checked their story map.Please do not have your child turn in a book report. Essential Vocabulary: advancing, spout, summit, magma, crater, crust, eruption, lava, molten Strategy Vocabulary: monitor, clarify, classify, categorize, paraphrase, topic, main idea Spelling & Grammar: Students will identify words with long vowel patterns. Students will study the word roots rupt and struct. A word root is part of a word that has meaning but cannot stand alone. The word root rupt means break or burst. The word root struct means build. We will be identifying singular and plural nouns. A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. Studentswill improve their writing by using conjunctions. A conjunction may beused to join words in a sentence or to join shorter sentences together. Ex: Kansas has many tornadoes. Oklahoma has many tornadoes. Kansas and Oklahoma have many tornadoes. Work Habits and Social Skills: Students need to come to class each day with folders, pencils, homework, and books. Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. Reminder: Whenstudents are absent they must bring in a written note. When a studentmisses an assignment or test, it is their responsibility to come induring recess to complete the assignment so that it does not result ina grade of zero. -------------------------------------------------- October 11, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS October 17-19 October Book Fair October 16 - MSTA Convention (School Closed) October 29 - Lifetouch Pictures and End of 1st Quarter October 30 - Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools Closed) Language Arts: This week we are reading nonfiction text called"Volcanoes." Students will be reading to categorize and classify information. A category is a group of people, animals, things, or ideas that are alike. To categorize means to find a name describing all the items in a group. To classify means to arrange similar items into a group. As students read, they will use the comprehension strategy monitor and clarify. When you monitor, you are checking to make certain that you understand the authors words, phrases, and ideas. When you clarify, you clear up your confusion. You may clarify text by rereading and using context clues. Students will continue to analyze clues that help them recognize main idea/supporting details and sequence of events text patterns. October Book Report: Please note the following changes to the October book report. I am asking that students bring in the mystery book they are reading by Thursday, October 15, to be approved. Many students have already checked out books from the school library. The story map for the book is due October 26. The book report will be written in class by students after I have checked their story map. Please do not have your child turn in a book report. Essential Vocabulary: advancing, spout, summit, magma, crater, crust, eruption, lava, molten Strategy Vocabulary: monitor, clarify, classify, categorize, paraphrase, topic, main idea Spelling & Grammar: Students will identify words with long vowel patterns. Students will study the word roots rupt and struct. A word root is part of a word that has meaning but cannot stand alone. The word root rupt means break or burst. The word root struct means build. We will be identifying singular and plural nouns. A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. Students will improve their writing by using conjunctions. A conjunction may be used to join words in a sentence or to join shorter sentences together. Ex: Kansas has many tornadoes. Oklahoma has many tornadoes. Kansas and Oklahoma have many tornadoes. Work Habits and Social Skills: Students need to come to class each day with folders, pencils, homework, and books. Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and/or poor organization skills. Reminder: When students are absent they must bring in a written note. When a student misses an assignment or test, it is their responsibility to come in during recess to complete the assignment so that it does not result in a grade of zero. ------------------------------- September 28, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS October 6 - 1st Quarter Progress Reports Released October 7-17 October Book Fair October 16 - MSTA Convention (School Closed) October 29 - Lifetouch Pictures and End of 1st Quarter October 30 - Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools Closed) Language Arts: This week we will be reading "Eye of the Storm." Students will be reading in order to identify how nonfiction text is organized. We will learn signal words that help us identify how the text is organized. The text may be organized by main idea and supporting details, sequence of events or chronological order, and by cause and effect. September Book Report: Book reports are due Wednesday, September 30. Assignments not turned in on time will result in a lower grade for everyday the assignment is late. Students must read an Adventure story that is a chapter book, complete a story map, and follow book report guidelines. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Book Report Dates & Guidelines under Downloads. Essential Vocabulary: collide, rotate, severe, jagged, prairie, sizzling, tornado, funnel cloud Enrichment Activities: With your child, look for weather-related stories in magazines and newspapers that you have at home. Choose one and take turns reading it aloud to each other. If there are photographs with captions, decide together if the caption is necessary and how it helps the reader. A Disaster Plan: Are you prepared in case of a natural disaster? Discuss the types of disasters that could happen and ways to prepare for them. Identify items to include in a home disaster kit, important phone numbers to know and safety procedures to practice. Strategy Vocabulary: sequence of events, text organization, mood, predict, infer, question, main idea, details Spelling & Grammar: Students will identify words with long vowel patterns. We having been learning about simple subjects, simple predicates, complete subjects, and complete predicates. The simple subject is who or what the sentence is about. The predicate refers to the verb. The simple predicate shows action. Example: The boy ran fast. boy - simple subject the boy - complete predicate ran - simple predicate ran fast - complete predicate Students will improve their writing by using conjunctions. A conjunction may be used to join words in a sentence or to join shorter sentences together. Ex: Kansas has many tornadoes. Oklahoma has many tornadoes. Kansas and Oklahoma have many tornadoes. Work Habits and Social Skills: Students need to come to class each day with folders, pencils, homework, and books. Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and poor organization skills. Reminder: When students are absent they must bring in a written note. When a student misses an assignment or test, it is their responsibility to come in during recess to complete the assignment so that it does not result in a grade of zero. Parents, if you do not have a password to view your child's grades on School Max, contact the parent liason at Mattaponi. ================================= September 15, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS September 17 - First Day for Beginning Instrumental September 25 - School Closed for Students September 28 - School Closed (Yom Kippur) October 6 - 1st Quarter Progress Reports Released October 7-17 October Book Fair October 16 - MSTA Convention (School Closed) October 29 - Lifetouch Pictures and End of 1st Quarter October 30 - Grading/Teacher Planning (Schools Closed) Language Arts: We are reading Earthquake Terror which is a realistic story about a 12-year-old boy and his 6-year-old disabled sister who are left alone when their parents go to the hospital. Students are using what they already know and clues from what they have read in order to make inferences. Making inferences helps the reader to understand what the author did not state in the text. As students read, they are identifying words that create a mood in the text. We aren’t talking about a character’s mood, but the feeling that the reader gets while reading. He/she might feel happy, sad, peaceful, mysterious, afraid, or excited while reading. September Book Report: The first book report is due September 30. Students must read an Adventure story that is a chapter book, complete a story map, and follow book report guidelines. The story map is to be completed first. Students are to use the story map to write the second paragraph of their book report. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Book Report Dates & Guidelines under Downloads. Essential Vocabulary: debris, impact, shuttered, jolt, fault, devastation Enrichment Activities: Ask your child what he or she already knows about earthquakes. If you have every been in an earthquake, share your experience with your child. Strategy Vocabulary: mood, predict, infer, characters, events, problem, solution Spelling & Grammar: Students are learning how to identify words with the short vowel pattern. Parents, it is important that students have a dictionary and thesaurus at home to aid them with homework and classwork assignments. We are learning about the four types of sentences.
Work Habits and Social Skills: Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments and poor organization skills. ================================= September 7, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS September 8 - Camp Schmidt Permission Slips Due & Money Past Due Parent volunteers please turn in your Background Check Receipt before Thursday, September 10 Cost of the trip is $12 (Cash or money order only please). Parent volunteers are required to have a security clearance. September 9 - Back to School Night, Grades 4-6, 6:00-7:30 p.m. September 10-11 Camp Schmidt Camping Trip September 15 Cherrydale Fundraiser Order/Money Due September 17 - First Day for Beginning Instrumental September 25 - School Closed for Students September 28 - School Closed (Yom Kippur) Camp Schmidt: To learn more about the Center, scroll to the bottom of this page and click on William Schmidt Education Center under Favorite Links . Language Arts: Our first reading theme is Nature's Fury. The first story is "Earthquake Terror." Students will make predictions and ask questions about the text while reading. They will use what they already know combined with clues from the text in order to read between the lines and make inferences about the characters in the story. As students read, they will identify words that create a mood in the text. We aren’t talking about a character’s mood, but the feeling that the reader gets while reading. He/she might feel happy, sad, peaceful, mysterious, afraid, or excited while reading. September Book Report: The first book report is due September 30. Students must read an Adventure story that is a chapter book, complete a story map, and follow book report guidelines. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Book Report Dates & Guidelines under Downloads. Essential Vocabulary: debris, impact, shuttered Enrichment Activities: Along with your child, look for weather-related stories in magazines and newspapers that you have at home. Choose one and take turns reading it aloud to each other. If you have experienced a weather event such as a hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, flash flood, fire, etc. Share your experiences with your child. Strategy Vocabulary: mood, predict, infer, characters, events, problem, solution Spelling & Grammar: Students will spell words with short vowel patterns. Parents, it is important that students have a dictionary and thesaurus at home to aid them with homework and classwork assignments. Work Habits and Social Skills: Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments. =================================== August 28, 2009 Welcome to MRS. MADISON'S SCHOOLNOTES! REMINDERS September 1 - Camp Schmidt Parent Orientation September 4 - Camp Schmidt Permission Slips Due Cost of the trip is $12 (Cash or money order only please). Parent volunteers are required to have a security clearance. September 9 - Back to School Night, Grades 4-6 September 10-11 Camp Schmidt Camping Trip Language Arts: This week we will be reviewing reading strategies. Students will make predictions and inferences, ask questions, monitor and clarify, evaluate and summarize as we read The Pumpkin Box. Our first reading theme will be Nature's Fury. Essential Vocabulary: Enrichment Activities: Along with your child, look for weather-related stories in magazines and newspapers that you have at home. Choose one and take turns reading it aloud to each other. If you have experienced a weather event such as a hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, flash flood, fire, etc. Share your experiences with your child. Vocabulary and Grammar Skills: Work Habits and Social Skills: Check your child's agenda book on a weekly basis for social skills and work habits grades. Work Habits grades below an A indicate missing assignments.
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