Dec. 2, 2013

WEEKEND NEWS

DECEMBER 2, 2013

 

Dear Parents,

            Can you believe it’s December already?!?   Where has the year gone?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ELLIS CANNED FOOD DRIVE:

Ellis food drive for the Idaho Food Bank begins Monday, December 2nd and runs through December 13th.  Week #1- each day will have a theme.  There will be a competition between grade levels.

Monday- “Get Souped Up!”   canned or dried soup, chili, stew and crackers

Tuesday- “Breakfast of Champions!” hot and cold cereals, pancake mix, syrup, honey, jelly, instant breakfast, muffin mix, canned or dried fruit juice, canned or powdered milk

Wednesday- “Lunch Bunch!” canned meats, soup, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly and crackers

Thursday-“Dinner Tonight!” canned meats, pasta, instant potatoes, macaroni & cheese, chili, canned vegetables, biscuit mix, microwave meals(not frozen), pizza mix, spaghetti, ravioli, canned or dried fruit

Friday- “Snack Attack!” granola bars, fruit bars, dried fruit, crackers, pudding cups, fruit cups, and popcorn

ELLIS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM:  We will have 3 performances. Fourth grade students may bring a cowboy hat, a Santa hat, or an elf hat to wear during the program.

Wednesday, December 18th at 9:30 and 1:30

Thursday, December 19th - 9:30

DADS AND DONUTS:  Friday, Dec. 20^th:  8:00 - 8:30  

READING & LANGUAGE SKILLS

STORY:  The Stranger

COMPREHENSION SKILLS & STRATEGIES:

Noting Details:  Readers use important details about the story characters, events, and setting to help with comprehension.

SPELLING/VOCABULARY:  Compound Words & Synonyms

LANGUAGE:  Action Verbs

VOCABULARY WORDS:  autumn, draft, etched, frost, mercury, peculiar, thermometer, timid

WRITING:  The students just finished their Native American reports.  I am so impressed with how well they did researching, note taking, and publishing their reports.

MATH SKILLS

Multi-Digit Multiplication:  students have been taught many different strategies to solve the problems.  They have learned the Rectangle Notation Method, the Expanded Notation Method, the Algebraic Notation Method, and the Short Cut Method (the traditional algorithm).  They are welcome to use whichever strategy they feel most comfortable using.

We will work on solving story problems and continue with multi-digit multiplication this coming week.

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

• Language:  Drops In The Bucket C14
• Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 38
• Math:  Multi-Digit Multiplication
• Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

Enjoy your weekend!

Denise Thompson                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                               

November 14, 2013

Weekend News

November 14, 2013

Dear Parents,

INFORMATION

·        No homework will be sent home NEXT FRIDAY because of the short week of Nov.25.  Students will attend school on Monday, Nov. 25^th and Tuesday, Nov. 26^th.  Thanksgiving break will be Wed., Nov. 27^th through Fri., Nov.29^th.  HOMEWORK AND NEW SPELLING WORDS WILL BE SENT HOME ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2^ND.

·        READING & LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR NEXT WEEK:  Students will be writing a research paper on an Idaho Native American Tribe.  These are the requirements for their papers:

I have information from at least 3 sources.

I took notes using my own words.

I have cited resources used in a bibliography.

I have notes and a rough draft.

I have a cover with a title, picture, and my name.

I have a labeled visual aid such as a picture, map, or  diagram.

I have 5 to 6 paragraphs in my essay.

Each paragraph has a topic sentence with supporting  facts and details.

Each paragraph is 4 to 7 sentences long.

Each paragraph is indented.

I link ideas together using words such as “for example”,  “because”, “also”.

I use transition words to introduce my paragraphs.

I have typed my paper.

·        MATH SKILLS ADDRESS NEXT WEEK: Practice  one-digit by two-digit multiplication using the area model.

·        CHRISTMAS BOOK ORDERS!!  These books make great Christmas gifts and are very affordable.  If you order any for Christmas, just write a note or e-mail me and I will keep them for you to pick up in person.  Combine all orders and make any checks payable to Scholastic Books.  You may also order on-line at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs .  Use this code to order books:  HCWNC.  Orders will be due by Tues., Nov. 26^th. 

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

*         Language:  Drops In The Bucket C13

*         Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 37

*         Reading:  Comprehension Passages:  Hawaii and  Portugal

*    Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

Have a fun weekend with your family!                                         

Denise Thompson                                                                  

Nov. 8, 2013

WEEKEND NEWS

                                   NOVEMBER 8, 2013

ELLIS MOTTO:   “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING!!!”

ROOM 5 MOTTO:  “DO YOUR BEST!!!”

Dear Parents,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• AR GOALS DUE  Thursday, Nov. 14^th:  End of the 6 Weeks 
• CHRISTMAS BOOK ORDERS!!  I am sending home a set of book order forms (Nov. and Dec).  These books make great Christmas gifts and are very affordable.  If you order any for Christmas, just write a note or e-mail me and I will keep them for you to pick up in person.  Combine all orders and make any checks payable to Scholastic Books.  You may also order on-line at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs .  Use this code to order books:  HCWNC.  Orders will be due by Tues., Nov. 26^th. 
• Donation of Candy:  Thank you for the candy that has been sent in.  Your help is greatly appreciated!
• No School on Friday, Nov. 15^th:  Record Day 
•     No School on Wednesday, Nov. 27^th through Friday, Nov. 29^th: Thanksgiving Break

• No homework over Thanksgiving Break.  It will be sent home on Monday, Dec. 2^nd.
• Ellis Christmas Programs:  Tuesday, Dec. 17^th (one at 9:30 and one at 1:30) and Wed. Dec. 18^th (9:30 only).

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

• Language:  Drops In The Bucket C12
• Math: Subtracting Thousands R25
• Math:  Drops In The Bucket Number 36
• Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

READING & LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR NEXT WEEK’S STORY: review of past month’s skills

MATH SKILLS ADDRESS NEXT WEEK: introduction of one-digit by two-digit multiplication strategies

Have a wonderful weekend,                     

Denise Thompson                                                                 

                                         

November 1, 2013

WEEKEND NEWS

NOV. 1, 2013

ELLIS MOTTO:   “I AM RESPONSIBLE AND ALWAYS LEARNING!!!”

ROOM 5 MOTTO:  “DO YOUR BEST!!!”

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• THANK YOU to all the parents who helped with our Halloween party!!!  We had a great time.  I appreciate all of your help.
• Please remember to keep sending in BOX TOPS and Campbell Soup labels.  Have your extended family members save them too. Our school is able to earn money to help in our classrooms.
• Donation of Candy:  If you would like to donate a bag of candy for classroom rewards/prizes for reading, homework, good behavior, etc. I would greatly appreciate it.  All of the Halloween candy will be on clearance soon. J

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

*  Language:  Drops In The Bucket C11

*  Math:  Drops In The Bucket #35

*  Math: Subtracting Across Zeros  The students were taught a new strategy for this concept.  They subtract one from the top number in the problem and then add one to the answer.  This allows them to skip all of the regrouping which is confusing for many students.  They may use this strategy to solve the problems.

*  Reading:  read nightly and fill out your reading log.

                        

WRITING & IDAHO HISTORY

*         Students will be writing a research paper on an Idaho Native American tribe.  They will begin taking notes in class next week. 

*         They will be required to use at least 3 different resources and cite the resources used. 

*         They will then type their final draft.  This will be completed in class.

READING & LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR NEXT WEEK’S STORY

STORY:  A Very Important Day

COMPREHENSION SKILLS & STRATEGIES:

Categorize and Classify:  Readers will group items/details together to help build comprehension and to compare and contrast details in the story.

LANGUAGE:  Singular and Plural Possessive Nouns

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS:  words that have more than one meaning.  Students must use sentence context clues to identify the correct meaning of the word.

SPELLING WORDS:  /‫ûr/, /ôr/, /yoor/

VOCABULARY WORDS:  allegiance, chamber, citizens, citizenship, enrich, examiner, oath, petitioners

MATH SKILLS ADDRESS NEXT WEEK

SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION

*         Subtraction strategies, subtract across zeroes, subtraction into the millions

*         solve multiplication and division word problems

*         practice multiplication and division facts

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UPCOMING DATES

*         RECORD DAY NO SCHOOL:  Friday, November 15^th

*         THANKSGIVING VACATION: Wednesday, Nov. 27^th through Friday, Nov. 29^th

                                      

Have a wonderful weekend!

Denise Thompson