Hello and welcome back! Thank you for the wonderful birthday wishes. The children were so kind and thoughtful. 40 feels pretty good!

By now you have probably heard about the upcoming biography project. Each student has selected a famous American who has influenced our nation's independence. They have either checked out a biography book from the media center, borrowed a book from our classroom, or found a book on their own either from the public library or a bookstore. We will begin writing the biography report Monday using a lotus diagram to organize important information. All of the writing will be done in class with my guidance. I would like each student to type the final copy at home. This won't need to be done until the final draft is graded and we are closer to our Wax Musuem and Inaugural Ball on November 6th.

The Wax Museum will be held November 6th. The students will come to school that day dressed as their famous person.  For directions on this project, please refer to the biography project sheet in your child's binder. It is also posted on this website and the Shutterfly site.

 

In addition to learning about famous Americans, the students will begin a unit titled "Independence." This unit introduces the students to Colonial America during the turbulent years from the end of the French and Indian War until the Declaration of Independence.  Participating in this simulation will give the students knowledge of this historical period and appreciation of the many cross-pressures experienced by the colonists.

Next week the students will randomly be assigned indentities representative of both rural and urban areas of the three regions of Colonial America. Each member will be a loyalist, Patriot, or a Neutralist. Throughout the simulation the Loyalists and Patriots will persuade Neutralists to join their side.

This simulation is fun but it requires participation from all students and maturity to follow expectation and guidelines.

 

In math we are continuing with Unit 3, Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers and Decimals. After we complete Unit 3 we will move on to Circles, Polygons, and Angles in Geometry. The students will continue with nightly math workbook assignments that review the skills and concepts taught during each lesson. Please refer to the Math Expressions link on this website for the family letter and math background of each Unit.

 

In Language Arts,  the students have been introduced to a new nonfiction rubric for the LRJ. We will continue to practice and perfect responses to nonfiction text throughout this quarter.

 

Please continue to check your child's assignment binder nightly this quarter. I have added information to both this TeacherWeb site and the Shutterfly website. The students have received information on how to use the Shutterfly website and the useful information (besides the great pictures!) located on that site.

 

Thank you for an excellent first quarter. I appreciate all your support!

Mrs. Abel