Putnam County Grading Scale:

A = 93 - 100

B = 85 - 92

C = 75 - 84

D = 70 - 74

F = below 70

ABSENT???

Is your child absent today? Visit the "Make-up Work" link for daily assignments. Since many of the books are on-line, you may not even need to pick up books.

READING:

READ ALOUD ASSIGNMENT: Your child will bring home a READ ALOUD calendar this week that will be due on Wednesday, December 16. There are multiple activities that you will complete with your child over the next few days. These activities are very short and multiple activities can be completed in a few minutes. The purpose of this activity is to help students see the importance of reading in the real world and that reading is everywhere. Parents are encouraged to sign off on each activity ONLY IF THE ACTIVITY WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED. This sheet must be turned in on time to receive full credit.

Basal Reading Book Story: There will not be another story to read at home until January. All of our reading will be done in class using TCAP type materials along with Social Studies materials.

Basal Reading Test: January 2010

(Students are required to answer questions 19 & 20 in complete sentences. Points will be deducted from each answer for incomplete sentences.)

AR Goals: All goals will be reset for the 2nd nine weeks as soon as students take their new STAR test in computer lab. Students may however begin testing even though the new goals have not been set.

AR: I encourage students to meet their AR goals each nine weeks. Students are asked to keep free reading or library books handy so they can read when they finish their work early. I also encourage students to read for pleasure at home each evening.

AR Extra Credit: Students who reach their AR goals will receive an extra credit 100 in reading at the end of the nine weeks.

SPELLING:

Next Test Date: January

Bonus Words:

Basal Reader Spelling Packets - These are given to students on Monday mornings. Students are given time each morning ( Mon, Tues, & Wed.) to work on a page. If they get behind, they are encouraged to finish the assigned daily page for homework. Most students finish in class. If your child is not finishing in class, they may need to work on making better use of their morning work time. There is always plenty of time to finish. If there is not, I always allow students who may be behind to take their packets home for the evening. Packets are due on Thursday morning before the spelling test. Each week I will choose either one, two, or all three pages to grade.

ENGLISH:

DOL (Daily Oral Language) -

Next DOL Quiz - January

4-H POSTER: DUE DATE - TBA:

All students will participate in the 4-H Poster contest for a double English grade. Slogan writing, capitalization, correct spelling, and punctuation will all be items considered in grading. When I receive the date from our 4-H agents, I will announce it on the web page as well as sending home a grading rubric for you to help your child go by when planning his/her poster.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

We will finish Chapter 8 before Christmas break. In this chapter, the colonists are beginning to voice their concerns about "taxation without representation." We will be introduced to Patrick Henry and Samual Adams this week. Students will learn about the French & Indian War, Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and Paul's Famous Ride to name a few.

The study guide was sent home last week. If you study a few minutes each night, it will be much easier to learn the material than trying to learn the material the night before the test. Students are also completing vocabulary definitions in class that will help in studying.

Current Quiz and Test dates are as follows:

Ch. 8 Vocabulary Test - Tuesday, 12/15

Ch. 8 Concept Test - Wednesday, 12/16

TCAP Review Packet:

This packet will be kept in students' social studies foldlers. The intent of the packet is to review material previously learned to keep it fresh. (Parents, please do not complete this in advance. We will complete it at school.)

Vocabulary Words - It may help some students to make flash cards for vocabulary words. Write the word on one side and the definition on the other side. This is not a must, just an idea.

States & Capitals Song: http://geography.learnhub.com/lesson/9828-animaniacs-us-states-and-capitals-song

See my links page for a direct link.

MATH:

WEDNESDAY  MULTIPLICATION FACT QUIZ:

(Facts were learned in 2nd and 3rd grades and were to be memorized before school began this year.)

The division quizes will have a time limit of 4 minutes. Each quiz will have the division facts listed plus 5 other problems that are review. The other five problems might be multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction. This will make for a total of 20 questions.

The division fact quiz might have problems such as 14 ÷ 2 = _____ or 14 ÷ 7 = _______. Make sure that students know their fact families.

12/16 - Divide by 5

1/6 - Divide by 6

1/13 - Divide by 7

1/20 - Divide by 8

1/27 - Divide by 9

We will cover Saxon lessons 56 - 58 this week.

Test - January

If all goes as planned, I will send home a review test on Thursday. I encourage you to help students arrive at the correct answer by asking questions that guide students in the right direction. I am listing the answers for parents to check this paper at home with your child before the test.

Review answers: (1.) 1177 students (2.) 178 miles (3.) A. 6 feet (4.) 3 (5.) 3421 (6.) 3 5/8 (7.) 35 feet (8.) 54 players (9.) 600 (10.) 165,272 (11.) $3.57 (12.) 645 (13.) 679 (14.) 357 (15.) 576 (16.) 1.96 (17.) 6.94 (18.) $5.98 (19.) < (20.) a. 4 b. 8 c. 7

HOMEWORK: Please check your child's planner daily for homework.

What is the best way to study for a Saxon Math Test? Do your homework each night and have an adult check it and help you with any problem areas.

SCIENCE:

MOON   PHASES   SHEET - DUE   January 5, 2010

Moon Phases: Please be sure to go outside each evening and check the phase of the moon. Students will record the phase of the previous night each morning at school. Once we leave for break, I will send the sheets home for students to continue recording the phases on thier own. Students will turn in this sheet for the first grade of the 3rd nine weeks when we return in January. If a heavy cloud cover prevents you from seeing the moon, check www.google.com/moonphase.

Scientific Notebook: Each student has a "Scientific Notebook." Some items will be created by the teacher and placed in the notebook. However, most items in the notebook will be created by the students. Students will recieve notebook grades several times each nine weeks. These grades will be given based on organization of the notebook, completeness of the notebook, and neatness of the notebook. Anytime an item is to be added to the notebook, specific directions as to how and where the item should be placed in the notebook. If students follow my in-class directions, they should receive a fantastic grade! Definitions will be added to the notebook glossary for each chapter. Definitions must be written neatly and must be complete in content.

ON-LINE TEXTBOOK INFO:

The SCIENCE textbook is online. Go to my links page and go to the science textbook link. Be sure to read the class code.

The old MATH textbook is on-line. You will find one link for the text book and a separate link for the workbook on my LINKS page. This is not the SAXON book. It is the old math book that we use sometimes for extra practice.

The SOCIAL STUDIES textbook is on-line. Go to my links page and go to the Social Studies Textbook Link. Your child's user name is now in the front of his/her planner.

The ENGLISH and READING textbooks are NOT available on-line.