Biography Tea Party

Here are most of our celebrities at our 

tea party today!

Smith Spokesman #9: October 27, 2017

The Smith Spokesman

Volume VIII  Number 9                                     October 27, 2017                                           Always Free!

Upcoming events/dates: Oct. 31: Classroom “Biography Tea Party” - you’re invited to join us.  B.Y.O. TeaCup Nov. 03: Carnival Nov. 08-09: Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences Picture retakes are scheduled for November 30th

Read Aloud: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.   Hey there - only 4 of y’all checked out our class blog to see our self portraits - Wonder style. See October 11's POST.  We beat the movie!  It comes out November 7.

Math Unit 2:  Seeing and Understanding Multi-Digit Multiplication & Division.

The focus of the unit now shifts to division. Students explore how the area model can be used to model both multiplication and division, and conquer a series of story problems designed to help students understand that remainders need to be handled in different ways depending on the context of the problem. Students also use base ten pieces and grid paper sketches to model and solve increasingly complex multi-digit division problems. Ask your student to solve by using an array:   384 ÷ 12

Instead of focusing on Halloween we will be discussing The Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos.  It is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. It is acknowledged internationally in many other cultures as well. The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.  This celebration is very colorful and positive, and takes place October 31-November 2. I would like to show the dvd The Book of Life  which is a computer-animated musical fantasy adventure comedy film.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Life_(2014_film) I thought this might be a good idea on November 1 when we are all hungover from candy!

Smith Spokesman #8: October 20, 2017

Upcoming events/dates: Oct. 31: HALLOWEEN & Classroom “Biography Tea Party” - you’re invited to join us.  BYOTeaCup Nov. 03: Carnival Nov. 08-09: Conferences Picture retakes are scheduled for November 30th

Did you forget to send your picture order form in on picture day?  Or did you change your mind and now you really really want this year's picture of your student?  Picture orders may be done online.

The upper left corner of the order form has the Access key #.  

Orders need this number entered when ordering.

Picture retakes are scheduled for November 30th.

Science:  Sun, Moon, Earth Students set up a space lab where they grew a plant, crystal tree or

Crystal rocks, and hatched an animal egg.  What did your student grow?  Is your student's planet sustainable?  

Next mission:  to write a RAP about it.

Wait - what?  What is a RAP?  It’s a type of popular music in which words are recited rapidly and rhythmically over a prerecorded, typically electronic instrumental backing.

  

Read Aloud: Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.   August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school - until this year, in 5th grade.  To accompany this read aloud, students are completing a Wonder interactive layered flip book. We have only 15 pages left and the suspense is killing us! Check out our class blog to see our self portraits - Wonder style.   https://smithclass2018.blogspot.com/

Math Unit 2:  Seeing and Understanding Multi-Digit Multiplication & Division.

Students are invited to take a step back from the area model and algorithm to consider strategies that might be more efficient for solving problems with particular combinations of numbers. Our ultimate goal is for students to develop a repertoire of computational strategies that they can use sensibly and flexibly.

In Home Connection #15 students use the area model to picture and solve 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problems.The focus is on transitioning to using numbers only, connecting them to the area model as needed to support students’ work.

School Carnival is the evening of November 3rd.    We are collecting DUCKS vs BEAVERS

items for a raffle basket.  Thank you for donating!

Smith Spokesman #7: October 13, 2017

No Smith Spokesman this week - 4 day week, Friday 10/13/17 NO SCHOOL.

Choose Kind!

In a galaxy far far away....

Smith Spokesman #6: October 6, 2017

Upcoming events/dates: Oct 11: Picture Day! Oct 13: Statewide Inservice – NO SCHOOL Oct. 18: Late Opening, Inside Out/Backwards Clothing Day Oct. 31: HALLOWEEN & Classroom “Biography Tea Party” Nov. 03: Carnival Nov. 08-09: Conferences

Science:  Sun, Moon, Earth This week students located and transformed their exoplanet, changing its features to make it habitable.  Next mission:  To set up a space lab where they will grow a plant, crystal tree, and hatch an animal egg.

  

Literacy:  Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell.   This is an adventure story set in the nineteenth century. Published in 1961, the book was highly acclaimed, won the Newbery Medal, and still remains very popular. We read only the beginning to practice our comprehension skill and strategy of the week.   Based loosely on true events, the story follows the plight of a young girl left alone on an island when her people leave for a safer place.

Math Unit 2:  Seeing and Understanding Multi-Digit Multiplication & Division.  
Pretest given!  

In this unit, students develop the background and understanding they need to be successful in multiplying and dividing multi-digit numbers.  We begin with models and strategies for multiplying.  
The area model of 9 x 23 is shown below:

School Carnival is the evening of November 3rd.    
As a class we are collecting DUCKS vs BEAVERS items

for a raffle basket.  Thank you for donating… only 1 family so far!