Cheerleading season ends

I just wanted to say a little shout out to my senior cheerleaders who were chosen to be on the WAC exceptional senior team. Also congratulations to Lia who was named Southern WAC Conference MVP. Thank you to the WAC for allowing me to coach this talented group of exceptional seniors in my first year in the WAC league, it is a true honor and privilege. Finally congratulations to the whole DCS Cheer Team for their successful season, see you next year!

Last but not least thank you to the elementary school students for coming out to the games this season!

newsletter 3-3-2014

Monday, March 3, 2014

This week in ELA we are diving deeper into parts of language such as: verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, conjunctions, interjections, and prepositions.  They are working on increasing their comprehension with fiction texts in our NYS Test Prep time and reading groups.  They have a weekly reading response journal due every week on Friday.

In morning math work we are starting Chapter 11: Geometry and Volume. We will cover: polygons, triangles, quadrilaterals, problem solving, and three-dimensional figures. On the back of this paper you will find a detailed explanation of the chapter and a few reteach sheets for you to practice at home with your child.

In afternoon math we are in the middle of Chapter 6: Add and Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators. We will cover: adding and subtracting mixed numbers, subtraction with renaming, patterns with fractions, practice addition and subtraction, and use properties of addition. On the back of this paper you will find a few reteach sheets for you to practice at home with your child. There will be a Chapter Test NEXT Tuesday 3/11/14.

We are working their fourth list of Words Their Way spelling list for the third quarter.  Monday through Wednesday they are to work on their three choices of spelling homework.  SPELLING PACKETS ARE DUE THURSDAY!!!!  On Thursday, they are to study their words for the spelling test on Friday. Please remember to sign your child’s spelling homework and check the option they chose as their third type spelling homework.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Staff Development Day (no school) 3/21
• NYS ELA Testing- April 1-3

Monday, February 24, 2014

This week in ELA we are diving deeper into parts of language such as: synonyms, antonyms, Greek and Latin roots, and verbs.  They are also identifying parts of informational texts and reviewing note taking skills in our NYS Test Prep time.  They have a weekly reading response journal due every week on Friday. This is to check that they are indeed reading at home and to check their comprehension.

In Social Studies we are in the finishing Chapter 3: “The Age of Exploration”. They have worked on plays, mini-biographies and answering fact based questions thus far. They will have a quiz on Thursday on all they have learned. They can take their textbooks home to study daily.

In math are starting Chapter 6: “Add and Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators”.  On the back of this paper you will find a detailed explanation of the chapter and a few reteach sheets for you to practice at home with your child.

We are working their third list of Words Their Way spelling list for the third quarter.  Monday through Wednesday they are to work on their three choices of spelling homework.  SPELLING PACKETS ARE DUE THURSDAY!!!!  On Thursday, they are to study their words for the spelling test on Friday. Please remember to sign your child’s spelling homework and check the option they chose as their third type spelling homework.

 

IMPORTANT DATE:

 

            OUR VALENTINES DAY PARTY IS RESCHEDULED FOR THIS FRIDAY 1-2:10 PM

 

 

newsletter 2-3-14

This week in ELA we are working on character analysis with the group fiction texts and identifying parts of informational texts in our NYS Test Prep time.  There is going to be a fun and exciting independent Character Analysis project they will all be completing in class on Wednesday and Thursday. 

In Social Studies we are starting Chapter 3: “The Age of Exploration”. We have been introduced to Christopher Columbus and we are going to dive deeper into lessons one and two “Exploration and Technology” and “A Changing World”. There will be fun projects mixed in with comprehension questions about informational texts.

In math are finishing Unit 5: “Dividing Decimals”.  Chapter 5 is very short and we are already half way through it. This week they are working on division of decimals by whole numbers, investigating decimal division, dividing decimals, writing zeroes in the dividend and problem solving with decimal operations.  There are worksheets for review called reteach for the entire chapter and the answers attached to this paper.  Their Unit 5 Test will be on Tuesday 2/11/14 next week and they will get a review day with me before the test. They should bring home their textbook this week and practice using the odd numbered questions (we do evens in class).

We are working their first list of Words Their Way spelling list for the third quarter.  Monday through Wednesday they are to work on their three choices of spelling homework.  Thursday, they are to study their words for the spelling test on Friday. Please remember to sign your child’s spelling homework and check the option they chose as their third type spelling homework.

I would like to take a moment to commend all “my” parents and students. Your children worked so hard this quarter and it really shows with their jump in grades. As the students may tell you I don’t give grades they earn their grades. Boy did they earn them this quarter! The curriculum is intense and they are working tirelessly for me. I receive compliments regarding the students’ work ethic and behavior DAILY.  You have raised very wonderful children, parents; and to my students you rock! Thank you!

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

                                                -Report Cards go home- Feb. 7^th

                                                -February Break- Feb. 17^th-21^st

PBIS

Here are some pictures from the PBIS assembly today. We had a great time watching the teachers model the wrong things to do on the bus and in the cafeteria. They got a lot of laughs and cheers. Then the student council students modeled the proper behavior in the cafeteria and on the bus. They did a great job! They also awarded different prizes for positive behaviors. Mr. Lane's class won the golden dustpan and Mrs. Walsh & Mrs. Durant's classes had the most school spirit. There were also four golden tickets pulled and they awarded cool prizes.

Newsletter: December 9, 2013

This week in ELA we are working on non-fiction exploration.  Today they met up with their PB&J partner, chose a text, and began taking notes on the topic.  They will take this information and explain the cause and effect relationship between the events in history discovered in the text. By the end of the week they will begin the writing process of an informative piece about their topic and cite their information.  This will be carried over into the next week when they complete the rough draft, conference with me and a peer, complete the final draft, and type the paper. They have all blossomed into stellar writers in the past month!

In social studies we finished Chapter 2: "Native Americans".  We are moving on to Science Unit 3: “Cells to Body Systems”.

In math we are completing Chapter 2: Divide whole numbers.  This week the students are working on “Interpret the Remainder”, “Adjust Quotients”, and “Problem Solving: Division”. They will have in class worksheet quizzes for these lessons on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the morning. They will have a Test on Chapter Two FRIDAY. This was announced last week to the students and has been on the calendar and agenda for a week.  There are worksheets for review called reteach and the answers attached to this paper. Also, they can and should bring their math “big books” home to study. They can even look at their quizzes to help them to see where they need to focus on studying.

Finally, we are working their third list of Words Their Way spelling list for the quarter.  Monday through Wednesday they are to work on their three choices of spelling homework.  Thursday, they are to study their words for the spelling test on Friday. Please remember to sign your child’s spelling homework and check the option they chose as their third type spelling homework.

 

IMPORTANT DATES: 

                                  -Math Test Friday Dec. 13^th

                                  -ES Concert Tuesday, Dec. 17^th
                                  -Holiday Party Dec. 20 @ 1:15-2:00
                                  -Interim Reports Distributed Dec. 20^th
                                  -NO SCHOOL December 23^rd -January 3^rd

5T Cartoonists

Since the newest fad of cartoon chapter books (i.e. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Nate the Great) my students have been fascinated with the idea of making cartoons. Instead of discouraging this wonderful outlet of literacy I have embraced it! Now in social studies students demonstrate their comprehension by answering the essential question by drawing a cartoon. The students really seem to enjoy this so I think this will be my new go to assessment tool! Here are just a few of the students' cartoons from chapter 2 lesson 4 and 5. Enjoy!