Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Christmas party

Our Christmas party will be Dec 19 from about 1:30 - 2:30.  Feel free to bring treats, but please bring enough for all (36) and avoid any kind of nuts.  Strangely, I forgot to mention this yesterday.

Class info Dec 17

Math

same as yesterday

Language Arts

same as yesterday

Science

currently studying digestive system

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

interweb fun

We participated in the Hour of Code today spending an hour coding on code.org
This is a great thing to do at home when you have a spare moment.

Another website that's great with math is www.sumdog.com  it's free, and is great practice

Class info Dec 16

Math

More fractions - I've seen some (not too many) disappointing results resulting in some "1" quizzes coming home. My rule is that if you get a parent signature, fix all the mistakes, and turn in the quiz the following day, I'll change the grade from a "1" to a "2", leaving the "1"s for people who don't make the effort.  I do grade "hard" - 69 percent and under is considered a "1".  However I do believe that if you get a grade that low, you probably don't know what you're doing and need some help.  I'd rather you be a bit alarmed than complacent.

Most of the errors are caused by:

1.  a failure to reduce all the way

2.  adding rather than subtracting or vice-versa

3.  a minor computational error

4.  reducing a mixed number and then forgetting to add the whole number into the final answer - for example 41 3/6 = 1/2 when the answer should be 41 1/2.

I realize the reducing stuff seems picky, but I am trying to keep the bar high so that middle school isn't too much of a shock.

I sat down with each and every person that got a "1" and corrected the quizzes with them individually, addressing problems as I saw them arise.  Please go over these with your child again to make sure I didn't miss anything, and that they entirely understand.  They do fool me sometimes.

As always, contact me if you I can do anything for you

Language Arts

same as yesterday



Monday, December 15, 2014

Friday's field trip / Christmas party

Ok, so here's the rough sketch regarding Friday.

In the morning we will attend the Cougar Pride assembly at 8:30.  We will leave at about 10:00 for the Discovery Cube at Hansen Dam.  At that point, we will eat our lunch early (sorry) at 10:30.  We will participate in their 5th grade science module from 11:00 to 1:00. We will arrive back at Keppel at 1:30 at which point we will have a Christmas party.  The party we call AMC style - have some goodies and pick a classroom to watch a movie in.

Thanks to all who offered to chaperone - at this point we're all full.  Thanks also to people who offered to assist at the Christmas party.  At this point, we're ok in the sense that extra assistance is not needed, but if you'd like to stop by we'd love to have you. Just email me first :)

Class info Dec 15

Math

finishing up fractions

Language Arts

this week, we're reviewing text structure (characters, plot, setting)
no spelling/vocabulary test, no assignments - you probably need the extra time after school anyway

Science

studying the digestive system

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Class info Dec 11

Math

more on fractions

Language Arts

reading day

Science

starting to study the digestive system