Vocabulary LINCs- May 2-6 (Due Friday)

Katzenjammer- when something is confusing and funny and noisy

Lackadaisical- lacking in energy or interest

Improbable- when something highly unlikely happens

Partisan- when someone takes another's part or side

All about Plant and Animal Cells

 Mrs. Reedy and I co-taught a lesson on plant and animal cells. We learned to compare and contrast using a Double Bubble Map. We also learned about whole to part relationships using a Brace Map. Check out our Thinking Maps!

Vocabulary LINCs- April 25-29 (Due Friday)

Ubiquitous- whenever you want to describe a person who appears to be everywhere at once.

Vacillate- whenever a person can't make a decision and wavers from side to side.

Winsome- when anyone is charming, attractive, cheerful, and bright.

Xenophobia- when people hate or fear foreigners or strangers.

Poetry

We have had a great week learning more about poetry. The students learned about poetic devices, learned to brainstorm poetic ideas, reflect on poetry, and of course write a few poems. Be sure to ask your child about the Earth Day poem we shared.

Supplies, Supplies, Supplies

Some students are still not coming to school with basic supplies. I do lots of Foldables in class weekly which require glue sticks and scissors. When students do not have these supplies other students are put in the situation to loan their supplies out which then causes them to run out of their supplies. If your child is out of supplies please purchase more or let me know if this is creating a hardship for your family and I will see what I can do. Coming to class unprepared is NOT an excuse to sit out and not do an activity, all student are required to participate daily.

Thanks!
Mrs. Downey

Online Book Quiz and Book Talk

The next online book quiz and Book Talk Project is due May 6th. Students must take the online quiz in class using bookadventure.com or allquizzes.net. Students were to be sure there was a quiz before selecting their book. A chapter book must always be on hand. We have a built in DEAR time daily and independent reading time is assigned nightly. A grade of zero is given when a student is not prepared to take an online quiz every three weeks, this shows that they are not reading independently.

Vocabulary LINCs- April 18-21 (Due Friday)

1. Quixotic- whenever a person dreams an impossible dream or has an idea that cannot come true because it is not possible or practical.

2. Raucous- whenever someone is loud and noisy and harsh-sounding.

3. Scintillate- whenever a person (or thing) sparkles, or twinkles, or gives off light.

4. Truculent- whenever you want to describe someone who is fierce, cruel, or savage.

Last Minute Tips

Below are a few last minutes tips that I have after making some final adjustments and observations this week.

1. Get a good nights sleep on Sunday night.

2. Eat right on test days.

3. Wake up early, take a quick walk or do a few jumping jacks to get the blood flowing.

4. Think and or say positive thoughts out loud or silently.

5. Feel confident!

6. Study the prefixes and suffixes that I posted on the website (they are likely to show up on the test, they have been on EVERY practice test so far)

7. YES, YES, YES .... the kids must use the strategies they have learned this year including but not limited to SMART 7 and PIP. This is like asking "do I have to use my brain at school, Mrs. Downey?"


We will do great, I just KNOW it!!!

Mrs. Downey

Practice Math Test

Parents,

 

We took an Envision practice math test today, it was the exact same test that we took the first week of school. Most of the kids did awesome. I showed the kids their old test scores in relation to their new scores and they were amazed. Many kids went from a score of 30% to a 90%. Way to go students! We will do awesome next week, I'm sure of it!

Practice Reading Test Today

Parents,

 

Today we took another practice reading FCAT test that is aligned to FCAT 2.0 next generation questions. Some students did extremely well others didn't do so well. I have recorded the test in Progressbook but will not count it as credit. Before the test some students asked me if they had to use the strategies I have been teaching them such as SMART 7 and PIP. I told the kids that on the day of the test I can not make them use a specific strategy, however, I highly recommend using both strategies because they have proven to be successful in the past.

 

If I knew that a strategy was almost guaranteed to work, I know I would use it for sure, it wouldn't hurt. The FCAT allows plenty of time for kids to use strategies beyond just reading the passages and answering questions. I also asked the kids if they were aware of the fact that our brain remembers information better when we write it down, almost 40% better in fact, if I knew that statistic I know I would be writing down notes in the margin as I tested. However, many students today decided to not use the strategies that I have been teaching and sure enough it backfired on them, they didn't score well at all. After the test I asked volunteers that scored high to share what they did to score high and you can guess that they all said they used SMART 7, PIP, double checked their work, looked for clues, and took their time.

 

The BIG day is next week so all I'm saying is that I highly suggest the students use the strategies that I've been teaching them all year and not decide on the day of the test that they will use some other strategy or no strategy at all with the hopes that they will do well by chance. Maybe the kids are just getting  "burnt" out on testing and test taking skills or maybe they are becoming over confident but I think you may be able to have an important conversation with your child this week about their goals for the assessment and what their strategy will be on test day. A conversation coming from you at this point may be helpful. I know they can do it, we are so close!!!

We learned about literary analysis today.

We learned all about using text features today. Check out our Frames!

Materials Needed

Parents,

If your child is out of the following supplies please send them in after spring break.

Glue sticks
Pre-sharpened #2 pencils


Thanks!
Mrs. Downey