Connections and Curriculum for the Week of January 15

This week in mathematics:

Students took home their Mid-Module tests on Friday.

We will have our Unit 3 mid-module test on Thursday.

The test will cover lessons 1 - 7.  The topics include:  adding and subtracting fractions of unlike denominators, including mixed numbers.  Students will be using these skills to solve multi-step math application problems that ask for the student to solve using Tape Diagrams (a rectangular bar to show assigned relative values).

Objective Sheets Revamped:    Students have been given a target goals (objectives) Form, and they are writing their learning objectives on it.  They check off if they complete a lesson and their Exit Ticket Quiz scores.   Exit Ticket work is classified as  GI = Got It; AT = Almost There; and NY = Not Yet.  This information is feedback on their progress and mirrors my record keeping of their work.  It helps me organize small groups or paired teams for reinforcement and extra practice. It's also to encourage student self-awareness of their progress, areas in need of extra study, and goal planning.

Student Exit Tickets for the midway of Module 3 were returned Wednesday and students were given a worksheet to review / practice math application questions to prepare for the test.

Monday, No School in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

This week in Language Arts

Students began the Feature Article segment of Writing. We are integrating science and social studies into language arts for this project. All students will be writing an article within the umbrella topic of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.   Students will be able to choose the individual focus of their article, but all students will practice note-taking and source recording together on a base set of articles.

On Friday we integrated social studies and language arts.  Students read a chapter on the beaver fur trade and settlement in the interior of Washington and Spokane and wrote a summary.  This should be completed as hw if not completed in class.

On Thursday we integrated social studies and language arts.  Students read and summarized a chapter on the Northwest coast history of otter fur trading, including international competition and interactions with native Americans.  This should be completed as hw if not completed in class.

On Tuesday students had a literacy packet that focused on identifying the problem and solution in a story.  They then had to write an imaginary letter from the point of view of a father away at war, replying to his daughter who writes about bird territorialism in a letter to him. Unfinished work was assigned as homework.

Students are continuing to research ANWR, recording sources,

There is no spelling packet this week. Group one will be reading with Mrs. Duke's Kindergarten students on Thursday afternoon.

This week in Science

In Science students are studying Life Science and the topic of Classification of Organisms. We are currently studying the six Kingdoms: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists, Ancient Bacteria, and True Bacteria.

Students learned how the system of classification works, watching videos, reading the textbook, and taking notes. These are being kept in the science section of their three ring binders along with science research on ANWR.