Week of January 26th

This weeks happenings...

Reading

In reading we continue to look closely at elements of a story and how these elements help us to visualize the story. Visualizing the story helps us to comprehend or understand the story. We will continue over the next couple of weeks to explore story elements through various texts. This week we focused on setting and how great descriptive writing helps us to visualize the story. We read Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. She does an amazing job of using words to paint a picture in our minds as readers.

Writing

This week we spent 3 days working with Mrs. Gramling in the library on how to research information about topics we are interested in writing about. Writers learned how to use the call numbers to find books in the non-fiction section of our library. They learned how to take notes and develop essential questions around their topic. Once they had 2-3 essential questions around their topic they learned how to use both encyclopedias and online encyclopedias to try and find answers to their essential questions. We will now take the information we have gathered in our research to begin writing non-fiction books. 

Math

This week we finished unit 7 and our 4 x tables. Mathematicians need to continue to practice facts until they become fluent. Fluent is being able to recite facts without using fingers or scratch paper. 

Social Studies

We have finished our unit on Colonial Times and will move on to the Revolutionary War next week. Today we had a visit from The Traveling Trunk and learned about what life was like for children in the 1800's. Historians were able to play different games and even write their name with a quill pen and ink. They learned that many of the games we play today were also played long ago. Click the link below to see a slide show movie of our visit. 

Ball and Cup

Jacks

Marbles

Pick up sticks

Spinning tops

Stereoscope

TRAVELING TRUNK

Science

We have begun our study of earth materials and are learning about different types of rocks. Look for new information coming soon to the science tab about these rocks. 

General class news

Be sure to check the class calendar link to stay up to date on things happening in our classroom and around the school. We will exchange Valentines on Friday, February 13th. Click the link below to get a class list. 

Class List

Week of January 12th

We have been working on a class goal of putting first things first. A lot of times we get caught up in things that aren't necessarily the first thing that has to be done. As we work as a class to discuss priorities and what we should focus our energy on first it will help us work more efficiently. Have a conversation with your learner about what your family feels like are the most important priorities. If you would like to send a note in or an email I would love to share your thoughts with the class--it would really help our class discussion!

This weeks happenings

Math: 

Chapter 6 Multiplication and division patterns

We will take our Chapter 6 end of unit assessment on Thursday.
Next week will begin Chapter 7, Multiplication and Division.

Math Vocabulary Chapter 7:

decompose: to separate into parts

known fact: a fact that you know by memory

Identity Property of Multiplication: when any number is multiplied by 1, the product is that number

Zero Property of Multiplication: when any number is multiplied by zero, the product is zero

READING AND WRITING

Reading:

We will be reading both fiction and fiction and review the main idea and key details. Then, we will tackle some more difficult texts and practice inferring (using clues from the text help us know what's going on). Before break we practiced figuring out what words meant by using inferring...now we will go bigger to infer what the main idea of a passage and to infer characters feelings/ motives in a text.

Writing:

We will begin working on writing to a prompt and begin our research for our non-fiction pieces. We will focus on vivid verbs that we can use to improve our writing. We are also continuing to learn cursive.

Spelling: This week and next week will focus on Long I spelling patterns. I have added our class link for spelling city to the "Spelling activities at home" page. I am including a link here also.

 

SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE

Social Studies:

We will continue our study of Colonial Times this week. We will be filling in the test review next week, so look for it to come home.

Science:

We are continuing our study of Earth Materials.

Team Madelynn Update

We enjoyed our special hat day to benefit Madelynn and her family. I am truly amazed at the compassion and generosity of our school community! Truly and utterly amazed!!

BES's grand total for the four days of collecting donations is.....

drum roll please...................................

$2031.00

A-mah-zing!!

BES HONORS MADELYNN

I would like to take a moment to share the following information with you that is very close to my heart. I am very active in supporting the Ronan Thompson Foundation. The Ronan Thompson Foundation is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to finding a cure for neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer. Pediatric cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Neuroblastoma is the fifth most common cancer in children, and tragically, less than half of these patients are cured. Neuroblastoma is the deadliest form of pediatric cancer. 

Many of you have older children that have gone through or are currently at Crossroads Middle School. They may or may not have had Todd and/or Ginger Nelson. Madelynn Nelson is the 3 yr old granddaughter of Todd and Ginger Nelson. Her parents are Amanda Jo and Rob Nelson.

Madelynn was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in November 2013. She went through a year of chemotherapy,  stem cell transplant, radiation, two surgeries, and immunotherapy. She was declared cancer free during her treatment.

Unfortunately, Madelynn's latest CT scan shows a significant  growth in the size of her tumor. It has spread to her bile duct and lymph nodes in her abdomen and has invaded a kidney . She has been in lots of pain, but with medicine is being made comfortable.

There is no cure for Madelynn's cancer, and she is not responding to the latest treatment. Her blood and platelet counts continue to remain low and are not improving.  Her parents have contacted Hospice and have brought Madelynn home to Irmo to be with her family and friends.

Since BES is one of the feeder schools for CRMS, we consider it a part of our extended family. As such, we would like to show our love and support as a school for this sweet little girl and her family during this difficult time.

So on Tuesday, Jan 13, we want to honor Madelynn and her courageous fight with cancer.  Students and staff are encouraged to wear PURPLE (her favorite color) or something with owls (her favorite creature.) Also, for a $1 donation, your child can wear a hat all day on Tuesday.

BES Beta Club and Student Council members will also accept additional donations each morning in the theater and Beacon's Point through Tuesday. All donations received will go to the YouCaring.com account for Team Madelynn to help with her medical expenses. If you would like to donate additionally I have included the link here. 

YouCaring.com

Thank you ahead of time for your support and generosity.
If you would like to see a clip of WLTX's coverage of Disney princesses visiting Madelynn Tuesday evening,  visit http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2015/01/06/cancer-irmo-disney/21371945/.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

General News

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Christmas! It was nice to spend time with family and unwind a little. I am excited to return to the classroom also. We have lots to do to finish up the second nine weeks and make our way into the second semester. Wow, it has really flown by. 

Please read the following very carefully!

Starting with the third nine weeks I will NO longer be reading their tests/quizzes to the class.  I am not allowed to read the MAP nor the spring ACT/Aspire test to them so the kids need to be prepared to "fly on their own"! I will continue to read questions or answer choices for science and social studies on an as need bases. If a student needs something read to him/her on science or social studies they can raise their hand and I will read it to them, but I will no longer read aloud to the whole class. Third nine weeks is also, historically, a transitional time for students becoming more independent. Please help your child to be more independent with their work, studying, and reading! We continue to work on note taking in the classroom also. 

ELA- We are continuing to focus on Nonfiction texts. By learning to how to use information presented in various types of nonfiction material, students will prepare to use the multitude of expository texts that readers of all ages encounter daily, including newspapers, brochures, magazines, instruction manuals, recipes, and maps.

Math- We are moving into studying ways we use multiplication and the strategies and application procedures it requires when solving multiplication problems. It is VERY important that students know their basic multiplication facts. We will be picking back up with our weekly fact tests this week. These are not timed. Go to the math games tab of the blog to see some fun ways to practice math at home. 

SC History- We will soon be moving into the American Revolution era to study the impact of breaking ties with the British had on our land, people, and area we know as South Carolina. This is the first major war the students will study and is always a favorite!!!

Science- Earth Materials:  The students will be learning about the rapid changes made to the Earth. They will also soon be learning about slow changes to the Earth and take a closer look at fossils from our Earth.