Welcome Everyone!!!!

      Welcome to my School Notes page for the 2008-2009 school year! Please make sure you join the "notify me" list so that you will be informed of when I have updated my school notes. A special thank you goes out to everyone who has volunteered to help our class this year. You are greatly appreciated! 

    ****OURSHININGSTARS****

• The Character Word for the month of February is honesty. Being honest means having the quality of not lying, stealing, or cheating; being just what it appears to be, genuine; and not hiding anything, straightforward. Honesty is an incredibly important quality of good character. 
• Our Student of the Week is Anthony Romano. We look forward to learning about what makes Anthony special!
• Congratulations goes out to Max Colditz, Zach Stancoff, and Jett Sutherland. They are our latest class members to receive a Caught Being Good!

Week of Feb. 23- Feb. 27

We need the following items for our classroom. If you can help donate any of them, we would be very grateful:

1. Rabbit Food-" Sunseed Sunaturals Natural Rabbit Food"- available at pet supply store
2. Guinea Pig Food- "Sunseed Sunscription Vita Prima Guinea Pig Formula" 
3. Kaytee Aspen Bedding and Litter
4. "Glade" Plug-In refills
5. Masking Tape
6. Scotch Tape
7. Paper Towels

 Reading Counts:The students are required to read a minimum of 4 reading counts books at a 3.5 level or higher this 6 weeks. Please encourage your child to read and take tests on a variety of books.Some of the Reading Counts books read should be chapter books. It is to our benefit to be exposed to a variety of literature. The goal is to read as many books as possible. The more books read and tests taken, the better the chance of having high scores. Reading Counts Tests are tests that are meant to measure your child's comprehension skills.The children will not be allowed to view the book while they take their reading counts test. Please make sure they are adequately prepared before they ask to take a reading counts test. They can take tests before school (7:30), during study hall, and after school if they cannot do it during the day. The children are encouraged to write their scores in their Reading Logs to keep track. You can get two tasks accomplished at once by reading "reading counts" books for your required 100 minutes of reading each week. Make sure you look on the schools Reading Counts list for the books that we do have tests on. You can do this by going to the LISD website. Click on "Schools". Select "Bridlewood". Select "Reading Counts." The last day to take Reading Counts Tests is Friday, February 27th. 

Reading TAKS Test: The Reading TAKS Test is on Tuesday, March 3rd.Your child will be coming home with a TAKS Reading Folder on Friday which will contain an important letter with important information on preparation at home for the Test. The folder will also have a TAKS Study Booklet, past Benchmark Tests, and a practice test to be completed over the weekend. Please return the folder on Monday. Thank you! Those of you asked to provide an item for the TAKS Snacks should have them in by Friday, February 27th.

 **** Please continue to practice the multiplication facts at home on a regular basis. ****

Math

             Chapter 9: Multiplication Patterns and Number Sense

1. Multiplication and Arrays
2. Break Apart to Multiply
3. Draw a Picture and Choose an Operation
4. Division as Sharing
5. Multiplication Ice Cream Party- Friday
6. Countdown to Math TAKS Test 7: #1-5

English

1. Mechanics and Usage: Commas in Dates and Places
2. Mixed Review
3. Common Errors with Subject-Verb Agreement
4. Study Skills: Note-Taking and Summarizing
5. Scholastic News- "Wild Life"

Reading

"Little Grunt and the Big Egg" by Tomie dePaola( fantasy)

The huge egg Little Grunt drags home cracks open, and a baby dinosaur comes out. The dinosaur, named George, grows quickly, and soon his size and his behavior create problems for the Grunt Tribe. Little Grunt and George are sad when George must leave. Then one day, a vocano erupts, and George comes to the rescue. The Grunts find a new cave next door to George, who turns out to be a girl dinosaur- with eggs.

1. Complete "Little Grunt" Story Element Book- shows setting, main characters, 3 main events, and conclusion with an illstration for each part.
2. "Little Grunt and the Big Egg" Comprehension Test- Monday
3. "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
4. "She Never Gave Up" TAKS Story
5. "Matthew Bones Hooks" TAKS Story
6. "People and Places" TAKS Story
7. Reading Frog Games
8. Make TAKS Study Booklet

Science

     Light

1. Complete "Color Me Safe" Lab- children will find out what colors are best suited for survival of animals in nature and record class results. 
3. "Light" Review- Graphic Organizer/ Notes
4. "Light" Test- Friday
5. Begin Solar System Mobile
Light Vocabulary

Social Studies

 Jamestown/ Mesa Verde/ San Antonio

Spelling

Unit 23 "Changing Final y to i"- Test Friday

Writing

1. Cursive Critter "l"
2. Cursive Letter "l"

Homework

Monday :Spelling Packet, 100 Minutes, Flash Cards, Science Take Home Booklet: Fun House Mirrors

Tuesday : Spelling Packet, 100 Minutes, Flash Cards, Reading: "Quite Grown Up" TAKS Story

Wednesday : Spelling Packet, 100 Minutes, Flash Cards, Reading: "Pizza and Gold Coins" TAKS Story

Thursday : Spelling Packet- study for test, 100 Minutes, Flash Cards, Reading : "A Book Report About Clara Barton" TAKS Story (School Notes Ticket Bonus: Tell me the TAKS Strategies you will use on the TAKS Test this upcoming Tuesday. Do this and receive 2 Good Time Tickets.) (School Notes Ticket Bonus: Give me a brief summary of the latest book you have read including the main characters, problem, solution, and why you enjoyed the book. Do this and receive 2 Good Time Tickets.)

Friday : 100 Minutes, Flash Cards, TAKS Reading Folder Completion

 

• Cat Stuff This site has everything you need to know about cats.
• Houghton Mifflin Kids Place This is a great site for kids to help reinforce skills in reading, spelling, math, science, and social studies. Just click on the Kids Place link and choose the subject area. There are lots of fun games. Have a good time! :)
• A Plus Math This is a great site for the children to practice their math skills. The children can practice their facts and have fun at the same time!
• Enchanted Learning This is a great site featuring a wide range of activities for children.
• Scholastic Great books and plenty of games.
• The Eye The human eye gives us the sense of sight, allowing us to learn more about the surrounding world than do any of the other five senses. Learn about the eye at this site.
• Zoobooks From Aardvarks to Zebras, you'll learn about the fascinating animals that share our planet.
• Farm Animals Meet the people working on this real farm out in Colorado. Lots of animals and activities for you!
• The Autobiography of Squirmin' Herman The Worm There's a lot of fascinating information at this site. Make sure you check this out.
• Koko The Gorilla Koko, the gorilla, lives in Maui, Hawaii, understands sign language, and likes to talk to people. Visit Koko at this cool web site.
• Kids Domain Visit this site and explore for hours. This has everything from cool clip art to games for every subject. Enjoy!
• Animation Grove Great site to find lots of animated gifs.
• Christmas Gifts and Clipart This site features great holiday gifts and clipart!
• Space Today Great site for the exploration of outer space.
• NASA Explore the galaxy and the nine planets!
• Maxie's Magnificent Guide This site has great clipart for every occasion.
• Multiplication Practice This is a fantastic site suggested by one of our class moms. This site allows you to practice your facts while having fun at the same time!
• Anne's Place Holiday, Special Occasion & Theme Gifs Great site for holiday findings
• Billy Bear 4 Kids Nice children's site for worlds of fun!
• MillanNet Great free clipart for all occasions