We are on track to fill you in weekly via school notes on happenings in class.
Book Report Information
(This information was emailed earlier last week. please contact us if you did not receive the email from Mrs. Kartman.)
All Students took home their Book Report Guidelines and Schedule today, so it should be very clear what needs to be done, and by when. They have had these all along, but I suspect may not have shared them with you. I have extended the deadline for completed reports to Friday, November 3. There is no need to type the reports, but a neat finished copy is required. Please don't take your child's word for it, that he/she is "done" with the report! (Kyle is the only student fully finished with it, as of today). Check the "final draft" with him/her and compare it to the Guidelines. There should be 4 paragraphs, covering specified topics in specified order. A title page is also required. I have devoted many, many classroom hours to working on these reports, but nevertheless some students will also need at-home time to complete them. On Thursday we will have a final short session in class to work, but the majority of the work remaining will be homework. Thank you for all your time and care in helping your kids learn these skills. The next book report will begin in 3+ weeks, and should go more smoothly, as the format becomes familiar. Feel free to email me at:Kartman@hnu.edu with any questions.
Sincerely, Carrie Kartman
Math update
Please look at the planners for specific math homework details. (Remember – this math is to be done independently and should take approximately 20-30 minutes. If your child is getting done very quickly they should be encouraged to check their work with a calculator. (Students are required to use pencil or erasable pen and show their work) If your child is showing great frustration with their math visually, conceptually or with general workload amount, please contact Mrs. Hallanger via email or a note in the planner.
Students are checked for proficiency with skills each day during their math time. Each student must complete the practice problem set with mastery before they are allowed to move on. Each child is also given corrections to do before moving on to the next lesson. This careful scrutiny allows us to pinpoint error patterns and best determine mastery of concepts. Sometimes a student will demonstrate mastery of a concept at school and not be able to perform skills independently in homework study or at home. We appreciate feedback about the homework process because it helps us modify our instruction.
As of this week, all students are working our of the Saxon math text and workbook. This math workbook is a special compliment to the text. The workbook is specially designed for use with students with learning differences. We like the workbook because it reduces the fatigue of copying math problems and helps students focus on the math process and math concepts they have been learning in the math lessons they are covering.
The math classes are split up into three groups. Each group will be receiving whole group instruction and individual instruction. We will be continuing to assess each student after they complete 5 lessons. These assessments allow us and the students to identify areas that need more review and practice. Occasionally the whole class will meet together to play math games or complete special projects.
We encourage each student to practice money, time and calendar concepts at home and out in the community whenever there is learning moment.
Another great enrichment activity for kids to do in addition to homework is time working with educational software at home. This can range from typing programs to math fact games. There are lots of great and very inexpensive software options available.
Science update
We have lots of fun things planned for science this year. We have some important concepts to cover in physical science, life science and earth science. We are reviewing the states of matter right now because those concepts and vocabulary forms an important concept base to build knowledge and vocabulary around elements, simple chemistry, respiration, body systems, weather, water cycle and planetary composition. Science skills that will be highlighted not only in science but across the school day are: asking meaningful questions, conducting experiments, classifying objects, following directions, recording data, drawing conclusion based on analysis of evidence, and writing a science report. It is really fun to show the kids that they do science every day!
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