Our Poetry Cafe was a huge success last Friday.  Everyone chose wonderful poems to recite and offered interesting comments about them and the poets who wrote them.  Thanks to all parents who sent in goodies.  We enjoyed the sweet feast!

I will continue to assign final draft paragraphs of the national park report this week. I'm encouraging everyone to stay on track!  Tomorrow I will send home the guidelines for a short oral presentation that will accompany the written report.  I have attached a copy of the guidelines below.  This presentation will be due on next Wednesday along with the written report.

Homework

Read:  30 min.
Math: Homework #4, problems 1 (a-c) and 3.
Park Report:  Final draft of the "Wildlife" paragraph.  Completed report is due on Wednesday, 12/17.
Social Studies:  Study for tomorrow's test.
Vocabulary:  Finish the "Roots" worksheets.  You should have at least 3 words with their definitions for each root.  Know the meanings of the 10 roots for a quiz this Friday.

National Park Report – Oral Presentation

Give a short (approx. 1 minute) persuasive speech in which you advertise your park.  Your speech must include at least 5 reasons why people should visit this park.  Think about including the following:

·      interesting places to see

·      fun activities

·      cool animals

·      beautiful landscapes and plant life

·      any other amazing facts about your park

Of course, you may use information from your written report.  You may refer to note cards, but you should be comfortable enough with your speech to maintain eye contact with your audience.  

Have fun and be creative.  Pretend you are a travel agent or a park employee!  Your oral presentation is due on Wednesday, 12/17.

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Language:  Finish "Possessive Nouns" packet.
Park Report:  Final draft of the "Statistics" and "Climate" paragraphs.  Remember that these deadlines are to keep you on track so the work doesn't pile up at the end.
Poetry Cafe:  Be ready for some cool happenings tomorrow.

**Social Studies test:  Next Tuesday
***National Park Report: Due Wednesday, 12/17.

 We were talking today about Friday's poetry cafe and thought it would be nice to have some treats to accompany our presentations.  If you would like to send in something (muffins, bagels, fruit, etc.), please have your child let me know tomorrow.  I will provide something to eat and apple cider.  Our cafe event will begin first thing at 8:00.  Please come join us for this groovy happening if you can!

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Math:  Homework #3, problems 1 and 2.
Language: Finish Possessives worksheet.
Park Report:  Write the final draft of the "History" paragraph. Remember that I will be setting deadlines for small portions of your report over the next two weeks. Be sure to refer to the blue final draft requirements form I gave you today. The final report is due on Wednesday, 12/17.
Poetry Cafe:  Prepare for Friday. 
*Social Studies test:  Next Tuesday!

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Math: Homework #2, problems 1, 2, and 3.
Park Report:  Finish the rough drafts of your "History" and "Statistics" sections if necessary.  We will write the next two sections tomorrow.  I will begin assigning parts of the final draft tomorrow.  I will send home a final draft checklist tomorrow as well.  The completed report is due on Wednesday, December 17.
Poetry Cafe:  Prepare for Friday.
*Social Studies Chapter 5 Test:  Next Tuesday.  Study guides went home today!

 

I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving and the nice long weekend!  We will begin writing the rough draft of the national part report tomorrow, and I will start assigning small sections of the final draft for homework later this week.  We will be participating in a two-week Grind Out Hunger drive starting this week, so please send in nonperishable items to donate to the cause.  Thank you.

Homework

Read:  30 min.  Bring signed second trimester AR goal sheet to class tomorrow.
Math:  Unit 3, Homework #1, problems 1-4.
National Park Report:  Review cards - make sure you have enough information.
Poetry Cafe:  Friday.  Remember to completely and neatly fill out the worksheet which is due on Friday as well.

I gave my students the guidelines for our Poetry Cafe activity which will be due on Friday, Dec. 5.  I am encouraging them to read poems by different poets, especially ones they are not already familiar with. I would really love for everyone to discover a new poet and new poetry that he or she finds interesting and engaging.  I've attached the guidelines for the activity below.

It was great meeting with all of you last week.  Once again, I want to thank you for the wonderful support you give your children. Enjoy them - and all family and friends - over the coming Thanksgiving holiday!

Mrs. Koue

Homework

Read:  30 min.
Math:  Homework #28, problems 1, 2, and 3.
National Park report:  Continue to work on note cards.  We will begin writing the rough draft of the report on the Monday we return from the Thanksgiving break.
Poetry Cafe:  Begin researching poets.  We'll talk more about choices tomorrow.  Due on Friday, Dec. 5.

“Poetry Cafe”

        

         Let’s go back in time when things were groovy and beatniks were cool...  For this beret-wearing, finger-snapping activity you will need to do the following.  Dig it?

*Choose a poet and read several of her or his poems.

* Prepare an oral presentation.

         1.  Memorize one poem of at least 10 lines or two if shorter               to present to the class.

         2.  Briefly tell why you chose this poem(s) and discuss what you                 like about it.  You can talk about the poem’s meaning, its rhythm and rhyme, its imagery, and its poetic language.  Discuss at least 2 of these elements using examples from the poem for support.

* Complete a worksheet that will address different aspects of your   poem(s).  Neatness and accuracy count!

*The due date for this event is Friday, December 7.

        

         So wear black and be there or be square.  Cool, Daddy-o...

Remember to arrive on time tomorrow and to bring a snack (or two) and money for lunch.  It looks like we will have a dry day.  Yeah!

Homework

Read: 30 min.
Math: Problem Set #26, problems 2 (a-e) and 3.
Finish your Puritan poster.
Review the starred space vocabulary for tomorrow's visit to NASA Ames.