What a great field trip!  Thank you so much for all who helped.
Valentine's celebration will be tomorrow at 12:30.  If you child brings in cards/candy to distribute, make sure they have one for everybody (23 kids).  You may want to consider cards for our specialists/principals/intervention teachers too.
In math (all 10  minutes of it) we reviewed for our test tomorrow.  In ELA (15 minutes) we read poetry (the songs the kids printed) looking for figurative language and theme.
In Science (regular time) we discussed the nervous system.  

An email was sent home about Human growth and Development.  If you did not get it...let me know! I will send you a paper copy.

In Math we continued practicing adding and subtracting fractions. Test will be Friday.

In ELA we took a "break" from the menu and went to the library so EVERYONE could play catch-up.

In Science we focused on Muscles.  Smooth, Cardiac and skeletal muscles.  We talked about muscle memory and atrophy.

Today in math we did enrichment groups for adding and subtracting fractions.
In ELA we continued to work on poetry.
In Science we focused on our skeletal system and our muscular system (kids might ask to use the bathroom scale.)

In Math we took a quick check on adding and subtracting fractions.  Most kids did really well and will start an extention project tomorrow.  Others, who did not do well, will get some love and attention from me and Mrs. Graf tomorrow.
Test on Adding and Subtracting fractions will be on Friday.

In ELA we continued to work on our poetry unit.  Theme, Theme, Theme!!!!  Edit, Edit Edit!!!!

In Science we talked about serving size, the food pyramid, and advertisements that mis-lead us.

FIELD TRIP is on Thursday.  Let's wear our Perrott's Party Animals tee-shirts.

We will have a quiz Monday on adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
Math Test for adding and subtracting fractions will be Friday.

Valentine’s Day rules:

If you make a card for one person, you have to make it for everyone in our class. 

If you give to one, you must give the same thing to all. 

Bring in a recycled cereal box, decorated as your mailbox.   Or you can bring in a bag.

We will celebrate February 12, 2016 at 12:30.

A list of names was given to the students today.    

Yesterday in math we stepped away from the CMAPP lessons and I taught the kids how to add and subtract fractions the "standard" method (the way you and I learned as kids).  Today We added mixed numbers to the MIX.  Instead of teaching them to regroup and borrow, I am teaching them to change the mixed numbers to improper fractions first.  Then find a common denominator using "skip counting" (multiples), next change them to be equivalent fractions, and finally add or subtract and simplify.

 We have started poetry.  At some point this week I will meet with your child in group, and give them the assignment to bring in lyrics (school appropriate) of his/her favorite song.

In science we made our DNA dogs (showing how the same base DNA code can create very different animals).  Today we talked about cells - which form tissue - which form organs - which form organ systems.  They cut out 4 organ systems and glued them on a stick figure.
The KEY this year in organ systems is how they work together.
The skeletal system makes the blood for the circulatory system.  The skeletal system protects the respiratory/digestive/nervous/circulatory systems.   The respiratory system provides the oxygen for the circulatory system which provides oxygen for everything else.  The muscular/skeletal systems work together for movement...and so on.

In Math we continued working on adding and subtracting fractions using picture models.  Tomorrow, I will show them the standard method.  We did take a quick check (3 questions) to make sure I know, that they know, what they are doing.

In ELA 3 more groups presented the Westward Expansion Projects.  Menu's are due tomorrow.  We will start poetry tomorrow.

In Science we used blocks to talk about genetics through 3 generations.

In math we started adding and subtracting fractions with area models.  (2/5 + 1/4)...Draw 2/5, draw 1/4.  Then divide the 5ths into 4ths, and divide the 4ths into 5ths (creating 20ths - a common denominator) Then count up the shaded portions.  WHEW!

In ELA we started presenting our Westward expansion projects.  The kids seemed surprised that the Fantasy Novel Study Guide is due THIS Friday.  Many of them have a lot of work to do.  We will start poetry on Wednesday (still focusing on THEME).

In SCIENCE we started talking about inherited traits.  We went through a long list of dominant/recessive traits and how they came from your parents.