Daily Update 3/22

Hi Parents,

Tonight's homework is NOT a worksheet, but a "simple" math challenge :-)  Your student has been asked to create at least 3 different number patterns using a specific rule.  This can be expressed as an input output chart or as a list.  Examples:

Using a chart:  If my rule was "add 4,"  then my input might be 3 and my output 7; input 7, output 11; etc.



Using a list:  2, 6, 10, 14, ____, 22, ____, 30  ________   Rule: _______________________

Students will be swapping with a partner tomorrow, so make sure to leave the rule and a few of the "outputs" blank so the partners can solve.

Also, tomorrow is the due date for our Reader Response Blog.  Students have had two weeks to do this, since both weeks were short.  Please check with your child to make sure that this assignment has been completed and submitted.

**Don't forget that students DO NOT have school on Monday.  Tomorrow is the end of the quarter, and Monday is a teacher workday.

**The "Girls on the Run" club at HES is holding a pet food drive to benefit the Onslow County Animal Shelter.  Classes that donate the most food to the drive win prizes, so please consider participating.  A "wish list" will come home tomorrow.

Have a wonderful evening!

Update 3/29/2016

Parents,

I hope you had a nice Easter weekend. Since some of the lessons in the math unit are on patterns, including today, they have a homework assignment where they have to figure out the pattern and write the following numbers on the lines. Last week's reader response in their blog is due this Friday. We gave them two weeks to complete it since they had off from school Friday and yesterday. If you don't know what the blog was, please refer to last Monday's blog or the reader response tab on this blog.

In reading, we are continuing our literature circles where students are responsible for completing their "job" such as Word Wizard, Summarizer, Discussion Leader, etc. and for reading the assigned pages in their book. In writing, students are working on metaphors and similes.

In math, we are finishing up unit 6 on geometry by the end of this week. We will start unit 7 next week on multiplying fractions and comparing decimal fractions.

In science we are finishing up electricity next week and in social studies the students are finishing up their lapbook on the Civil War.

Have a great week.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu     mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/24/2016

Parents,

There is no math homework tonight due to the Easter break. This week's reader response that is completed on their student blog is due next Friday. Thanks and have a great long weekend.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu     mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/22/2016

Parents,

The students have a math worksheet to complete on complementary and supplementary angles. Just a reminder that complementary angles equal 90 degrees and supplementary angles equal 180 degrees. I wrote this across the top of their math homework. They have to find the missing angle based on whether they are looking for a complementary or supplementary angle.

The reader response on the student blog will not be due until next Friday April 1st due to the days off from school this Friday and next Monday.

Jump Rope For Heart is tomorrow.

Spring Picture Day is March 29th.

Have a great night.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu    mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/21/2016

Parents,

The students have a double sided math worksheet to complete for homework. The one side is a review of supplementary angles where the top has to equal 180 degrees and the bottom has to equal 180 degrees. The other side has them finding "x." If they get the total, they have to subtract the given angle from the total to get the other angle. If they give two angles, they have to find the total of the angles.

Their reader response is: Explain how the story, or a part from the story you are reading, reminds you of an event that happened to yourself, someone else, or someone from another story. Be specific with your connection with at least 5 sentences.

In language arts, we continue to work with our literature circles where students are reading a book and choosing a job where they complete reading work for the group and share it each week. In writing, they will be learning about similes and metaphors.

In math we are still working with geometry specifically at complementary and supplementary angles, patterns, right angles, etc.

In social studies, students are finishing up their Civil War project where they had to research specific criteria and then display it on a lapbook.

Have a great week.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu      mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/17/2016

Parents,

Students have a math worksheet to complete that is double sided on complementary and supplementary angles. With complementary angles, a right angle is provided where they are given an angle and have to subtract from 90 to get the other angle. With supplementary angles, a straight angle is provided where they are given an angle and have to subtract from 180 to get the other angle. The reader response is due tomorrow, as well. Thanks.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu     mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/15/2016

Parents,

Students should have two parts to complete for their math homework. The first part has students measuring four angles and the second part has them completing a review on lines of symmetry. The reading response is also due on Friday.

A reminder that Spring pictures are coming up and a notice went home about it. You can purchase pictures with the forms that went home with your child.

A reminder tonight is Wendy's Night where some monies will go to support out wonderful PTO.

Thank you and have a great night.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu     mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Daily Update 3/14

Hi Parents,

Happy Monday!  I think we're all a bit relieved that Terra Nova is over and we're back to our regular routine!  Today in Reading we began a new novel/book study that students seem very excited about.  Students were assigned a book on their reading level and, over the next 6 weeks, will read the book and complete various tasks in conjunction with their reading.  We hope to provide a bit of a challenge for students who are already reading novels and, for those who aren't yet, to convince them that they're ready to make the leap :-)

In math, we're still working in our Geometry unit.  Tonight's homework asks students to measure angles.  Paper protractors are provided, but if you have one at home (or are able to get one), those are always a bit easier to work with.  As we go through the week, students will have a short test focusing on geometric figures (specifically identifying types of angles, quadrilateral figures, and lines of symmetry), and will begin working with additive angles.

In science, students will wrap up their work with electricity by Wednesday and will jump back into their Civil War project.  Students will be using the research they completed earlier in the quarter to design their own unique "lapbook."  A secondary goal is for students to continue working on writing good, coherent paragraphs.

The reading response this week due on Friday is: Write a book recommendation. Would you recommend the book you're reading to a friend? Why or why not? Give specific reasons (not just, "it's good") Write at least 5 sentences.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time.  Have a wonderful evening!

Update 3/10/2016

Parents,

Tomorrow is the last day for Terra Nova testing. If your child was absent any of the days this week, they will be doing make-ups next week. Thank you for your support during the testing.

Another reminder that Mrs. Thompson's class is doing a project with their reading buddies and needs boxes, toilet paper rolls, etc.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu    mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/8/2016

Parents,

There is no homework again due to Terra Nova testing this week. Tomorrow's test will be mathematics.

Mrs. Thompson's class is doing a leprechaun trap with their reading buddies and is asking students to bring in boxes, toilet rolls, and any other materials used to trap them.

Have a great week..

charles.utter@am.dodeae.edu     mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Daily Update 3/7

Hi Parents,

Day 1 of our Terra Nova testing went great!  Students were on time, well behaved, and hopefully gave their best effort :-)  During testing week, students are traditionally excused from homework, so there will be no homework assignments this week.  Please just continue to make sure that your child comes to school well-rested and eats a nutritious breakfast.

We did begin a project in math today that students will continue working on all week.  This project is entitled "Geometry Town," and requires students to use their knowledge of geometry to create a map of a fictional town.  Below you can find the instructional presentation shown to students (they also have a hard copy).  I apologize for the formatting; I haven't figured out how to resize it yet!

Have a wonderful evening!

Update 3/3/2016

Parents,

There is no homework tonight since the students have off tomorrow. Conferences tomorrow are generally assigned for new students or for parents who have unaddressed concerns about their child. If you have concerns, contact us and we can meet.

Next week is Terra Nova week. A letter went home last week about this. Please make sure your child has a big breakfast and plenty of rest each night. Have a great weekend.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu    mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu

Update 3/1/16

Parents,

The students have a math worksheet to complete tonight where they are measuring angles and writing down what type of angle it is and measuring it to the nearest degree using a protractor. We provided paper protractors again to cut out if you don't have one at home.

Have a great night.

charles.utter@am.dodea.edu    mindy.thompson@am.dodea.edu