Mrs. Dennis’s and Mr. McQueen’s Newsletter
September 7, 2011
Math:
AMSTI Unit: Thousands of Miles, Thousands of Seats
Mid-quarter benchmark test next Tuesday. Practice rounding, place value for whole numbers through millions, expanded form, place value for decimals (tenths, hundredths, thousandths), word problem clues (in all, total, how many more, how much change would you receive from a dollar amount, difference). Be sure you practice writing problems and lining them up correctly to add or subtract the different place value amounts, especially if it is one like 256.78 + 134.4 Study everything in the journals and folder. Practice, practice, practice all of the above!!!
Science:
Chapter 17 and Microworlds AMSTI Unit
Chapter 17 test Wednesday, Sept. 14. Study guides will be placed in journals tomorrow. Study the study sheet on lenses. It will be part of the test. Journals will be checked at the end of the Microworlds unit.
History:
Chapter 1: Life in the Western Hemisphere
Chapter 1 test Thursday, Sept. 8. Study guides were given out last week and checked in class. We will begin Chapter 2 on Friday.
Reading:
This week we will be reading the story “Island of the Blue Dolphins” by Scott O’Dell
Our skill for the week is Theme and Setting
Our Reading Strategy is Visualizing
Reading Selection Test on Monday, September 12.
Visit Mr. McQueen’s Blog @ treymcqueen.blogspot.com
Grammar:
The Grammar Skill for the week is “Dependent and Independent Clauses.” A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. An independent clause can stand alone. When written together, a dependent and independent clause make a complex sentence.
We introduced the 4 Modes of Writing today. There will be a test on these on Tuesday, September 13. Please have your child study them! The four modes are Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive, and Narrative.
Spelling:
Long Vowel Diagraphs:
Examples: coast, feast, speech
Please be sure your child is studying these words. Spelling is 20% of the Language Grade!
Spelling Test Tuesday, September 13.
Reminders:
Please make sure your child has earphones. We will be using them for EZ Tech, which is a grade in Mrs. Dennis’s class.
If you have not sent $13.00 for workbooks, please do so as soon as possible.
If your child does not have at least 3 composition books by now, they need them. They may be behind if they do not.
Email:
Website: www.mymillbrookmiddle.com