AMSTI Investigation #2: Subtraction

Mrs. Dennis’s and Mr. McQueen’s Newsletter

September 19, 2011

Math:

AMSTI Investigation #2: Subtraction

We have been working with 4 different subtraction strategies. Students should go over these strategies nightly. Make up a subtraction problem to practice using each of the strategies. These are in your child’s journal!

Science:

Chapter 17 and Microworlds AMSTI Unit

We are still working with our Microworlds unit and will be moving into Chapter 1 as well. Today students looked at fish scales, poppy seeds, feathers, and sponges under the microscope!

History:

Chapter 2: Native Americans of North America

Chapter 2 Vocabulary Test is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20. The Chapter 2 Test will be Wednesday, September 21. We checked the study guides in class today with those students who had it completed.

Reading:

This week we will be reading the story “Shutting Out the Sky” by Deborah Hopkinson

Our skill for the week is Cause and Effect

Our Reading Strategy is Summarizing

ReadingSelection Test on Monday, September 26.

Grammar:

The Grammar Skill for the week is “Common and Proper Nouns” Proper Nouns are the names of particular persons, places, or things such as Alabama, United States, The Statue of Liberty, and Mississippi River. Common nouns are any noun that names a person, place, or thing, but not a particular person, place or thing. Examples: state, country, statue, river.

Spelling:

Contractions:

Examples: they’re, you’ve, weren’t

Please be sure your child is studying these words. Spelling is 20% of the Language Grade!

You can find a spelling list on Mr. McQueen’s blog if your child does not have one.(treymcqueen.blogspot.com)

Spelling Test Tuesday, September 27.

Test for this past week’s words is tomorrow, September 20.

Important Note:

I will be out the rest of this week attending the National Principal of the Year Awards program in Washington, D.C. My husband has been chosen as Alabama’s High School Principal of the Year. Please encourage your child to behave appropriately in my absence and be very aware of getting all work completed. I will be grading ALL work that I leave for them. Mr. McQueen’s wife will be my substitute and she is very aware of how our classes run. She will be punching punch cards and we will still have that special treat on Friday. When I return I plan to have a very special treat for those that participate in the punch card party of Friday!

-Mrs. Dennis