Cafe Day!

Today was McD's Cafe Day! We have read the first four chapters of our book, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and are looking forward to chapters five and six this week. Claudia and Jamie are on an adventure, and we're wondering when they'll be discovered. Being away from home has been difficult in some ways. They always seem to be hungry, and they're finding that everything costs money. Each has grown closer to the other, and they seem to work well as a team.

Our teams for cafe worked very well today too! By the way...for two extra credit points...find an example of figurative language in the story. Write the statement with page number on paper and identify the type of figurative language. Place it on my desk in the morning.

Class meeting time was spent continuing our discussion about friends and fighting. We learned how to write and give an I-message today. Ex.: I feel_____(Be specific about your emotions.) When you _________(Give details of how your friend has acted or what he or she has done.) Because _______(Explain why.)

In addition, we discussed the importance and how to say, "I'm sorry." Each student practiced the statements. We also have a blank sheet to hold onto for future use.

Homework:
Reading - Prepare for our filming of "Who's On First?" Read chapters 5 and 6 in our novel. Roles will be distributed tomorrow in class.
Math - Ordered pairs worksheet
Spelling - continue to study
Wellness - Study for D.A.R.E. test, which will be given tomorrow. Also, complete wellness work, read p. 316-319 and questions for Monday.

Reading About Mighty Casey and The Mudville Nine

This video is for my students' viewing and listening pleasure. We read this wonderful narrative poem in class today!

Ask your child about their field trip to The Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C.! It's no wonder that Claudia and Jamie (from our novel) chose to hide out in a museum! There's so much to see and do!

Homework:
Reading - Memorize lines for 'Who's On First?' Museum room design is due next Thursday.
Math - A-C Integer Review
Spelling - Study words using Spelling City
Social Studies - Quiz on Friday
Science - Rock Cycle story and questions due on Friday
CAFE IS TOMORROW! COME PREPARED WITH ROLE.
Wellness - D.A.R.E. test on Friday. Read 316-319 for Wellness, and complete questions.

Baseball Fever

Today, we dressed to support our favorite baseball team as part of our enthusiasm for this week's selection. Each group prepared to be experts on assigned words that will be important to our understanding of this classic narrative poem. Each group found meanings for their two assigned words, completed a web of synonyms/antonyms, and made predictions as to what each words might have to do with a baseball game. One by one, experts presented their findings, and the words were discussed. We are sure to enjoy Casey at the Bat.

Homework:
Reading - Read chapters 3 & 4, & complete your role. Study your vocabulary.
Math - Riddle page for Dividing Integers
Wellness - Study for D.A.R.E. test. Read pages 316-319, define vocabulary and answer questions.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

It's baseball season! What great timing for our next selection in Language Arts! This week and next, we'll be reading the classic poem Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. We'll be searching for meanings and synonyms of vocabulary words defiance, despair, grandeur, haughty, scornful, umpire, melancholy, multitude, outlook, and patrons tomorrow. We wonder who mighty Casey is and how he'll do in the game. In addition, we'll listen, learn, and perform the classic comedy routine 'Who's On First?' It will be a great opportunity to practice our public speaking. Our skill for the week is summarizing text. We will be practicing pulling the main idea and key details to form summaries.

We studied maps depicting landforms and population of East Asia today in an effort to see if landforms affect where people live in China, North and South Korea, and Japan. We found that China, like previously studied Russia, has a large area of land where few people live. Japan, an island country, has a huge population! We are looking forward to learning more.

Homework:
Reading - Read chapters 3 & 4 in "From the Mixed-up Files..." Complete your role and study vocabulary. Share your Family Times.
Math - Multiplying Integers sheet
Spelling - Trace +2 - new list
Writing - Grammar practice p. 65
Science - Complete lesson outline 6
Wellness - By next Monday, read 316-319, define vocabulary (one word) and complete questions. Also, study for final test in D.A.R.E. Test is Friday.