It's hard to believe that Spring has sprung and end of the year activities are gearing up to begin! This year, we are fortunate to have the additional support of Miss Mucchiello, our student teacher. Miss M will be here completing her in-class teaching requirements for certification through Grand Canyon University.
5th Grade Math:
The last marking period will include fractions, coordinate grids, and even some geometry. These topics will surely get us ready for 6th grade.
5/6th Grade English Language Arts:
Our wrap-up activities include a variety of test prep as we ready ourselves for the NJSLA. In addition, we completed interviews and wrote about "An Important Woman in My Life," and compiled our L.E.A.D. essays and pledges. The reward for our hard-work with L.E.A.D. will be the Iron Pigs baseball game on May 8, 2019.
C.O.R.R.E.C.T.: The CORRECT program was again recognized for its 2018-19 Promising Practice of "All In." As the title suggests the program was designed to include more OCS students in CORRECT leadership roles. The program consisted of reviewing our core value vocabulary and recognizing students from each homeroom monthly, that demonstrate that core value of the month. This new program was applauded by character.org and awarded the Promising Practice designation. The OCS program has received 13 character education/climate/culture rewards including NSOC in 2014. Proof that CORRECT/OCS connection develops not only "smart kids, but good kids, too."
This practice will be awarded on October 26, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Monday, May 6, 2019
Friday, October 26, 2018
October News
OCTOBER has been a busy month here at OCS.
Mathematics
We have been working in the Grade 5 Go Math text exploring Math Vocabulary, exponents, and multiplication and division patterns.
It is important to recognize that the words used in math must be mastered in order for students to know what to do. If instructions are not understood, accurate responses are not possible.
Words/phrases to know include: sum, addend, product, difference divisor, dividend, quotient, numerical expression, commutative property, associative property, identity property, distributive property, place value, standard form, expanded form, whole number, exponent, base of exponent, parentheses, order of operations, numerical pattern, greater than, less than, equal to, comparisons, factor, and more.
Math as well as other subjects is cumulative. Words and phrases are added each year. Students need to become competent and confident with these to be successful. They must understand "the language!"
Now more than ever students are also realizing why memorizing their math facts is important! It is important that they practice, practice, practice!!! These facts must become automatic.
English Language Arts
Lot's of review has taken place during the first few months of school. We are working hard at sharpening our comprehension skills by using context clues, and citing textual evidence.
We have been working on short reading selections from our Journey's text and Scholastics Storyworks Magazine. We have explored both fiction, non-fiction, and drama.
We will be continuing with the Wilson Reading Program to assist with decoding. Have your child share how they can determine whether a vowel is pronounced long or short by determining syllable type with you. Closed syllable= short vowel. Open syllable= long vowel
November will find us reading Louis Sachar's Holes. Students are sure to enjoy this book!!
Paragraph of the Week: We are exploring different thought-provoking topics each week. To date, we have targeted "IDEAS" as our goal for writing. Coming up with a clear focus for our writing has been challenging. We are addressing this using author Lisa Funeri-Willover's writing directions as to avoiding topics that are just too big (she calls them fuzzy) and topics that change so many times that the reader becomes confused (zig-zag writing).
Please contact me with any questions or concerns! Welcome to November and the holidays:))
Mathematics
We have been working in the Grade 5 Go Math text exploring Math Vocabulary, exponents, and multiplication and division patterns.
It is important to recognize that the words used in math must be mastered in order for students to know what to do. If instructions are not understood, accurate responses are not possible.
Words/phrases to know include: sum, addend, product, difference divisor, dividend, quotient, numerical expression, commutative property, associative property, identity property, distributive property, place value, standard form, expanded form, whole number, exponent, base of exponent, parentheses, order of operations, numerical pattern, greater than, less than, equal to, comparisons, factor, and more.
Math as well as other subjects is cumulative. Words and phrases are added each year. Students need to become competent and confident with these to be successful. They must understand "the language!"
Now more than ever students are also realizing why memorizing their math facts is important! It is important that they practice, practice, practice!!! These facts must become automatic.
English Language Arts
Lot's of review has taken place during the first few months of school. We are working hard at sharpening our comprehension skills by using context clues, and citing textual evidence.
We have been working on short reading selections from our Journey's text and Scholastics Storyworks Magazine. We have explored both fiction, non-fiction, and drama.
We will be continuing with the Wilson Reading Program to assist with decoding. Have your child share how they can determine whether a vowel is pronounced long or short by determining syllable type with you. Closed syllable= short vowel. Open syllable= long vowel
November will find us reading Louis Sachar's Holes. Students are sure to enjoy this book!!
Paragraph of the Week: We are exploring different thought-provoking topics each week. To date, we have targeted "IDEAS" as our goal for writing. Coming up with a clear focus for our writing has been challenging. We are addressing this using author Lisa Funeri-Willover's writing directions as to avoiding topics that are just too big (she calls them fuzzy) and topics that change so many times that the reader becomes confused (zig-zag writing).
Please contact me with any questions or concerns! Welcome to November and the holidays:))
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Welcome to the 2018- 2019 School Year!!!
Hello and welcome to all!
The 2018- 2019 school year promises to be fantastic! The school looks great. Teachers and staff are ready to help students learn exciting new facets of this wonderful world we live in.
This year, in my classroom, I will be working with fifth/sixth graders in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. After reviewing our texts and related curriculum I can assure you there will be materials and activities to help each student do their best. Work may be challenging at times, which is a good way to test our stick-to-itiveness! Perseverance is key!
Remember.....
I will always be available to help with anything classroom or school related.
Students, please do not hesitate to see me before or after class with any concerns.
Parents, I am a strong believer in open communication. If you have a question or concern, please email or call. No problem is too big or small.
Welcome!
Mrs. Carr
M.Special Education
M.Reading Specialist
pcarr@oxfordcentral.org
908-453-4101 extension
SEPTEMBER HAPPENINGS!!
September finds our Math Classroom adjusting to new surroundings, new texts, and new expectations. We have set-up our math binders complete with sections for fast facts, problem of the day, math motivators, handouts, homework, and tests/quizzes. Our goal is to stay organized! Binders will be graded for neatness and completeness. These should serve as a valuable resource throughout the school year.
Our English Language Arts class will also stay organized with personal classroom binders. Binder sections will include Bell Work, Grammar, Reading Log, Reading Notes, Spelling, Vocabulary, Word Ladders, and Tests/Quizzes. Writing will be completed both in our writing journals and on student Chromebooks. The Wilson Reading Program and Rebecca Sitton Spelling program will be incorporated in our classroom activities.
It is going to be a GREAT YEAR!!!
The 2018- 2019 school year promises to be fantastic! The school looks great. Teachers and staff are ready to help students learn exciting new facets of this wonderful world we live in.
This year, in my classroom, I will be working with fifth/sixth graders in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. After reviewing our texts and related curriculum I can assure you there will be materials and activities to help each student do their best. Work may be challenging at times, which is a good way to test our stick-to-itiveness! Perseverance is key!
Remember.....
I will always be available to help with anything classroom or school related.
Students, please do not hesitate to see me before or after class with any concerns.
Parents, I am a strong believer in open communication. If you have a question or concern, please email or call. No problem is too big or small.
Welcome!
Mrs. Carr
M.Special Education
M.Reading Specialist
pcarr@oxfordcentral.org
908-453-4101 extension
SEPTEMBER HAPPENINGS!!
September finds our Math Classroom adjusting to new surroundings, new texts, and new expectations. We have set-up our math binders complete with sections for fast facts, problem of the day, math motivators, handouts, homework, and tests/quizzes. Our goal is to stay organized! Binders will be graded for neatness and completeness. These should serve as a valuable resource throughout the school year.
Our English Language Arts class will also stay organized with personal classroom binders. Binder sections will include Bell Work, Grammar, Reading Log, Reading Notes, Spelling, Vocabulary, Word Ladders, and Tests/Quizzes. Writing will be completed both in our writing journals and on student Chromebooks. The Wilson Reading Program and Rebecca Sitton Spelling program will be incorporated in our classroom activities.
It is going to be a GREAT YEAR!!!
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Happy 2018!
It's so hard to believe we are embarking on a new year, 2018. Time sure does fly. It is the perfect time to reflect on the goals we set in September and move forward setting our sights even higher.
As we move into 2018, we need to remember each step of our educational journey builds a foundation for even more challenges. We need to remember each of us has so many talents and gifts to share. That said..... time to get to work.
Coming up this month... Mrs. Carr's 100 Word Spelling Challenge, the all-school spelling bee, the next segment of CORRECT's "Help a Hero, Be a Hero" campaign, and so much more.
January: ELA 3/4/5: Finishing "Garden State Adventure"
Wilson Work: How can you decode words by their syllable type?
Writing: Writing to compare and contrast.
ELA 6/7: Finishing "Lily's Crossing"
Writing in cursive
Writing: Writing to compare and contrast
Happy New Year All!
As we move into 2018, we need to remember each step of our educational journey builds a foundation for even more challenges. We need to remember each of us has so many talents and gifts to share. That said..... time to get to work.
Coming up this month... Mrs. Carr's 100 Word Spelling Challenge, the all-school spelling bee, the next segment of CORRECT's "Help a Hero, Be a Hero" campaign, and so much more.
January: ELA 3/4/5: Finishing "Garden State Adventure"
Wilson Work: How can you decode words by their syllable type?
Writing: Writing to compare and contrast.
ELA 6/7: Finishing "Lily's Crossing"
Writing in cursive
Writing: Writing to compare and contrast
Happy New Year All!
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year!
New students, teachers, and classes; new books, new activities, and new friends, demand our attention and capture our interest. Each year in school provides new challenges, adventures and so much to learn. It's an exciting time of the year. This is the perfect time to remember our CORRECT value COURAGE. We must remember to have COURAGE to try, COURAGE to succeed, and COURAGE to learn.
My 3/4/5 grade ELA class will be learning about the different parts of speech. This will help us write better sentences. We will begin working the next few weeks on nouns. Homework will include daily spelling activities and finishing any noun practice sheets leftover from class.
The 6/7 grade ELA class will be working on a new vocabulary curriculum called "Wordly-Wise". Advanced vocabulary skills will assist in all areas of language arts. Throughout the year we will be using My Access to improve our writing. Learning Ally will assist us in reading books including "Tuck Everlasting", "Wonder", "The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse", and more.
Homework week of September 18-22:
3/4/5: Daily spelling activities- Check homework folder each day.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class. Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
6/7: Daily vocabulary activities- Vocabulary Units will take two weeks to cover. A study guide will
be provided for each unit of study 2-3 days prior to each scheduled Vocabulary tests. Daily homework assignments will reinforce each units words. Tests will be announced.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class. Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
My Access- My Access prompts will be assigned each week. Students may continue working
on these prompts at home to improve their scores.
My 3/4/5 grade ELA class will be learning about the different parts of speech. This will help us write better sentences. We will begin working the next few weeks on nouns. Homework will include daily spelling activities and finishing any noun practice sheets leftover from class.
The 6/7 grade ELA class will be working on a new vocabulary curriculum called "Wordly-Wise". Advanced vocabulary skills will assist in all areas of language arts. Throughout the year we will be using My Access to improve our writing. Learning Ally will assist us in reading books including "Tuck Everlasting", "Wonder", "The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse", and more.
Homework week of September 18-22:
3/4/5: Daily spelling activities- Check homework folder each day.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class. Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
6/7: Daily vocabulary activities- Vocabulary Units will take two weeks to cover. A study guide will
be provided for each unit of study 2-3 days prior to each scheduled Vocabulary tests. Daily homework assignments will reinforce each units words. Tests will be announced.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class. Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
My Access- My Access prompts will be assigned each week. Students may continue working
on these prompts at home to improve their scores.
New students, teachers, and classes; new books, new activities, and new friends, demand our attention and capture our interest. Each year in school provides new challenges, adventures and so much to learn. It's an exciting time of the year. This is the perfect time to remember our CORRECT value COURAGE. We must remember to have COURAGE to try, COURAGE to succeed, and COURAGE to learn.
My 3/4/5 grade ELA class will be learning about the different parts of speech. This will help us write better sentences. We will begin working the next few weeks on nouns. Homework will include daily spelling activities and finishing any noun practice sheets leftover from class.
The 6/7 grade ELA class will be working on a new vocabulary curriculum called "Wordly-Wise". Advanced vocabulary skills will assist in all areas of language arts. Throughout the year we will be using My Access to improve our writing. Learning Ally will assist us in reading books including "Tuck Everlasting", "Wonder", "The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse", and more.
Homework week of September 18-22:
3/4/5: Daily spelling activities- Check homework folder each day.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class.
Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
6/7: Daily vocabulary activities- Vocabulary Units will take two weeks to cover. A study guide will
be provided for each unit of study 2-3 days prior to each scheduled Vocabulary tests. Daily
homework assignments will reinforce each units words. Tests will be announced.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class.
Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
My Access- My Access prompts will be assigned each week. Students may continue working
on these prompts at home to improve their scores.
My 3/4/5 grade ELA class will be learning about the different parts of speech. This will help us write better sentences. We will begin working the next few weeks on nouns. Homework will include daily spelling activities and finishing any noun practice sheets leftover from class.
The 6/7 grade ELA class will be working on a new vocabulary curriculum called "Wordly-Wise". Advanced vocabulary skills will assist in all areas of language arts. Throughout the year we will be using My Access to improve our writing. Learning Ally will assist us in reading books including "Tuck Everlasting", "Wonder", "The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse", and more.
Homework week of September 18-22:
3/4/5: Daily spelling activities- Check homework folder each day.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class.
Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
6/7: Daily vocabulary activities- Vocabulary Units will take two weeks to cover. A study guide will
be provided for each unit of study 2-3 days prior to each scheduled Vocabulary tests. Daily
homework assignments will reinforce each units words. Tests will be announced.
Incomplete classwork- All students will have ample time to complete their classwork in class.
Unfinished work will be reviewed by Mrs. Carr and reassigned for homework if necessary.
My Access- My Access prompts will be assigned each week. Students may continue working
on these prompts at home to improve their scores.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Spring Is Here!
Spring has sprung, temperatures are rising and everyone is anxiously anticipating sunshine and flowers! Although the winter was not an especially harsh one, everyone is looking forward to the next chapter of our OCS 2016-17 school year---- the fourth and final marking period! What a busy marking period it is. We have assemblies, PARCC testing, Battle of the Books competitions, the Archery trip to Kentucky, the 7th grade trip to LBI and 8th grade trip to DC! It gives new meaning to the phrase "so much to do, so little time."
The fifth grade ELA class has finished reading Holes and is now working on our LEAD essays. Our grammar work with pronouns has given them the title of "nouns in disguise,"certainly an interesting way of thinking. We will be returning to our Journey's text after spring break.
Sixth grade is all but finished reading "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We will be taking our book test and writing expository essays about the book. This book has helped our students to understand more about autism and children with special needs. We are also working on test-taking strategies and the vocabulary connected with taking "the test."
Spelling will continue weekly as will grammar assessments and reading. Short weeks will incorporate "Storyworks" as reading text.
The fifth grade ELA class has finished reading Holes and is now working on our LEAD essays. Our grammar work with pronouns has given them the title of "nouns in disguise,"certainly an interesting way of thinking. We will be returning to our Journey's text after spring break.
Sixth grade is all but finished reading "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We will be taking our book test and writing expository essays about the book. This book has helped our students to understand more about autism and children with special needs. We are also working on test-taking strategies and the vocabulary connected with taking "the test."
Spelling will continue weekly as will grammar assessments and reading. Short weeks will incorporate "Storyworks" as reading text.
Friday, January 13, 2017
January 13, 2017
Another whirlwind week has just flown by. The year 2017 promises to be an exciting one. The Spelling Bee crowned a new champion and next week our 2017 archery team will be announced. The school-year is almost half over. Where has the time gone?
With that said, it's time to make a new commitment to making the 2nd half of our school year be even better and more productive than the first. There are so many new things to do and learn! With C.O.R.R.E.C.T. as our guide, there's no limit to what we can accomplish!
5th grade is working on how making connections can make us better readers and writers. We are starting from discovering strategies to help us decode, analyze, and connect to unfamiliar vocabulary. Context clues? No problem.... just another clue to comprehension. We will continue with our fluency practice and understanding the facets of "close" reading. Homework will be assigned daily from our Readers' Notebook.
6th grade continues with using "My Access" to help with our writing. We are also exploring the purposes of why we need to become good writers. Our reading studies continue with "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We are exploring connections to life in the 1930's and the progress we have made in assisting people with disabilities. Homework will be assigned daily from our Readers' Notebook.
With that said, it's time to make a new commitment to making the 2nd half of our school year be even better and more productive than the first. There are so many new things to do and learn! With C.O.R.R.E.C.T. as our guide, there's no limit to what we can accomplish!
5th grade is working on how making connections can make us better readers and writers. We are starting from discovering strategies to help us decode, analyze, and connect to unfamiliar vocabulary. Context clues? No problem.... just another clue to comprehension. We will continue with our fluency practice and understanding the facets of "close" reading. Homework will be assigned daily from our Readers' Notebook.
6th grade continues with using "My Access" to help with our writing. We are also exploring the purposes of why we need to become good writers. Our reading studies continue with "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We are exploring connections to life in the 1930's and the progress we have made in assisting people with disabilities. Homework will be assigned daily from our Readers' Notebook.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
December 8, 2016
December is passing faster than ever. You can feel the excitement building around the school. Our school play was an amazing success, as was the winter concert! The students are buzzing with anticipation for the holidays.
But wait you might hear me say.... There's still 10 days to go till our Christmas break! There's just so much to do and so much to learn!!!
5th grade will be finishing up a phenomenal book, "The One and Only Ivan", written by Catherine Applegate. Looking for a thought-provoking book to read! Our class is sure to recommend this one. The students found themselves analyzing the treatment of animals, conservation, and the preservation of our environment. Who ever said animals can't think or that they don't have feelings.
6th grade is reading "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We have been exploring the different themes of the book. Set on Alcatraz Island in the 1930's, this book is providing our class with a look at a time period very unfamiliar to them. No cell phones, computers, or even televisions back then! We are learning time reflective vocabulary as well. As we "closely" read each chapter we learn that an underlining theme is the power and love of family. As Moose struggles to understand what's best for his "special" sister, Natalie, we become aware of the advances that have been made in understanding disabilities such as autism. We even went on a mini-field trip to Mrs. Pettinelli's classroom, to view first-hand the program and classroom we have right here at OCS to support students with autism. Mrs. Pettinelli added much background information to the questions of the class. The class has now decided they want to give up free-time to lend a helping hand when needed.
Grammar finds us continuing our study of nouns. From proper and common to singular, plural, and possessive, they're keeping us busy right up until the holiday break.
Reading tests will continue for the next two weeks on the books we are reading (Fridays). The final test will be scheduled depending on progress of pages read.
Mrs. Carr's infamous "100 Word Spelling Test" is scheduled for December 21st. Will your name find its way to our "Wall of Fame?"
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the OCS families. Have a happy (and CORRECT) holiday season. Just had to throw that in:) Mrs. Carr
But wait you might hear me say.... There's still 10 days to go till our Christmas break! There's just so much to do and so much to learn!!!
5th grade will be finishing up a phenomenal book, "The One and Only Ivan", written by Catherine Applegate. Looking for a thought-provoking book to read! Our class is sure to recommend this one. The students found themselves analyzing the treatment of animals, conservation, and the preservation of our environment. Who ever said animals can't think or that they don't have feelings.
6th grade is reading "Al Capone Does My Shirts." We have been exploring the different themes of the book. Set on Alcatraz Island in the 1930's, this book is providing our class with a look at a time period very unfamiliar to them. No cell phones, computers, or even televisions back then! We are learning time reflective vocabulary as well. As we "closely" read each chapter we learn that an underlining theme is the power and love of family. As Moose struggles to understand what's best for his "special" sister, Natalie, we become aware of the advances that have been made in understanding disabilities such as autism. We even went on a mini-field trip to Mrs. Pettinelli's classroom, to view first-hand the program and classroom we have right here at OCS to support students with autism. Mrs. Pettinelli added much background information to the questions of the class. The class has now decided they want to give up free-time to lend a helping hand when needed.
Grammar finds us continuing our study of nouns. From proper and common to singular, plural, and possessive, they're keeping us busy right up until the holiday break.
Reading tests will continue for the next two weeks on the books we are reading (Fridays). The final test will be scheduled depending on progress of pages read.
Mrs. Carr's infamous "100 Word Spelling Test" is scheduled for December 21st. Will your name find its way to our "Wall of Fame?"
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the OCS families. Have a happy (and CORRECT) holiday season. Just had to throw that in:) Mrs. Carr
Thursday, September 15, 2016
September 12 - 16, 2016
The new school year is up and running. Excitement is running high about new classes, new teachers, new friends, and first-time ever Chromebooks! We are working hard to become familiar with all things new.
5th Grade ELA: This week we continued to explore the many resources available to us this year. Our "Family Leaf" projects are hanging on the tree in the classroom, while the "Superhero" essays are displayed in the halls. We will be having our first spelling test of the year on Friday.
Just a reminder: Summer reading books and projects can still be turned in through September 23rd. Please remember to bring back the book.
6th Grade ELA: Our week has been packed full of discussing new procedures and practices, reviewing our new materials, and learning about our Chromebooks. I have every confidence that these new tools will help us soar to new heights in language, reading and writing. Our first spelling test is this Friday.
5th Grade ELA: This week we continued to explore the many resources available to us this year. Our "Family Leaf" projects are hanging on the tree in the classroom, while the "Superhero" essays are displayed in the halls. We will be having our first spelling test of the year on Friday.
Just a reminder: Summer reading books and projects can still be turned in through September 23rd. Please remember to bring back the book.
6th Grade ELA: Our week has been packed full of discussing new procedures and practices, reviewing our new materials, and learning about our Chromebooks. I have every confidence that these new tools will help us soar to new heights in language, reading and writing. Our first spelling test is this Friday.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Week of April 18, 2016
As I look out the window and see the sunny skies and trees ready to burst into flowers its hard to believe we are about to wrap up another school year.
This week will have our schedule reworked to accommodate the different grade-level PARCC testing. 6th grade began last week and will finish up this week; 5th grade began today and will also be finishing up this Friday. Today's testing went well and this year the students are approaching "the PARCC" with optimism and confidence.
I will not see the 6th grade Math class at all this week and have left them with a packet of assorted material that we have covered. My ELA class will meet only for one class period this week. We will be finishing "Holes" and working "review" spelling words. Hopefully, if time permits we will be able to view the movie and complete a compare/contrast activity.
Friday's assessments will include spelling and a reading test on Chapters 43-50 in Holes.
Spelling words: knowledge, plumbing,
ghost, against, accident, possible, column, steady, daily, alley, mystery,
busier, breezier, prettiest, noisier, categories.
Holes vocabulary: summoned, precarious,
scurried, flinch, strenuous, legitimate, incarcerated, jurisdiction, evicted,
and tedious.
Until next time,
Mrs. Carr
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Is Spring Finally Here???
Can you believe it? It is the fourth marking period. The year has certainly gone by quickly. We are now approaching one of our even busier times of the year. Spring Break is over and fast approaching is PARCC, year-end field trips, and all our other traditional activities as well.
Mathematics:
We have just begun a unit where we are analyzing division. We will be learning about vocabulary that we need to know when talking about division; we will learn 1-digit, 2-digit division. We will learn about real-life situations where we will be called upon to use division. Class and homework will come from both our practice and textbooks. We will continue to work on division throughout PARCC.
English Language Arts:
We have had to step up our spelling words this week. Our class is made up of many "Super-Spellers". Students are excited to being responsible for more "challenging" words.
Words include: colony, steady, hockey, starry, movie, duty, drowsy, daily, alley, injury, prairie, fiery, mercy, discover, mystery, single, build, among, faces, friends, grades, missiles, benches, speeches, dresses, Bonus: lightning, depriving, unconscious
Our "Holes" reading has become very exciting. Author Louis Sachar is very clever in connecting Stanley and Camp Green Lake to his ancestor's past. We have begun reading Part 2. Assisting us is our "Learning Ally" program. Learning Ally is truly our friend by providing us with a reading tool that helps us read and reread selections. Each student in the class has their own personal account set up on Learning Ally and may use this program free of charge at home as well to access over 80,000 titles of digital books (trade books and text books). Please avail yourselves of this resource. If you have any questions, please either call Learning Ally or me at the school to help you get set up.
Holes test this week: Friday, Chapters 29-35
Vocabulary: delirious, feeble, horizon, refuge and mirage
ELA homework will be coming from many sources; Readers' Notebook, Scott Foresman Spelling & Grammar workbooks.
Mathematics:
We have just begun a unit where we are analyzing division. We will be learning about vocabulary that we need to know when talking about division; we will learn 1-digit, 2-digit division. We will learn about real-life situations where we will be called upon to use division. Class and homework will come from both our practice and textbooks. We will continue to work on division throughout PARCC.
English Language Arts:
We have had to step up our spelling words this week. Our class is made up of many "Super-Spellers". Students are excited to being responsible for more "challenging" words.
Words include: colony, steady, hockey, starry, movie, duty, drowsy, daily, alley, injury, prairie, fiery, mercy, discover, mystery, single, build, among, faces, friends, grades, missiles, benches, speeches, dresses, Bonus: lightning, depriving, unconscious
Our "Holes" reading has become very exciting. Author Louis Sachar is very clever in connecting Stanley and Camp Green Lake to his ancestor's past. We have begun reading Part 2. Assisting us is our "Learning Ally" program. Learning Ally is truly our friend by providing us with a reading tool that helps us read and reread selections. Each student in the class has their own personal account set up on Learning Ally and may use this program free of charge at home as well to access over 80,000 titles of digital books (trade books and text books). Please avail yourselves of this resource. If you have any questions, please either call Learning Ally or me at the school to help you get set up.
Holes test this week: Friday, Chapters 29-35
Vocabulary: delirious, feeble, horizon, refuge and mirage
ELA homework will be coming from many sources; Readers' Notebook, Scott Foresman Spelling & Grammar workbooks.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Valentine's Week
This week we will be very busy in both ELA and MATH.
6th Grade Mathematics
We continue our work with fractions. Noticeable improvement has been realized. We will have a "fraction test" on Thursday covering addition, subtraction, improper fractions, mixed numbers, regrouping and writing number sentences for finding parts of a whole.
5th Grade ELA
We are continuing "Holes" from chapter 6 and will begin working in "Literature Circle" format next week. Students have reviewed their responsibilities me and each other. We will have an illustrator, a literary luminary, an illustrator, a vocabulary detective, and the discussion director. With each day of reading comes a new job. Homework will continue in our grammar and spelling workbooks
Spelling test on Wednesday.
Mrs. Carr.
6th Grade Mathematics
We continue our work with fractions. Noticeable improvement has been realized. We will have a "fraction test" on Thursday covering addition, subtraction, improper fractions, mixed numbers, regrouping and writing number sentences for finding parts of a whole.
5th Grade ELA
We are continuing "Holes" from chapter 6 and will begin working in "Literature Circle" format next week. Students have reviewed their responsibilities me and each other. We will have an illustrator, a literary luminary, an illustrator, a vocabulary detective, and the discussion director. With each day of reading comes a new job. Homework will continue in our grammar and spelling workbooks
Spelling test on Wednesday.
Mrs. Carr.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Happy Valentine's Day!
6th Grade Math-
Our math class continues to review concepts related to fractions. This week we will work on multiplication and division of fractions and continue to practice simplifying and regrouping.
Home work will be given Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
5th Grade ELA:
We will continue with our warm-up and bell-work in our Rebecca Sitton workbooks. Spelling test will be Wednesday and Grammar will be Thursday. Going forward students will be graded on effort and accuracy.
Grammar- we will address writing responses to fit "directions". Students are reminded daily to answer all parts of a question completely. Grammar test (sentence types) is Thursday!
"Holes" is fast becoming the class favorite literature read. We are reading chapters aloud and writing responses.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
January 19, 2016
It appears that winter has finally found us!!! There is nothing better to do on a bitter, cold day than to stay warm reading a good book.
And that is exactly what we are going to do..... read Louis Sachar's award-winning "Holes".
Last week we explored the importance of using your "prior" knowledge to understand what you read. Our motto is, "You know more than you think your do!". This is the approach we are going to take as we read through the book.
We will also become our very own "Literature Circle", complete with daily roles of Discussion Director, Illustrator, Connector, Vocabulary Detective, and Literary Luminary. Roles will be rotated to insure everyone has a turn at each (several times). This week we will practice each role so that there are no questions as to what to do. Our "Lit Circle" will also be responsible for writing individual summaries for each chapter read recording our thoughts as we read. Holes will be read in school only.
With our mid-year spelling assessment complete. Congratulations goes out to Makayla Daubert for receiving 100% for the second year in a row. Makayla's name, once again with be on the class "Wall of Fame" for spelling. This week, we will begin working with words that are controlled by the letter "r". Since we have a short week, the spelling test on these words will not be until 1/27/2016 (Wednesday).
Grammar and writing will focus on a return to writing complete sentences. Students will make sure they include both subject and predicate when they write. No simple sentences! Fifth grade sentences please, with lots of details.
This week's words include: army, starve, scar, garbage, argue, apartment, guitar, Arkansas, hamburger, return, purpose, surface, curl, purse, furniture, courage, journal, courtesy, nourish, journey.
Homework: Rebecca Sitton and Scott Foresman pages that are not completed in class.
6th Grade Mathematics
Fractions, fractions, fractions! We continue our work with fractions. Students have learned the importance of studying and knowing their multiplication and division facts.
We are now working on adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. In addition we will cover fractional parts of whole numbers this week.
Remember to practice your facts!
Homework: Practice handouts daily
And that is exactly what we are going to do..... read Louis Sachar's award-winning "Holes".
Last week we explored the importance of using your "prior" knowledge to understand what you read. Our motto is, "You know more than you think your do!". This is the approach we are going to take as we read through the book.
We will also become our very own "Literature Circle", complete with daily roles of Discussion Director, Illustrator, Connector, Vocabulary Detective, and Literary Luminary. Roles will be rotated to insure everyone has a turn at each (several times). This week we will practice each role so that there are no questions as to what to do. Our "Lit Circle" will also be responsible for writing individual summaries for each chapter read recording our thoughts as we read. Holes will be read in school only.
With our mid-year spelling assessment complete. Congratulations goes out to Makayla Daubert for receiving 100% for the second year in a row. Makayla's name, once again with be on the class "Wall of Fame" for spelling. This week, we will begin working with words that are controlled by the letter "r". Since we have a short week, the spelling test on these words will not be until 1/27/2016 (Wednesday).
Grammar and writing will focus on a return to writing complete sentences. Students will make sure they include both subject and predicate when they write. No simple sentences! Fifth grade sentences please, with lots of details.
This week's words include: army, starve, scar, garbage, argue, apartment, guitar, Arkansas, hamburger, return, purpose, surface, curl, purse, furniture, courage, journal, courtesy, nourish, journey.
Homework: Rebecca Sitton and Scott Foresman pages that are not completed in class.
6th Grade Mathematics
Fractions, fractions, fractions! We continue our work with fractions. Students have learned the importance of studying and knowing their multiplication and division facts.
We are now working on adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. In addition we will cover fractional parts of whole numbers this week.
Remember to practice your facts!
Homework: Practice handouts daily
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
December 23
It's hard to believe that Christmas and the holidays are here. The students are so excited. We have been working on a number of holiday activities.
We read a modern version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Students enjoyed reading this classic tale. They were quick to determine the theme of caring and giving, rather than wanting and getting. We talked about paying it forward and doing the right thing. The story prompted some lively discussion that included all.
We have also been working on holiday themed writing. Students have been making entries to their writing journals daily for the past two weeks. This week they chose their favorite to improve and publish. Their results are full of fun and excitement reflecting their views of the season.
Math class has brought some challenges this Christmas. We are working with fractions. Since our class is still making those multiplication and division facts automatic, we will need to continue of fraction work into the New Year.
Merry Christmas everyone. May you have a Happy, Healthy Holiday!
We read a modern version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Students enjoyed reading this classic tale. They were quick to determine the theme of caring and giving, rather than wanting and getting. We talked about paying it forward and doing the right thing. The story prompted some lively discussion that included all.
We have also been working on holiday themed writing. Students have been making entries to their writing journals daily for the past two weeks. This week they chose their favorite to improve and publish. Their results are full of fun and excitement reflecting their views of the season.
Math class has brought some challenges this Christmas. We are working with fractions. Since our class is still making those multiplication and division facts automatic, we will need to continue of fraction work into the New Year.
Merry Christmas everyone. May you have a Happy, Healthy Holiday!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
December 1, 2015
The excitement is in the air! Each day builds and builds on the anticipation of Christmas Day approaching. The holiday spirit is contagious and everyone has something to share.
We continue to talk about our "attitude of gratitude" and that it is important to have a giving, thankful attitude instead of a "me-first" getting attitude. Based off research, we are told that those who have a grateful attitude are satisfied with what they have, not what they don't have, and are better students and citizens.
In class this week we are reading about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. We are once again reading from our Journey's anchor text. Our vocabulary/comprehension test will be Thursday, with our spelling test on Friday
We have worked on the "doubling" rule in grammar which connects directly with our spelling this week. Students have been practicing when to double the final consonant in a word based on letters that may or may not follow it.
Our writing will concentrate on each student's ability to follow directions and use textual evidence in their responses. Inference also continues to be one of our goals.
Spelling words: rising, dancing, winning, snapping, bragging, hitting, spinning, traced, striped, handled, dared, raced, escaped, stripped, slammed, skipped, spotted, dimmed, dripped, begged
Bonus: possessions, trembles, debris
Vocabulary words: debris, possessions, trembles, wreckage, tenement, crushing, timbers, constructed, slab, rubble
As the Crusaders always say, "Have a great week!"
We continue to talk about our "attitude of gratitude" and that it is important to have a giving, thankful attitude instead of a "me-first" getting attitude. Based off research, we are told that those who have a grateful attitude are satisfied with what they have, not what they don't have, and are better students and citizens.
In class this week we are reading about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. We are once again reading from our Journey's anchor text. Our vocabulary/comprehension test will be Thursday, with our spelling test on Friday
We have worked on the "doubling" rule in grammar which connects directly with our spelling this week. Students have been practicing when to double the final consonant in a word based on letters that may or may not follow it.
Our writing will concentrate on each student's ability to follow directions and use textual evidence in their responses. Inference also continues to be one of our goals.
Spelling words: rising, dancing, winning, snapping, bragging, hitting, spinning, traced, striped, handled, dared, raced, escaped, stripped, slammed, skipped, spotted, dimmed, dripped, begged
Bonus: possessions, trembles, debris
Vocabulary words: debris, possessions, trembles, wreckage, tenement, crushing, timbers, constructed, slab, rubble
As the Crusaders always say, "Have a great week!"
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving
This week our CORRECT program is talking about the importance of having an "attitude of gratitude"! What a great way to look at things. Did you know that research proves a gratitude attitude helps students both at home and in school? When we are grateful for what we have and not looking for what we don't have, we are more content and have more successful lives. It's important to appreciate friends and family and be thankful for what we do have instead of always unhappy because we want more. After all, the holiday is called "Thanksgiving" not "Thanksgetting".
The ELA class is working with the "Into the Book" website. This site has interactive features that explore important components of English Language Arts. It can also be accessed at home and is free to use. (When logging in you do not need to create an account and can bypass most login prompts). We are learning about writing good summaries. Summarizing is an important skill for the students to learn. It will serve them in future grades and in life. We will be summarizing a "Turkey" story. Along the way we will learn many interesting facts about our "turkey" traditions (told from the perspective of the turkey). Ask your student some fascinating facts they have learned about turkeys during Thanksgiving dinner. They should surprise you with all that they've learned.
We are once again using review words for spelling this week. As we have practiced, many students are very comfortable with these words.
Upon our return from Thanksgiving break we will go back to our Journey's textbook. We will pick up with Unit 12. We will also get back to our research projects (to be completed in school).
Math students have put their "Favorite Number" project on hold. We have currently switched gears to plan a Thanksgiving feast for our families. Based on the number of persons they will be having dinner with, students are creating the menu, deciding how much of everything they need to buy, and costing out the price of the total dinner. We will even break down the per person cost!
May you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may your "attitude of gratitude" last all year long!
Mrs. Carr
The ELA class is working with the "Into the Book" website. This site has interactive features that explore important components of English Language Arts. It can also be accessed at home and is free to use. (When logging in you do not need to create an account and can bypass most login prompts). We are learning about writing good summaries. Summarizing is an important skill for the students to learn. It will serve them in future grades and in life. We will be summarizing a "Turkey" story. Along the way we will learn many interesting facts about our "turkey" traditions (told from the perspective of the turkey). Ask your student some fascinating facts they have learned about turkeys during Thanksgiving dinner. They should surprise you with all that they've learned.
We are once again using review words for spelling this week. As we have practiced, many students are very comfortable with these words.
Upon our return from Thanksgiving break we will go back to our Journey's textbook. We will pick up with Unit 12. We will also get back to our research projects (to be completed in school).
Math students have put their "Favorite Number" project on hold. We have currently switched gears to plan a Thanksgiving feast for our families. Based on the number of persons they will be having dinner with, students are creating the menu, deciding how much of everything they need to buy, and costing out the price of the total dinner. We will even break down the per person cost!
May you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may your "attitude of gratitude" last all year long!
Mrs. Carr
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
November 16, 2015
The month of November is quickly passing by. Before we know it the holidays will be here!
We are continuing our work with decimals and money. This week we will be working addition, subtraction of decimals/money. Our assessment this week will be held on Thursday. We will be working with the Shop Rite circular planning and pricing a Thanksgiving Dinner. Students will also be researching their "Favorite Number" project.
Homework:
Monday- Practice 5 & 6
Tuesday- Practice 7& 8
Wednesday- Practice 13 & 16
Review for assessment
Thursday- Thanksgiving Dinner appetizers (list, price, total)
Favorite Number Project
Friday- Favorite Number Project
English Language Arts-
This week we are reading an article from our Storyworks magazine entitled "Malala the Powerful". This article tells the story of a courageous Pakistani girl who risks everything to take a stand against the Taliban. Malala inspires the world in her quest to gain freedoms for women; specifically for girls to be able to attend school. As we examine the details of her story, we reflect on our freedoms and the benefits we as Americans take for granted.
Vocabulary:
crusade- intense struggle for a cause you believe in
cultural- having to do with a group of people's way of life, ideas, and traditions.
defied- resisted or refused to obey
determination- a decision to keep doing something although it may be very difficult
extreme- beyond the usual; drastic
forbidding- threatening or scary
grave- very serious; likely to do harm
tolerate- accept that other people have beliefs or behavior that is different from yours
We will be working with figurative language with the companion poem "In the Darkest Hour" and comparing it to our reading of "Malala the Powerful". Writing activities this week include opinion writing and writing a summary.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
November 11- Veteran's Day
Today was a very special day here at OCS. Veterans' Day!!! It was a perfect day for our students to learn about the importance of respect and how that connects to our veterans and to the noble deeds and service to our country they took part in to insure we truly live in the "land of the free". Our Red Ribbon Committee did a wonderful job inviting veterans to our school and having them, our heroes, deliver the message of making wise choices and saying NO to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Thank you to all the veterans that came to share their stories. We thank them for caring and serving our country.
Math class has been busy working with decimals and money. Decimals add another whole dimension to place value. Students should continue "fast facts" practice every day in order to make this skill an automatic part of our everyday life. We will continue with decimals and money throughout this week.
Upcoming math project: My Favorite Number
Students will represent their number in 50+ ways. It can be your sports jersey number, your street number, your lucky number... only you can decide. How creative can you be when you create "My Favorite Number" poster. Resources may include the internet, magazines, newspapers, and your mind!!!! Can't wait to learn your "Favorite Number".
ELA class has taken a different path these past few weeks. With our shortened schedules and days off, instead of reading from our anchor text, we have been work from our Scholastics Storyworks magazine. Storyworks is a wealth of reading material. Last week we read a non-fiction piece about "Dolphins" and a story with a lesson (literature piece) "The Worm Turns". This week we are working with a play based on Greek Mythology. Our play "The Monster in the Cave" traces Odysesus's travels towards home after the Trojan War. The class enjoyed taking on roles and reading through the play. We also viewed a video that told the story from the monster's point of view. The students were amazed how the same story could be seen in two completely different ways. We will continue to analyze our "hero" and "monster". Could they possibly change roles? How would they measure up to our CORRECT traits.
Vocabulary words include: legion, hospitality, sufficient, mercy, treachery, swift
We are enjoying learning them with "paint strips" that allow us to separate synonyms, antonyms, part of speech, and use in a sentence. Our "double" index cards help us make sure we understand the definitions.
Writing- due to the shortened classes and days, we have put our research report on hold. Thursday and Friday this week we will revisit our rubric and checklists to make sure we understand expectations. Next week its back to work. It is important that we follow all the steps to turn out a quality report.
We will not have a spelling test this week.
Our grammar assessment will include the homophones their, there, and they're.
Our reading assessment will be on our play "The Monster in the Cave"
Math class has been busy working with decimals and money. Decimals add another whole dimension to place value. Students should continue "fast facts" practice every day in order to make this skill an automatic part of our everyday life. We will continue with decimals and money throughout this week.
Upcoming math project: My Favorite Number
Students will represent their number in 50+ ways. It can be your sports jersey number, your street number, your lucky number... only you can decide. How creative can you be when you create "My Favorite Number" poster. Resources may include the internet, magazines, newspapers, and your mind!!!! Can't wait to learn your "Favorite Number".
ELA class has taken a different path these past few weeks. With our shortened schedules and days off, instead of reading from our anchor text, we have been work from our Scholastics Storyworks magazine. Storyworks is a wealth of reading material. Last week we read a non-fiction piece about "Dolphins" and a story with a lesson (literature piece) "The Worm Turns". This week we are working with a play based on Greek Mythology. Our play "The Monster in the Cave" traces Odysesus's travels towards home after the Trojan War. The class enjoyed taking on roles and reading through the play. We also viewed a video that told the story from the monster's point of view. The students were amazed how the same story could be seen in two completely different ways. We will continue to analyze our "hero" and "monster". Could they possibly change roles? How would they measure up to our CORRECT traits.
Vocabulary words include: legion, hospitality, sufficient, mercy, treachery, swift
We are enjoying learning them with "paint strips" that allow us to separate synonyms, antonyms, part of speech, and use in a sentence. Our "double" index cards help us make sure we understand the definitions.
Writing- due to the shortened classes and days, we have put our research report on hold. Thursday and Friday this week we will revisit our rubric and checklists to make sure we understand expectations. Next week its back to work. It is important that we follow all the steps to turn out a quality report.
We will not have a spelling test this week.
Our grammar assessment will include the homophones their, there, and they're.
Our reading assessment will be on our play "The Monster in the Cave"
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