Week 9 Day 1 Tessallations

Use this blog as a model to design how you will create your own blog.
http://mrbuxtonstudent.blogspot.com/
Add some links to your blog. I will show you tomorrow how to create posts and add images/videos to a post.
Important - Copy your blog url into a comment window tonight. I will then add a link from my blog to your blog. (e.g. http://marysmith.blogspot.com)

Learn More About Tessallations below:



Math Study Link 3.9 and Math Box 3.9
Check your 'Week at a Glance' sheet for your other H/w tasks tonight. (Book Club tasks are postponed until Wed. as we have a special speaker presentation tomorrow)

Make sure you have at least one topic sentence and two power 2s for that topic sentence for tomorrow's class.

Next Week

Week 8 Day 5

Congratulations to the Watsons Go to Brimingham - Book Club Presentation Today.  We all learned how to conduct an effective discussion. Well done.

Student of the Week:  ALEX

Next Week
Make sure your announcements are ready. You will audition on Monday. Keep it simple but make it interesting! Make sure you practice the delivery beforehand. Use a vocaroo file to listen to how you sound.

SMART Targets - Due Monday. Think specifcally about what you want to improve.

Optional IXL work
B4, B29, B31, S10, S14
Sammy Snakes for the first three people to master  UNIT K

Check the H/W sheet above to make sure you are ready for the short, but busy week ahead!

Enjoy the first Friday Message again

Week 8 Day 4

Social Studies Assessment - Review Material
Make sure you clearly know these facts or can locate these palces on a map.

• 7 Continents    4 Major oceans   North and South Pole    Equator
• Know basic facts about these places (e.g. city, country/captial city, continent)
• USA   Russia   Italy   Spain  Mexico   Argentina   Canada   Iraq   Kenya
• South  Africa  London  Holland

Clayton class - next Tue.

Buxton class - next Wed.

Use these links to master the basic geogrphical facts that you are expected to know for continents, oceans, major countires and major cities of the world - You are NOT expected to know all these cities and capitals just what we covered in class

Easy
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/world_G1_drag_drop.html
Hard
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/World_G4_name_input.html
harder-cities
http://www.mindjolt.com/games/world-cities

Optional - This is hard! Try for fun...I couldn't get past level 1
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq/worldcapitals


H/W

Vocaroo - due: Fri (make sure you are creating accurate fluency). Copy your vocaroo link into a blog comment window. Next week- We will upload these to you own  blogs!

SMART Targets - Due: Next Monday - BE REALLY SPECIFIC

Kudos to all those people who have been using the vocabulary link to extend their  knowledge of words. Bravo!

Thank you to you all for my first gecko... that was sooooooooo sweet!

Week 8 Day 3

Sentence fluency Test is tomorrow. Make sure you are ready!

Study Link 3.6 and finish 3.5/3.6 Math Boxes

IXL B10

Today's speech on Civil Rights was simply superb! We will certainly be reading his book this year. I'm interested to see if you can go 'deep' into the onion and offer some feedback on what you learned or your emotions about what you heard. Try not to state the obvious, but think about his message and  how it might effect us today?

+1 points for 'deep' thoughts and contributions

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill

Week 8 Day 2

Homework
Math
Study link -3.5

Social Studies
NOTAs due tomorrow for Buxton class. Make sure you have each a printed copy. If you run into any technology problems tonight, find an alternative way to bring in your work. Read your work for accuracy of content and information BEFORE printing. Look at the WILF and the guidelines sheet for details of the specific information that should be included in your NOTA. - This is your first 'official' out of school collaborative deadline. Make it a successful one!

RLA
Do your BOOK CLUB preparations.: (Due Wed)
The Sentence Fluency test is postponed until THUR. Ues the extra evening to make sure you have tackled all the exercises on last night's blog post before then. Bring any questions you have about simple, compound or complex sentences to class for discussion.

Week 8 Day 1

H/W
This link below takes you to the exercises you need to do to practice for Wednesday's Sentence Fluency Test.  The more practice you do, the better you will perform. YOUR ASSESSMENT IS WEDNESDAY
Mr. Buxton's 5th Grade Class SAS: Setnence Fluency Test Practice (spend 15 mins on some tonight and 15 minutes on some tomorrow night)

RLA


Make sure you have at least 3 different SSS techniques in your Great Explorer Nota. (Bring a PRINTED version of your Nota to class on Wednesday. - We will have 45mins of class on Tuesday to work on your NOTAS

Remember: You can create a route for your Great Explorer by going to http://www.scribblemaps.com/
Math
Watch these videos to recap how to use a protractor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeclDm7pVcIb  (repeat from class today)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3IO6Uhtlp8&feature=related

Compulsory
Go to IXL and complete activities B.12 (Can you master using a protractor tonight?)

Next Week

Tech Integration:

Tomorrow, we will be using http://scribblemaps.com  to create a map of the routes of your Great Explorer. Check it out

Week 7 Day 5 Ten Years of Technology

This is a little video to share with your parents. Oh! how life has changed...


What will tomorrow bring?

Student of the Week - GEORGE

Feel free to do any geometry section B exercises of ixl.com over the w/end. Purely optional
Many of the topics will be new to you, so don't worry if you don't know  some of the questions on them yet.

Tech Integration for Next Week

Set yourself up with free accounts with:
http://www.box.net/ (virtual storage of your resources).
http://www.vocaroo.com/ (podcast recorder)

Week 7 Day 4

Narratives
Complete the narrative proof-reading sheet. Change your work as needed as you progress through each category on the proof reading patch. 

Tomorrow you will be putting your narratives into a photopeach slideshow. You will need to select images that epitomize each individual paragraph. Start looking at your paragraphs now - What images might go with each one? If you can answer that question clearly, then your narrative is probably a precise seed idea, with a clear opening, a strong character, etc. Which image will you use at the end of your narrative as a metaphor for your message? Begin collecting these images on your USB for tomorrow's session

Math
Finish study link 3.2
You are welcome to use http://www.ixl.com/ and earn more rewards if you would like.

Week 7 Day 3 - Effective Endings

RLA
Often, stories end where they began. Read the mentor text again from today that is inside your Writing Package titled, 'Life By the Sea' - Notice the full circle ending the author created.

How can you create writing that ends with the type of emotion displayed at the end of these classic movies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8UL_9R_W-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7ZpLgkVxA

Remember E.T.C.C.
Describe a lasting EMOTION
Write a TRIBUTE to somebody
Talk about CHANGE
Go full CIRCLE with your story

Book Clubs - Be ready to effectively deliver your  section of  you book club tomorrow\

Social Studies:
People who did not print out their popplets - Please make sure you have them  printed for tomorrow. This video shows you have to save  your popplet so it will print in landscape.


Math - No H/W tonight

Week 7 Day 2

How will your make your narrative piece the best you have ever written?

show me...don't tell me!

Remember the 'Showing not Telling' Database  below
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/2008/01/introducing-thesaurus-thursdays.html

Week 7 Day 2

will your narrative be unique?

Week 7 Day 1

H/W

RLA

Spend 30-45mins on your narrative pre-write or draft. Make sure you have plenty of ideas on your index cards for each section

Use this link to inspire you to get ideas for settings and showing not telling index cards

http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/2008/01/introducing-thesaurus-thursdays.html

Try to make a good start on this  narrative tonight. You should have strong ideas or mini paragraphs on 3-4 of your index cards by tomorrow.

Book Club - Make sure your contribution is ready for tomorrow's discussions

Great Explorer Research - THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY TONIGHT! (save for Tuesday night)

Spend 15-20 minutes collecting research for your famous explorer Nota.
Remember: Use www.qwiki.com & wikipeadia

Next Week

Week 6 Day 5

Next week we will begin our final narrative piece. Make sure you have a concrete seed idea for Monday's class. You might want to bring in any photos or other images that will help you write abbout this dea.


Personification recap



Student of the Week: Maddy

Week 6 Day 4

Showing not Telling - Day 4: IT WAS A GREAT PARTY

Blood-sucking vampires and tiny pink fairies scarfed down scary ghost and goblin cookies. Witches and ghosts appeared bobbing apples in the dark, spooky night. Creepy spider legs filled the loud back yard. Other scrary hunchbacks were strolling all around. Lingering, chatting, and having fun, many other unknown creatures started making a mess.  Though tons of noise could be heard, it was absurb that they could barely see a spot in front of them, causing big collisions. But they shouted helping each other out. Soon it was time to go and the backyard was turned upside down. Everyone tried to plead to stay but they were way too exhausted.  That was a party they would never forget.  By Sabine and Caroline

For Fun - Bring a dollar word to class for a bonus plus point.

Math

Finish the Math Races sheet and look at the topics from unit 2 on the sheet.

Make sure you read that sheet carefully and are prepared to talk about whether or not your feel secure on each area.

Book clubs - Teacher Directed Activity

Setting (MOOD) - Collect at least 10 words or phrases from your Book club book that helped capture the mood of your story. Write a couple of brief sentences based on the words that you have collected that describes the mood of your story.

Week 6 Day 3

Showing Not Telling - Day 3 WINTER

A chill ran  through Amanda's bones as she slowly shuffled through the heavy piles of snow.  Everything was covered in white.  The apple trees that flourished in spring were only branches.  There was no color anywhere. Finally,  Amanda spotted her brick house in the distance.  Smoke was pouring out of the chimney, and Amanda could only imagine the feeling of sitting next  to the fire with her parents and siblings all snuggled under a blanket drinking hot chocolate.  The thought made her quickly pick up her pace, and she shortly opened her big black steel door. 

RLA

Write briefly about an event that happens/happened today in slow motion. Can you capture those small details? (Due: Thur) - Approx. 100 words.

Math
Study Link 2.10
Not enough focus in class today on the magnitude extimate problem hence this addtional H/W task. How many times can you flipping/tossing a coin in a year? Be prepared to explain your strategy.

Reading:
Book Club: complete your assigned book club taks for Friday. (This task will be the task that your indivdual group assigned to you)

Saving Images - For Photovisi and Popplet

Watch this video below. This will help you save images from the internet to your computer.

Week 6 Day 2

Showing Not Telling -Day 2  ENVY

Katie's feeling spread across the room as she looked at all the boys and girls wit htheir fancy suits and dresses for photo day. A purple sparkled dress flourished in the room and out of Katie's ears came steam. Katie had a plain white skirt with stains and faded demin denim shorts. With curled hair and a sparkled dress, Katie tried to keep it together. Katie pleaded with Mrs. Bellshaw to take her out of the photograph. Katie wanted that dress so badly.

As the people walked by, they stopped and stared at the dark, fudge chocolate cake. Adults and kids made pandemonium all around the cashier. Molly, the cute girl with bouncy pigtails noticed the crowd and scurried to see what was happening. Seeing the fudged chocolate cake, she pleaded with big kitty eyes, but her father refused to buy her even one piece.


Use this video to review lattice multiplication


Use this video to practice lattice using decimals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP06KwoWknM



FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE EXERCISES AND PRACTICE. Tackle at least 3 of the exercises below.

Simile

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/similepractice.html
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/simile/page2.html

Personification Practice

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/personificationpractice.html

Metaphor
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/metaphorpractice.html
http://www.quia.com/quiz/234882.html

Examples of Figurative Language

http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/jacob_wismer/leahy/2006/flb/flb.htm

Week 6 Day 1

Showing Not Telling - Day 1 Loneliness

Enjoy the two strongest pieces below:

Sabine and Caroline, two BBF's, sat eating lunch while I sit far away staring at them out of the corner of my eye. Many other 10-11 year old boys and girls were buzzing around, making pandemonium fill the cafeteria. Nibbling on my Ritz crackers, I anxiously wait for someone, anyone to come and sit next to me, but not a single person came close. I deeply sigh as the bell rings for the end of lunch. Soon not a sound can be heard in the big room

Pandemonium spread across the playground like butter spread on bread. Everyone was playing widely accept me. I was standing near the aqua swings. I thought I was invisible. People looked through me like a clear glass window. I winced. "This was the worst 15 minutes recess of my life. What was I to do?" I started pacing around the swings. People brushed past my petite body. I felt like my body was in a different dimension, but my senses were still on earth.

Watch this video again to review partial products multiplication.



Social Studies
Complete your photovisi and note taking from Ch. 4 for Wednesday's session.

RLA
Do your Book Club reading assignment. (Due: Wed)

Next Week

Tech Integration Tools Coming Next Week - Check these out

www.photopeach.com
http://notaland.com/

and for fun

http://www.shinysearch.com/
(but ask your parents' permission before creating your custom google search homepage)

Week 5 Day 5

• Enjoy Maddy's excellent Book Talk below. Listen to how well she uses BEVES and PEX to make her presentation both informative and engaging.

Enjoy some of the most engaging narrative stories. Listen carefully to see if team's accomplished the WILF..

• Strong lead
• Description of a place
• Description of a person
• Use of 4 appostives
• Use of 5 advanced vocabulary words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBPJkU1yLFU


Student of the Week - Anisha

Week 5 Day 4

Complex Sentences

Watch this video and tackle the exercises below:



When trying these exercises - think about how many independent clauses (sentences) there are in the sentence. Tackle any three from the list below.
http://eslbee.com/cgi-bin/quiztest.cgi?simplecompoundorcomplex
http://eslbee.com/cgi-bin/quiztest.cgi?helenkeller
http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/sent/clause_quiz.htm
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/sensort/index.html

 We will do ALOT more work over the year on these types of sentences. Do not worry if you do not completely understand all these questions at this time. We needed to cover the material quickly so we had a basic idea of  what types of sentences we can create. We will now spend most of the year mastering these sentence types (and more)!

Enjoy Rachel's and Anisha's  Sammy Snake winning Book Talks below:

Week 5 Day 3

Book Talks
Due Thur. How will your talk be unique? Have you followed the specific requirements given in the directions? Are you using BEVES and PEX to deliver your presentation in an engaigng way?
IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TECHNOLOGY, JUST DO YOUR PRESENTATION  IN THE OLD FASHION WAY BY STANDING UP AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

Math
Study Link 2.5 & Math Box 2.5

Narrative Movies
 We will now begin filming Friday. You should spent at least 20mins on your section tomight. Tomorrow, you should just need 30 mins as a team to put the finishing touches together. Make sure the story is told passionately using BEVES and PEX

Coming Tomorrow - (Optional)
Complex Sentences - Why not try doing some background research yourself before the session. How are compound and complex sentences different?

BELOW: POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT WEEK -Idea for final narrative paper -

Next week we will begin working on our final narrative paper for this unit. Use some time tonight to look at some old family movies and/or photographs and begin thinking about your seed topic for this paper. You will need an idea by next Thur. (This is a change to the information on the Week at a Glance Sheet)

Week 5 Day 2

Tonight is a thinking about the end of the week night. Each of you needs to priortize what you need to do first.

Math
Study Link 2.4

Choose what you need to do from below based on your individual progress so far:

• Work on your Book talk
• Work on your portion of the narrative movie. I hope to begin filming these by Thur or Fri afternoon.
• Remember the specific WILF for this assignment.

Optional
For those students volunterring to  participate on the student council, work on what you will say to the class to get people to vote for you.

Week 5 Day 1

Homework
Finish the Appostives worksheets. Consolidate your understanding by practicing with these exercises below.
http://www.eslbee.com/appositives.htm

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/appositive.htm 
Also watch the video.


Social Studies:

Based on our session on quality questioning today, i don't think you'll ever think about questions again the same way. Think about questioning techniques ever time you hear or ask a question in the future. Bonus plus points if you can response to a parent's question tonight by identifying explaining to them the type of question they asked and why they asked it. e.g.  mom- did you have a good day at school today? child-mom, I can tell you are asking an inference question because you can see a big smile on my face and you already know what I'm goning ot say. To earn the +1 you must write about your Q+A exchange. It must  be a real situation and not just set up to earn you +1

Math

Lesson 2.2 & 2.3 Study Link

RLA
Work on your Book Talk

Week at a Glance

Week 4 Day 5

Main Idea and Details Practice

http://www.quia.com/quiz/1169917.html?AP_rand=2066982452

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/suppoertingdetailsp2.cfm

Today's Core Value focus should be an important reminder to all of us of how important it is to make sure we are treating each other with RESPECT, DIGNITY, CIVILITY, and COMPASSION.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Ghandi.

Feel free to add your thoughts on today's session to the voicethread below or as a comment to this post


Watch these videos again for reminders of the message from today's session

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Addition Algorithm

Recap the partial sums method below


Study Link 2.2 and 2.3 will be H/W monday night. Feel free to work ahead if on these if you want to do so over the w/end.

Student of the Week: Breann

Week 4 Day 4

RLA


Think about the book you will be doing for your Book Talk recommendation on
http://www.fotobabble.com/  (Due: next Tue)

Finish your Reading Response (Due: Thur)
Many of you have already finished this...but Are you willing to go back and now improve it by adding an engaging LEAD based on our class discussions today?
e.g. Bold Statement, Quote, Dialogue, Description of a Place, Person, Event, Action Statement

Description of a place: Feedback

Click to listen to my comment on Han's descriptive writing. You may record your voice too. Be sure to focus on ONLY positive comments. Why was Han's piece chosen  for the blog? What can you learn from this piece?


Math H/W
Estimation Study Link 2.1

Have you created an effective popplet? Look at the example below:




Ignore the youpublish H/W
Do not use http://www.youpublish/. The site is unreliable and students' work gets lost. I will find a better digital portfolio for the future.

Week 4 Day 3

Watch this video again to recap our discussions today on main idea and supporting details.
What is the difference between speaking 'subjectively' and speaking 'objectively?'

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/mainidea/

Tips on how to use popplet below:


No Math H/W tonight. We start Unit 2 tomorrow

Reading Response:
You need to have 2 categories and x3 pieces of evidence per category (approx. 6 sticky notes in total). Try to write using a variety of sentence openers and integrate compound sentences for bonus points (or even Sammy Snakes)

Impressive writing today from EMMA and CAROLINE.. .not bad for just 30mins! Shows what you guys can do when truly focused

Week 4 Day 2

Science:  Mixtures sheet from Mrs. Clayton (Due: Wed)

 

Congratulations on turning in your very engaging writing assignemnts. Watch the blog for samples of work from our class posted for comments.

 

We began working on developing our sentence fluency today. It is imperative that you start ot use a variety of different sentence techniques as you write. the easiest of these are the different ways to create the compound sentence. Watch these videos below that recap the lesson and do the online exercises that follow. Then tackle the worksheets

 

http://www.quia.com/quiz/242899.html?AP_rand=563668244
http://webschool.wash.k12.ut.us/language/lessons/compoundsentences.html questions 1-8
http://www.quia.com/pop/37751.html?AP_rand=2069798505
Do you remember the key characteristics of Compound Sentences?

 

 

Four Key Rules to make an effective COMPOUND SENTENCE

 

1) The two halves could stand alone as individual sentences.
e.g. Peter likes tennis, but Mark likes pizza.

 

2) Two halves are joined by a comma and conjunction
e.g. Claire and Mary enjoy watching television, but their children prefer the internet.

 

3) Information in two halves of sentences must be linked in some way
e.g. Bolognaise is made of tomatoes and pasta, and it contains shredded meat.

 

4) A semi colon can replace the comma and conjunction
e.g. Peter likes tennis; Mark likes pizza.

We learned  some scary words today:

• Independent Clause
• Conjunction

 Who's afraid of them?

Will you know what they mean tomorrow?

 

Optional

Look back at your writing on a description of a place. Did you create any compound snetences?

 

Math

Reflect on your Math Assessment today. Which questions were the hardest? Why?

 

Tonight - There is no officical Math H/W. Use this evening to work on your popplet or your Current Events (first presentations -  Fri 16th)

Week 4 Day 1

Hand in your piece of writing tomorrow! Make sure your work follows the Presentation Policy demonstrated in this piece of writing below. Did you follow the WILF for this piece of work?  Did you follow each step of the editing sheet to help you improve your piece?  Will your work be posted on the blog tomorrow as an example of excellence? Will you win a Sammy Snake for your work due to extraordinary effort?

Math - Review the topics we covered in Unit 1.

http://www.mathplayground.com/factortrees.html  
http://www.quia.com/cm/26221.html
http://www.quia.com/cb/8436.html

Optional:
Write 10 questions to test a family member on these topics:

• Prime Factorization
• Factor Trees
• Divisibility Rules
• Prime -v- Composite numbers
• Exponents

IF YOU PRACTICE, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL - If you don't ...you know the rest!
e.g. Can you write  the prime factorization of 36 using exponents?

I am postponing the first Current Event presentations until NEXT FRI 16th

Next Week

Current Events Presentations - The first three groups go this Friday. Make sure you are ready. Use these links below for ideas:
http://www.flocabulary.com/week-in-rap-september-2-2011/

http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews/

Print your 'Week at a Glance' sheet here



Check out these websites we will be using this week. If you have time, set your self up with accounts on these sites:
http://www.youpublish.com/
http://www.fotobabble.com/

I recommend that you use the same email and password each time. You should keep a list of all the sites we are using in class in your favorites. In the 2nd quarter, we will begin with personal blogs for each student, and each of you will be able to add links to these sites on YOUR  own blog!

Week 3 Day 5

What a fantastic day  we had. Enjoy the slideshow below!




How are you doing so far? Don't forget to try doing the Review and Revise sheet with your parents. Check back later to see next week's Week at a Glance sheet.

Win +point if you can write a brief evaluation of this last week as a comment.  Minimum 2 categories  and three pieces of evidence per category.

Week 3 Day 4

Tomorrow's Field Trip
Read through the Field Trip guidelines again. These were sent to your parents a week or so ago.


RLA - Writing
You should reach the 'conferencing' stage of  for your writing by Monday at the latest. This means that you have written at least two drafts of your description of a place before that date.  Monday night you will be given an editing sheet for your work.



Homework - Study link 1.9 and Concept Review Sheet
Use this  sheet and the sheet I gave in class to review the topics that we have covered so far this year. When do you think you will have you test?

Math Review Sheet

Week 3 Day 3

Reading:

Finish the worksheet on capitalization. Can you now go to your piece of writing and check for your capitalization accuracy? - You do NOT need to work on  your second draft IF you have already completed your first draft. We will work on 2nd drafts in class tomorrow. If you are still in the pre-writing stage, you really should make a 'start' on your draft tonight.

From 'Week at a Glance Sheet'
Can you use PEX to bring your picture book story to life for your family member? - This H/W will be pushed back until late next week when we have had time to practice more

Social Studies
Can  you remember the different strategies we covered today for reading non-fiction? I could sense the difference in the quality of your work once you tried to use the strategies, couldn't you?

Writing

Make sure you are using a variety of sentence openers. These will naturally make your writing more descriptive and engaging. Remember: If you can't draw it, your readers can't see it! - Just because you wrote a draft, you have not finished..."When you've done, you've just begun"

Math

Square Root Games

Finish the Math Races sheet and study link for lesson 1.8

Play this game

http://www.studystack.com/matching-10015 (just click to match the boxes to match the square with the square roots. Plsy three times. See if you can beat your  fastest test.


This next game is REALLY fun. (Honestly, it is H/W if your parents ask! Look at the size of the boxes (arrays and the numbers being squared). You will need to read the instructions before  you start
http://www.xpmath.com/forums/arcade.php?do=play&gameid=88

 Optional -Harder

http://www.quia.com/cc/65631.html

Collaborating with popplet

If you want  to work onthe optional 'evaluation of  the SAS website', then use this video to learn how to share. Work due for this optional assignment: next Monday

Week 3 Day 1

RLA
Make sure you have at least 20 ideas before you begin writing your description of  a place that is special to you.  Remember, you are not trying to just describe the place, you are talking about how this place is associated with a memory. You will describe the place in an indirect way and not directly.
e.g. Paraphrasing the line  from Thursday class- "I reached across my bed and silenced my Quartz alarm clock." (what was described here?)


Math
Play these games for 10 mins  to help practice your square number recognition
http://www.learntables.co.uk/square_numbers/
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/spookyseq/spookysqno.html

Optional

Play this Math game to practice your mutiples for 10mins

http://hotmath.com/hotmath_help/games/numbercop/numbercop_hotmath.swf

Optional

Evaluating - Remember the strategy we learned today about offer our opnions in a more constructive way. Gain a plus point if you can effectively evaluate the day when your parents ask - "How was school today?"

You need at least two categories and three pieces of evidence per category.
Use the RC RaCS strategy to evaluate your day at school. Think about categories first!

Day 5 Week 1 - Next Week's Week at a Glance

Congratulations to Sammy Snake winners: Alex, Scott, Jacqueline, and Sabine for their creative and engaging Current Events presentation. Think very carefully about the feedback I gave today. What were the specific points I tried to make? What do you think you need to do differently when presenting next time? +1 awarded for any precise comments you make.
Enjoy the winning prezi again here:

Japan Crisis on Prezi

Congratulations to Student of the Week: Aditya
Your  enthusaism, attention to detail, mature attitude and excellence were evident all week! Keep it up!

Word Study

Enjoy this video again from Spelling Bee

Why are they such good spellers?

What were the three ways that can help you understand  words and their spelling better that we discussed in class? - Clue What was the questions the Spelling Bee contestant asked?

RLA

Can you practice the PEX strategy to read aloud fluently from now on...Add some PEX and give your reading aloud more flair! Next time you read at home...Read-a-loud with PEX

You will be selecting one of  your list of places for you first writing assignment next week. - Make sure you have plenty of  ideas about the place before you start writing.

Math

Hope you enjoyed the Math race. - Congratulatinon to the winning team - Well done Zach with the last question on the Goldbach's Conjecture - Amazing what a little extra work can achieve!

Next  Week

Print the Week at a Glance sheet at home this w/end.  THIS IS THE CORRECT VERSION

Tuesday - No School.. yeppee!

Friday - Water Park

Coming Next Week - Technology Integration
Please set yourself up with accounts with on these sites:
www.popplet.com
www.sketchcast.com

Day 4 Week 2

tonight's H/W is just cathing up any worksheets and Math boxes that you did not finish up to Lesson 1.6
You should have completed all Math Boxes, Study Links and Worksheets up to the end of Lesson 1.6

Optional Research Question: What is Goldbach's Conjecture?

Message to Charlotte Latin students - ONLY

Have a fabulous first day of school.  Make the perfect first impression... and just keep getting better from there....

• Bystanders have all the power...use this power for good in Middle School.
• We learned a lot about making judgments - Don't forget these  lessons!
• Be proud of everything you try, say, and do!
• and ...WRITE like pros from your hearts...

You are the captain of your soul
You are the master of your fate

Week 2 Day 3

Kudos to Alex today for his application of an idea he had heard in our class read-a-loud. Great  writers often adapt ideas from their experiences or other stories and tweak them to make them their own. Well done!

Social Studies: (optional) - by Fri
Win +1 point if you can share with a parent anything you learned about reading non-fiction  and becoming a detextive. You must  use specific reference to at least 6  pieces of terminology we discussed in class. You should use the word ambigious in your talk. Parents sign H/W record book if  you think your child earned the + point.

Math

Study Links 1.4 and 1.5 (Due: Thur)

Use these links below to practice your divisibility rules. (You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page)

http://www.aaamath.com/div66_x3.htm

http://www.aaamath.com/div66_x4.htm

You can practice others by navigating further links on this site.

ONLY for those interested in going deeper into the topic... This is how you check to see if a number is divisible by 7
http://www.aaamath.com/fra72_x8.htm

http://www.vectorkids.com/vkdivisible.htm
RLA

Make a list of five places that are special to you that you would like to write about. Give two specific reasons  why each one is special.

Current Events

Spend 20 mins ONLY on your current Events presentation. DO NOT go overboard with this activity. This is just a practice. Be realistic with your expectations.  Remember, you will be assessed on how well you were able to function as a team. Also, team members will evaluate each other.

POPPLET H/W is postponed until next week. (This was written on your  Week at a Glance sheet) We will not get to that activity before next  week.

Week 2 Day 2

RLA
Write a brief paragraph in your Writers’ Notebook that describes your bedroom. (approx. 100 words)(Due: Wed) - you will need this for Wednesdy's class, so don't forget it

Based on what we studied in today's class. - You will always begin your sentence from now on with a variety of different parts of speech, won't you! - Think about this as you do your H/W.

Current Events
Spend 30mins working on your group prezi.


Watch this video to recap your underestanding of factors



Now play this cool game for 10 mins on factors.
http://hoodamath.com/games/factorfeeder.php

Week 2 Day 1 Recap

H/W
Current Events
Spend 30 minutes collecting information for your  Current Events group work activity. Remember, this is just a practice for the real smaller group presentations that will begin in a couple of weeks. Make sure your ideas are 'seeds not melons!' - Refer to guidelines on current events sheet to make sure you are collecting effective research. Use wallwisher to share  ideas if you need to.

Math
We learned how to identify factors and factor pairs for numbers. What is the first thing you need to write down when  you are writing the factors of any number?
Study Link  1.2 &1.3 Finish p.10 student journal

Reading and Writing Workshop
Decode the two sentences  on your  yellow sheet WITHOUT using a dictionary.

Win +1 for any 'wacky' sentences that you put  on the blog. It must be possible to work out the  meaning using our 'Parts of Speech' analysis tool

Recap - This is very important to remember  as you will need to use this all through the year.

How do we know when a word is a verb, noun, adjective, or adverb?

What are the most important characteristics of writing? - Promise me you will not forget these AGAIN!

Technology

Experiment with prezi.com if you get a chance. You all saw the power of this new software. The more you use it, the better you will get at it

This Week

It would be nice if those people who were not able to  finish their collages today were able to do so over the w/end. We will need these collages for our first writing assignment on Monday.  See  below for an example:

http://www.photovisi.com/




Quick recap on Rectangular Arrays  for those people who are interested.
Remember  the number x 1 is also an array e.g. 18x1




Current Events Presentations
Feel free to experiment with brainstorming on your teams 'wall' using the the links below: You may put your ideas, upload images, or even short videos that you make. Participation on the Wall over the w/end is purely optional. Click on your link below for your team. All team members can make contributions to the same screen from your own home! Your task next week as a team wil lbe to give a brief overview of  some of the major current events happening around the world. (More details will be given Monday)

Table 1 http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/pd39bey8NP
Table 2 http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/rBmVYxttJj
Table 3 http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/zlNTGeATzh
Table 4 http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/yylLc79SZd
Table 5 (mixed team)  http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/EP9K2WL9LW

Remember : Sometimes technologu doesn't work the way it should. Let me know via the blog if there are any problems.

The Student of the Week is....EMMA

Enjoy watching the video of our first class song.

Reviewing the Day

Science

Congratulations on  your performance in Science. Mrs. Clayton was so impressed by your class contributions and ideas. Keep it up!

Math

Key Concept - Remember, that your Math Reference Book and Student Journal (when used correctly and interchangeably) are smarter than your teacher!

Reading
Congratulations Emma on your use of  H.O.T.S. (Higher Order Thinking Skills) when talking about your reading in class today! Remember, anybody can talk about what they are reading, is is your ability to talk intellectually about your reading that will make you stand out!

Writing
We will continue the writing prompt in class tomorrow.

H/W

• Final Draft of  'Where I'm From' in tomorrow. Sammy Snakes are awarded for pieces of work that are unique.
• Bring in the USB full of photos.  Approx. 10-20 (Do not worry if you cannot do this by tomorrow)
• Math Study Link 1.1 (the package i gave  that you put inthe red folder. Do not work ahead!)

Reading Strategies

If you are reading this, you  have already accomplished  the first task - Check the blog every evening.
Don't forget your draft for your poem for class tomorrow.  Look at the sample in yesterday's post. Number of lines are a guideline. You should do at least 16, but you may do more. Avoid doing more than 30 lines. Do not worry about this poem. It is only a draft. If you are not 100% sure what you need to do, just do what  you think you need to do, and I'll help you tomorrow.

Tonight's H/W

Place your 'comfort zone' in a place near your desk. Add   comments, photos, ticket stubs etc. to it every time you step out of your comfort zone during the 1st Qtr. You will need to return this to school at the end of the Qtr.

Based on our discussions of 'just right books' - go to your family book collection (This could be  any magazines, newspapers etc. and select two books for ANY two people in your home.) In your Readers' Response notebook you should write 2 brief paragraphs  (approx 50-100 words) explaining why you chose the books  for each person. In both paragraphs, you should make specific reference to some of the strategies for choosing 'just right books' that we discussed in class today. (Paragraphs Due: Thur)

Watch the videos below for more links on choosing 'Just Right Books"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yiPYpHz8OA&feature=related

This one is a little infantile, but it reiterates the IPICK strategy at the beginning

http://youtu.be/noWW8yqewKA

Enjoy this one for fun!

http://youtu.be/1EuU_EuwE3U

Thinking Ahead...
You should start bringing a USB to school by next week.  You will need to use one by next Friday at the latest.

Open House

Welcome to 5th Grade:

Needed: Engaged, enthusiastic students to fill this classroom!

It was such a pleasure to meet so many of my new class this morning at Open House. The classroom is just an empty room without its students. Based on our first meeting, I'm even more excited about the year ahead!


Many of you may be reading this blog for the first time. If your parents were able to set you up over the weekend to make comments, feel free to write a brief comment introducing yourself. (Purely optional). Click on the comment button at the bottom of this post to introduce yourself to the class.


Remember P.E. uniforms for Monday.

See your classmates below:

Mr Buxton's Blog

Mr. Buxton's Class 2011/12. Watch this video. You should be able to hear me give you a brief introduction to the blog.