Weekly Updates 4/20-4/24

Hi Everyone,

One set of exams down, one to go! 3-509 has been working hard, and is ready to take the State Math Exams this Wednesday-Friday (April 22nd-24th). Like last week, please encourage the kids to get to bed at a good hour, eat a great breakfast, and arrive with enough time so sprinting up to the 5th floor is not needed. We will start each day at 9:00 am.

The only assignment I am asking students to complete is to finish problems #14-24 in Book 2, Practice Test 2 this evening and to read each day for enjoyment over the course of the rest of the week.

NEWS/EVENTS

• The Spring Gala Fundraiser is coming up on Monday May 5th at the Hudson Terrace.
• Family Friday will take place Friday May 1st.
• The Math State exams are this week, Wednesday April 22- Friday April 24th.
• We have some exciting events coming up in May. On Wednesday May 27th we are going to Stoneledge Farm in the Catskills to learn where the produce from the 3rd grade farm stand is coming from! More information to come!

CURRICULUM

Reading: This week we are launching our next reading unit- Mystery Book Clubs! We are thrilled to dive back into fiction. This week we are learning how to study our characters to grow ideas and theories, and how to pay attention to the setting to find clues.

Writing: This week we are taking our poetry work out once more! After reflecting on possible anthology themes, students are selecting their top 4-6 poems that fall under their categories. This week we are using a variety of checklists to revise and edit their work. By early next week we are publishing.

Math: We are finishing up our marathon training to prepare for this week's exams. Next week we are launching our Data and Graphing Unit.

Have a great week!

Ms. Bouchard

Weekly Updates 4/13-4/17

Hi Families of 3-509,

The time has finally come. This week we are taking the State ELA exam on Tuesday April 14th, Wednesday April 15th, and Thursday April 16th. This kids have worked so hard this year, and I couldn't be prouder.

This week there will be no homework. I told the kids this morning that I want them to get a good night's sleep, have a good breakfast, and plan to arrive to school a little earlier than usual (because nothing is worse than frantically trying to get to the 5th floor). I will start to let students come in to calmly unpack, relax, meditate, and use the bathroom around 8:40. We plan to start promptly at 9:00 each day.

Here are some tips for tonight- make a pump up play list! I told the class that before any race or marathon I run I make a play list of my favorite "pick me up" songs that inspire me and make me feel good (ahem- eye of the tiger, we are the champions, one moment in time). They are ready.

Thank you for all of your support, and as always email me with any questions and concerns. 

Ms. B

NEWS/EVENTS

• The State ELA Exams will take place April 14-16th (Tues- Wed, this week)
• The State Math Exams will take place April 22-24tg (Wed- Fri, next week)
• Family Friday will take place on April 30th

CURRICULUM

Reading and Writing: NY State Exams. Students will have time for independent reading after the exams, so please make sure they bring all just right books back to school.

Math: Today we took the preassessment for our next Math unit- Data, Measurement and Graphing. Throughout the week we are reviewing strategies for showing our work and solving multistep problems.

Weekly Updates 3/30- 4/3

NEWS/EVENTS

• April break is coming up! Students will be on spring recess from 4/3 (Good Friday) through April 12th. School will be back in session Monday April 13th.
• The ELA State exams will take place from Tuesday April 14th- Thursday April 16th. We are asking students to get a good night's sleep, have a good breakfast, and arrive on time. We will start the exams at 9:00 am sharp.
• The State Math Exams will take place Wednesday April 22- Friday April 24th. Again, we are asking students to get a good night's sleep, have a good breakfast, and arrive on time. We will start the exams at 9:00 am.
• Tickets to the annual Gala and Auction Fundraiser will be 50% off for a special one day sale on April 1st.
• Please remember to return your school surveys- this can be done online, or can be submitted through the mail. The deadline is April 2nd. The participation rate is very important for P.S. 11, so the time you take to do this is very appreciated!

HOMEWORK

Monday: Read for 30 minutes, Students will select an informational passage that they haven't yet read or responded to and will answer the questions, Comparing fractions HW

Tuesday: Read for 30 minutes, Complete extended response for Super Crocs, Fraction Word Problem Practice

Wednesday: Read for 30 minutes, Complete short response for "The Old Man and His Grandson." Complete Fraction review for tomorrow's Post Assessment

Thursday: Over break students will select one extended response to complete for practice, one reading passage, and a few math extended responses.

CURRICULUM

Reading: This is our last week of ELA marathon training! For reading we are reviewing mixed genres such as poems, plays, opinion pieces, and other myths/fables/Folk Tales.

Writing: This week we are taking everything we know about crafting strong short responses and are diving into extended responses. Today we discussed how to break down address, and plan a response, and later in the week we will revisit ways to use introductions, conclusions, transitional phrases, and how to rank evidence.

Math: This week we are wrapping up fractions. Today we reviewed multiple strategies for comparing fractions, tomorrow we are reviewing word problems, Wednesday we will review, and Thursday we will take the post assessment.

Have a great week, and see you soon!

Ms. Bouchard

Weekly Updates 3/23-3/27

NEWS/EVENTS

• Students participating in the Track and Field meet will participate this upcoming Thursday, March 26th. 
• Family Friday is this Friday, March 27th due to the track meet! We are presenting Wax Museum Exhibits in the Auditorium, and will meet downstairs at 8:50 am.
• Spring break will take place Friday April 3rd- Sunday April 12th.
• The ELA State exam will take place Tuesday April 14- Thursday April 16th, and the Math exams will take place Wednesday April 22nd- Friday April 24th.

HOMEWORK

Monday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Build the Perfect Sand Castle," and complete equivalent fraction practice HW. 

Tuesday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "How Benny West Learned to be a Painter," and complete equivalent fraction practice HW. Practice Wax Museum Presentation for 10 minutes.

Wednesday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Crazy Critters," and complete Marathon Math practice around elapsed time. Practice Wax Museum Presentation for 10 minutes.

Thursday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Copycat Elephants," and complete Marathon Math practice around elapsed time. Practice Wax Museum Presentation for 10 minutes.

Friday: Read for at least 30 minutes each day. Complete Marathon Math practice around elapsed time.

CURRICULUM

Reading: This week our marathon training is shifting towards nonfiction reading strategies. Throughout the week we will revisit finding Main Idea, identifying structures in texts, using context clues to learn new vocabulary, studying how parts of a text relate to each other, and identifying Main Idea in Disguise.

Writing: This week our marathon training practice is shifting from short response work to extended responses, which mirror work we have done previously in our baby literary essay unit.

Math: This week we are reviewing equivalent fraction strategies and are tackling different word problems addressing fractions. Next week we will engage in fraction review centers and will take the fraction post assessment on Wednesday April 1st.

Social Studies: We are continuing to visit centers about Nigeria!

See you soon!

Ms. Bouchard

Wax Museum Projects

Hi Families of 3-509!

I just wanted to confirm that next Friday March 27th we will have our biography Wax Museum presentation. This will be our monthly family Friday! The presentations/ exhibit will take place from about 8:50-9:30.

See you then, and have a great weekend!

Ms. Bouchard

Weekly Updates 3/16-3/20

NEWS/UPDATES

Please read below for important information pertaining to Parent Teacher Conferences and our "Marathon Training" for the upcoming NY State ELA and Math exams.

EVENTS:

• Parent Teacher Conferences are starting this week! If you haven't signed up for a slot please do so as soon as possible to ensure you have a time that works with your schedule. Visit: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4babab2aa6fa7-march
• Thursday is a half day. Dismissal is at 11:50 am.
• Our Biography wax museum presentations will most likely take place first period on Friday March 27th- this will be our new family Friday date. I will confirm this by this upcoming Friday.
• Students participating in Track and Field have a meet next Thursday March 26th.

Homework

During our "marathon training" for state exams, I am giving students a break from nightly jotting and word study. In it's place, I am asking students to complete some practice homework to support strategies learned during the day. Please follow the schedule below for this week's homework.

Throughout the week/weekend: Work on biography poster ( 1 hour). 

Monday: Read for 40 minutes, complete fraction number line practice 

Tuesday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Mr. Hacker" and "The Secret Message" (it is okay if this is part of the 30 minutes of reading, I discussed this with kids as they are still reading), fraction number line practice, bar graph practice p. 4-5 in math graph packet

Wednesday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Hand Me Down Crayons" (it is okay if this is part of the 30 minutes of reading, I discussed this with kids as they are still reading), fraction number line practice, picture graph practice p. 10 in math graph packet

Thursday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Sulka Saves the Savanna" (it is okay if this is part of the 30 minutes of reading, I discussed this with kids as they are still reading), equivalent fraction practice, picture graph practice p. 14-15 in math graph packet

Friday: Read for 30 minutes, read and answer questions for "Go Fish" (it is okay if this is part of the 30 minutes of reading, I discussed this with kids as they are still reading), equivalent fraction practice, make a graph using data

CURRICULUM

Visit our P.S. 11 site for our monthly newsletter @ http://ps11chelsea.org/storage/3509Bouchard%20March%20Newsletter%202015.pdf

Reading: This week we launched our "Marathon Training" for the ELA by reviewing strategies and skills tied to Narrative Passages (Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Fables, Folk Tales, Myths). Our week started with a shared experience as a class, and over the course of each day we move towards greater independence.

Writing: This week we are focusing on using all we know about writing to answer short response questions. Students will use a series of checklists and student examples to understand the components of a short response, and will work as a whole class, in partnerships, and independently for practice.

Math: This week we are continuing to explore fractions on a number line, and will study how to use number lines to compare unlike fractions. Later in the week we will review different ways to identify equivalent fractions.

Social Studies: We will have another rotation of Nigeria Centers Thursday, and will connect some of our marathon work to a Nigerian Folk Tale.

Many thanks for all of your support!

Ms. Bouchard

Weekly Updates 3/9-3/13

NEWS/EVENTS

• Our Sign Up Genius link is now up and ready for Parent Teacher Conference sign ups! If you haven't had the chance to sign up, please do so by the end of the week. Visit: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0F4BABAB2AA6FA7-march 
• Family Friday will actually be Family Thursday (March 26th) this month due to Peter Pan performances on Friday March 27th. Although it hasn't been officially decided, we will most likely use this time to share biography wax museum projects.
• Next week we are starting our "Marathon" themed test preparation unit. PS 11's philosophy is that the rich work we do throughout the year takes on a much more organic form of test preparation, and therefore we do not teach to the test. During this "marathon" we will be inspired by uplifting marathon music, we will create a "training plan," and will address stress coping skills. We are introducing kids to test format and question types, building stamina, and reviewing both content and test-taking strategies. We want our kids to feel calm and prepared, and if we all take on this attitude as a community I think our kids will feel great. The ELA state exam takes place on April 14th-16th, and the Math State exams will take place April 22-24th.

Homework this week:

**A few notes on homework: This week students will be given time in class to work on their biography projects during reading workshop. I asked students to spend 75 each week on their projects for homework as well throughout the week. I am fine with how they want to split this time. It could be 15 minutes a day, or one longer evening. It is really what is best for their schedule. I suggested that they spend this week collecting, sorting, and growing ideas about their research. Next week they can start to plan their poster.

Monday: Read and jot for 30 minutes, fraction HW, work on biography project for about 15-20 minutes

Tuesday: Read and jot for 30 minutes, work on biography project for about 15-20 minutes (no math tonight)

Wednesday: Reading response, read for 30 min, fraction numberline HW

Thursday: Read and jot for 30 minutes, fraction HW, work on biography project for about 15-20 minutes

Friday: Read for at least 30 minutes each day, work on biography project

CURRICULUM:

Reading: This week we are reflecting on lessons learned from our subjects, as well as why their stories are still shared. We are considering, what was their legacy? We are working on our biography wax museum projects.

Writing: Last week we launched poetry! After generating ideas and starting to draft some poems, this week we are taking a look at revision strategies, such as using line breaks, similes, and metaphors to emphasize more complex ideas in our poems.

Math: This week we are taking a close look at fractions along a number line- how to identify equivalent fractions, how to determine missing pieces, and how to partition a line into parts.

Social Studies: This week we are launching Nigeria centers. At these centers students will study photographs, artifacts, statistics, articles, music, and videos highlighting life in Nigeria.