Hi Students and Parents,

Welcome to Mrs. Estrada's blog. This blog will help you keep up to date on homework, in-class work, and any school reminders. I will update this blog after school Monday through Friday. Please feel free to leave me a post if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Don't forget to check orange folders and reading log every night!

~Mrs. Estrada
National Board Certified Teacher

Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday 4/30/12

Hi! This week we are reading the story Brave Irene by William Steig. In Math we worked on comparing fractions. We will have are Math assessment on fractions tomorrow! This week's star students are Linda, Miranda, and Samael!!! Congratulations to these students for great character and being role models!

Homework:
Spelling: 5 times each

Scholastic News: Read the article and answer the questions in the back

Math: Workbook pg 129 and fraction strips worksheet

English: pg 136 #1-15

Social Studies: Chicago History Du Sable's Trading Post illustration and summary 

Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday 4/27/12

Hi!!! Today was an exciting day! We had our first Readers' Theater Puppet Show! The Star Students did an awesome job! We would like to express a BIG THANK YOU to Ms. Alcantar's mother who made our puppet stage!

Homework:
Friday Folder: Includes English packet and Math workbook page 128 on comparing fractions. Students made fraction strips today in class to help them with their homework. 


Missing Homework Notes: Richard, Miranda, Anthony, and Oscar



Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thursday 4/26/12

Hi! Today we started our unit on Chicago!!!! We will be learning all about Chicago History. At the end of the unit we will be taking a field trip on May 18th to the Chicago History Museum and Millennium Park! To launch our unit we explored the Chicago Tribune newspaper, because as we research Chicago students will be recording information to make their own version of the Chicago Tribune.

Homework:
Spelling: Sentences and Prefix/Base Word/Suffix activities

Math: workbook pg 126

Reading: 20 min log and any unfinished center from the week
*Phonics: pg 137-142
*Math: number sense "Dice A lot of Math"

English: Verbs in past pg 134 #1-32



Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Hi! Today we continued to work with fractions in class. To understand equivalent fractions we used coffee filters to fold a circle into halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and eights. Students were then able to over lap the coffee filters to determine equivalent fractions.

Homework: 
Spelling: Write 3 Acrostic Poems using the 3 longest words on your leveled list

Math: Workbook pg 125

English: Extra Practice Pg 133 #1-18

Writing: continue persuasive essay with bullet #3

Reading: 20 min log

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tuesday 4/24/12

Hi! This week's story is Mailing May, a true story about a girl who was mailed in 1914 through the US Postal Parcel!!! To expand our learning and background knowledge the students went on an in school field trip to the museum of Mailing May and Railroad Trains. Students researched about the history of railroads and true facts about Charlotte May Pierstorff's experience.

Homework:
Spelling: Story Starter and Money Letter Count activities for You Pick 3

Writing: continue with Bullet #2 persuasive essay

Reading: 20 min log (reread Nights of the Pufflings) For students who need additional support they can listen to the story on the link under classroom read alouds 

Chicago Run Tomorrow!!! Students may dress in gym clothes! 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Monday 4/23/12

Hi! Today we had a guest author and illustrator Kevin Luthardt visit our class!!!! Kevin share with the students some of his books he wrote and illustrated. He also shared his writing process on developing a story! The children really loved his visit.

Homework:

Spelling: 5x each

Writing: finish up from today writing workshop, introductions and bullet #1 paragraph

Math: Workbook pg. 123

Reading: 20 min log

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday and Weekend 4/20/12

Hi! Today in Writing we worked on our thesis and supporting reasons for our persuasive essays. In science we had a lab with magnets, beads, and paperclips to help us make inferences on how magnets improve daily work and task. Also, I want to remind you that next week we will be running for Chicago Run on Wednesday and Thursday, please send your child dress in their gym clothes.

Homework:
Reading: 20 min log

Math: Workbook 122

Friday Folder: Earth Day packet and review, sign and return Math test

English Packet: Verbs

Missing Homework Note: This week we had too many students who missed work throughout the week. Please make sure your child's completes homework every night.
-Sam, Sammy, Richard, Anthony, Leslie, Oscar, and Alex

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Thursday 4/19/12

Hi! Today we started our Math unit on fractions!!! We folded paper into equal fractions to better understand equal parts to whole. In reading, we worked on making inferences and reading between the lines using the story "A Day's Work." I would like to thank all the parents that came to report card pick yesterday. Thank you for helping me help your child. We were only 2 parents short from perfect attendance.

Homework:
Reading: 20 min log and read leveled reader and answer questions in the back

Phonics: unfinished center pg. 133-136 (most students finished this throughout the week)

Spelling: Study for test and make sure all you pick 3 activities are completed

Math: Workbook pg 121 

English: pg 132 #1-18


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Wednesday and Thursday Homework

Hi! Today we took our Chapter 9 Math test, look for this in the Friday Folder later on in the week. Also, I wanted to remind you about Report Card Pick Up tomorrow, from 12:00-3:00 and 3:45-6:00pm. It is very important that I see all parents. I encourage you to bring you child with you to the conferences, since together we are a team! If you are available, I suggest coming in during an early time slot, since the evening conferences do get crowded. Also, don't forget if we get perfect parent-attendance, then our class wins a PIZZA PARTY!!! Lastly, Spring Pictures is on Thursday, April, 19th!!!

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3

Math: Word Problem Solving worksheet and "Use What You Know" pg. 497 #1-20

Reading: 20 min log (you can read your leveled reader)

Scholastic News: Read and answer questions on the back and worksheet on reading graphs

Monday, April 16, 2012

Monday 4/16/12

Hi! Today we had an awesome day in Writing Workshop. We are writing persuasive essays and to generate our writing we had an Old Town Meeting to share out our ideas. We also went over our new Spelling You Pick 3 Activities making our spelling curriculum more challenging. Ask your child to see their Spelling notebook.

Homework:

Spelling: 5 Times each 

Math: pg 257 Set A-F and worksheet multiplication

Reading: 20 min log

Writing: Box and Bullets, try your own persuasive idea

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thursday 4/12/12

Hi today we did a cool Science experiment with different size and shapes of magnets!!! We also selected our Star Students of the Week!!! Next week our Reader's Theatre Stars are Cynthia, Andrea, Roman, and Melanie!!! Don't forget no school tomorrow!!!

Homework: 
Friday Folders: Please review, sign, and return test

Math: Workbook pg 63 and multiplication balloon worksheet

Reading: 20 min log and Science comprehension article


Missing Homework Notes: Richard, Anthony, and Leslie

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Tuesday 4/10/12

Hi! Today we worked on multiplying 3 numbers in Math!!! We read the story The Garden of Abdul Gaszi in reading. Also wanted to remind you now that the weather is warming up we will be continuing the Chicago Run program on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students may wear their gym uniforms on these days. We will run weather permitting.

Homework:

Spelling: You Pick 3

Reading: 20 min log and any unfinished center work you visited today

English: Verbs pg. 130 #1-18

Math: Workbook pg 62

Monday, April 9, 2012

Monday 4/9/12

Hi!!! Welcome back! Today we read the story "The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses" for reading. We are working on the skill to pause as we read to ask questions "I wonder...?" In Math we are working on multiplying by 9's, ask you child to show you the neat trick they learned using their fingers. In Social Studies we are learning about signification inventors and how their invention improved the way we live today. Lastly, I want to remind you all that we start our NWEA Boot Camp tomorrow! Today I had conferences with each child to find their area of strength and the area they need more practice on for boot camp. We start a 7:30am!

Homework:
Spelling: 4x each

Math: Workbook pg 60

English: Verbs pg 99 #7-25

Reading: 20 min log