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

Thursday, May 31, 2012

May 5/31/12

Hi! Today we continued to read the novel The Miraclous Journey of Edward Tulane. We are working in literature circles using the reading strategies as students rotate roles from reporter, investiagtor, fortune teller, plugger and artist!!

Spelling: Finish You Pick 3

Reading: 20 min, reread Edward Tulane Chapters 5-6 and role sheets

Math: Workbook pg 75

English: pg 136 #1-15

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wednesday 5/30/12

Hi! Sorry for forgetting to update blog yesterday! It's been a busy time of year as we are getting ready to end the school year. Today the students enjoyed a trip to the Shedd for our sea creature unit! We had a blast! I also want to give a special thank to Taco Burrito King for providing lunch for all the students today!!! Thank you!

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3

Reading: 20 min log and Edward Tulane literature circle role sheet

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Thursday 5/24/12

Hi! FIELD TRIP TOMORROW!!!!!!!! Bring a plastic bag lunch (You might want to include an ice pack to keep lunch cool, I will also bring a cooler for the students to throw their lunches in) Students are allow to wear shorts (light material that will dry easily with the sun) and their Chicago T-Shirts they created!!!! Please make sure your child wears an extra tank under their white shirt since white shirts can become "see through" when wet. Lastly, please make sure your child gets to school on time!

Homework:
Spelling: finish "You Pick 3"

Reading: 20 min log


Writing: news article and sketch on Daniel H. Burnham's plan


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tuesday 5/22/12

Hi! Today the students were able to make 3D models of their sea creatures!!!! We also took our end of the year cumulative test for math. Students also published their Chicago Skyscraper/Sport news article today. Tomorrow we will be working on our next article were students will write about Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable or Daniel H. Burnham.

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3 

Math: Review worksheet

Reading: 20 min log..... read about Sea Creature

Monday, May 21, 2012

Monday 5/21/12

Hi! Today we began our Science/Nonfiction Reading Unit of Sea Creatures!!!! Every student was assigned a specific sea creature to research and to become an expert on! Reminder that Chicago History Field Trip is THIS FRIDAY!!!

Homework: 
Spelling: 5 times each

Writing: Draft 3 paragraphs of news story reporting on the best Chicago Skyscraper or Sport. Illustrate and write caption to match news story. Use research notes!!!!

Math: review worksheet in preparation for End of the Year Cumulative test

Reading: 20 min log, read Sea Creature leveled book and record 4 more "I learned... I wonder..." on notes while reading. 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Friday 5/18/12

Hi! Today we had a great day of learning as we integrated our Peru Unit for International Night and Chicago Unit for Writing/Social Studies into our center. Students learned a lot about Peru through today's read a loud and then worked at a map and flag making center. Students learned about the architectural of Chicago skyline! Reminder that are field trip will be next Friday May 25 th!

Homework:
Friday Folder: please review, sign, and return test

English Packet: Verb Practice

Reading: 20 min log

If internet is available: Students may work on their continue research to their opinion piece of BEST Chicago skyscraper or sport!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thursday 5/17/12

Hi! Important reminder that our field trip as been postponed to due to the NATO Summit. We will be taking our Chicago Trip on Friday, May 25th 2012. This will allow us to fully enjoy the sights of downtown Chicago.  New permission slips will be sent home tomorrow!

Homework:
Spelling: Glue Sort and Write Sort, study for Spelling Test!

Reading: 20 min log

Scholastic News: Read and complete questions in the back

Writing: practice Editing the Editor worksheet 


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wednesday 5/16/12

Hi! Today we took our NWEA Math test! I am so proud of all my students. Everyone did their very best and many students met their goals!!! I will share your child's score in the Spring Progress Reports that will be send home next week. In class students worked on researching their Chicago neighborhood and drafting their news story for their newspaper. 
 
Homework: 
Spelling: You Pick 3

Writing: finish your news story on a Chicago neighborhood (3 paragraphs)
and illustrate a picture with caption to match your news story. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tuesday 5/15/12

Hi! Today we finished our math unit on Chapter 10. We will have our test tomorrow!!! We will also be taking our NWEA Math test tomorrow. Please make sure your child gets to bed early and remind them to do their best! Also, I wanted to remind parents that are field trip to Chicago History and Millennium Park is this Friday! Thanks to all the parent volunteers, unfortunately I can only take 2 parents. Names were drawn at random and Samantha's Father and Linda's Mother will be joining us! Thanks again!

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3

Math: pg. 283 Extra Practice Set A-F

Reading: reread leveled reader for 20 min log 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Monday 5/14/12

Hi! This week's stars are  Bianca, Alexander, Samantha, and Rochelle!!! They will be working hard on the Reader's Theater "The Poster Contest."  Today we published our 1st article of The Estrada Edition. Tomorrow we will begin researching about Chicago neighborhoods as groups will become experts on a specific neighborhood. In Math we are continuing to work on division!!!

Homework:
Spelling: 5 times each

Math: Workbook page 67 and 72 (2pages)

Reading: Re-read "Seal Surfer" for 20 min log. Students who need more support can listen to the story on audio under class read alouds at the right 


Friday, May 11, 2012

Friday 5/11/12

Hi! Today we had a guest speaker for Career Day!!! Students learned about the hospitality and restaurant business. In writing we started our first article on the Chicago Fire for our newspaper writing unit as we publish the first volume of The Estrada Edition. Students began their Chicago T-Shirt drawings for our field trip next Friday!!! Finally we ended our day with a Reader's Theater presentation from our Star Students of the Week!!! What a day!

Homework:
Friday Folder: please review, sign, and return Reading test

Reading: 20 min log and passage reading of "The Mother's Day Gift" answer comprehension questions

Writing: finish up news article with 3 paragraphs 
Paragraph #1: What? When? Where? Who 
paragraph #2:  How? Why? and Damaged Caused?
Paragraph #3 Now What? Rebuild Chicago

Students can revisit the links at the Right under Chicago Unit for more information if they need to.

Missing Homework Notes: Richard, Sam, and Leslie

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Wednesday 5/09/12

Hi! Today we worked more with finding the moral of fable. Students were introduce to as new reading strategy of "Think-Pair-Write" to help them express what they feel was the lesson learned in the fable. We also worked on dividing by 10 today in Math.

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3

Reading: 20 min log

Math: Workbook pg 70

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Tuesday 5/8/12

Homework:
Spelling: You Pick 3 

Math: Workbook page 69

Reading: 20 min log

Scholastic News: finish article from classwork

Monday, May 7, 2012

Monday 5/7/12

Hi! This week we are reading fables and focusing on finding the moral of a story. Tomorrow is our NWEA testing for reading!!!! Make sure your child goes to bed early and eats a good breakfast. Most of the students in our class are just 1-4 points away from reaching their reading goal!!! We want all students to make their goal tomorrow! Don't forget to remind then to their best!!!

Spelling: 5x each

Math: Workbook 68

Reading: 20 min log

Writing: Write about today's Social Studies lesson on the Chicago Fire Myth.... What do you believe caused the Great Chicago Fire????

Friday, May 4, 2012

Friday 5/4/12

Hi! Today the students participated in the school-wide parade for Cinco de Mayo!!! In this week's Friday Folder you will find 3 permission slips for field trips in May and June.

  1. May 18, 2012: Chicago History Museum and Millennium Park for our Chicago Unit! Cost for Trip $5.00
  2. May 30, 2012: Shedd Aquarium for our Science/Research Writing on Sea Creatures Unit! Cost for trip is FREE! We will also be having lunch at Taco Burrito King as they have donated lunch for all students after the Shedd
  3. June 2, 2012: Chicago Fun Run Cost for trip FREE!

Homework:
Writing: Finish publishing persuasive essays

Math: Worksheet on division 


Reading: 20 min log

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Hi! Today we worked on studying more about the character of Irene in the story Brave Irene. The students did a great job making inferences about the character using the clues in the story to complete a character map. We also finish our writing conferences on our persuasive pieces and are ready to publish tomorrow!

Homework:
Spelling: Write Sort and study for test

Math: worksheet on division and multiplication and how they are related

Reading: re-read leveled reader for 20 min log and complete questions in the back

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wednesday 5/2/12

Hi! Today we started our unit on division in Math. Students used counters to understand the concept of dividing numbers into equal groups.In reading we worked on making inferences with the story of Brave Irene. We also learned about The Great Chicago Fire!!!!

Homework
Spelling: finish "You Pick 3" activities

Reading: 20 min log

Writing: finish conclusion paragraph to essay and edit for capitals (in green) and endmarks (in red)

Math: WB pg 64

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Tuesday 5/1/12

Hi! Today we learned lots about the history of Chicago!!!! Ask your child to explain about the Pottawatomie Native Americans and Jean Baptist Point Du Sable!

Homework: 
Spelling: You Pick 3 and Silly Story Starter (Write about your life as a toy that wants to be a person)

Reading: reread "Nights of Puffins" and answer the questions on pg. 34 #1-6 students can follow along to audio by clicking on the left under "class read alouds" 

Math: Use What You Know pg 259 #1-20