10/6/25 - 10/10/25

 

SEL:  We will spend time talking about goal setting and learner characteristics.  Successful students are innovative, collaborative, effective communicators, self-directed, empathetic, critical thinkers, and not afraid to take risks.

Reading:  Our next story, Captain Arsenio Adventures and (Mis)Adventures in Flight, is a humorous way to help us practice reading strategies, learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and practice our RACES paragraph response writings before tackling some grammar lessons.  Don't forget, Into Reading has an online component.  Students can reread our stories and practice vocabulary under the "Assignments" tab in Into Reading.    

Science:  We are moving right along with Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Chapter 4, Lesson 3 is all about Life in New Spain.

Math:  Unit 2 is called "Introducing Ratios."  Check out this link to learn more about our new math unit.

9/29/25 - 10/3/25

 

Ask your learners to show you their current IXL learning levels in ELA and math and encourage them to work on skills that will specifically benefit them.  These skills can be found under the assessment tab on the Action Plan.  Skills found in the Action Plan are tailored for your learner at their exact level.  We will update these learner levels with short weekly diagnostic sessions, so they will always be current.  Additionally, we have begun to use our AMIRA online reading tutor.  Using AMIRA at home is a great way to provide extra reading practice for those students who need it.

SEL:  We will spend time talking about SMART goals, and then each student will be setting his/her own SMART goal.

Reading:  We will continue our work with Wheelchair Sports to help us practice reading strategies, learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and practice our RACES paragraph response writings before tackling some grammar lessons.  Don't forget, Into Reading has an online component.  Students can reread our stories and practice vocabulary under the "Assignments" tab in Into Reading.    

Science:  Our first science unit is called Earth and Space Patterns, and we will begin by studying Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Chapter 4, "Spain Builds an Empire," is up first.

Math:  We are making our way through Unit 1.  Having concluded our "Sub-Unit" on area, this second "Sub-Unit" is all about surface area.  With only 4-5 lessons, this "Sub-Unit is much shorter than the nine-lesson first "Sub-Unit".    Much like we did before the first quiz, we will have a review day before the Unit 1 test.  Stay tuned to your learner's assignment notebooks for the exact test date.

9/22/25 - 9/26/25

 

Ask your learners to show you their current IXL learning levels in ELA and math and encourage them to work on skills that will specifically benefit them.  These skills can be found under the assessment tab on the Action Plan.  Skills found in the Action Plan are tailored for your learner at their exact level.  We will update these learner levels with short weekly diagnostic sessions, so they will always be current.  Additionally, we have begun to use our AMIRA online reading tutor.  Using AMIRA at home is a great way to provide extra reading practice for those students who need it.

SEL:  Our focus will be on learner characteristics.  Successful students are innovative, collaborative, effective communicators, self-directed, empathetic, critical thinkers, and not afraid to take risks.

Reading:  This week, we will use two different stories, Winds of Hope and Wheelchair Sports, in our reading workbook to practice reading strategies, learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and practice our RACES paragraph response writings.   There will also be short grammar lessons sprinkled throughout our week.  Don't forget, Into Reading has an online component.  Students can reread our stories and practice vocabulary under the "Assignments" tab in Into Reading.    

Science:  Our first science unit is called Earth and Space Patterns, and we will begin by studying Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Chapter 4, "Spain Builds an Empire," is up first.

Math:  Unit 1, Lesson 9 is scheduled for Monday, September 22nd.  After this lesson, there is a built-in review day before our first quiz.  This quiz will cover Lessons 1-9, which will most likely be on September 24th.  If you want to learn more about what we are doing in Math, I recommend visiting this extremely helpful website for parents and caregivers. 

9/15/25 - 9/19/25

 

Thanks to all who came to Teaching & Learning night.  It was great to see you!

Ask your learners to show you their current IXL learning levels in ELA and math and encourage them to work on skills that will specifically benefit them.  These skills can be found under the assessment tab on the Action Plan.  Skills found in the Action Plan are tailored for your learner at their exact level.  We will update these learner levels with short weekly diagnostic sessions, so they will always be current.  Additionally, we have begun to use our AMIRA online reading tutor.  Using AMIRA at home is a great way to provide extra reading practice for those students who need it.

SEL:  In addition to our discussions about norms and procedures, we will talk about calming strategies and being good members of our new classroom community.  Additionally, our focus will be on learner characteristics.  Successful students are innovative, collaborative, effective communicators, self-directed, empathetic, critical thinkers, and not afraid to take risks.

Reading:  Our first module is called Inventors at Work.  Our essential question is "What kinds of circumstances push people to create new inventions?"  We will use stories in our reading workbook to practice reading strategies, learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and practice our RACES paragraph response writings.   There will also be short grammar lessons sprinkled throughout our week.  Don't forget, Into Reading has an online component.  Students can reread our stories and practice vocabulary under the "Assignments" tab in Into Reading.    

Science:  Our first science unit is called Earth and Space Patterns, and we will begin by studying Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Chapter 4, "Spain Builds an Empire," is up first.

Math:  Unit 1 in Desmos is called Area and Surface Area.  Notes and daily classroom assignments will be posted every day in math Google Classroom.  This is where you can find IXL skills that correlate with our daily lessons.  Daily Desmos work and Desmos "Practice" homework assignments can be found in the Desmos online component.  Ask your learner to show you Desmos!  If you want to preview the year in Desmos, I recommend visiting this extremely helpful website for parents and caregivers.  https://amplify.com/caregiver-hub/amplify-desmos-math-6-12/

9/8/25 - 9/12/25

 

Ask your learners to show you their current IXL learning levels in ELA and math and encourage them to work on skills that will specifically benefit them.  These skills can be found under the assessment tab on the Action Plan.  Skills found in the Action Plan are tailored for your learner at their exact level.  We will update these learner levels with short weekly diagnostic sessions, so they will always be current.  Additionally, we have begun to use our AMIRA online reading tutor.  Using AMIRA at home is a great way to provide extra reading practice for those students who need it.

SEL:  In addition to our discussions about norms and procedures, we will talk about calming strategies and being good members of our new classroom community.  Additionally, our focus will be on learner characteristics.  Successful students are innovative, collaborative, effective communicators, self-directed, empathetic, critical thinkers, and not afraid to take risks.

Reading:  Our first module is called Inventor's at Work.  Our essential question is "What kinds of circumstances push people to create new inventions?"  We will use stories in our reading workbook to practice reading strategies, learn vocabulary, answer comprehension questions, and practice our RACES paragraph response writings.   There will also be short grammar lessons sprinkled throughout our week.  Don't forget Into Reading has an online component.  Students can reread our stories and practice vocabulary under the "Assignments" tab in Into Reading.    

Science:  Our first science unit is called Earth and Space Patterns, and we will begin by studying Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Chapter 4, "Spain Builds an Empire," is up first.

Math:  Unit 1 in Desmos is called Area and Surface Area.  Notes and daily classroom assignments will be posted every day in math Google Classroom.  Desmos work can be found in the Desmos online component.  Ask your learner to show you Desmos!  If you want to preview the year in Desmos, I recommend visiting this extremely helpful website for parents and caregivers.  https://amplify.com/caregiver-hub/amplify-desmos-math-6-12/

9/1/25 - 9/5/25

 

SEL:  In addition to our discussions about norms and procedures, we will talk about calming strategies and being good members of our new classroom community.  We will finish up our first 10 days of school gratitude journal and move into learner characteristics.  Successful students are innovative, collaborative, effective communicators, self-directed, empathetic, critical thinkers, and not afraid to take risks.

Reading:  We will work on building our stamina while reading and writing.  Additionally, we will begin our work with IXL and Amira.  If you are unfamiliar with these two programs, please ask your child about them.  IXL is the best tool we have for personalized learning, and I will use IXL to goal set and build independence in my students.  Amira can be done as much as possible and will help students read more fluently and build comprehension skills.  Both of these programs can be worked on at night for additional practice.  Our first module is called Inventors at Work.  Our essential question is "What kinds of circumstances push people to create new inventions?"  We will use a story called Inventor's Secret - What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford to evaluate details, summarize key information, determine the central idea of a text, and determine the author's purpose and point of view.  

Science:  Our first science unit is called Earth and Space Patterns, and we will begin by studying Earth's Patterns and Movement.

Social Studies:  Before we get into the textbook, we will focus on why we study history and primary vs. secondary sources.  Then we will begin Chapter 4, "Spain Builds an Empire."

Math:  We are still reviewing a couple of key concepts on place value, order of operations, and estimation.  Unit 1 in Desmos is called Area and Surface Area.  The area of a shape is the amount of space the shape covers.  Students know the names of many 2D and 3D shapes and have calculated the areas of rectangles.  How can we use what we have learned to cover other 2D shapes?  And what does it mean to cover a 3D shape? If you want to preview the year in Desmos, I recommend visiting this extremely helpful website for parents and caregivers.  https://amplify.com/caregiver-hub/amplify-desmos-math-6-12/

8/25/25 - 8/29/25

 

SEL:  In addition to our discussions about norms and procedures, we will talk about calming strategies and being good members of our new classroom community.  Additionally, we will spend time working on a gratitude journal.

Reading:  We will work on building our stamina while reading and writing.  Additionally, we will begin our work with IXL and Amira.  If you are unfamiliar with these two programs, please ask your child about them.  IXL is the best tool we have for personalized learning, and I will use IXL to goal set and build independence in my students.  Amira can be done as much as possible and will help students read more fluently and build comprehension skills.  Both of these programs can be worked on at night for additional practice.  

Science:  We'll be working with Mrs. Gemmell, our district science/STEM coach, on a STEM activity that will help students understand the value of our new competency-based "grading" system.  

Social Studies:  Before we get into the textbook, we will focus on why we study history and primary vs. secondary sources.

Math:  Monday is our first day of math.  Some students will switch classrooms.  Some students will stay with me.  In my class, we will begin the year by setting norms and expectations.  Then, we will review place value, order of operations, and estimation before starting the Desmos program.

8/18/25 - 8/22/25

 

WELCOME BACK!

It will be a great year, and I look forward to meeting you!

Wednesday, August 20th is our first day of school!