Mrs. Derry Nov.30th-Dec. 4th

Wow, I truly can't believe we are going into December this week. I hope everyone had a wonderful break and is refreshed to finish out these next 3 weeks. I want everyone to know that I am blessed to be your child's teacher and feel so thankful to be at Hardin Valley. This is what is going on this week:

ELA: Writing: Compare and Contrast

ADW Study: Vowel sound in shout

Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement (We will go over rules of the subject verb agreement.

Reading: How The Night Came From The Sea. This genre is a myth.

Math: We will be going over Topic 8: Division

Social Studies: We will be discussing the major military battles, campaigns and turning points of the American Revolution. Bunker (Breed's) Hill, Valley Forge, Princeton and Trenton, Saratoga, King's Mountain, and Yorktown. We will also be discussing how the Revolution affected the Watauga Settlement. 

Science: Refer to Mrs. Fortson's part on the Science page.

My homeroom will be doing a service project for a local school. We are going to be collecting toboggans and gloves for student's at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet School. I will be delivering them right before we go on break. I will give more detail this next week.

Thanksgiving Day Classroom Activities

Happy Thanksgiving!  We will be doing some great activities that you can link here:

http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/


Pilgrim Interviews are here

The Book Fair ends today but you can order online until Friday, November, 27.
click http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hves

Fortson Weekly Updates for November 16th

Congratulations to my Pen Man finders!  First finders got a donut! 

Here is what is happening this week: 

Math:  In Fortson math class this week, we will begin fractions on Tuesday.  All students will be taking the Knox County Module assessment over the next two weeks.  I will be updating the Fortson math page with resources to help us as we navigate our new content.  

ELA:  This week, I have uploaded the new spelling pattern words to study.  We will be working on homophones.  We are also working on helping verbs.  There will be some homework assignments if students do not finish the assignments in class. 

Reading:  We will be reading our new story this week, Adalina's Whales.  Students are learning to be strategic readers by close reading and understanding story structure.  As you listen to your child read to you at home, stop and ask questions so that they begin to reflect on what they are reading, not just calling words on a page.

Science:  New Unit!  This week, we will start talking about the Earth and the moon. There are great resources for this unit, so check back later this week as I update the science page.  Also, make sure to check out the pictures posted on the page this week with our mealworms.

Social Studies:  This week, we will focus on pre-Revolutionary figures and events. Students should have many resources in their interactive notebook, and we will be talking about Paul Revere's ride in reading this week.  Mrs. Derry is updating her page, so check there for specific information about her class.

Reminders:  Don't forget that we will go on our field trip next Monday.  If you volunteered to go, then I will be sending out an email to you to give you the 411.  Students should wear their class tshirts. 

Derry's Week of Nov. 16th

Wow... We are one week away from Thanksgiving break. I can't believe how fast this year is flying bye. Our schedule is going to be off just a little this week due to part of the fourth grade going on their field trip Monday. We also have Book Fair this week which will end on Thursday. On Monday during Math, we will stay in homeroom. During this time, we will administer the Module 1 Math test.
On Monday, we will also be going to the Book Fair with our book buddies.

Math: We will be finishing up Topic 7 and testing on Friday.
ELA: We will be reading Adelina's Whales
Grammar: Main and helping verbs.
ADW Study: We will be working on Homophones

Science: Adaptations project is Due Nov. 18th.

Social Studies:
Nov: 16th Week: We will be discussing the major military battles, campaigns, and turning points of the American Revolution. 
Mon/Wed: We will discuss Lexington and Concord, Second Continental Congress, and Declaration of Independence. We will also discuss Thomas Paine. We watch a short video on Lexington and Concord.

Tues./Thurs: Studies: SS Weekly 

Break up in groups and discuss the Major military battles and campaigns.

Bunker (Breed's) Hill

Valley Forge

Saratoga 

King's Mountain

Yorktown

Portal Closes on Wednesday night. I will have all grades in the Aspen gradebook. Please know that if you see a 50, that its probably a missing assignment. If your child has a missing assignment, they have till the end of the 9 weeks to get it in. Also, if your child brings home a grade they are not happy with, they may do a redo. Please refer to Mrs. Fortson's redo policy which will give detail on how to re-turn in an assignment. Mrs. Derry's class follows the same policy.

Fortson Weekly Update for November 9th

There are some great things happening this week in Fortson/Derry Class:

Math:  Fortson math class is taking a recap week to review and spiral some skills that we have worked on since the beginning of school. This week we will focus on area of regular and irregular polygons, factors and multiples.  I have chosen this material based on assessments in class.  As you know, we continue to spiral material all year long, so this will not be the last time we visit this content.
* Please note that we will begin our unit-Fractions- next week. The is the largest work of our grade level content and we will be working through this until Christmas.  I will try to update the Math page to give you some helpful resources including online websites and apps that you can use to help your child.

Reading:  This is probably the most important thing that we work on each day.  I am still having my Reading Challenge each nine weeks, but I am looking for ways to encourage reading at home. One of the greatest investments is have your child read to you each night and set aside quiet time for them to read.  I will update soon...

ELA/Writing:  We are working diligently on our spelling patterns each week.  Students are practicing with hands on activities and they will receive homework to help them practice these patterns at home. We definitely have a ways to go, but already students are writing and reviewing and catching mistakes, even when they don't know the correct spelling!  That's an improvement!!

*Vocabulary/Spelling/Grammar lists are posted under the ELA page.  I give these out to your student each week.  Mrs. Derry's class is using the same word patterns!

Writing:  We will begin with our informational writing this week.  Specifically, we will be looking at comparing and contrasting two pieces of text and organizing our writing.

Science:  Heredity, Biodiversity and Change!  We will finish this unit this week!  Students in both classes should be studying their notes. This is a small unit, but full of content.  Students should be able to illustrate (explain) complete and incomplete metamorphosis and explain content vocabulary.

Adaptation Projects are due NEXT week!  Please visit the Science page for specific information.  This is a project grade!

Social Studies:  Mrs. Derry has started a new unit this week.  Please visit her SS page content information and resources.

Derry's Update for week of November 9th

Here is our update for the week. Please know that I have been putting grades in this weekend and still have more to add. Please continue to check agenda's. If your child is missing an assignment, Mrs. Fortson and I will circle and let you know its missing.

If your child does not finish the activity in class, it becomes homework. All ELA is due by Friday.

ELA: The Man Who Named the Clouds
Today we predicted what the story was about and what genre the story is.
Our grammar skill is action and linking verbs
Advanced Word Study: words ending in -ing and -ed

Math: We have moved on to Topic 7: Double digit by Double Digit Multiplication

Social Studies: This week we will be adding to our interactive notebook with the Mounting Tensions in the Colonies and discussing Paul Revere.

Science: Refer to Mrs. Fortson's icon.

Encore: Monday: Art 2 (Moultry), Tuesday: Music, Wednesday: Library, Thursday: PE 2, Art 1: Didi

Start of November

ELA: We are reading "If I want to be a President.
The skill we will be working on this week is main idea/details and inferring.
Grammar: Plural Possessive nouns

Writing: This week will be writing our prompt in two sessions. First session is 30 minutes and the second session is 45 minutes. They are writing their opinion piece.

Advanced Word Study: This week we are working on  Words which contain -ear, -ir, -our, -ur
but have the /er/ sound. 

Math: Topic 5: We are finishing up Topic 5. We will continue to work on multiplication with 2 and 3 digit numbers. I will test on topic 5 possible on Thursday.

Science: Mrs. Fortson is working on Adaptations. Please be aware that there is a Science packet that was assigned today and is due by Friday.

Social Studies: This week were are discussing Benjamin Franklin and the French and Indian War. I will be uploading material we will be using throughout the next few weeks. The War of Independence will be covered till Winter Break.

I will be grading all week and should have all grades updated this week. 

Fortson Updates for November 2nd

Happy November!  Here is what is happening:

Math:  Fortson math class will continue with multiplication and division.  There will be homework this week to help us continue practicing our concepts.  I would like to assess for this unit on Friday. However,  I will make this decision based on class performance during the week.  We are also reviewing concepts such as factors. multiples, prime and composite numbers.
**All other math classes need to check the agenda for assignments*

ELA/Reading: I have uploaded the new spelling pattern words on the ELA page.  Your student received a copy of these words and our grammar focus skill today.  Based on last week's assessment, students really need to be studying these words and these patterns.

Writing:  We are working on a spiral skill this week- narrative writing.  We are working to build good endurance in our writing and also to help develop and organize our writing.

Science:  We will continue with our new unit.  There is a homework assignment this week.  It went home today in Derry and Fortson classes.  Fortson class received the new Adaptation Project.  Please visit the Science page on the blog if you need to download another copy of the information packet or need more insight into what we are studying.  Due dates are listed on the page.

Social Studies:  We will begin a new unit this week. We are building up to the Revolutionary War.  Please check back this week to the SS page for more insight into what we are studying and for downloads of digital material.  Mrs. Derry will be updating the blog this week with specific information.