Jan. 22, 2010

News From Mrs. Denny’s Class
January 22, 2010
denny@lpatucson.org

January:
25- Field trip to Sabino Canyon
*turn in permission slip.

27- 100th Day of School. Special activities will take place.

*Talent Show Sign-up in January

February:
3- $1.00 Dress down day

5- Mid Quarter ends
Character Lunch
Bingo Night

2/15- Love of Reading Week Begins

17- Science Fair Sign-In

18- Skate Night

19- Science Fair Judging

22- Dentist

24- Grandparents Day
25&26- Rodeo Break

Keep up with Science Fair Due Dates:
1/8- Permission slip, Project selected, Question formed

1/12- Hypothesis Due

1/15- Procedure & Materials List

1/29- Experiment Completed

2/5- Raw and Analyzed Data Due

2/8- Conclusion Due

2/12- Optional Written Report

2/17- Final Display Board Due

2/19- LPA Science Fair Judging


ACADEMICS
Writing: Please remember to conference with your child about their writing portfolio. Please read the letter your child brought home, and fill out the response form. I would like all portfolios returned to school now, please.

Reading: Students were introduced to a new literature book this week. They will be reading either Number the Stars by Lois Lowry or Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan.

Book Report: The genre for our next book report is science fiction or adventure. These books are to be read independently with a final book report due at the end. I have loaned some public library books to students with the caution that they do not lose them because they will have to pay for them. The final book report will be due before Rodeo Break on February 24th, however I will need the library books back before the due date…so read, read, read!

Vocabulary: Students had a vocabulary test on Friday. Their words for this week were hypothesis, procedure, data, variable, conclusion, scientific method, extraneous, flamboyant, fragment, run-on sentence, and conjunction.

Math: If your child brought home a math facts letter last week, please return the letter with your child by Monday, and encourage your student to practice his/her facts at home. **Those students who are scoring in the 90th percentile for facts did not bring home a letter.
Previous Practice Sites Mentioned:
http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.playkidsgame.com/
http://www.freerice.com/
http://www.math.com/

Saxon Math concepts this week: perimeter, 2 and 3-digit multiplication, division with multiples of 10.

Science: Students should be following the due date calendar and completing the requirements for each deadline. The next deadline is Friday, Jan 29th. Students’ experiments need to be completed by this date so they may start to analyze their data. The completed project and display board are due Wed., Feb. 17th.

In preparation for our Sabino Canyon trip on Monday, students learned about the shapes and color of some common minerals found in the Canyon. Today (Friday), students made their own paper mineral.

S.S.- Our focus this week was on World War II. Both of our literature books are set in this time period; therefore, we have been developing some background knowledge prior to reading these books.

NOTES FOR PARENTS
Fieldtrip: We will be going to Sabino Canyon this coming Monday, Jan. 25th. We will depart LPA at 9:15 am and return around 1:30. We will be meeting docents who will conduct some very educational lessons with the students. Students may wear jeans with a LPA red or blue shirt. If I do not receive a signed permission slip, your child may not attend. Mrs. Cosby, Mrs. Wainwright and Mrs. Templeton will be chaperoning this trip.


Detention: I will be instituting a detention policy for missing assignments or paperwork to be returned to school. There are far too many students who do not turn in homework assignments, classroom assignments, or long-term class or homework assignments (i.e.: writing assignments or book reports). If your child does not turn in homework for the day, or fails to complete an in-class assignment in a timely fashion, they will be assigned after school detention for that day. Your child will notify you that day if they must stay after school.

Science Fair: Please encourage your child to stay on track with his/her deadlines. Grading will be as follows:
Required work at deadline…
20 pts/each
Completed science fair folder…
100 pts
Completed project & board…
100 pts
Display Boards:
The Teacher Parent Connection at 7641 E. Speedway Blvd. has white science fair display boards on sale for $3.99.


Book Order Forms: Scholastic and Arrow book orders went home this week. If your child would like to order books, please turn in the form and money by Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Love of Reading: Love of reading week is Feb. 15-19. If you are interested in reading a favorite book, sharing some favorite poetry, or sharing some excerpts with our class during this week, please contact me. We would love to have you!







*Talent Show Auditions in Feb.