News From Mrs. Denny’s Class
January 15, 2010

Newsworthy News
January:
15- Movie Night

18- MLK Day: No School

22- Daddy-Daughter Dance 7-9 p.m. at Lakeside

25- Field trip to Sabino Canyon

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

8- Love of Reading Week Begins

17- Science Fair Sign-In

18- Skate Night

22- Dentist

24- Grandparents Day

25&26- Rodeo Break

*Talent Show auditions in Feb.

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:
Spelling: Our spelling unit focused on high frequency words this week. These are words students should be spelling correctly every time they write. This week’s list also included some relevant science terms related to the Science Fair. I reminded students to practice their spelling words by logging onto: www.spellingcity.com. Students can log on and choose “Find a list.” They must then type in our class name (Denny) to access the new words for the week. The site provides opportunities for teaching, practice, and testing. It is a lot of fun.

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. If the portfolio folder was not returned by Friday, please return it by Monday, Jan. 18.

Reading: Students were introduced to an informational article about an animator, Bill Melendez. We practiced sequencing important information and identifying cause and effect within this article. Students then had fun creating their own cartoon frames illustrating movement.

Vocabulary: Words for this week and next are: hypothesis, procedure, data, variable, conclusion, scientific method, extraneous, flamboyant, fragment, run-on sentence and conjunction.

Math: Multiplication and division math facts need to be memorized in order to perform more difficult computation. If your child is scoring below 80%, you should have received a letter requiring your signature. Please return the letter with your child next week, and encourage your student to practice his/her facts at home.
Previous Sites Mentioned:
www.funbrain.com
www.playkidsgame.com
www.freerice.com
www.math.com

Science: Students are hard at work on their Science Fair projects. I hope that you have read the packet which was sent home last week…it has lots of important information regarding student projects and science fair procedures. Students should be following the due date calendar and completing the requirements for each deadline. The completed project and display board is due Wed., Feb. 17th.

S.S.- With the Martin Luther King holiday upon us, we read and discussed information about this historical figure.

Notes to Parents:
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
Don’t Forget….
The Teacher Parent Connection at 7641 E. Speedway Blvd. has white science fair display boards on sale for $3.99.

Fieldtrip: We will be going to Sabino Canyon on Monday, Jan. 25th. We will depart LPA at 9:15 am and return around 1:30. Students may wear jeans with a LPA red or blue shirt. Please return the signed permission slip your child brought home. Thank you to those who volunteered. Mrs. Cosby, Mrs. Wainwright and Mrs. Templeton will be chaperoning this trip.

Music/Art: The first semester students were fortunate to have both music and art each week. For 3rd and 4th quarter, those subjects will rotate, with art being 3rd quarter and music the 4th quarter.

Love of Reading: February is LOVE OF READING MONTH. I would love to get some parents to come in and share a favorite book, a collection of poetry, an excerpt from a favorite chapter book or anything else related to reading. Please let me know if you would be interested!