January 4, 2016 Happy New Year

Reading: This week we are focusing on nonfiction text structure and understanding. Students will use their Time for Kids magazine to practice their skills.  Students will have the opportunity to read a book of their choice for part of reader’s workshop.	Science:  In January we study the water cycle.  Students will participate in several experiments and as a culminating activity they will build a water chamber.
Math: Fractions, fractions and more fractions. We are exploring many and different ways to use fractions. This week’s focus is on mixed numbers.  Many students are enjoying ST math for part of their nightly homework.	Writing: This week we are focusing on different formats to reply to a prompt in preparation for the SAGE testing.
Spelling: Words for this week are ie words: believe, shield, receipt, sleigh, niece, mischief, achieve, weight, yield, field, audience, perceive, pierce, fierce, brief, patience, grief, receive, freight, ceiling Bonus Words-precipitation, condensation, evaporation, percolation, rendezvous	Reminders: *Thank you for all of the kinds words and gifts I received for Christmas.  I appreciate all of you and I truly love your children. *January Book Report assignment is to read a biography.  Students will need to write an essay discussing how the person they read about changed history.