McVay Sept. 27 - Oct 1

HOMECOMING is this week and I am learning that we are in for a week of activity!!
Monday is Tie Dye day.  Flash back to the early days of Trinity and wear a Tie Dye shirt
Tuesday is Book Character day.  Come dressed as your favorite book Character
Wednesday is Crayon Day.  Come dressed all in one color, shorts must be uniform length.
Thursday is Crazy Hair/Hat day.  Fix your hair in an unforgettable do or wear a hat.
Friday is Spirit Day.  Wear a Trinity shirt with jeans or uniform shorts.
Early dismissal on Friday after the Homecoming parade and/or picnic lunch on the practice field.

Math
Chapter 4 Add and Subtract Decimals
We are building on skills learned as we continue to work with decimals!  This week we should get through Lesson 3 or 4.

Science Chapter 10, Lesson 1
We will read, discuss, watch short video clips, and take notes on how we are taking care of or not taking care of our environment.

Social Studies Chapter 2 Lesson 1 & 2
Our studies on Native Americans will cover the The Eastern Woodland and The Great Plains this week.  I hope to have notes, vocabulary and great discussion this week!

All of our graded work will be class grades this week so we can enjoy the Homecoming festivities!!
See you around campus as we celebrate!
Karen

Smith September 27-October 1

Parents and Students:

This week proves to be an exciting week with all of the Homecoming activities. Please check the theme for each day so students may enjoy dressing up.

Writing:

Students have enjoyed typing their candy opinion paragraphs in the research room of the new Upper School library. It is awesome! Most of them have finished putting the color to their paragraph so we feel that we are about ready for celebrating! I will notify you by e-mail when the display is up in the hall.

Celebration Day is Tuesday, September 28: Students should bring their favorite candy to school to "pig out" while they do their illustrations. This has been a fun writing project, and I think you will enjoy the display.

Spelling Lesson 8 grade on Wednesday, September 29

Call It Courage Ch. 3 grade on Wednesday, September 29

Students should study their vocabulary words and review the skills on the prep sheet. They will have a sequencing sheet of Ch. 3 events that they can cut apart and practice putting in order. The also need to review the material from the "Fact Find" that is highlighted in their books.

English:

We will practice prepositional phrases (P. 256-263).

Prepositional phrase grade on Thursday, September 30

Bible:

In Lesson 5, Solomon Becomes King. We learn that it was God's will that Solomon lead the people of Israel and Judah. Students will see two very different sons of David and how one honors his father while the other dishonors him.

Bible Lesson 5 grade on Thursday, September 30

AR Testing: The last day for AR testing for the 1st nine weeks is Monday, October 4. Students should have tested on two appropriate chapter books. You have access to check their record on your computer at home.

*Remember: Friday is Homecoming Day! Early Dismissal!

Have a wonderful week-end!

Gidget Smith

McVay Sept 20-24

This week holds an ending in all three subjects and you know what that means....TESTS!  Please read each subject area carefully in order to help your child prepare.

On a lighter side, we got the Responders aka "clickers" to work on Friday.  My teacher friend from Pensacola set up a few practice pages for us and my homeroom students were able to "play with the clickers."  The Responders look like a TV remote with buttons for responding to True/False questions, multiple choice questions, or numeric questions (math).  The students type in their response to the questions and at the end of the graded paper a final score is displayed on the Responder for immediate feedback.  I am planning to use the Responders more this week.  Ask your student about them, the few that got to use the Responders enjoyed the transition from the 20th Century paper and pencil  to a 21st Century electronic classroom.

Math

Chapter 3 Test on Tuesday.  Use the Chapter Review to practice these skills.  I am being somewhat lenient on the estimation section of this work because it is just that...An Estimation.  However, please encourage double checking math calculations.  Our students know how to add and subtract, but using large numbers does bring about careless errors.

Science

Chapter 9 Vocabulary test on Tuesday with a Chapter 9 test on Wednesday. 

How to study:  Reread each lesson and successfully answer the questions at each section review.  Take a practice test using the Chapter Review.  Study only the vocabulary we copied into the binder.  Use the homework, fill in the blank, pages I sent home at the end of each lesson.  Create flash cards or use the electronic flash card maker (link found at the top left of this blog) to study vocabulary.

To celebrate the end of  testing Chapter 9 we will Erupt Volcanoes...nothing like oozy, gooey lava to relieve the stress of testing!


We will begin Chapter 10 on Thursday. 

Social Studies
The good news is that all graded material was completed last Friday.  We will begin Chapter 2 on Monday.  Chapter 2 holds a lot of fun surprises:  weaving, computer lab research, and group projects on American Indians. 

I am a thankful teacher to be a part of your lives.  Your children are a blessing to me each day. 
Honestly!  What a JOY!!

Karen

Smith September 20-24

Parents and Students:

English:

We will be testing prepositions all during the week beginning Monday. Students will have 5 chances to achieve a 100%. Later in the week students will also test on prepositional phrases which are covered on P. 256-261 of the English book.

Writing:

Students are working on their opinion paragraphs. They developed an opinion statement as a lead sentence, added some factual information, and wrote descriptions of their favorite candy that would tempt any candy lover. We will write conclusion sentences on Monday and begin final drafting. On Wednesday, we will be typing these paragraphs in the new Library on the MAC laptops. When the final editing and revisions have been done, we will display these in the hall to share with the parents. You are in for a "sweet treat". When the final copy comes hot off the press, students will enjoy "Celebration Day" by bringing their favorite candy to class to "pig out"!

Call It Courage Ch. 2 grade on Tuesday, September 21

Students are enjoying the story of Mafatu and his search for courage. Mafatu and his dog have made it to a distant island to experience many fun, surprising adventures together. Suspense will build next week as this classic story unfolds.

Spelling Lesson 7 grade on Wednesday, September 22

Bible: Books of the New Testament Memory due by Friday, September 24

We will continue the study of David in Lesson 5 as he prepares for Solomon to take over the kingdom. The story of Solomon shows God's will that he take David's place in the kingdom. The test for this lesson will be early the week of September 27th.

*The students have enjoyed the changing rotation. Thank you for your efforts in getting them here early to prepare for their day. It has gone very smoothly!

I hope you have a great week-end!

Gidget Smith

McVay Sept. 13 - 17

Monday Folders will contain Mid-term reports.


Math
We will start Chapter 3 on Monday.
Estimating and Rounding

Science
Chapter 9 Lesson 3
Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tectonic plates
Chapter 9 Vocabulary and Chapter test will be next week. 

Social Studies
We will finish up Chapter 1 by the end of the week.
Friday is Constitution Day

September 13-17 Smith

Parents:

This coming week will be an exciting one! Students will begin their first piece of process writing and the first grade level novel. I look forward to guiding the children through the steps of "Opinion " writing, and also through the reading and discussion of the wonderful survival story of Mafatu, a young island boy, who goes through many adventures as he searches for his courage.

Writing:

Throughout the week we will work through the steps leading to an opinion paragraph. The topic is fun, and the children are excited. Each student will find facts on their favorite candy and develop an opinion paragraph. On Monday I will ask you to be observant as your child looks up their candy on the internet to print out facts about the candy. Students have a writing folder in which to keep all handouts, fact sheets, and draft sheets. If you cannot get a printout of facts on their candy at home, please send a note or e-mail to me so I can help them do this at school.

Prepositions:

Students should be practicing their prepositions daily. We will be working on prepositional phrases in class this week. Students will begin testing the week of Sept. 20 on the prepositions.

They may test each day that week in an effort to achieve a 100%. They are expected to write all of the prepositions listed on their study sheet. Students will also be tested the week of Sept. 20 on prepositional phrases.

Call It Courage:

We will begin Ch. 1 on Monday. All chapters will be read aloud first in class. Students may want to reread chapters at home. Students should not read chapters before they are read in class. I would like for them to experience this "special" story of courage together in class. It is a story of tragedy, adventure, endurance, and finding the courage to survive. I look forward to sharing this "classic novel" with your children!

Call It Courage Ch. 1 grade on Thursday, Sept. 16

*We will not have Wordly Wise during our study of Call It Courage.

Spelling: Lesson 5 grade on Wed., Sept. 15

Bible: Lesson 4 grade on Wed., Sept. 15

We are continuing the study of King David which is exciting and full of action. The children really seem to enjoy the Bible lessons. The names are a bit of a challenge, but the children pick them up easily.

Please note the following:

1. It is quite helpful for students to be at school by 7:50 A.M. They need time to pack up their materials in their rotation bags for the other class as well as gather all of their materials for their homeroom class. They also need to sharpen pencils and go to the restroom. I take the attendance, and we try to start the devotion at 8:00 A.M. On Monday we will be rotating so that they will have their afternoon class in the morning and their homeroom class in the afternoon. This is done so that they all have a chance to have optimal learning time for all subjects. We will be changing classes by 8:10 A.M.

2. Carpool: Please send a note if your child is being picked up by anyone that is not a parent or grandparent, unless it is someone that is already listed as a regular carpool pick-up person for your child. Any last minute change should be called into the Lower School office so that

Mrs. Helms or Mrs. Roth can notify the homeroom teacher. This is done for the safety of your child.

3. We will begin working on field trips soon. You will be notified as to which field trip you have been selected to attend. Please know that we will do our best to give 1st choices where possible.

Thank you for your help and support! Enjoy the rest of your week-end!

Gidget Smith

Science Needs

A big thank you to the Pope family, the Farris family and the Craven family for setting up our experiment on erosion.  We are going to launch the water on Friday to observe erosion and sediment!  Ask how it went.

Science experiments needs supplies and sometimes it can become costly.  Over the year, if you can watch for the Science Needs Updates and volunteer to bring in some items it will make learning fun and the burden of the cost can be shared among the two classes.

Current Needs:
1 quart of vinegar
1 medium bag of potting soil
1 bottle light corn syrup
freezer bags - quart sized
5 medium sized tub (margarine, cool whip)

Thank you in advance for all you are doing to make this year wonderful!!
Karen McVay

McVay - Math Test Date change

Math
Daily grade on lessons 3-5 on Wednesday
Chapter 2 Test on Thursday

Smith September 7-10

Parents:

I hope you are having a great three-day week-end!  Here are the assignments for the coming week.

Wordly Wise:  Lesson 2 grade on Tuesday, September 7

Spelling:  Lesson 4 grade on Wednesday, September. 8

English:  Lessons 7-8 (in Unit 1 - Sentence Structure) grade on Wednesday, September 8


Students will do the Ch. 1 review on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sentence Structure Ch. 1 Test on Friday, September 10

Bible Memory (Books of the Old Testament) grade on Friday


Reading
We will be reading "Eye of the Storm" in the basal reader this week.  I hope the students will enjoy this story in this "season of storm".  Remember that students will have a vocabulary and skill sheet in their Reading folder that serves as a study reference sheet.  It is also good for students to reread the story at home before taking a grade on it.
"Eye of the Storm" grade on Tuesday, September 14


We will not have a Bible Lesson this week.

We will look forward to our first piece of "process Writing" the week of September 13th.  The students are getting excited about the topic!  I will let that be a surprise!

We will also begin one of our grade level novels the week of September 13th.  I look forward to that wonderful experience with your children!  It is truly one of my favorites!

As always, thank you for your continuing support.  I am enjoying your precious children!
Have a great Labor Day tomorrow!

Gidget Smith

McVay Sept. 7th - 10th

I am publishing this a little earlier in hopes to enjoy my Labor Day weekend!

Math - We finally got past Chapter 2 lessons 1 & 2 with much success!!  We will finish up Chapter 2 on Tuesday, take a daily grade on lessons 3-5 on Wednesday, and  have a Chapter test on Thursday.  Our upcoming work will be rounding & estimating with addition and subtraction.  You can brush up on estimating skills as you shop with your children.  Prices are rarely whole numbers and offer a great way to practice rounding and estimation of total money spent.  LIFE SKILLS!!!

How should you study for Chapter 2 test?  Please don't let our success in understanding place value go stale over this weekend.  Use the math handouts to create a few questions for your student to practice over the weekend.  After this test we will "clean out" those hand outs from the math spiral.  If you want to keep those at home for reference, you need to communicate that to your child and find a suitable location at home to store them.  Otherwise, they will probably end up in the classroom trash.

Science - We will continue with Chapter 9 and work in Lesson 2  this week with a graded review at the end of Lesson 2.

There is no greater substitute for preparing for tests than to learn the importance of repetitive reading of the text book...not very exciting, but it pays high dividends!

Social Studies -  Unit 1 Chapter 1 will continue to be explored.  We are reading and having lively discussion in class.  We will work in Lesson 2 this week and continue to discuss and complete open book worksheets to develop understanding.  Our Chapter will end with a daily grade instead of a test (much like we did in Science with Chapter 7). 

Have a safe and bless three day weekend!

Karen