Friday, September 21, 2012

Wowza! Fun Run Totals and Project

We have collected $2661!!  We have another $120 in outstanding pledges, so please collect those this weekend! 

Caught Doing Good

I wanted to share some of my old students' great work:  they have created a business to sell handmade gifts and art, and are donating half of the proceeds to various charities including Girls Scouts and helping me fundraise for my missions trips!  It is such an honor to be a part of their work, and I love how they are inspiring others!!  They even made a Powerpoint to share their business model!

Maddie visiting this morning and sharing the powerpoint

Presenting to the class



A free piece of artwork for my classroom and their precious business card!

So proud of my girls!!!

If you and your child volunteer in any capacity in the community, I would love for you to share with the class!  Please email me!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Author Visit


Today we had an amazing visit from the author Carmen Agra Deedy!  Her writing was wonderful, and her story telling was compelling and engaging!!  Here is her website:  http://carmenagradeedy.com/

Thursday, 9/20 HW

ELA:
  • Spelling Contract Due
  • Vocab quiz
Math:
  • HOTS POW due
  • pg. 61 f/b
  • Study flashcards for 10 minutes (doubles and squares!)

Fun Run Outstanding Pledges were handed out today - please collect any last donations!  We are doing AMAZINGLY!!! 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Fun Run Game Bus!

Congrats to the precious Forkeys who are going to the Fun Run Game Bus!!!

Wednesday, 9/19 HW

  • ELA:
    • Spelling contract
    • study vocab
    • Pink (TAG students):  read chapter 10 by Friday
  • Math:
    • pg. 60 f/b
    • study for meaning of mult. quiz
    • Hots Pow - please see below
    • Study facts - doubles and squares
Fun Run Money due Monday! 

HOTS POW notes:

-please have your child try by him/herself first, then you may have a conversation to to help engage him/her with HOTS. 
-there are many ways to solve the problem, so if you child comes to you with another strategy that works and he/she can explain it, please do not change it you would solve it differently

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Tuesday, 9/18 HW

HW:
  • ELA: 
    • Spelling contract (four students need to write for their response to literature instead)
    • Study vocab
  • Math:
    • All:  Meaning of multiplication - both sides
    • Bring in flashcards (due tomorrow!)
    • Hots Pow
  • Fun Run collections are due next Monday!! 

Spelling Words

Spelling Words Correction for the green group:

pennies
buried
replied
candies
emptied
stories
married
copies
parties
studied
mysteries
discoveries
worries
families
ponies
implies
supplied
batteries
tragedies
strawberries

Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday, 9/17 HW

  • ELA:
    • Spelling contract
    • Review Vocab
    • Pink group:  read chapters 6-8 in Bud, Not Buddy
  • Math:
    • Green:  pg. 59 back
    • Pink:  59/fb
    • All:  bring in multiplication flashcards by Wednesday!
  • Fun run collections due by next Monday!!
Look at the students fearlessly dissecting owl pellets! (AKA owl regurgitation!)




Feed My Starving Children

I was honored to have a past student and a current student come to Peachtree Pres on Saturday to volunteer with me at Feed My Starving Children!  We set records on how much food we packaged for children to eat in Haiti and Nicaragua!

Maddie and I at Feed My Starving Children.  Maddie is in 4th grade now!

Michaela and I!  Hairnets look good on us!

Thank you to Mr. Bernard and Mrs. McCormick for driving down to Buckhead to participate!

Hard at work!





Curriculum Updates

Green group S/V:

Because of Winn Dixie- Week 5   ADV
Spelling Words
known
written
laugh
sphere
wreck
writer
wrong
wrap
wrench
knocked
knot
wring
enough
rough
wrinkle
tortoise
dolphin
sea horse
whale
coral

Vocabulary Words
tragedies- very sad event
convinced-to persuade somebody to believe or do something
swollen-become larger than normal
amuse- to make somebody smile or laugh or think that something is funny
complicated-difficult to understand, deal with, or explain
wheeze- to breathe with difficulty, making a hoarse whistling or hissing sound
echoed-the repetition of a sound caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface
booming- low and loud
Pink Group:
Bud, Not Buddy Week 2

Spelling Words                 

asleep
empty
queen
denial
needed
spelling
displeased
feelings
fleeting
keeping
beneath
agree
elevator
coffee
suggested
method
feature
metal
disease
television
  
Vocabulary Words

resourceful – able to deal skillfully with new situations

loathsome – causing feelings of disgust

exaggerate – to stretch beyond the truth

festering – rotting or spoiling

meddle – to annoy or to interfere

prodigy – a person having extraordinary talent

compromise – an agreement

insinuate – to suggest or hint

-----------------------------------------
Math Unit 2 began today!  It is a 25 day unit.  We will memorize all multiplcation and division facts under 100. 
STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICAL CONTENT
Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.
MCC.3.OA.1 Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.
MCC.3.OA.2 Interpret whole-number quotients of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 56 ÷ 8 as the number of objects in each share when 56 objects are partitioned equally into 8 shares, or as a number of shares when 56 objects are partitioned into equal shares of 8 objects each.
MCC.3.OA.3 Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
MCC. 3.OA.4 Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers.
Represent and interpret data.
MCC.3.MD.3. Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs. For example, draw a bar graph in which each square in the bar graph might represent 5 pets.
MCC.3.MD.4. Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units— whole numbers, halves, or quarters.

Essential Questions:
  • How are multiplication and addition alike?
          How are multiplication and addition different?
          How are multiplication and addition related?
          How are multiplication and division related?
          How are subtraction and division related?
          How can I show data using a line plot graph?
          How can multiplication and division be used to solve real world problems?
          How can the same array represent both multiplication and division?
          How can we connect multiplication facts with their array models?
          How can we model division?
          How can we model multiplication?
          How can we practice multiplication facts in a meaningful way that will help us remember them?
          How can we use patterns to solve problems?
          How can we write a mathematical sentence to represent a multiplication model we have made?
          How can we write a mathematical sentence to represent division models we have mad
  • How do I decide what increment scale to use for a bar graph?
          How do I decide what symbol to use when constructing a pictograph?
          How do the parts of a division problem relate to each other?
          How do you create a bar graph or table?
          How do you display collected data?
          How do you interpret data in a graph?
          How is the commutative property of multiplication evident in an array model?
          Is there more than one way of multiplying to get the same product?
          Is there more than one way to divide a number to get the same quotient?
          What are strategies for learning multiplication facts?
          What do the parts of a division problem represent?
          What happens to the quotient when the dividend increases or decreases?
          What is the relationship between the divisor and the quotient?

Portion 1 - test end of this week - the foundations of multiplication, story problems, arrays, and repeated addition.
Portion 2:  memorizing the facts - daily quizzes, then final test Tuesday, Sept. 25th
Portion 3:  Graphing integrated into multiplication - assessed on Friday, 9/28
Portion 4:  Division -test on division facts on Friday, 10/5
Final unit test TENTATIVE date:  Friday, October 12 

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Math Flashcards

Please either purchase or create multiplication flashcards for your child.  Please send them in to school by Wednesday, 9/19. 

Students should begin studying the basic facts, from 2x2 through 9x9, every night for at least 5-10 minutes. 

Friday, September 14, 2012

PortaPortal

This is a new technology hub for me to list online resources, unit supports, games, etc. on.

Students may log on:  http://guest.portaportal.com/jserafin

On the right side, it says Guest Access:  Type JSERAFIN in the box, and click visit.  VOILA! Lots of great resources for your child to use at home!!! 

Passionate about writing and news reporting?

Apply to become a Scholastic Kids News Reporter for the entire country:

http://blogs.scholastic.com/kidspress/2012/08/become-a-scholastic-kid-reporter-apply-now.html

One of my old students, Andrew Liang, has been a reporter for the last two years! I am VERY proud of him!!  http://www.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3747798

Fun Run Success!

Thank you for all of your wonderful support for Fun Run!  We have TEN days left to fundraise, and get as many of our kiddos at the game party as possible!  It's $225 to go!  I am SO proud of the kids for their hard work to support MBES with their fundraising!!! 


Clean and ready to run!!

Mid-action!

Some of our mommas volunteering!  Our class had SO many parent volunteers - I am so honored that yall invest in us - you have no idea how much it means to me as a teacher to have parent support!  THANK YOU!!

WOOOO!!


I started using teacherlists for supplies - I am OK on everything now (we have 4 containers of wipes right now) so when they get low, we would love some more! 
http://www.teacherlists.com/lists/view/medlock-bridge-elementary-scho/3/ms.-serafin's-class/jennifer-serafin/classroom-supplies

Fun Run!

Congrats to Ean for fundraising enough money to go on the game bus!!!!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Thursday 9/13 HW

  • ELA:
    • Spelling Test tomorrow!  Spelling contract due!
    • Vocab quiz tomorrow!
  • Math:
    • Review study guide - Test tomorrow (no written homework so you can practice as your child needs!)
  • SS:
    • Study for colonies quiz if your child forgot and needs to retest
Congratulations to our class!  Yesterday we met the goal to go to the Awards Pep Rally!!!!!!!!!  We are LEADING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL with $2234!!!
We have three students already going to the game party as well! (Ean, Devika and Kate!)
Kate is still the top fundraiser in the school with $528! 

Congrats to Devika!
(As soon as Ean gets his certificate, he will be on here too!!)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Wednesday, 9/12 HW

  • ELA
    • Spelling Contract
    • Study Vocab
  • Math:
    • Finish study guide, parents please sign that you have reviewed it with your child - Unit Test is Friday!!
  • Social Studies
    • Memorize the location of the 13 colonies - Quiz tomorrow!!
  • Fun Run - keep it up!! You may come watch your child on Friday from 11:50-12:35 on the field!!! 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Memorize the Map!

Counties? Countries? Cities? States? Continents? Capitals?
This year we will learn to tell the difference as well as memorize the United States and the 7 continents.  Here are some websites to get you started:

http://www.usa.learningtogether.net/map.html
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/mappuzzle/us-puzzle.html
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm This one has differeniated skills!!
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/unitedstates.html
http://www.abcya.com/usa_geography_puzzle_map.htm

Online Textbook Instructions


SOCIAL STUDIES
Click the link below. Enter the username and password based on the child's grade level.
SCIENCE
Click the link below.
The image below is a screenshot of the Think Central login screen.
Enter the user name and password based on the child's grade level.
MATHEMATICS
Click the link below.
Please Note: The textbooks for each grade level are the same. However, logins were created by learning community because of the number of people viewing these textbooks.

Ms. Serafin in Kenya

Ms. Serafin in Kenya