Practice Test Week

Congratulations Room 222 Spelling Bee participants! Hannah, Josie, and Ciera will be representing our class on Thursday in the CNE Elementary Spelling Bee!

We will be giving the practice Ohio Achievement Tests (OAT) this week so it is especially important that students be present and on time each day. We give the practice test for three reasons: to familiarize the students with the format and feel of the test, to identify specific academic indicators that need to be covered more thoroughly, and to identify students who would benefit from before-school tutoring. The test that the students take is an actual OAT test given in a previous year. Today students took the reading OAT given in March 2005. Students can access, take, and print this test by visiting Ohio's portal to Ohio Statewide Testing. Each student has been given a userID (first initial, last name followed by 046326, example- Suzi Smith ssmith046326) and so is able to create a new account, log in, and see the assignments that I have chosen for my class to take. I will give extra credit for each test taken. The tests are long, but they are the exact OATs that have been given in the past, the answers are given immediately after the student posts a response, AND they do NOT have to be taken all at one time. Students may begin a test, do a few questions, and then, as long as they do not SUBMIT the test, come back to work on that test at a later date.

Later this week:
Wednesday: Math OAT
Thursday: Reading Quiz "Adelina's Whales; Spelling Bee 1:30
Friday: Writing OAT; Spelling test; Spelling homework due; Homework packet due

End of the grading period is approaching...

Today we got back into the swing of things. Homework packets went home today along with a stack of graded papers. Students have one week to complete all missing assignments and turn in any corrected work.

Don't forget the very important practice OAT next week!

Welcome Back!

Welcome to 2008! We used our shortened day today to get back into the swing of things. I hope everyone had a great break.

Today we began to work on our Buckle Down books. These books help us prepare for the upcoming Ohio Achievement Tests. Next week we will be doing our practice test. Please try and be present all week.

Tomorrow we will have our homeroom spelling bee. Words will be chosen from the official spelling bee website. Click here to access those words. Three students will be selected from each third and fourth grade homeroom to represent their classes in the CNE Elementary spelling bee next Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend the bee. The winner of the bee will participate in the Greater Cincinnati Scripps Howard Spelling Bee.

*Students are not required to participate in the bee; however, once a student accepts a bid as one of the top three representatives in the class I expect that student to fulfill that responsibility and participate in the school bee.

Science Test Wednesday

Before the break for the holidays students will have a test in math and science on Wednesday. We will review for the test tomorrow. Here is some helpful information to help prepare for the science test.

Evidence of a chemical change always includes A new substance being formed and may also include one or more of the following: An odor; Bubbles which indicate a gas has formed; an unexpected Color change; a Different temperature; and Energy in the form of light given off. Chemical changes cannot usually be reversed. The key difference between a chemical change and a physical change is that in a physical change no new substances are produced. On Wednesday's test, students will be asked to identify which foods should be on the menu at The Chemical Change Cafe. The Chemical Change Cafe only serves food which has undergone a chemical change. When analyzing whether or not a food can be placed on The Chemical Change Cafe's menu, students must give evidence to support their ideas. For example, trail mix can not be placed on the menu because it is a mixture and has not gone through a chemical change. Trail mix is not a new substance because it can be sorted into its orginal ingredients. Buttermilk biscuits can be served at The Chemical Change Cafe because they go through a chemical change. Evidence of a chemical change in biscuits includes bubbles formed by gas when the biscuits bake, an odor (aroma) produced by baking, and most importantly, a new substance is formed. Once the biscuits are baked, you cannot remove the individual ingredients used in the biscuit batter so the change is NOT reversible.

Are you and your child having trouble with multiplication? Try this site on lattice multiplication. It's not the way I learned multiplication, but sometimes it's easier for those who "don't get" traditional math.

Science is Messy!!

Well, I hope everyone goes home and tells their parents about our outdoor science lab today. It was a great time! We will learn more about the science behind it next week!

Don't forget literature projects are due Monday on Informational Text.

Interims went home today. You may keep them. Please sign and return the Friday Folder.

Our holiday parties are Wednesday afternoon. Please let me know if you can donate anything for our celebration.

Twas the week before Christmas break...

Reading: We are working on Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We will finish the book this week and have a test on Friday. We will work on Learning Contract activities this week and next week.

Spelling: No words until after the new year!

Language Arts: We will work on verb tenses and subject/verb agreement.

Science: We are still working on Chemical/Physical Changes. There should be some interesting demonstrations this week in class you may hear about. For a sneak peek, click here.

Homework: Packets are due Friday. Don't forget literature projects are due next week.

December already?

How did it get to be December already?!? It is very hard to believe! We are starting one of my favorite novel units of the year for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We will be working on this book until our Winter Break. We will be having our Christmas party on the 10th. Please look for information on how you can help to come home soon.

Students will have the opportunity to do a little holiday shopping in Santa Shop this week.

Homework and spelling packets are due Friday.