9/8/09 Questions & Statements

Part 1 (Two-Minute Math... just this once):   Please have your child do Minute Math every day.  We will do Friday in class.  This is an EASY A!  Minute Math is graded like this:  your child gets 20 points per day that they work on minute math.  Thus, by Thursday they have 80 points.  They get 20 more points for doing Friday’s in class... 100 points!  A+ for just spending one minute on math!  Please do Monday & Tuesday’s Minute Math because we had no school yesterday... so two minutes this time...

Part 2 (Questions):  The students are learning to tell questions from statements... asking sentences versus telling sentences.  Part A has 4 sentences.  Have your student put either a question mark or a period at the end of each sentence.  Part B is easy.  Your student needs to re-write those 5 sentences correctly.  Each sentence needs to begin with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark (either a period or a question mark).  Please discuss with your student why they answered each the way they did.  Does your child understand?

9/3/09

Part 1 (Math: Make Tens): Please play the Make Tens game with your child and discuss it with them.

Part 2 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

Part 3 (Spelling Test tomorrow): Are you ready?

Optional Homework (Watch the Game on TV): Fellow Unicorns, tonight is the annual Wurst Bowl!  It is the big game between my Alma Mater and our cross town rivals, the Canyon Cougars.  The game will be broadcast on TV tonight at 7PM... I believe it is on cable channel 7.  Please wish our boys well tonight.  Tomorrow, everyone come dressed in their NB finest to celebrate our team: wear blue, silver, white... wear any Unicorn or NBISD shirt you can find... wear your County Line shirt... tomorrow let's show the school the pride that the Room 310 kids have!  Go Big Blue! Note: Longhorns have their “Hook ‘em” sign. Aggies have their “Gig ‘em” sign. To the right is the one we use in New Braunfels. It is a unicorn horn sign. I am not making this up! Go Unicorns!

9/2/09

Part 1 (Comprehension):  Your student has a short article (only 7 sentences long) titled What Are Germs?  Please have them read it and then answer 5 questions.  All of the questions can be answered by the 7 sentence article or the in the information box, “When Germs Make You Sick...” in the middle of the page.  It is IMPORTANT that your student be able to tell you WHY they answered each question the way that they did.  Please discuss this homework with your student and have them explain where they found each answer to each question.  Please let me know how it goes...

Part 2 (Check out the Class Website!):  I finally got the class website working.  It is a bit rough around the edges and I still have more to add but I am proud of it none the less!  Any child that has their parent send me an e-mail letting me know that they saw the website will get a treat tomorrow!  My e-mail address is kcopeland@newbraunfels.txed.net  ... 

Our new website is http://newbraunfels.tx.schoolwebpages.com/copeland 

 

Part 3 (Minute Math):  Remember, Minute Math is completed at home Monday through Thursday  We will do Friday in class.  This is an EASY A!  Minute Math is graded like this:  your child gets 20 points per day that they work on minute math.  Thus, by Thursday they have 80 points.  They get 20 more points for doing Friday’s in class... 100 points!  A+ for just spending one minute on math! 

Part 4 (Mid-week round-up):  Do you have any questions, concerns, or comments?  How does your child feel about how things are going for him or her?  Is there ANYTHING I can do for your student to help them be successful?

9/1/09 Welcome to the NEW SCHOOL YEAR! Any posts below this are from last year...

Part 1 (Minute Math):   Please have your child do Minute Math every day, Monday through Thursday.  We will do Friday in class.  This is an EASY A!  Minute Math is graded like this:  your child gets 20 points per day that they work on minute math.  Thus, by Thursday they have 80 points.  They get 20 more points for doing Friday’s in class... 100 points!  A+ for just spending one minute on math!

Part 2 (Telling Sentences; Capital I):  There are six sentences on this piece.  There are six blanks.  There is a word box with six sentence parts in it.  Have your child use bits from the word box to complete sentences that make sense and are “telling sentences”(statements).  For example:
#1 says “The girl _________________________.”   You could choose “buys the bear” from the word box to make the sentence, “The girl buys the bear.”  Part B has you child choosing part of a phrase from the word box and adding to it to make their own sentence.  For example: your child might choose “The man” from the word box and make the sentence “The man goes fishing” or “The man is driving.”

Part 1 (25 Math Problems): Your child has 25 math problems to do. Please have them do the problems and then review the answers with you. Please let me know if your child needs extra help in any particular area. I think that most kids should be able to complete these 25 math problems in about half an hour.

The children should show their work. Over the years I have found that kids who show their work are significantly more likely to get math problems correct compared to those student who won’t show their work...

5/7/09 Back to School... homework due on Monday

Part 1 (the Big Math review): Please sit down with your child and work through these math problems. This is not due until Monday. However, PLEASE don’t leave it all to the last minute. You are welcome to turn it in tomorrow if you want.

Part 2 (Progress Reports): please look over you child's progress report, sign it, and send it back tomorrow.

4 6 09 Geometry & Basic Addition and Subtraction

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Below, please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it.

Part 2 (Geometry): Please look over the geometry work your child did in school and check their understanding.

Part 3 (Math): Subtraction Spaces Math: please have your child do the subtraction worksheet. Please have them show their work. They WILL have to regroup to get some of the answers (regrouping is the new term for what we used to call borrowing when I was young). AFTER they have completed all of the math problems they should color the worksheet as per the instructions. Coloring the worksheet should be done lightly so as not to obscure your child’s work. Coloring the worksheet is OPTIONAL.

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

Part 5 (the Big Book Roundup): please look around for any and all schoolbooks and library books at your house. We need all missing books back. SEVERAL children still haven’t turned reading bag books back to me or have class books at home. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Part 1 (Review Your Child's Understanding of Division & Multiplication): Today the kids took the Division Test. Please go over the test with them. I sent home a BLANK copy of the test with today's homework. It is there for you to have your child SHOW you how they did what they did. Ask your child to explain division to you. Consider the illustration to the right. Look at the part that says 12 divided by 3 = 4. Ask your student, “What does the 12 stand for? What does the 3 stand for? What does the 4 stand for?” The answers they should be able to give are:

• The 12 stands for the total number of marbles in all.
  
• The 3 is the number of groups they are being divided up into.
  
• The 4 is the number of things that end up in each group.
  

You’ll also note the 3X4=12. Your child needs to be able to explain that:

• The 3 stands for the number of groups.
  
• the 4 stands for the number of things in each group.
  
• The 12 stands for the total number of items in all.
  

Please check your child’s understanding. There will be a make-up exam for this test given on Thursday or Friday. It will be almost exactly like the one that was given today. The make-up exam is entirely optional. PLEASE let me know how discussing DIVISION goes with you and your child. You can e-mail me at kcopeland@newbraunfels.txed.net or call me at 627-6622. Of course, you are always welcome to swing by the classroom and visit!

Part 2 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it. Thanks!

Part 3 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

3/30/09 Drops in the Bucket & Multiplication

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Below, please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it.  Please note that everyone got new reading bag books today.

Part 2 (Multiplication): Please check your child’s understanding of the multiplication and division work we did today. Does your child have a firm grasp of “input & output”? Do YOU have any questions about what I am teaching during math lessons?

Part 3 (Math): Drops in the Bucket Math: we are reviewing many of the math facts that we have learned to date: comparing numbers, patterns, adding and subtracting, how many in all, money, place value, comparing numbers, time, and shapes (& following directions).

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

3/19 No Homework other than Minute Math Tonight!

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring.  Please bring your favorite book, a towel, and a water bottle to celebrate... we're going to be doing some reading outside!

Minute Math is due tomorrow... other than that there is no homework!

3/18/09 Study for Spelling Test & Vocabulary Test... Comprehension piece about White House

We have a Spelling Test and a Vocabulary Test tomorrow... are you ready? Also, please complete the comprehension sheet titled the White House. There is optional homework, too: a re-do on the work we did today on proper and common nouns.

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Below, please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it. 

Part 2 (Multiplication & Division): Please check your child’s understanding of the multiplication and division work we did today. It looks like we will have a Division and Multiplication Test on Thursday.

Part 3 (Math): Drops in the Bucket Math: we are reviewing many of the math facts that we have learned to date: comparing numbers, patterns, adding and subtracting, how many in all, money, place value, comparing numbers, time, and shapes (& following directions).

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

3/12/09 Study for the Spelling Test

Please complete math mat 14-2 and get ready for the spelling test.

3/11/09 Division!

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Below, please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it. Thanks!

Part 2 (Division and Functions): We are starting our unit on Division today. Please play the Equal or Unequal game with your child and have your child explain to you what equal and unequal each mean. Please have them do the review on the front of the math mat. Finally, please let me know how well your child is able to explain these concepts.

Part 3 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it. Thanks!

Part 2 (Adjectives): Circle the adjectives and underline the nouns.

Part 3 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

Part 4 (Multiplication): We have our multiplication test tomorrow. Are you ready? Parents, please review you child’s multiplication work today.  Note: I sent home additional optional homework tonight.  It is essentially the test that we will have tomorrow!

3/5/09 Check Your Child's Understanding of Multiplication, Study for Spelling Test

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it.

Part 2 (Study for the Spelling Test): We have a spelling test tomorrow. Are you ready?

Part 3 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

Part 4 (Multiplication): Please let me know how well your child is able to explain multiplication to you. Do you feel that your child has a basic understanding of this concept yet?

No homework for the night of 3/3/09

Friends, today I was out of the classroom and the kids had a sub. They had me help administer the TAKS test today. In any case, there IS NO HOMEWORK TONIGHT (other than minute math). Have a great night! Everything will return to normal tomorrow. Have a great night! KJC

2/24/09 Adjectives that Compare & Comparing Numbers

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. 

Part 2 (Adjectives That Compare): We are working on comparative and superlative adjectives. We add -er to an adjective that compares two people or things. We can add -est to an adjective when we are comparing three or more things. First your child needs to underline the comparing adjectives in each sentence and then sort them into the chart under “Two” or “Three or More” ... the ones that end in -er will go under “Two” and those ending in -est will go under “Three or More.”

Part 3 (Before, After & Between): Please go over math-mat 12-2 with your child and check their understanding of comparing numbers.


Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

2/23/09 Comparing Numbers & Drops in the Bucket

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. 

Part 2 (Comparing Numbers). Please check your child’s understanding. Please go over their math work with them.

Part 3 (Math): Drops in the Bucket Math: The triangle in #5 of Drops in the Bucket is about fact families. It shows 6, 7, and ______ in the three corners. The students have learned to create 4 number sentences from the given information. The blank should be 17 because 8+9=17. The four fact family sentences they can create are: 8+9=17, 9+8=17, 17-9=8 and 17-8=9. We are reviewing many of the math facts that we have learned to date: comparing numbers, patterns, adding and subtracting, how many in all, money, place value, comparing numbers, time, and shapes (& following directions).

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.

2/18 Comprehension & Place Value

Part 1 (Daily Reading Homework): your child needs to read at least 20 minutes every night. Below, please record what they read, how long they read for and then initial it. Thanks!

Part 2 (Reading Comprehension): Please read the piece entitled Keeping Our World Clean and then use explicit and implicit information to answer the six questions that go with it.

Part 3 (Place Value): please review your child’s math work with him or her.

Part 4 (Minute Math): Minute Math is a daily activity. It is not due until Friday.