Spotlight 12/12/11

A Week in Review

      Reader’s Workshop

This week, students will continue to work on context clues and comparing fiction and nonfiction texts.

      Writer’s Workshop

Student will learn to include four main ingredients in the ending of a narrative piece of writing to satisfy their reader.

      Math

Students will learn a variety of multiplication algorithms to solve larger problems and explore place value into the billions.

      Social Studies

Students are working on map skills and studying Missouri’s climate and resources.

      Science

Students will begin researching ecosystems as a team and be responsible for creating a report and poster. All work will be done in class.

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Holiday Shop
This Thursday and Friday, students will have the opportunity to shop in a Holiday Shop hosted by PTO. Students can buy small presents for their family members and the proceeds will go to support families from Prairie Branch who are in need of some assistance this holiday season.

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Nacho Party
The winning grade level was promised nachos by student council for the food drive. Due to the overwhelming success, the reward has been extended to the whole school! Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 13^th, students will enjoy nachos in their classrooms courtesy of student council in recognition of the large contributions to! Great job Prairie Branch!

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Papa John's Night

Tonight, Monday, December 12^th is Papa John’s night! Please help support our school’s PTO by ordering dinner from the Blue Spring’s Papa John’s and a portion of your order will benefit our school!

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December
12 – Papa John’s Night

15-16 – Holiday Shop
20-Firefighters
21 – Winter Party
22 - January 3 – No School

Weekly Spotlight 12/5/11

A Week in Review

      Reader’s Workshop

This week, students will be using two nonfiction articles to analyze the use of text features in nonfiction text and then compare the two articles.

      Writer’s Workshop

Students will work on using description, dialogue, action, and thoughts/feelings to set the stage for their main event in narrative writing.

      Math

Students will learn a variety of multiplication algorithms to solve larger problems.

      Social Studies

Students are working on map skills and studying Missouri’s climate and resources.

      Science

Students will begin researching ecosystems as a team and be responsible for creating a report and poster. All work will be done in class.

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The school’s policy is for students to go outside as long as the temperature and wind chill is above 20 degrees and the playground is clear from rain or snow. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for cold weather and prepared for outdoor recess with pants, coats, hats, and gloves. Please be aware that even on cold days, students may go outside for 5-10 minutes for fresh air. Students who are not appropriately dressed will not be permitted to go outside.

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Yearbook order forms for the 2011-2012 yearbooks are now available. Please make checks payable to Prairie Branch PTO and have order submitted by February 3^rd, 2012.

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December
2-9 – Script Orders
8 – Bump City Night
12 – Papa John’s Night
15-16 – Holiday Shop
20-Firefighters
21 – Winter Party
22 - January 3 – No School

Multiplication Help and Practice

Multiplication Game Links http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm http://www.aplusmath.com/Games/Concentration/Multiplication_Concentration.html

Multiplication!!! Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:22 AM PST This week we will be starting to work on solving multi-digit multiplication problems.  Our Everyday Math curriculum teaches several different algorithms (or strategies) to solve multiplication problems.  These algorithms are different then the traditional way that we learned in school.  By having students practice multiple strategies to solve a problem we increase the number of "tools" they will have to solve a variety of math problems as well as strengthen their math skills.  This week we will begin to focus on the partial products algorithm and (possibly) lattice (which should be familiar from third grade).  Below are some links which should help explain the different algorithms.  Please encourage your child to use the algorithm on which we are working to solve the multiplication problems. As always, if you get home and study links are becoming a battle, STOP!!  Please just write me a note and we will work in it on class.  Learning new math strategies can be challenging for everyone involved, do not let it ruin your night. I will be teaching your child the traditional way to solve multi-digit multiplication problems, after the other algorithms have been taught.  Once your child has been exposed to all three algorithms and has practiced them, your child will be allowed to choose the algorithm that works best for them.  Please let me know if I can help in anyway. Partial Products http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/partial_products_multiplication/online_resources/2-Digit_times_1-Digit/M3_C02_P068_F1.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/partial_products_multiplication/online_resources/2-Digit_times_2-Digit_Example_1/M4_C01_P018_F2.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/partial_products_multiplication/online_resources/3-Digit_times_1-Digit/M6_C01_P019_F1.swf Lattice http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/lattice_multiplication/online_resources/2-Digit_times_1-Digit_Example_1/M3_C02_P070_F1.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/lattice_multiplication/online_resources/2-Digit_times_1-Digit_Example_2/M3_C02_P071_F1.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/lattice_multiplication/online_resources/2-Digit_times_2-Digit_Example_1/M4_C01_P019_F2.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/lattice_multiplication/online_resources/3-Digit_times_1-Digit_Example_1/M3_C02_P070_F2.swf Traditional Multiplication http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/us_traditional_multiplication_standard/online_resources/2-Digit_times_1-Digit/M3_C02_P074E_F1.swf http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/algorithms_in_everyday_mathematics/4/multiplication/us_traditional_multiplication_standard/online_resources/2-Digit_times_2-Digit/EM3_2009_B03_03.swf