Mr. Blanc's Class

I'm looking forward to having a normal five day week with the kids next week! On Monday, 2/2 students will have reading logs and spelling packets due. They will also take their spelling test. Each child will be given their new spelling packet that will be due the next Monday, 2/9. They will also have reading logs due on the 9th. Our third book group meetings will take place on Tuesday, 2/3. Each child is reading a historical fiction book that takes place during westward expansion of the 1840s and 1850s. They have an assigned number of pages to read and a worksheet to complete for each meeting. At the meetings students discuss their book with each other. Check in with your child and have them tell you about their book. They should all be able to tell you about the main characters and some specific challenges they are facing.  In math we will be continuing our study of geometry. Last week we focused on identifying acute, obtuse, and right angles. We also examined parallel and

Monday, 1/26 is a staff development day. There will be no school for students. When students return on Tuesday, 1/27 they will have a few things due: 1.) spelling packets/spelling test 2.) reading logs 3.) book group pages read and worksheet page That Tuesday, 1/27 students will be assigned reading logs that will be due the following Monday, 2/2. They will also be given spelling packets that will be due Monday as well. The end of module 3 math assessments were sent home with students on Thursday. Our next math unit will focus on geometry. So far we have touched on identifying angles as right, acute, obtuse, or straight. Students have also identified parallel, perpendicular, and intersecting lines. In addition to continuing our study of geometry we will work on multiplying by 12's for our fact practice. Hopefully your student has told you all about our Oregon Trail simulation. Students worked in groups to decide what they would bring with them to survive the 2000 mile jou

There will be no school on Monday, 1/19 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. When the students return on Tuesday, they will have their first book group meeting. Each student has a number of pages they are supposed to read, as well as a worksheet page they need to complete. In order to have positive book group discussion, it is important that students do not read ahead in their books. We need each student to be on the same page. Now that we are up and running with the book groups we will go back to our usual homework routine of reading logs and spelling packets. The reading logs and spelling packets will be due on Tuesday, 1/27. Students may use their book group book for their reading log entries, if they read it at home. In math we will be taking a test over module 3 on Wednesday. On Tuesday we will have a review day to prepare for the test. Our fact practice for the week will focus on multiplying by 11's. We will start module 4 later in the week. This beginning of th

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. Our first week back went well. The students did a nice job of transitioning back to school and meeting the classroom expectations. On Monday the students will have reading logs and spelling packets due. They will also take their spelling tests. We have been working on division in math. So far we have solved problems with dividends of up to four digits and divisors of up to 5. Next week we will add a little more difficulty by working with divisors as high as 9. In addition, the students will be solving more multi-step word problems that require the use of division and multiplication. Our fact practice next week will focus on multiplying by 9. We will start the week on Module 3, Lesson 31. Don't forget about this great resource for math help  http://www.oakdale.k12.ca.us/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1402228861002 . In Social Studies we have shifted our focus to westward expansion in the mid 1800s. As part of our study, the students