Classroom Updates
~ May/June, 2010 ~

• K/1st -
  The K/1 class is currently studying about the Resurrection of our Lord during their Religion classes. We are discussing forgiveness and about the choices we make, and how they impact others. During our social studies time, the students are studying about the settlement of North America, and the history of several of the explorers, as well as the Native Americans who lived in North America during this time. We have been observing the cloud formations, and are using our "cloud classification wheels" when identifying certain cloud types, and predicting what the weather will be based on the formations we identify. I am so pleased with all of the growth in the areas of reading, writing, and math. The students are really challenging themselves and are completing very advanced level tasks. We are all looking forward to more "Spring-like" weather, so we can plant the tomato starts we have grown in the outdoor areas.
  
  


• 2nd -
  Religion: The students will learn more about the celebrations of the liturgical year. They will identify the greatest feast of the Church year and explore the use of color in the liturgical celebration. They will learn why the Mass is called a holy meal, how we can bring the good news to others, and what God wants for each of us.

  Math:The students will learn how to fluently solve multi-digit addition and subtraction. They will learn simple multiplication and division. They will use various manipulative and hands-on materials to enhance their math skills that they have learned throughout the school year.

  Language Arts:The students will learn to use their writing and artistic skills to express their love, admiration, and appreciation toward the special people on Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Father’s Day.

• 3rd/4th -
  The students are learning how to show respect for God by: keeping the Lord’s Day, using God’s name in honoring ways, and in reading His Word. They continue to have a passion for serving the Lord, and often volunteer during the weekend.

  It is important to recognize spiritual growth in the lives of students in other classes. The day after the second grade’s First Communion, we hosted an informal gathering with the new communicants and made their time with us special with cards and simple gifts.

  Tech skills, an “easy sell” to the students include rotations on the computer for learning Type to Learn keyboarding, “home-key” finger positioning, with increasing complexity in the lessons.

  Students quickly wanted to use the Saxon math pallets for Math review and reinforcement. This tool is very engaging and tracks with grade level lessons.

  Not to be forgotten this month was the AG Fair we attended in Salem. Please note the display tri-fold in the Staff room to see some of our invigorating and educational adventures.

  Lastly, the Science Fair was a great hit! All students produced quality products that exemplified the Five-step approach to the Scientific Process. The students enjoyed tracking thru the other rooms to observe and investigate other creative exhibits.

• 5th/6th -
  Religion: The students are almost finished with our Family Life Curriculum: Project Genesis book. We have discussed friendship, peer pressure, conception to birth life stages, treatment of others, self-worth, and healthy habits. We will be returning to our regular religion textbook next week.

  6th Grade Math: : Students are challenged by many different concepts. They are finding area of complex figures, solving involved order of operation problems, and beginning to solve two-step equations. Volume and problem solving are also some of the areas in which they are developing skills.
  

  5th grade MathWe have been reading and ordering decimal numbers through ten-thousandths. We have been naming, comparing and ordering decimal numbers through ten-thousandths. We have also been working on identifying lines of symmetry in a variety of triangles and pentagons. We continue to work on addition, division, multiplication and subtraction of fractions. We also continue to work on rounding up to the nearest whole number. We do a series of mental problems which involve various math operations every day as a warm-up.

  Language Arts:Students are enjoying the two novels that we are reading at this time. Sixth graders are enjoying the humor of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Paul Christopher Curtis, and fifth graders are captured by the adventure in Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. We are also starting another writing project. This time it will be in the form of a pop-up book for World History.

  Science:The science fair occupied much of the month of April and each student investigated a scientific question. The results were measurable and each student was able to demonstrate or share their results. We had quite a variety of experiments in our classroom and it was an exciting time for all. This month we will continue our study of energy and motion, and one of our Fab Friday classes will be focused on experiments in this area of science.

  World History:We have just finished our study of ancient Greece and will be moving on to Ancient Rome. Students are also beginning to research a current country. Some of the categories that they may choose from are: natural resources, *geography and climate, *government, history, *culture, *economics, famous people, tourism, and interesting facts. (The * indicates required areas.) All are excited about this new opportunity.

• 7th/8th -
  Math: The students in Course 2 are reviewing and learning more pre-algebra skills with multiplying variables with exponents. They are continuing their ratio problems and did a compass/straightedge investigation. Course 3 is working on volume and surface area of geometric solids, graphing line equations, and working on scale factor. Algebra is working on writing their own equations from story problems and solving difficult rational equations.

  Social Studies: The students have been learning abou the Underground Railroad, the events leading up to the Civil War, and then the Civil War.  Then we will start the Reconstruction time period.

  Religion: We have been discussing the book of Revelation and learning about its symbolism. We are almost done with our book. On Thursdays we are discussing our FACTS (Family Life Curriculum) topics about abstinence and treatment of others. Then will be researching topics of interest in the Catechism and Catholic Social Teaching.

  Health: We have just finished our chapters for the year about communicable/non- communicable diseases, the nervous and respiratory systems, and alcohol and drug use. We will be returning to our science textbook learning about geology.

  Language Arts: We are writing our last installment of our historical journal. This topic is life during the Civil War. They are writing a compare/contrast essay about a book that was made into a movie. We are reading the Diary of Anne Frank play learning about the Holocaust since we will be visiting the Holocaust Museum on our DC trip.