Tutoring Update

If your student is receiving after school tutoring please make note of the schedule changes for our grade level.

Mrs. McCall and myself will both be tutoring in math on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:45-4:45. You student has been put in one of our groups, and will need to be stay after school each Monday and Tuesday between now and the TAKS test. Testing dates are: Math- April 26; Reading- April 27.

I have moved all of my Reading tutoring groups to Thursdays from 3:45-4:45. If your student has been receiving tutoring from me in reading, I will now only be working with them on Thursdays.

We are doing all that we can to help your student reach success. Thank you for your continued support from home. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. A more detailed letter noting these changes is sent home with your student.

3/28-4/1

I apologize for not posting last week. Have you ever had a week that your to do list always seems longer than the amount of hours you have to get it done?

We have a lot going on this week. Last Friday we had Math Camp 2011; it was a great success! We are doing a follow-up Math Camp this Friday to help students learn mathematical concepts in new and fun ways. I'm looking forward to it!

Progress reports went home on Friday; they need to be returned no later than Wednesday. I am sending home extra credit work on Monday. It will be due Monday, April 4. Completing the extra credit will help your student deepen his/ her understanding of the concepts that we are focusing on, and will help to improve his/ her overall class average.

Thursday night is parenting night. We will have a math and science focus; you won't want to miss it!

Monday-

We are starting a new book entitled "Letters from Rifka". It is set during World War 1 and focuses on the life of an immigrant coming to America. You can help at home by discussing these historical events with your student. Having a previous knowledge of the text shows to help increase student comprehension.

Tuesday-

Chapter one work is due/ vocabulary focus.

Wednesday-

Introduce new class activities to correlate with the book. Expect to see information coming home about this on this day.

Thursday-

Vocabulary test/ watch Ellis Island video.

Parenting Night

Friday-

Math Camp 2011

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to help in any way that I can!

shelby.denman@lifeschools.net

3/7-3/11

Just one more week until spring break! Here is what we have planned...

Monday:

pre-test over figurative language

planner check (I was out last Friday)

begin figurative language graphic organizer

vocabulary will include- style, tone, mood, hyperbole, refrain, personification, simile, metaphor

Tuesday:

complete figurative language graphic organizer in class (daily grade)

Wednesday:

analyze poetry using figurative language graphic organizer

discuss figurative language findings with a partner (participation grade)

Thursday:

write poetry using figurative language (daily grade)

share with peers

Friday:

test over weekly skills- will include vocabulary (test grade- language arts)

2/28-3/4

This week your students have been learning about how to make an inference. I have taught that we make inferences on a day to day basis, sometimes without really understanding that that is what we are doing. Tomorrow they will be tested on their understanding of the concept.

I have been out of town the past few days and have had a sub. I look forward to returning on Monday and completing our last week before Spring Break. I will update more this weekend on next week's plans, and will be sending home a March/ April calendar of important due dates.

Thanks for all you do to help your child be academically successful!