Ms. Chapin's Marvelous Monkey Jungle of Excellence 
        Week of November 17th-21st

Our ELA learning goals are:

I can identify the main idea of the text and supporting details.

I can identify the author's purpose and supporting evidence.

I can use context clues to identify the meaning of unknown words within the text.

I can identify the beginning, middle (problem), and ending of a passage.


We will be reading a variety of texts about money, budgeting and savings where we will practice many of our reading goals. 

We will also be reading a persuasive book where a boy named Alex is trying to persuade his mother to let him have an iguana as a pet.   We will focus on the story sequence goal with this book. 

Your child's reading log will be composed of many of these reading goals to practice with his/her library books at home this week!!

Your child will also be taking a Reading test on these skills this week since we start new Reading skills the week after Thanksgiving!!

Since we will be starting a new Reading unit after Thanksgiving, there is a list of historical figures coming home on Tuesday (11/18) for a at school/home project that we will start the week after Thanksgiving!!! :-)  Please make sure your child picks their top 5 selections and I will send home the information with the rest of project information after that is sent back :-)

Our Math learning goals: 

I can identify the value of coins and dollars.

               I can compute the value of any combinations of coins within one dollar.

Your child should be able to identify the characteristics of each coin by the head/tail, know the value of the coins and know the names of the coins.

Your child also will be learning how to combine the coins and compute the value of the coins. 

There are some great websites I posted on the Dojo website as great practice with coins.  You also can practice with real coins at home with your child :-)

Since we're learning about money in ELA and Math, we will be starting a budget plan where your child will receive an income for being on time, turning in homework, keeping desk clean and having great behavior.  Your child will also have expenses such as renting desk, chair, pencil, paper, and unexpected costs such as damage to playground equipment, etc.   Ask your child what he/she has in his/her savings this week :-)

Our Writing goal is:
I can create a plan on our needs of the classroom and pick one basic need for the classroom. 

 We will pick a way to advertise what we need for our classroom by using the website Donorschoose.org.  

We will learn how to add graphics and details as to why we need this item in our classroom.  

We will come up with a budget of how much we need to get the supplies we need.  

This will be posted for parents and other to contribute.  I will notify you on dojo once students have completed the project :-)

Our Social Studies Goal:

I can use a map to locate people and places around the world. 

Students will be tested this week on identifying the continents of the world:
We use this riddle to remember them : Nice Snakes Eat An Awful Apple Alone.
(North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia , Antarctica)

Students will also need to identify the oceans of the world where we use this riddle!!
A porcupine asks it politely!
(Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean)

Lastly, students will need to know the many symbols on a map, important capitals in the United States, the countries within North America and many others. 

Our Science goal:

I can identify the basic needs of plants and animals. 

We will finish creating our habitat dioramas and will present. We will also be tested on animal and plant needs. 


Other reminders:

Great American Teach-  This Wednesday November 19th!!! Students will learn about a variety of jobs and the requirements within the jobs!!

Library Day is Wednesday- Please make sure your child has his/her book read by then so they can pick another!!!

Sign your child's planner daily and sign any papers under the return to school folder.

NO SCHOOL- November 24th-28th (Thanksgiving Break) :-)


Our spelling words for the week are:
(or/ar sounds)

1.             park

2.             shark

3.             car

4.           start

5.          scar

6.          starve

7.          torch

8.          score

9.          storm

1     torn

1         force

1.    short

1        born

1        more

1.      Ford

   Have a wonderful week and a restful Thanksgiving break next week :-)