Please check your child’s agenda each night. I’ve been writing in the missing assignments and hoping they will be returned the next day so their grade will not be affected too much. I have extra copies of everything available if your student needs them.

You’ve probably noticed that we’ve picked up on our writing this quarter. We are focusing on paragraph formation and using proper conventions. Doing their homework thoughtfully and well will help them in this endeavor. We also are going to require more typing because they will have to type a 5 paragraph essay for part of the AZ Merit test this spring. The school has access to a typing program called Typing Master that we will use. The school’s website has a link and I will put it on my blog and in an email after I figure out the kinks this week. Your child will be given their user name and password.

We started our new books in math on Friday with an introduction to decimals. The students are noticing how these are closely related to fractions.

We’re continuing our study of chemistry. This week we are learning more about the atom. Ask your child to tell you about its parts and how they relate to each other. We will have a cumulative test for chemistry on the 5^th of February.

We are learning about Arizona’s history this quarter.

      I am going to let the students eat their lunch in the classroom a few days this week so we can discuss comprehension questions about Prince Caspian. This is an optional time to have extra discussions. We have a test on Thursday on chapters 1-7.

      

We are in desperate need of tissues, we’ve been going through a box and a half a day. Donating boxes will be greatly appreciated!

Please clear out the “take home” folders regularly. The only thing that should be in there is homework to return and any papers that help with that homework.