February 2019

February 2019

Important Dates

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019: Unit 4 Test (Snow days moved it.)
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2019: Wax Museum written materials are due. (check-in.)

Forget-Me- Not Dates

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019: Chinese New Year begins
Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019: Winter Walk, Rescheduled Date, 6:30- 7:30 PM
Monday, Feb. 11, 2019: NAAPID/ Parent Involvement Day**
Monday, Feb. 11, 2019: Wax Museum, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019: Valentine's Day, card exchange celebration, 1:45- 2:20 PM**
Monday, Feb. 18, 2019: No School, Mid-Winter Break
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019: Scholastic Book Orders are due.
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019: Vocal Music Concert, 7 PM
Friday, Feb. 22, 2019: Vocal Music Assembly, 2 PM
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019: Early Dismissal Day, 1:29 PM (No childcare)

Save the Date

Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2019: Winter Survival, Rescheduled Date, 9:30- 2:00 PM
Thursday, Mar. 7, 2019: Leslie Science Center Visit to Dicken, Food Chain Lesson

Subjects at a glance

Math: Unit 4 was extended slightly due to the 5 snow days. Students will correct the pretest taken for homework on Tuesday night this week.  Unit 5 is challenging as was Unit 3. We will be studying fractions again; however, more complex. I typically separate the unit into 2 parts due to the level of complexity. Below this section are the unit concepts.
Language Arts:
Reading: We will study Biography (narrative nonfiction) unit for the Month of February. Students will review time periods, character traits, and setting. Students will closely study cause and effect and how ones influences effect his or her life. The district has added Power up for students who have exited Lexia Core 5. Student are expected to log in daily and record their time on a chart.
Writing: We will conclude our Wax museum, First person/ perspective project. Then we will be begin informational writing project incorporating: different writing structures and graphical features.
Poetry: We will continue our Figurative Language Fridays as we learn onomatopoeia (sound words), symbolism (words with deeper meaning) and oxymoron (2 contradictory words).
Social Studies: We are continuing our studies of 3 Worlds Meets. We will cover the study of European explorers and the Columbian Exchange. Then, we will transition to studying the continent of African and how Africa was a part of the 3 World Meet.
Science: We beginning our study of Infinity and Beyond by studying gravity, Earth's gravitational pull, axle, and orbiting. At the end of the learning cycle, students will try to prove how the Earth is not flat but round.

EDM Unit 4: Assessed Outcomes

Unit 4: Decimal Concepts and Coordinate Grids

• Read and write decimals in words, numbers and expanded forms.
• Compare decimals.
• Round decimals.
• Plot points on a coordinate grid. (x, y) 
• Use a coordinate grid to answer questions and solve problems.
• Shade grids to add and subtract decimals.
• Use algorithms to add and subtract decimals.

EDM Unit 5 Outcomes

Unit 5: Operations with Fractions (Fractions return)

• Find common denominators. (part I)
• Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
• Multiply fractions using paper folding, area models, or an algorithm (part I)
• Explain why multiplying a fraction by a fraction equal to 1 gives an equivalent fractions. (part I)
• Divide a unit fraction by a whole number.
• Divide a whole number by a unit fraction.

NAAPPID/ Parent Involvement Day, February 11, 2019

All parents are always welcome at Dicken and in Room 122. The second Monday in February as been designated to be National African American Parent Involvement Day by the late Joe Dulin. He chose a day in February since it was Black History Month and created a day to provide a warm, welcoming reception of minority parents. The day has evolved to be a warm and welcoming reception of all parents and our community. Below is the anticipated schedule:

8:30 AM                                 Mochas with Mike (Kerry)

                                               Classroom Visits

9:30 AM                                 Assembly, Bichini Biakomgo

11:30 AM- 1:15 PM               Luncheon, free

1:30 - 2:30 PM                       Wax museum

2:30- 3:59 PM                        Classroom visits

Valentine's Day Card Exchange 

This probably is the last year for students to exchange Valentine's Day cards or candies. It is not required; however, if a student wishes to participate, he or she must bring a card or treat for every student. In the event, there is not one for every student, I will be retrieving all items until enough items are brought to the class for everyone. I sent an email all of the classes names, 19 total. I will give a paper copy to student who cannot print it.  We will eat cookies while decorating our bags and reading our cards. Thank you to the parents who volunteered to donate items and cookies.