Progress reports went out today.

Family,

Please be mindful that progress reports went out today.

Best,

Ms. Sheps

Announcements for the Rest of the Week and Winter Break

Greetings Family,

I hope everyone is excited about winter break! Here are a few updates/reminders to keep in mind:

• There will be no spelling test this week. Spelling tests and BWTL words will resume in 2017.
• We have been able to replace some of the lost books in our library due to donations from parents whose child lost a book. If you choose not to replace a lost book, please ensure that your scholar brings a book from home for independent reading time. 
• For iReady, please note that the iReady system records the amount of time your scholar uses the program. If you are having issues at home, we suggest taking advantage of a library computer during the weekend.
• Students have been assigned one reading log and the standard 60 minutes of iReady time for winter break.
• Winter Break will begin at the conclusion of the day, Thursday, December 21, 2016.

Let's make it a great week!

-Ms. Sheps

Sick Today. Quiz Postponed.

Family,

I am not able to come to school today. I am not feeling well. The weekly quiz is postponed until Monday. Please remember to study over the weekend!

Announcements for this Week and Notes for the Week

Greetings Family,

My apologies for the late post. This is one of the weeks were I was a Soldier and a teacher. Things have been very busy, but I have not forgotten about you all. Here is a look at what we are planning for the next few days:

• There will be no spelling test this week. Spelling tests and BWTL words will resume in 2017.
• We have been able to replace some of the lost books in our library due to donations from parents whose child lost a book. If you choose not to replace a lost book please ensure that your scholar brings a book from home for independent reading time.  
• Keep up the good work with reading logs and iReady.
• Thanks to those who came out to the Arts Program Information Orientation earlier this week. Hopefully it was helpful.
• For the rest of the week and on Monday, students will have some time to visit the Christmas giftshop. 
• Next week we plan on holding a special holiday activity for students. Please stay-tuned for more details.
• There will be a quiz for students tomorrow. The following is what will be on the quiz:
• The Four Steps to Unlocking the Prompt:
• Read the prompt carefully. 
• Circle the key direction verbs and underline important ideas.
• Explain what the prompt is asking you to do in your own words. 
• Plan your response to the prompt.
• Fact vs. Opinion
• Fact- A true statement 
• Opinion- A belief not always based on facts 
• Valid Opinion- Supported by facts
• Invalid/Faulty Opinion: Not Supported by facts
• Chapter 5, Lesson 1 Vocabulary:
• Prehistoric- Before written records
• Historian- A person who studies the past
• Archeologist- A person who studies ancient people and their cultures
• Culture- a way of life shared by a group of people
• Artifact- objects made by humans
• Confederacy- an association
• Chapter 5, Lesson 1 Information:
• Why did most explorers come to the Americas? 
• They wanted to become wealthy, and they were looking for adventure. 
• Why did many Native Americans die after the Europeans settled in the Chesapeake Bay area? 
• Europeans carried germs which the Native Americans were unable to fight off.
• How were the Piscataway and the Nanticoke different? How were they they same? 
• The Piscataway were the most powerful on the Western Shore, and the Nanticoke were the most powerful on the eastern shore. 
• Both were Algonquians.
• How is a historian and an archeologist different? 
• A historian studies the past and an archeologist studies ancient people and their cultures. 
• How did people change what they ate after the weather got warmer? 
• Native Americans moved closer to the water and began to eat fish. They hunted closer to the coast. They began to eat nuts and berries.
• Why were the woodland people called the woodland people?
• They lived in the woodlands and used the resources around them.
• What was one effect of Maryland’s climate becoming warmer?
• Native Americans had new sources of food.
• Whose land bordered the Atlantic Ocean? (Use the map on page 44.)
• The Nanticoke people.

Weekly Quiz 2.3

Good Morning Family,

The following items will be on this week's weekly quiz:

• BWTL Words: Altitude, Flock, Ascend
• You need to know the definition of each word.
• You need to know how to use each word in a sentence.
• The definition of biography (see notes)
• The elements of a firsthand and secondhand account:
• The differences between the two
• Keywords in text for each type of account
• Examples of informational text for each type of account
• Social Studies Chapter 5, Lessons 1 and 2
• Definitions of the following:
• Custom- a traditional way of doing something
• Jazz- a kind of music developed by African Americans 
• Symbol- object that stands for something else
• Artisans- skilled craftsworkers
• Suffrage- the right to vote
• Segregation- separation of people (sometimes) because of their skin color
• Diversity- a mix of people
• Ethnic group- people who share a common place of birth and/or culture
• Neighborhoods- Communities
• Some of the ways people express culture:
• Music
• Religion
• Language
• Celebrations
• Art
• Sports
• Representations of Maryland State Culture:
• Maryland Day
• Baltimore Showcase of Nations
• Native American Heritage Day
• Maryland State Flag
• Colors and shapes come from the Calvert Family Sheild and the Crossland Banner
• Maryland State Crustacean
• Blue Crab
• Maryland State Nickname
• "Old Line State"
• Maryland State Bird
• Baltimore Oriole 
• Maryland State Flower
• The Black-Eyed Susan
• Diversity in Maryland
• Who are the descendants of Maryland's First people?
• Native Americans
• What port in Maryland was the second largest point of entry for immigrants coming into the United States in the 1800s?
• The Port of Baltimore
• Where did immigrants come from during that time?
• Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Poland
• How was African American culture introduced to the state of Maryland?
• African American culture came to Maryland when Africans were brought to Maryland as enslaved workers. 
• See "Who Lives in Maryland?" Chart
• What are the two largest and smallest ethnic groups in Maryland today?

Weekly Announcements and Spelling Words

Greetings Family,

I hope we enjoyed this chilly weekend. We are off to a great start this week.

• We have reached the halfway point in this quarter already! Let's keep up the hard work.
• We will have a spelling test and a weekly quiz this Friday. A study guide will be posted on later in the week.
• To those parents who responded to my emails in reference to lost books, thanks so much for your response and support. If you have received an email in reference to a lost book, and have not responded, your attention would be much appreciated.
• We are moving right along with reading logs and iReady work. I am looking forward to the reading growth student will soon show.
• Please be mindful that Wednesday is a two hour early dismissal. 

-This week's spelling words are final -ed and -ing sounds. They are as follows:

1. Watched
2. Watching
3. Danced
4. Dancing
5. Studied
6. Studying
7. Stopped
8. Stopping
9. Dried
10. Drying
11. Happened
12. Happening
13. Noticed
14. Noticing
15. Robbed
16. Robbing
17. Slipped
18. Slipping
19. Hurried
20. Hurrying
21. Answered
22. Answering
23. Magnified
24. Magnifying
25. Interfered

Let's make it a great week!

-Ms. Shepard

Reminder: Quiz Tomorrow

Greetings Family,

This is just a reminder to study tonight. We have a spelling test and a quiz tomorrow. Good luck!

Grading for iReady

Greetings Family,

This is just a reminder that students have from Monday to Monday each week to complete their iReady work. They can access iReady by visiting clever.pgcps.org.

Students know their login for iReady. It is the same as the login they use at school. Please make sure all browsers and software is updated before attempting to use iReady. Also, please be mindful that the expectation is 60 minutes per week. Here is what the rubric looks like:

i-Ready Homework Rubric

60 mins	A-100
45 mins	B-80
30 mins	C-70
15 or less mins	D-60
0-10 mins	E-50
0 mins	E-0

Friday's Weekly Quiz

Greetings Family,

The following items will be on this week's weekly quiz:

• BWTL Words: Ideal, Migration, Zone, Barren, Observe, Equinox
• You need to know the definition of each word.
• You need to know how to use each word in a sentence.
• All of the text Structures we studied in class:
• Compare and Contrast
• Main Idea and Details
• Chronological Order
• Description
• Problem/Solution
• Cause and Effect
• For each text structure
• Know the definition
• Know what each text structure chart should look like
• Know the signal words for each text structure

Maybe these notes will help:

Is your scholar completing their reading log correctly?

Here is an excellent example of what your scholar's reading log should look like when it is finished:

BWTL Tip #1

Hi Family,


As I review work you've begun to submit from this week's small group, I wanted to take time out to correct a common misconception. Check it out:

Welcome Back, Spelling Words, and Announcements

Greetings Family,

A few things. First, welcome back! I hope the break went well for all. A few items for this week

-Please note that the Quarter 1 Awards Program will take place tomorrow, Tueseday, November 29, 2016 at 10:30AM in the gymnasium.
-If you have not turned in a blue impact form, please do so. They were due today.
-We will have a spelling test and a weekly quiz this Friday. The quiz will cover everything we have learned in reading and social studies thus far.
-Ms. Shepard is conducting an audit on overdue and lost books in her class. She may be reaching out to you if your scholar has lost a book. It will need to be replaced please.
-We are moving right along with reading logs and iReady work. Please note that a) the entirety of a reading log must be filled out for credit (scroll down and watch my video for help) and b)iReady logins are the exact same as student logins in school. login: firstname-lastname pw: bfoue(last four).
-This week's spelling words are final syllable patterns (en, er, ar, le, al). They are as follows:

1. Chicken
2. Eleven
3. Brother
4. Jungle
5. Natural
6. Together
7. Calendar
8. Needle
9. Several
10. Summer
11. Threaten
12. Caterpillar
13. Paddle
14. Animal
15. Pitcher
16. Shelter
17. Oval
18. Frighten
19. Mumble
20. Deliver
21. Strengthen
22. Binocular
23. Individual
24. Cubicle
25. Character

Let's make it a great week!

-Ms. Shepard

Happy Thanksgiving!

Family,

This is just a reminder to work on reading logs and iReady during the rest of the week.  Please be sure to fill all of the sections of your reading log. Failure to do so caused some people problems last week. I hope each of you gets time to enjoy with family.

Blessings.

-Ms. Shepard

Happy Thanksgiving!

Family,

This is just a reminder to work on reading logs and iReady during the rest of the week.  Please be sure to all of the sections of your reading log. That cause some people problems last week. I hope each of you gets time to enjoy with family.

Blessings.

-Ms. Shepard

Announcement from PGCPS

Greetings Family,

The following guidance came out this afternoon. I want to make sure everyone gets a copy.

Continue Reading Logs and iReady Time

Hi Family,

Please continue your work on your reading logs and iReady tonight! See my videos below for extra help. While you are watching, remember that my video for iReady login shows my login as firstname.lastname. Student logins are different. They are firstname-lastname. Please keep that in mind. Also, if you need a new reading log, you can always go to the make-up work board in class.

Happy to help!

-Ms. Sheps

Quarter 2 Arts Schedule

Family,

Here is the Quarter 2 arts schedule.

Does your reading log seem scary busy? Help is here!

How do I access iReady?

Take a look at this quick video to get an understanding of how to access iReady from home.

Vocabulary Homework Correction- Spelling Words for the Week- Contractions

Family,

This week, our spelling words are contractions. Contractions are a shortened form of a group of words. Most contractions use an apostrophe where other letters are left out.

HOMEWORK DIRECTIONS (things changed): Make a list of the contractions below. Next to each spelling word, write the group of words that are shortened in the contraction. In class you were told to complete numbers one through five only. That was for a more complicated assignment, which I will review in class. For this assignment, please look up and write out all 25 contractions. See the example for more help.

Example: 1. Don't- Do not
                 2. Won't- Will not

1. Don't
2. Won't
3. Wouldn't
4. There's
5. We're
6. You're
7. Doesn't
8. I've
9. Here's
10. Wasn't
11. Shouldn't
12. Couldn't
13. Where's
14. Hadn't
15. Aren't
16. They're
17. It's
18. We've
19. When's
20. Haven't
21. It'll
22. Who'll
23. Might've
24. Mustn't
25. We'd

Published Work is Due Tomorrow

Hi Family,

Students were given special paper for their published writing. Final published documents are due tomorrow morning!

-Ms. Shepard

Homework: Words 8-14

Greeting Family,

Use the second seven spelling words in a story. Be sure to underline the words as you use them. Your story should have at least two paragraphs. Remember that we start new paragraphs when we change the subject in our story telling. Also, each paragraph needs at least four sentences.

-Ms. Shepard

Did you want to go to the NMAAHC? Have you been fingerprinted?

Hi Family,

Any parents wishing to go on our November 17th Field Trip MUST be fingerprinted. Please turn your documentation into the front office.

Also, payment is due Monday, November 7, 2016.

Spelling Words 1-7

Greeting Family,

Use the first seven spelling words in a story. Be sure to underline the words as you use them. Your story should have at least two paragraphs. Remember that we start new paragraphs when we change the subject in our story telling.

Good Luck!

This week's Spelling words

Greetings Family,

This week's spelling words were pre-tested yesterday. We are reviewing our most challenging words from quarter 1.

1. Dungeon
2. Magnify
3. Festival
4. Thunderstorm
5. Injury
6. Eighteen
7. Mayonnaise
8. Campaign
9. Daylight
10. Twilight
11. Halloween
12. Speedometer
13. Underneath
14. Seacoast
15. Cocoa
16. Frequency
17. Parsley
18. Journey
19. Chimney
20. Attorney
21. Influence
22. Aluminum
23. Nutrition
24. Accumulate
25. Igloo

Part 3 of our Unit 1 Review

Family,

So sorry for the break. Part 3 of our assessment prep is here. We will review this tomorrow before the assessment. See you all soon!

Homework-Unit Review Part 1

Greetings Family,

Homework did go out tonight. Students need to do both sides. We are preparing for our reading unit test on Thursday!

Best,

Ms. Shepard

Social Studies Homework # 2

Folks,

We distributed social studies homework at the end of each class. Class 4.1 has less time with me today and so some additional reading was sent home with each student. They must read and complete the questions on pages 102-105.

Everyone is expected to complete the following sheet:

Social Studies Homework?

Yes,

That's right. Tonight we have social studies for homework.

Class Dojo

Family,

Exciting news! Our level of parent participation in Class Dojo is growing. Be sure to check your email and your scholar's folder. Class Dojo parent account info went out earlier this week on Monday. Yesterday I sent out emails. For those parents who are not as familiar with Class Dojo and its benefits to teacher-parent communication, check out this short clip.

I hope you will sign up! Email me (morgan.shepard@pgcps.org) if you have further questions. 

Grade Reports Went Home

Greetings Family,

Your scholar should have gotten their grade report from me today. With their grade report, scholars also received extra credit. The assignment is optional. Choosing not to do the assignment incur's no penalty on your grade.

Oooops! Mistake on Last Night's Homework!

Greetings Family,

Students respectfully brought to my attention that there was a mistake on last night's homework. How embarrassing. I do sincerely apologize for the certain confusion I caused you all. I did award each class a point, and no child's grade was penalized. We all reviewed homework together.

Thanks for keeping me sharp.

Ms. Shepard

Tonight's Vocabulary Practice

Family,

Tonight's vocabulary practice for our "long U" helps us to understand the spelling patterns of our "long U" sounds. Our homework is as follows:

Practice Unlocking the Prompt with Your Scholar

Greetings Family,

There seemed to be a little confusion about last night's homework. I sent home JUST ONE question for tonight. I know we can get it.

Remember scholars, there are three steps you need to follow:

1. Read the prompt carefully.
2. Circle the key direction verbs and underline the important ideas on the prompt.
3. Explain in your own words, what the prompt is asking you to do.

Just a reminder (as we discussed in class) you do not need to answer the question. You are explaining what the questions wants you to do.

We are having a dance this Friday!

Family,

We are having a dance on Friday! Unfortunately (for Ms. Shepard), this dance will not be a sock hop, but everyone knows cool socks make you dance better. This flyer should have gone home with your scholar:

This Week's Spelling Words- Long "U"

Family,

Here are the week's spelling words:

1. Usual
2. Huge
3. Flute
4. Mood
5. Smooth
6. Threw
7. Afternoon
8. Scooter
9. Juice
10. Cruise
11. Truth
12. Bruise
13. Cruel
14. Excuse
15. Pupil
16. Groove
17. Confuse
18. Humor
19. Duty
20. Curfew

Challenge Words

1. Influence
2. Aluminum
3. Nutrition
4. Accumulate
5. Igloo

Weekly Newsletter

In case you missed it, here is our newsletter for the week.

Having issues finding an article? Try this.

Greetings Family,

Homework went out tonight. Students are required to find their own articles for the work. Here is a resource for you if you are having a difficult time finding an article.

Happy reading!

Main Idea and Supporting Details Practice

HOMESKILLETS: Use the chart below to include important ideas and details from a short newspaper article.

Main (Important) Ideas	Details