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!