Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Jack












Jack, the Treeing Walker Coon Hound

Monday, November 29, 2010

Spelling Words - Week 8

Fourth Grade:

dictate
membrane
inquire
subscribe
confiscate
contemplate
excuse
oppose
indispose
inhale


Fifth Grade:

griping
gripping
moping
mopping
scared
scarred
styled
wiled
staring
starring


Challenge Words:

accumulate
amateur
ambrosia
hysterical
graffiti
neurologist
oscillate
quorum
quintuplet
plateau

Homestudy - Week of 11/29

Reading:
Week 6 assignment, due Friday 12/3

Spelling:
Study for quiz on Friday 12/3

Math 4 & 5:
Study Math Facts daily, 4th grade quiz Wed and Fri, 5th grade quiz daily

Math 4:
Head's Up, correct mistakes for weeks 6-10 (or Math's Mate), due Mon 12/6

Math 5:
Math's Mate, term 2, sheet 4, due Thurs 12/2
Finish daily classwork, due next day

Scat Book Group - Week 6

Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Week 6: Read Chapters 23-Epilogue (pages 299-371)


Vocabulary:

fitful (299)
prosecute (301)
accomplice (302)
somberly (306)
compensate (309)
plaintively (316)
scornfully (319)
posse (321)
pending (322)
extenuating (322)
unison (327)
wary (327)
writhe (327)
haunches (324)
predator (334)
squalling (334)

Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their definitions in a dictionary. Find the definition that most closely matches how each word is used in the book. Copy the definitions into your journal, and underline the word. Identify which dictionary you used. Write sentences for each word that shows you know what it means. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence.

2. Why, according to Duane Jr., had he set the fires he was on probation for, and why did he want people to call him Smoke? (3 to 4 sentences)

3. How did Nick’s efforts to experience what his father was going through and only use his left arm prepare him for what he needed to do in the Black Vine Swamp? (3 to 4 sentences)

4. Which character, Nick, Mrs. Starch, Duane Jr. or Jimmy Lee Bayliss, do you think had changed or grown most by the end of the book? Explain why you think so. (paragraph)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Stargirl Book Group - Week 5

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Week 5: Read pages 139-160


Vocabulary:

tentatively (139)
prominently (141)
zeal (142)
palmetto (143)
moa (159)
mesquite (151)
mesa (151)
auditorium (154)


Questions:

1. Choose 3 vocabulary words and look up their parts of speech and definitions in a dictionary. Then, wrote them down in your journals.

2. Choose another 2 vocabulary words and write meaningful sentences for each in your journal.

3. Who is Susan Caraway? How is she different from Stargirl?

4. On page 147, the expression "count your chickens before they hatch" is used. What does that mean? To what is it referring in the story?

5. Describe Susan's speech. (paragraph)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Masterpiece Book Group - Week 5

UPDATE 11/25: concerning question 4, while Durer may not have painted or drawn each of the "four virtues" specifically, find a Durer painting or drawing online that you believe shows the virtue you chose.


Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Week 5: read pages 172-233


Vocabulary:

gloating (172)
extolling (173)
uncanny (174)
capitulated (175)
foreboding (178)
ruefully (178)
obscured (180)
impediment (187)
perilously (188)
cowered (189)
futilely (189)
intermediary (190)
indignation (195)
rendezvous (199)
interspersed (211)
arduous (220)
surreptitiously (222)


Questions:

1. Choose 3 vocabulary words and look up their parts of speech and definitions in a dictionary. Write them in your journal.

2. Choose another 2 vocabulary words and write interesting sentences for each in your journal.

3. What are the specifics of the plan as Christina describes it? (paragraph)

4. Find images of Durer's four virtues online. Which one do you like the best and why? (paragraph)

5. Who has stolen the painting? How does Marvin let James know? (2-3 sentences)

Homestudy for Week of 11/22

Reading:
Week 5 assignment, due Monday 11/29

Spelling:
No Spelling quiz this week

Math 4 & 5:
Study Math Facts daily, 4th grade quiz Wed, 5th grade quiz daily

Math 4:
Head's Up, week 10 (or Math's Mate), due Mon 11/29

Math 5:
Math's Mate, term 2, sheet 3, due Wed 11/24
Finish daily classwork, due next day


Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Scat Book Group - Week 5

Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Week 5: Read Chapters 18-22 (pages 235-298)


Vocabulary:

lanyard (236)
sentimental (243)
forays (244)
brandishing (245)
canopy (249)
sauntered (250)
dappled (251)
reprimand (253)
gnarly (257)
surrogate (267)
dubiously (272)
devotion (274)
dejectedly (278)
recuperate (290)

Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their definitions in a dictionary. Find the definition that most closely matches how each word is used in the book. Copy the definitions into your journal, and underline the word. Identify which dictionary you used. Write sentences for each word that shows you know what it means. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence.

2. Nick and Marta meet a new character named Squirt. Describe this character and explain Squirt’s role in the story. (paragraph)

3. What is Duane’s special talent, and why is it important? (2 to 3 sentences)

4. Why is Nick’s dad returning to the hospital? (2 to 3 sentences)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Spelling - Week 7

Fourth Grade:

cascade
stagnate
athlete
reptile
suppose
compensate
illustrate
infiltrate
ignite
extreme


Fifth Grade:

knocked
happened
signed
smiled
envied
studied
buried
laughed
filmed
floated


Challenge Words:

acoustic
boisterous
decrepit
dyslexic
guarantee
jettison
regurgitate
metamorphosis
pachyderm
repertoire

Homestudy for Week of 11/15

Reading:
Week 4 assignment, due Thursday 11/18

Spelling:
Study Spelling words - quiz Friday 11/19

Math 4 & 5:
Study Math Facts daily, 4th grade quiz Wed, 5th grade quiz daily

Math 4:
Head's Up, week 9 (or Math's Mate), due Mon 11/15

Math 5:
Math's Mate, term 2, sheet 2, due Thursday 11/18
Finish daily classwork, due next day


Thursday Field Trip - Bring portable lunch
Other: Bring in music for dance party!

Scat Book Group - Week 4

Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Week 4: Read Chapters 14-17 (pages 174-234)


Vocabulary:

taut (176)
levelheaded (176)
gorge (177)
bland (177)
flailed (184)
lurched (185)
gait (189)
irate (194)
steely (200)
grousing (213)
rile (214)
dire (215)
peevishly (225)
cower (226)

Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their definitions in a dictionary. Find the definition that most closely matches how each word is used in the book. Copy the definitions into your journal, and underline the word. Identify which dictionary you used. Write sentences for each word that shows you know what it means. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence.

2. Describe how Wendell Waxmo likes to spend his time at home. (3 or 4 sentences)

3. Why does Jimmy Lee Bayliss go to the Scrod’s home, and what happens there? (paragraph)

4. Why does Nick believe “Smoke” isn’t guilty of setting the fire? (paragraph)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Masterpiece Book Group - Week 3

Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Week 3: Read pages 89-131

Vocabulary:

heist (98)
reputable (98)
interjected (98)
flamboyant (100)
prudence (100)
temperance (100)
fortitude (101)
surreptitiously (103)
forgery (103)
plausible (106)
deceit (119)
solarium (121)
fumigation (129)


Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their part of speech and definitions in a dictionary. Write these in your journal.

2. Choose another 2 vocabulary words and write interesting sentences for each.

3. Why does Christina want James to make a forgery? (paragraph)

4. On page 116 the author describes the beetles' dining table. Based on what you read there, draw a picture of their table, food and furniture. Use details and color.

Stargirl Book Group - Week 3

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Week 3: Read pages 73-111

Vocabulary:

treason (75)
sarcasm (89)
commotion (91)
varmint (93)
excommunicated (100)
kaput (101)
derelict (104)


Questions:

1. Look up the definitions and part of speech for 2 vocabulary words and write them in your journal.

2. Write 2 interesting sentences with another 2 vocabulary words.

3. On page 91, what did Stargirl mean when she said, "There's a whole commotion going on inside us"? (paragraph)

4. What are some ways that Leo changes when he is around Stargirl? (paragraph)

5. On page 109 are some headlines for things that Stargirl notices. Make up 2 or 3 headlines for things you really notice in the room where you are.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Homestudy for Week of 11/8

Reminder: No School Thursday and Friday

Reading:
Week 3 assignment, due Monday 11/15

Spelling:
No spelling list this week

Math 4 & 5:
Study Math Facts daily, 4th grade quiz Wed, 5th grade quiz daily

Math 4:
Head's Up, week 8 (or Math's Mate), due Mon 11/15

Math 5:
Math's Mate, term 2, sheet 1, due Wed 11/10
Finish daily classwork, due next day


Other: Bring in music for dance party!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Scat Book Group - Week 3

Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Week 3: Read Chapters 9-13 (pages 104-173)


Vocabulary:

imposter (105)
scuttled (105)
diplomatic (110)
pensively (110)
implored (111)
infinity (136)
menagerie (136)
cadence (140)
nocturnal (141)
remote (152)
berm (155)
mortified (159)

Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their definitions in a dictionary. Find the definition that most closely matches how each word is used in the book. Copy the definitions into your journal, and underline the word. Identify which dictionary you used. Write sentences for each word that shows you know what it means. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence.

2. Describe what Nick and Marta find inside Mrs. Starch’s house. (3 or 4 sentences)

3. On page 137, several endangered species are mentioned. Choose one, find information about it on the internet or in a book, describe the species (2 to 3 sentences), and look up and print a picture of it from the internet.

4. What is Drake McBride’s scheme? (paragraph)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Homestudy for Week of 11/1

Reading:
Week 2 assignment, due Thursday 11/4

Spelling:
Study week 6 words, quiz Friday 11/5

Math 4 & 5:
Study Math Facts daily, 4th grade quiz Wed & Fri, 5th grade quiz daily

Math 4:
Head's Up, week 7 (or Math's Mate), due Mon 11/8

Math 5:
Math's Mate, term 1, sheet 8, due Thurs 11/4
Finish daily classwork, due next day


Other: Bring in music for dance party!

Spelling - Week 6

Fourth Grade:

annex
flannel
velvet
splendid
object
tonsil
progress
pistol
humbug
until


Fifth Grade:

walking
thinking
risky
strongest
bringing
younger
bitten
dirty
frozen
gotten


Challenge Words:

antonym
hierarchy
impeccable
procrastinate
zeppelin
treacherous
tranquilizer
sombrero
whimsical
berserk

Stargirl Book Group - Week 2

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Week 2: Read pages 36-72

Vocabulary:

oratorical (38)
charade (39)
riveting (39)
acclamation (39)
dormant (40)
liberation (41)
amorphous (41)
squabble (47)
hapless (51)
spiel (58)
hostility (68)
raucous (68)
jubilation (71)


Questions:

1. Choose 2 words and look up their definitions and parts of speech in a dictionary, then, write them in your journal.

2. How did 'individuality erupt' at the high school? (paragraph)

3. What didn't Stargirl seem to notice on page 52? (one sentence)

Describe what happened at the Hot Seat Show. (paragraph)

Scat Book Group - Week 2

Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Week 2: Read Chapters 5-8 (pages 49-103)


Vocabulary:

embezzling (50)
culprits (50)
perplexed (56)
surmised (56)
bolstered (56)
arson (61)
incriminating (65)
dejectedly (65)
trepidation (67)
ornery (67)
furtively (70)
ruefully (78)
intimidated (90)

Questions:

1. Choose 2 vocabulary words and look up their definitions in a dictionary. Find the definition that most closely matches how each word is used in the book. Copy the definitions into your journal, and underline the word. Identify which dictionary you used. Write sentences for each word that shows you know what it means. Underline the vocabulary word in each sentence.

2. Why did Nick wrap up his right arm so he would be forced to do everything left-handed? What do you think of him doing this? (3 or 4 sentences)

3. Explain why everyone assumes Mrs. Starch made it out of the Black Vine Swamp safely. (paragraph)