Robert Avery

In honor of February being Black History Month, Robert Avery visited Mitchell Elementary today to share his journey about attending the March on Washington. Our students listened and asked questions to learn about this special time in history.

This Week in Reading...(2/4/13)

This week we are reading the story, "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander" Written by Donald J. Sobol and illustrated by Brett Helquist

Question of the Week:
" How can attention to detail help to solve a problem? "

Summary: A salamander has been stolen from the Den of Darkness in the town aquarium. Encyclopedia Brown, the police chief’s son, solves the mystery that has his dad stumped.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Comprehension Skill: Plot
Strategy: Prior Knowledge

Vocabulary: Context Clues

amphibians	Cold-blooded animals with backbones and moist, scale less skins.  Their young usually have gills and live in water until they develop lungs for living on land
crime	activity of criminals; violation of law
exhibit	act of displaying; public showing
lizards	Reptiles with long bodies and tails, movable eyelids, and usually four legs.  Some lizards have no legs and look much like snakes.
reference	used for information or help
reptiles	cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs, usually covered with horny plates or scales
salamanders	Animals shaped like lizards, but related to frogs and toads.  Salamanders have moist, smooth skin and live in water or in damp places
stumped	puzzled

Spelling Words:

distrust, uncertain, incomplete, unlikely, unfair, discontinue, unaware, disorder, discount, indirect, unopened, disrespect, unimportant, unlisted, disrepair, inability, disapprove, unsolved, disobey, unsuspecting, disintegrate, disillusioned, unconscious, unappetizing, intolerant

The Division Family

In math, we are learning long division. A helpful tool to remember the steps is to use " Daddy (divide) Mother ( multiply) sister (subtract) brother ( bring down)". Here are a few of our students showing how it's done!

Electrical fun!

Today in science, we experimented with electricity as part of our Electricity Module! Students were given only three items: a glass light bulb, a wire, and a battery- and they had to make it light with NO instruction from me. This was strictly these smart students using what they already know, and have learned already about electricity. The first student to figure out how to complete the circuit was Jackson. Here he is showing off his light bulb...

Pretty quickly, our whole class got theirs lit and we had our very own light show - we even tried to see who's light lasted the longest! 

Oooooh, aaaaaah! 

Way to go kiddos! Science is AWESOME!

This Week in Reading (Jan 28th)

Our story this week is...

Seeker of Knowledge

By: James Rumford

Genre: Biography

Target Skill: Graphic Sources

Strategy: Ask Questions

Grammar: Possessive Pronouns

Vocabulary

Strategy: Word Structure

• ancient: of times long past
• link: anything that joins or connects as a loop of a chain does
• scholars: learned people, people having much knowledge
• seeker: one who tried to find, one who searches
• temple: building used for the service of worship of God or gods
• translate: to change from one language into another
• triumph: victory or success
• uncover: to make known; reveal; expose

For extra vocabulary practice, click here.

Spelling Words:

village, except, explain, quick, charge, bridge, knowledge, question, equal, queen, excited, expect, Texas, fudge, excellent, exercise, quart, liquid, quilt, expert, expedition, aquarium, inquire, frequent, advantage

For extra spelling practice, click here.

Pennies for Patients

Our Mitchell Beta Club is sponsoring a school wide fundraiser called Pennies for Patients, to raise money to go towards the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Students have until Feb 1 to bring in as much as they can raise (any coin, cash, or check). The class that raises the most will recieve a pizza party!! Keep it coming, boys and girls!

This week in reading (Jan 22-25)

This week we are reading
"The King in the Kitchen"
by Margaret E. Slattery

Question of the Week:
How can a mistake turn into a success?

Genre: Play

Comprehension Skill: Character and Setting

Strategy: Monitor and Fix Up

Grammar: Pronouns and Antecedents

Vocabulary Words:

• duke: nobleman of the highest title, ranking just below a prince
• dungeon: a dark underground room or cell to hold prisoners
• furiously: with unrestrained energy, speed, etc
• genius: person having very great natural power of mind
• majesty: title used in speaking to or of a king, queen, emporer, empress, etc.
• noble: high or great by birth, rank, or title
• peasant: farmer of the working class in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• porridge: food made of oatmeal or other grain boiled in water or milk until it thickens

More Words to Know: exiled, inferior, treasury

Spelling Words: brother, together, dinner, popular, center, calendar, similar, regular, summer, clever, supper, pitcher, filter, hangar, never, shelter, cellar, caterpillar, theater, deliver. Challenge: character, singular, receiver, spectacular, binocular

For Spelling Practice click here. For Vocabulary Practice click here.