Mrs. Halimi

There was an error on the calendar that was sent home. Please disregard, as there is NO LATE START on WEDNESDAY, January, 16. Sorry for the confusion!

Good evening Haigh families 🙂

Reminders for the week:

• We will begin NWEA testing this week. We will begin with Language and move onto Reading this week
• Wednesday is late start
• Friday 1/2 day; dismissal is at 11:45
• Friday, Little Ceasers order forms and money due

Academic Vocab:

1. Idiom- A word or phrase that means something different then it’s literal meaning: Ex–Break a leg
2. Metaphor- Comparing two things without using the word “like” or “as”.
3. Perimeter- the distance around a shape.
4. Area- the amount of space on the inside of a figure.
5. Economic Activity- buying, selling, producing, or exchanging a good or services in order to make money.

This week we will focus on beginning our winter NWEA testing. Each morning we will work for about 45 minutes on these tests. When your child completes their test I will have them write their RIT score in their planner. Some students work faster than others, but I always encourage students to take their time and do their best work. Please make sure your child is getting a good nights sleep and a healthy and hearty breakfast each morning.

Last week I met with each child individually to check in on their reading progress. I will use this data to create new reading groups and create individualized plans for each child to continue to grow this year. Please continue to encourage reading nightly in the home. The more students read, the better they will grow in all other areas of the curriculum. If your child is apprehensive about reading, consider visiting the library with them to choose just right books, read a chapter book along with them (my kids and I are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together and they just LOVE it), or create a cozy “reading space” for them in the home. Setting a daily routine goes a long way and ensures they know what to expect when they come home after school.

In writing this week we will work on writing realistic fiction. We will work to include some of the figurative language that we learned about last week into our writing so that their writing captures the attention of their readers. We will also talk about including “red flag” transition words to signal when something exciting is happening.

In math this week we will begin a new unit with the focus on finding the area and perimeter. We will also be reviewing NWEA math skills in preparation for the math portion next week. We will continue to take daily multiplication minute tests, so keep on studying. Congratulations to Hashim and Chawki for being the leaders in this challenge 🙂

In social studies we will continue to learn about growth of Michigan.

In science we will continue to learn about weather and climate with a focus on natural hazards like wind storms.

Looking forward to another successful week  🙂

Good Afternoon Haigh Families! I hope everyone has had an enjoyable, restful, and FUN winter break 🙂 The weather sure has been great, feels like spring is coming ( I am sure it will change in the blink of an eye!). I hope your child is excited and ready to come back to school tomorrow. As a parent, I am ready for my kids to get back into a regular routine.

Reminders for the week:

• Little Ceaser’s Pizza sales fundraiser Jan. 7-18th
• Social Studies Blast assembly on TUESDAY
• School store during lunch on FRIDAY

Academic Vocabulary:

1. Simile – Comparing two things using like or as.
2. Opinion- How somebody feels about a certain topic or idea.
3. Agriculture- Another word for farming.
4. Determine- to figure something out.

This week we will work on getting back into the swing of things. In writing we will be working on sharing what we did over break as well as to come up with goals for the new year. In reading we will work on figurative language. We will learn how to recognize the literal and non-literal meaning and identify how to authors use these terms to make their writing/stories better.

In math we will continue to work on our multiplication unit. Hopefully your child practiced their facts over break and are ready to keep climbing to the top of our multiplication fact challenge 🙂

In social studies we will  begin our new unit on the growth of Michigan.

In science we will continue our unit on severe weather.

NWEA testing begins on Wednesday, but we will probably begin next week so we can resume our normal routine. I am looking forward to seeing all of my students tomorrow. I have missed their smiling faces:)

Greetings Haigh Parents 🙂

Winter break is only 1 day away! In your child’s owl folder you will find 3 things to keep them occupied over break.

1. A “Stop Winter Brain Freeze” reading log. Please keep them reading over break.
2. A NWEA math packet. This packet is according to your child’s fall NWEA RIT score and will help them review (and learn) material that will help boost/grow their WINTER NWEA scores (which we take when we return).
3. A “Beyond the Packet” sheet that is a list of activities, ideas, field trips, and websites to keep your child engaged in learning over the break.

The purpose of sending these activities home over break is not to act like a GRINCH and give piles of homework; but to allow for some learning and growth over break. Your child has been working hard over the past 4 months and I would hate to see them slip. Enjoying family time and creating memories is also important so PLEASE use your discretion with how much you want your child to do. These are just suggestions that I wanted to make available.

With that being said, I am very thankful for all of my wonderful students and families. You truly are AMAZING. I wish all of you a safe, healthy, and FUN winter break with family and friends. I look forward to seeing everyone back and refreshed in 2019!! CHEERS 🙂

Tomorrow we will be going on the field trip to LANSING!!

• Please make sure your child uses the restroom before leaving home.
• Make sure your child eats a hearty breakfast!
• Make sure your child packs a lunch in a zip lock bag with his/her name on it.
• Make sure your child gets to school ON TIME!
• We will be taking attendance and loading the bus ASAP.  We will be leaving Haigh at 8:50.

Thank you to our amazing chaperones for their help!

Extra Info

• Students may bring money for the gift shop, if there is time.
  • Any money is the student’s responsibility and must be secured (no loose money in pockets).

Chaperones

• • All chaperones are able to ride the bus.
  • Chaperones MUST stay with students at all times.
  • You may NOT leave early.
  • You MUST stay with your group and you MUST bring a cell phone.
  • If any chaperone fails to comply, you will not be able to attend future field trips.

• Thank you for keeping our students safe on this trip by following these guidelines.  We appreciate you!

Good afternoon Haigh families.

Reminders for the week:

• Monday- Field trip to Lansing. Please be on time. We will be leaving at 8:50 from Haigh.
• Candy Gram sales during lunch Monday-Wednesday ($1.00 each)
• Thursday- PBIS movie party
• Friday- class party 1:30-3:00

Class holiday party is Friday from 1:30-3:00. Parents are welcome to stop in and say hi to your child. We will be rotating through some holiday themed stations 🙂 Please DO NOT send in any additional treats to school as we have all we need for our celebration.

This week we will be learning about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries. We will be reading passages and discussing how celebrations are the same and different. In writing this week we will finish up our opinion piece about if they would rather give or receive a gift. I was shocked at how many chose that it is more fun to give a gift 🙂

In math we will continue to focus on multiplication 6-10. We have begun our math facts challenge in class. Please ask your child what fact they are on. You can help your child become faster in this area by having them create flash cards with the fact they are on and practicing at home each day.

We will be finishing up our social studies unit on the history of Michigan this week. I plan to give the test on Thursday. I will send out the study guide on Wednesday.

We will not be having any spelling or academic words this week.

Looking forward to a great week! I am crossing my fingers for snow next weekend so we can have a white Christmas!

Good evening Haigh families 🙂

Reminders for the week:

• Last weeks WEEKLY at home reading log is due TOMORROW, they will get a NEW one tomorrow for the week. PLEASE make sure they are reading and writing about their books EVERY.SINGLE. NIGHT. 🙂
• Tuesday–Ugly Sweater Bingo for books 6-7 in the cafe, $3 per person
• Wednesday late start @9:35
• Thursday –Haigh school store during lunch periods
• Friday– Student lock-in 3:35- 6:30

Academic Vocabulary:

1. Narrator- The person who tells a story.
2. Precise- The exact amount or answer.
3. Explorer- Someone who comes from another country our place in search of new land, people, ideas.
4. Pioneer-  A person who is one of the first to settle in an area.
5. Commutative Property- The property that says you can swap numbers around and still get the same answer when you add or multiply. Example: 3 x 2 = 2 x 3

Last week in reading we explored point of view in fiction. This week we will look at point of view in nonfiction. we will discuss the importance of understanding that some things that are written, are written to persuade you ,or to change your thinking. We will look at different texts and learn how to disagree with somebody that has a different opinion in a constructive rather than a hurtful way. In writing we will focus on the genre of opinion writing where we will write to persuade our audience if it is better to give or receive a gift.

In social studies we will continue to learn about the history of Michigan and focus on how the pioneers came to settle on the land.

In math we will continue to work on multiplication strategies to help us multiply larger numbers. We will be working on our fact fluency in class this week with sprints each day to help us become faster with our knowledge of facts. You can help your child with this by utilizing flash cards, playing online computer games (just Google multiplication fact practice and a TON will show up!).

Looking forward to another week. We are getting closer and closer to that wonderful holiday BREAK 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Good evening Haigh Families. I have had a busy weekend, so I will keep this post short.

Reminders:

• Field trip tomorrow to see the show Rosie Revere Engineer. Chaperones, please plant to arrive at Haigh by 8:50. I will go over some directions with you and then you can head on over to the theater with your child.
• Math test on TUESDAY
• NEW weekly reading log will be sent home tomorrow where students must write a summary of what they have read. Students should be reading 25 minutes a night.

Academic Vocabulary:

1. Cloud- A large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals.
2. Trading- To give in exchange for something else.
3. Estimate- To find a value that is close enough to the right answer.
4. Source- A book, article, website etc. where information is collected.

In reading this week we will be learning about point of view. We will read stories and discuss the different points of view that different characters have. In writing we will continue to work on our informational snow paper.

In math this week we will take our UNIT 2 TEST on TUESDAY. We worked on our study guide on Friday and we will review again tomorrow afternoon to prepare for the test. We will begin our new unit on Wednesday. We will circle back to multiplication where we will focus on multiplying facts 5-10.

In social studies last week we learned about how the French came to Michigan and the impact they had on the Native Americans. This week we will learn about how the British came to Michigan and how they affected the lives of the Native Americans.

In science last week we learned about the different types of clouds. We made a cloud finder book and practiced using it to identify the type of cloud to determine what weather it will bring. This week we will look at temperatures of places to determine why some places are hotter then other places.

We will be having our UNIT 2 MATH TEST on Tuesday, December 4th. We will be going over this study guide today in class. I have attached a blank copy and a KEY for your review at home. Thank you for your support 🙂

Module 2 math test study guide KEY__

Module 2 END OF UNIT STUDY GUIDE

Good afternoon Haigh families 🙂 I hope you have all enjoyed Thanksgiving with your families and got a chance to spend some good quality time with your loved ones. My family and I took a road trip to Tennessee to visit family. The weather was an amazing 65 degrees and sunny. Nothing like watching the lions game on the patio on Thanksgiving!

Reminders for the week:

• Popcorn sale this week; popcorn will be served Friday afternoon
• PBIS celebration on Friday; Turkey bowling
• ****I can’t believe Friday is the last day of November already!****

This week in reading we will be reviewing main idea and details. We will look at a variety of texts and passages to determine the main idea in a non-fiction text. In writing last week we learned how to write a main idea/meat paragraph for an information paper. We wrote a model one together, color coded it, and practiced writing one paragraph about wild turkeys. This week we will begin a new informational paper and work our way through the writing process.

As discussed at conferences, please make sure your child is reading at least 25 minutes at home each night. Remember, they can read their book of choice, log on to razzkids.com, and should be reading their reading group book each night. I try to remind them to bring this book home each night along with their math book. Extra practice and repeated readings go a long way to help improve your child’s fluency, word recognition, and vocabulary.

In math this week we will be working on adding/subtracting using the standard algorithm to solve problems. We will apply rounding of numbers to help us determine if our answers are reasonable.

In social studies last week we learned about Native Americans in Michigan. This week we will learn about explorers who came to Michigan from France and their interactions with the Native Americans.

In science this week we will continue to talk about severe weather with a focus on observing different cloud types to determine the weather.

Academic Vocabulary:

1. Culture- The way of life for a group of people.
2. Main idea- What the text is mostly about in one strong sentence.
3. Artifact- An object from the past that tells about the culture of an area.
4. Kilogram- A measure of metric weight that is large.
5. Nonfiction- A genre of text that is real and provides facts and information to the reader.

I am looking forward to a great week back with my students 🙂