FamilyFoundations

Spring Time Together

Dear Parents,

Spring means being outdoors, jumping high, enjoying the weather, occasional showers, buds swelling into flowers and animals coming out of their hibernation. Here are some activities you can do indoors or outdoors.

• Carrot tops! Cut the tops (large ends) of carrots off about  1" (2.5 cm). Put the flat side into a small bowl of water, filled to 1/4" (.6 cm) level. Watch! In one or two weeks, you'll see greenery shooting form the tops.
• Make a list of all the spring songs you can think of. Ex. "EEnsy Weensy Spider", It's Raining, It's Pouring."
• Spring Spelling. Think of 10 words that have to do with spring, such as basket, showers, growth, etc.
• How many words can you make up using Spring Time. (3 or more letters)
• Create a garden by planting bulbs. Get a pot, soil, some water and follow the directions  as to when to water and how much sunlight to give your growing plant.
• Go outside with encil and paper: Record every small animal or insect that you see and the place where you saw each one. What was each reature doing when you spotted it? Did you scare it away, or did it stay around and allow you to watch it?
• On a rainy day try this: Get some colored chalk and draw a design on a piece of white paper. Put the paper outside and watch what happens tot he patterns on the picture made by the rain. Be sure to hold down your paper using rocks so that it doesn't blow away!

Enjoy your spring together. it's a nice time of year for science projects and all kinds of activities. If you have any spring time ideas to share, please let us know. Thanks.

Ms. Chavis

Please feel free to contact me at time regarding your child. If you have any questions or concerns. Thank you very much.

achavis@ffa.k12.de.us

302-324-8901 ext. 240

After hours: 856-264-2350

Reading! Reading! Reading!

Throughout the year we will be reading many different types of reading genre's. Below you will find the different genre's and its definition.

***Students will be required to have a novel to read in class everyday.***

There are two main types of reading material --
fiction and non-fiction.  Both types may be further divided into 
genres.  A genre is simply a fancy name for a group of books which 
share style, form, or content.  

Non-fiction

All of the information in a non-fiction book is based on the known true 
facts.  Nothing can be made up.  Non-fiction books include how-to 
books, science books, history books, biographies, autobiographies 
and much more.  Non-fiction books can be about any subject.



Biography  

A biography is the story of a real person's life, written or told by 
another person.  Biographies may be located in a section of their own 
in some libraries and may be labeled B for biography or use the Dewy 
Decimal System Classification number of 92 and then are listed in 
alphabetical order by who the book is about.  Biographies of 2 or more 
people in the same book use the Dewey Classification number of 920.  
Other libraries prefer to place biographies in the Dewey Decimal 
Classification according to the subject of what the person did -- for 
example biographies of artists would be located in the art section, 
biographies of sports stars in the sports section.  Ask your librarian for 
help if you can't find the biographies in your library.

Autobiography

An autobiography is the story of a real person's life, written or told by 
that person.  Autobiographies are found in the same place as the 
biographies in the library.  See biographies for the different places you 
might find autobiographies in your library and then check with your 
librarian if you can't find them in your library.


Fiction

Fictional stories may be based on actual events or people or may be 
based entirely on the author's imagination, but fictional stories all 
contain elements that are made-up or created by the author.

Realistic Fiction

Fictional stories that take place in modern time, right here and now.  
The characters are involved in events that could really happen.


Mystery/Suspense

Fictional stories, usually realistic,  about a mysterious event which is 
not explained or a crime that is not solved until the end of the story to 
keep the reader in suspense.

Fantasy

Fiction that contains elements that are NOT realistic, such as talking 
animals, magical powers, etc.  Make-believe is what this genre is all 
about.

Science Fiction

Stories which include futuristic technology; a blend of scientific fact and 
fictional elements.


Historical Fiction

Stories which take place in a particular time period in the past.  Often 
the basic setting is real, but the characters are fictional.



Folk Tales, Tall Tales, and Fairy Tales

Folk tales are stories with no known creator.  They were originally 
passed down from one generation to another by word of mouth.  The 
authors on folk tale books today are retelling these stories.  Although, 
folk tales are sometimes based on real historical figures, there are 
fictional elements to the story.  Tall tales are generally folk tales in 
which the main character is bigger than life in some way -- examples 
would be Paul Bunyan,  Mike Fink,  Swamp Angel, etc.  Fairy tales 
were often created to teach children behavior in an entertaining way.  
Folk tales, tall tales,  and fairy tales are found in most libraries in the 
non-fiction section with a Dewey Decimal Classification of 398.  Some 
libraries place picture book versions of folk tales in the easy book 
section.  Check with your librarian.

Myths

Myths are stories that usually explain something about the world and 
involve gods and other supernatural beings.  Although, myths are 
fictional stories, in most libraries they are found in the non-fiction 
section of the library in the 290s.

Poetry

Poetry is verse written to create a response of thought and feeling 
from the reader.  It often uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey its 
meaning.  Poetry collections are usually found in the non-fiction 
section of the library under the Dewey Decimal Classification  numbers 
808 - 811. Occasionally a novel may be written in free verse form and 
is found in the fiction section of the library, or a picture book of a poem 
may be found in the easy section.  Check with your librarian.

Good writing skills are essential for effective communication.

Learning to write well takes time and practice. Be sure to leave yourself enough time to finish your work. 

First, choose a subject that interests you. Ex. Let's say you like dogs.

Then try to narrow the subject down to something you can write about knowledgeably. Ex. Let's say you have a beagle and you know a lot about beagles based on your experience of owning one.

Now come up with a statement about your topic. Ex.  "Beagles are the best breed of dog." This will be your thesis statement or "hook."

To write your paper, answer the question "why" at least five times. Ex. A beagle is the best because "beagles are smart" or "beagles are neither too small nor too big — they're just right."

Wrap it up. Write a brief conclusion that summarizes the points you have made. Ex. "Clearly, beagles are best because they're smart and they're just the right size."

While the classic five paragraph essay is a form seldom if ever used by professional writers, it is commonly assigned to students to help them organize and develop their ideas in writing. It can also be a very useful way to write a complete and clear response to an essay question on an exam. It has, not surprisingly, five paragraphs:

• an introduction
• three main body paragraphs
• a conclusion

Students will also work on the following types of essays/writing (including but not limited to):

• Descriptive Essays
• Narrative Essays
• Personal Narrative Essays
• Persuasive Essays
• Cause and Effect Essays
• Comparison and Contrast Essays
• Biographies
• Book Reports

      Classroom Rules

1.                       When the teacher raises her hand, you are to be quiet and listen for future instructions.

2.                       Raise your hand before you move or speak.

3.                       If the teacher is talking or a classmate is talking, you are to be quiet and listen.

4.                       Respect yourself, teachers, staff, and classmates.

5.                       DO YOUR BEST AT ALL TIMES.

6.                       Be prepared for class (i.e. Pen, pencils, paper, books, etc.)

7.                       When an announcement comes on, you are to stop what you are doing and listen.

Morning Routine

1.                  Come into to class quietly and unpack.

2.                  Get all materials that you need for the day.

3.                  Take out your homework or any communications that you need to give to Ms. Chavis.

4.                  Do your Morning Work that is on the board.

5.                  Stay seated, quiet and read.

Daily Schedule

8:30-9:00-----Morning Work

9:00-9:30-----Spelling (Review Homework/Begin Lesson)

9:30-10:15-----Special (Spanish, Music, Gym, and Hand-writing/Etiquette)

10:15-10:30-----Bathroom Break as a class

10:30-11:30-----Finish Spelling/Vocabulary. Begin English (Review Homework/Begin Lesson)

11:30-12:30-----Reading (Review Homework/Begin Lesson)

12:30-1:05-----Lunch

1:05-2:05----- Math (Review Homework/Begin Lesson)

2:05-2:30-----Recess (If earned)

 2:30-3:30-----Science/Social Studies

3:30-3:45-----Students Pack up/Work on homework

3:45-4:30 Students complete homework or sit quietly and read!

Procedures

Entering the classroom:

Please enter quietly

Check the board to see what materials are needed

Take out the necessary materials

Start morning work (Morning work will be checked every day at 9:10am)

Getting your attention:

I will………

Raise my hand. Wait for everyone to be quiet. If my hand is up, all talking stops. All eyes should be on me. (Give me 5: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 mouth) :)

Getting my attention:

Wait until I am done speaking. Raise your hand. Do NOT call out my name.

Paper Headings:

Put your first and last name (top line), date (2nd line), and subject(3rd line) and page number and problem numbers (4th line, example: page 124, #1-15) on the right hand side of all papers. (If it is a worksheet and it has a space for your name and the date then the subject in the top right hand corner of the paper.)

Classroom discussions:

PLEASE participate

We want to hear what you have to say.

Make all questions and comments relevant to the current discussion.

If your question is off the topic, write it down and ask later.

If you have to use the bathroom:

Raise three fingers for the restroom and wait for me to acknowledge you.

Raise two fingers for the water fountain and wait for me to acknowledge you.

Raise one finger for a tissue and wait for me to acknowledge you.

Moving around the room:

You MUST ask permission.

Do not ask during a classroom discussion unless it is an emergency.

Pass to another teacher’s room:

You are allowed to go to another teacher’s room with a pass or note signed by that teacher. 

Coming to my desk:

You MUST ask permission to come to my desk or to me for any reason.

During an Assembly:

Walk quietly with your classmates to the assembly. We sit/stand together. Be active listeners during the assembly.

If absent:

Please return with a note in reference to your absence(s). You will be given a packet of missed work that must be returned two days after the absence. It is your responsibility to return any missed work to me within the two days.

IF you are unprepared for class:

Ask for materials AS SOON as you enter our class. DO NOT ask when class begins. (You are required to have 3 sharpened #2 pencils at the start of each day or 3 pens (blue or black ink only).

Guidelines

·       Be in your assigned seat and working on your morning work at 9:00am.

·       Bring all books and materials to school with you. Have folders for each subject to store returned papers (class work, homework, etc.)

·       Treat each person in the building with dignity and respect.

·       Follow all directions the first time they are given. (That means you must pay attention and listen.)

·       Follow all procedures and policy’s as outlined in the Family Foundations Academy Charter School code of conduct book.

·       There is absolutely NO talking while I am talking or while your classmate is talking. (We would love to hear your thoughts or opinions but it must be heard in turn.)

Special Note

Everything I do is in your best interest so please do not complain by saying, “This is too much” or "that you didn’t have to do that before" or "you don't have time to do this" etc.

Let’s have a great year!!!!!!!!!!!