WINTER BREAK INFORMATION

Assalamu alikum,

There are only a couple assignments for me for winter break. They are;

1) Winter Reading Challenge - Students completing the challenge in winter and spring break will get a special invitation to a pizza and ice cream party at the end of the year.
Here is the link to the reading log;
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B98EV6dlN-CGVktwbl9iSlVoSHlMcmNjUThkNmtGVURnM3Ew

2) Immigration Interview - Students should have chosen an immigrant to create their museum exhibit about. Over break students should complete the interview using the questions.

Here is the link to the document. Interview questions are on page 6. https://www.dropbox.com/s/74e8czoee5d4o4g/Immigration%20Museum%20Project.pdf?dl=0

3) Science Fair Materials - Students should bring their materials to start their experimentation on January 9th.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of 12-16-19

Assalamu alikum,

We have almost made it to a well-deserved, well-earned break. I know I'm ready and so are the students.

This week we will be wrapping up some major projects before the break. The final draft of the Fictional Narrative Masterpiece will be due this Friday. Also this Friday during the last period, parents are invited to attend our 2nd Annual TCS Autoshow! Students will setup the gym from 2-2:30, with presentations beginning at 2:30pm. Parents, staff, and students will walk around the displays with 4th grade students presenting to small groups gathered at their display.

To prepare for this major presentation, our students will practice their presentations to the students at assembly. It is important that all students are on time 8:00 am for our assembly presentations.

***Hat Drive UPDATE!!! We have a large box in the west entrance for donations. We are well over 100 items at this point! We are collecting through this Friday. If you are planning on sending in items for the drive, now is the time. ***

English-Language Arts

Students are now reading the second section of their historical fiction adventure novel. In writing, they are finishing their fictional narratives with peer editing and teacher editing. They are due Friday.

Math

Lions had a test on Monday on 4x1 multiplication. They then explore multiplying multiples of ten and 2-digit numbers by multiples of ten. Tigers are working on developing their understanding of 2x2 multiplication through area models, distributive property, and partial products method. Pistons are working on multiplying single-digits by multiples of ten and will then use the distributive property to multiply 2 and 3-digit numbers by 1 digit.

Science

Students will wrap up their Car Design Project boards, models, and presentations. Along with this, students will begin researching the background information for their science fair projects. Students have all chosen projects. Their only science homework over break will be to gather all their required materials to bring to school the first day back from break.

Social Studies

Students are beginning our mini-unit on immigration. They will be asking relatives who are immigrants about their immigration experiences. After break, students will begin their Immigration Museum project where they will become museum curators and design a museum exhibit telling the story of an immigrant in their family.

Week of 12/9/19

Assalamu alikum, 

Here is a peek at the week ahead. 

English-Language Arts 

The Character Analysis projects were due today. We have been working on them over two weeks and were homework to finish over the weekend. I still have several students that have not turned them in. They are now considered late and will begin to lose points each day they are late. 

We began our new novels today. Spartans and Wolverines are reading Sign of the Beaver. Eagles are reading The Cabin Faced West. Black Bears are reading The Courage of Sarah Noble and the Bears of Hemlock Mountain. 

The students took their Reading NWEA last week. They will take their math NWEA later this week. 

Math

Tigers will begin multiple digit multiplication. Lions will wrap up 4x1 multiplication and application in word problems. They will have a test on Thursday. Pistons have begun their multiplication unit as well. 

Note: Multiplication facts! Knowing their basic multiplication facts is important for students as they move into multi-digit multiplication. Knowing their facts means they can solve problems quickly and accurately. While we are reviewing our facts and reviewing strategies for the harder facts, 6s, 7s, and 8s, please review basic facts with the students. 

Science

In science, we are going to introduce the science fair. Students will select a project from one of several categories. 

• Consumer Comparison: These projects fall into the "Which one is best?" Type of question. ex/ Which dish soap cuts grease the best?

• Engineering Modifications: These projects are where a student designs some type of vehicle, machine, boat, etc. They then isolate a variable to adjust and then test the outcomes. ex/ boats with different sail shapes, cars with variable wheel sizes, etc. 
• Demonstrations Turned Inquiry: These projects are where students take that "cool" experiment and find variable to change. ex/ make crystal shapes, student change the type of salt, making glue from different recipes and comparing, etc. 

Social Studies

We will learn about the auto industry and several Michigan landmarks. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. 

Jazak Allah Khayr, 

Sister Patti Picard

Week of 12-3-2019

Assalamu alikum,

In just a few weeks students, parents (and teachers) will get a well-deserved break. Until then, we are GO-GO-GO!

We are now two weeks into the next term. NWEA testing has begun this week for students. There is no special preparation required for the winter NWEA. The winter testing focuses on math and reading and gives us an idea for how students are grasping the concepts and helps teachers adjust to students' strengths and areas for improvements.

Here's what we are doing this week.

English-Language Arts:

Students have completed their novels and are completing an end of book project. With each novel, the projects will be more involved but this first project is a character analysis. Students have chosen their favorite character and ID'ed 10 traits. They then have to find 10 quotes from the text that support their chosen traits. The next round of novels will start Monday. We are beginning our historical fiction, survival/adventure unit. Novels in this unit are The Bears of Hemlock Mountain, The Courage of Sarah Noble, The Cabin Faced West, and the Sign of the Beaver. All the novels feature a child protagonist.

Math:

Lion and Tigers this week will focus in using partial product understanding to build understanding of the traditional algorithm. After gaining comfort with using the algorithm the focus will shift to understanding and interpreting word problems using tape diagrams and close reading. Tigers will have a test on Friday. Lions can expect a test at the beginning of next week. (Depends on NWEA testing schedule.)

Social Studies:

We beginning our unit on United States regions by first reviewing the characteristics of Michigan and the Midwest region. Before diving into the geography of the regions we will first learn about the people. This means we will be learning about immigration. Students will begin the research part of their immigration project next week.

Science:

Students are working wrapping up their car design projects. This week we will also be launching science fair. This is the first year that students will be working independently. It is very important that all students meet the project deadlines through the science fair process. There will be a separate post just about science fair.

I really appreciate when parents communicate with me regarding their questions and concerns. I do my best to respond within 24 hours. Please note that my "quiet hours" are from 9pm - 7am. If you send an e-mail or Classdojo message or Orbund e-mail during these hours, I will receive them at 7am.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Parent - Teacher Conference Sign-ups

Assalamu alikum,

This term has come to a close. Parent - Teacher Conferences are this Friday from 1 to 7pm. Here is the link to sign up a time slot.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a084daaa82ba5fd0-ptconferences 

Conferences: Please come on time for the slot you sign up for! If you are more than 5 minutes late for your slot, you will lose that time and you will be fit in as a walk-in conference where space allows. This means all scheduled conferences will have priority.


This week we will be wrapping up unit 1 topics and ideas.

ELA
Students will wrap up their novel studies this week and next week. Our next unit will center around survival and adventure.

Math
Lions will continue to work on area and perimeter to review basic multiplication skills and ideas. Tigers will begin working on developing number sense and algorithms for multiplication of multi-digit numbers. Pistons will continue to review addition and subtraction through metric conversions.

Science
Students are working on their Car Design Engineering Project. Project presentation dates for parents will be posted soon.

Social Studies
Students are completing their writing drafts for their illustrated books for their government unit. Next week, students will be using the computer lab to type their pages.

I look forward to seeing you on Friday at conferences.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of 10-28-19

Assalamualaikum,

 

Here's what we'll be doing this week.

 

English language arts 

This week students will continue to read their novels and have literary discussions about major events and character relationships. Students will complete the first draft of their fiction narrative by Friday. Spelling City homework has been posted.

 

Math

The Tigers math group has begun addition and subtraction of units within the metric system using unit conversions. Lions will have a test on Wednesday on addition and subtraction and multi-step problems. Pistons will wrap up their unit this week and have a test on Monday.

 

Science 

Students were introduced to their unit project where they will Design and create a campaign for a futuristic vehicle. We will continue to learn about energy by focusing on the renewable and nonrenewable resources that humans use to generate electricity.

 

Social studies 

Students will learn the difference between Federal powers of government and state powers of government. We will also continue to review the powers and checks we will also continue to review the powers and checks of the three branches.

 

Jazakallah khair, 

Sister Patti Picard

Week of 10-21-19 + Field Trip Reminders

Assalamu alikum,

Field trip Wednesday! Some reminders;

Food: Pack a lunch - There will not be lunch foods for sale. Students will also not be allowed to use vending machines. Regular lunch rules apply regarding hot chips and nuts. Also, High Velocity does not allow gum.

Clothing: Boys may wear gym uniform. Girls wear regular uniform. Everyone should wear sneakers/tennis shoes. No cleats.

Electronics: No electronics. This includes smart watches.

Dismissal: We will dismiss early Wednesday at 2:15pm.

Here's what we will be doing the rest of this week.

ELA
Students will continue to read their novels. Spelling lists will be posted in Spelling City Monday. In writing, we will continue to plan our fiction narratives.

Math 
Tigers will have a test on addition, subtraction, and multi-step problems this Friday. Lions and Tigers will continue to work on addition and subtraction and using tape diagrams to interpret word problems.

Science
Students will have use to computer lab Monday and Tuesday to complete an online interactive activity to learn and review circuits. On Thursday, they will have a test applying their knowledge of circuits.
https://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/
https://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/
Social Studies
Students will learn about the 3 branches of government and the steps for how a bill becomes a law. They will also learn about Thomas Edison, an American inventor who grew up in Michigan.

Week of 10-14-19

Assalamu alikum,

What are we doing this week? Here's a glance;

English-Language Arts
We will be focusing on plot and the sequence of plot events in a fictional novel. In writing, we are beginning our unit or fictional narrative writing. Spelling City has been posted for the week. We have begun writing our Reader Response Letters on Friday. They are each worth 50 summative points. One way to prepare for these letters is to make sure students are reading 20 minutes each night. 

Math
Tiger are wrapping up their unit or addition and subtraction. A major focus this week is multi-step addition and subtraction word problems. Pistons will finish rounding and begin work on addition. Lions will wrap up addition and begin subtraction with regrouping including regrouping across zeroes.

Science
In science, we a learning all about electricity. We will be building simple, series, and parallel circuits, learning about conductors and insulators, and how electrical energy flows throughout a circuit.

Social Studies
We will spend the week focusing on the Bill of Rights. Monday and Tuesday we will take notes. Wednesday and Thursday we will read a short book on the Bill of Rights and create an illustrated brochure on the the Bill of Rights. On Friday, they will have a quiz on the Week 4 newspaper articles. These assessments are open-text meaning students may use the newspapers during the assessment.

As always, a reminder to regularly check Orbund for missing assignments. 

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Week of October 7, 2019

Assalamu alikum,

Progress reports are coming out this week. Keep in mind progress reports are not report cards and there is still 6 weeks until the end of the term. If the grades for a subject are low at this point, it is likely due to missing or incomplete assignments.

Here is what we will be doing this week.

ELA - We will continue to work on our first novel study, focusing on character traits. My Spelling City account was down last week but will be up and running this week.

Math - This week, Tigers will dive into addition and subtraction to solve single and multi-step problems. Lions and Pistons will wrap up rounding and estimating sums and differences.

Science - At the beginning of this week we will build our Rube-Goldberg machinges using collected materials. Completed Rube-Goldberg machines will be videotaped. Students will also draw a model of their machine and each energy transfer.

Social Studies - This week, students will wrap up the week 3 and begin the week 4 newspaper. Mid-way through the week, students will build both a model of a wigwam used by Native Americans and log cabins used by European settlers. Students will compare and contrast the two structures and how both helped people in Michigan's climate.

If you have any questions, you can reach me fastest via email or Classdojo message.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

October is here already?!

Assalamu alikum,

Is it October already? Here's a peek at the week ahead.

ELA
This week we launched into novel studies. We began by making predictions about the story using the front and back cover. As we get into the beginning chapters, we will focus on how the author develops the characters, the setting and the plot.

Math
We are wrapping up with rounding and have moved into estimating sums and differences. From there it will go into addition and subtraction with large numbers and word problems.

Science
We are continuing to learn about energy transformations and transfers in chain reactions. Students will be building chain reaction machines.

Social Studies
In social studies we are talking about why rules and laws are necessary. They will read a story about Jake and rewrite Jake's story as if people had been following the rules and laws.

Note: Missing Work Reports and Classdojo - Each week I attach missing work reports and Classdojo reports in the student planners. This allows both parents and students to reflect on how they are doing in the areas of academics and classroom behavior. I expect for students to get these signed each week by parents. This serves multiple purposes. 1) It lets me know parents have seen their child's behavior and academic status. 2) They begin a conversation about classroom choices and how they affect the student among parent and child. 3) It shows students that parents and teachers are a united team to help the student succeed.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Weekly Glance Week of September 16, 2019

Assalamu alikum,

THIS FRIDAY IS BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT / OPEN HOUSE!!!  From 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
This evening is broken into several sessions to give you a chance to visit multiple classrooms. The schedule is as follows...

Session 1 > 4:30-4:50

Session 2 > 4:55-5:15

Salatul A’sr > 5:20-5:35

Session 3 > 5:40-6:00

Session 4 > 6:05-6:25

I really enjoy Back to School Night! It's a great time to connect and share our classroom with parents. I look forward to seeing the parents there Friday.

Here's what we are doing this week.

English - Language Arts
This week we are revising our personal narratives and beginning our second drafts. We are learning the difference between revising and editing. In reading, we are focusing on identifying the theme of a literary text. Spelling groups have been set up and Spelling City homework assignments have been posted. They are expected to be completed by Monday.

Math
We are working on comparing and ordering large numbers and rounding and estimating to specific place values. There will be a test on Friday over place value, comparing, ordering, and rounding.

Science
We will continue to work on building understanding of stored and released energy and how released energy is related to speed. Students will build roller coaster hills to investigate height and speed.

Social Studies
We are learning about types of governments. There will be a quiz on Friday.

Grades are continuing to be updated regularly. Please make sure to check planners daily! I already have some students with missing assignments. If you are not connected to Classdojo, please let me know so I can get you the signup information. tawpatti@gmail.com

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

Mid-week Thunderstorm Post

Assalamu alikum,

This post is reaching you midweek Wednesday night. We have gotten into our routine and settled into our schedule and begun to dive into academic lessons.

A couple notes:

Planners: Planners should be signed daily by parents. A quick signature lets me know that students are communicating with their parents. Planners are an important communication tool. If a student loses a planner, please contact the office to get a replacement.

Class Dojo: The Class Dojo information is the same as last year. If you forgot your login information, I am sending home connection information. In Class Dojo, I post quick reminders and updates along with videos and pictures of class activities. I also record student behavior points. At the end of the week, I will send home a point summary for the week. This should be signed by parents and returned Monday.

Attendance:
Tardies -  please try to arrive on time.
Absences - If your child will be absent, please notify the office as soon as possible. The office will notify me. 
Here is our class schedule:
7:50 - 8:05am - Arrival
8:05 - 8:15 - Assembly (Students are marked tardy after 8:05)
8:15 - 9:15 - Math
9:15 - 9:45 - Writing, Spelling, Grammar
9:45 - 10:30 - Arabic
10:30 - 11:15 - Recess and Lunch
11:15 - 12:00 - After lunch read aloud and Social Studies
12:00 - 12:45 - Islamic Studies
12:45 - 1:30 - Quran
1:30 - 1:50 - Salat and Snack/Break
1:55 - 2:30 - Science
2:30 - 3:25 - Reading, Guided Reading, Daily 5
3:25 - 3:30 - Dismissal 

Also, now that academic work is in full swing, you will begin to see grades and assignments filter in on Orbund. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail at tawpatti@gmail.com.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

A Glance into the Week: Getting Into Routine

Assalamu alikum,

After spending the first week working on procedures and routines (which we will continue to practice) we are going to move into our schedule for the year and dive into academic work. Here is what you can expect next week.

ELA: We will begin RF and RI standard one which is finding the main idea and supporting details in text. Along with this, we will be assessing student fluency and comprehension levels in order to get reading group established. We completed our spelling assessment during week one so we will begin our spelling and grammar routine. They will receive logins for Spelling City this week as well. 

Math: We are working on the Numbers in Base Ten Unit which focuses on understanding that a unit in one place value is ten times greater than the same unit in the place to the right. Students will work on expressing this relationship several ways. This year, we will be using Zearn.org in centers and for homework to support in class instruction. The usernames and passwords are glued in the student planners.

Science: We are focusing on understanding the beginning steps of the scientific process by making observations and asking questions. We will also dive into the engineering process by asking, "Why is it so hard for scientists to invent new things?"

Social Studies: Our Studies Weekly newspapers have arrived. After we complete our Five Themes and Me project we will begin our first unit which is about the United States Constitution and the structure of the United States Federal Government. This will begin next week. 

Gym: Gym is during the 2nd hour on Thursday. Please make sure students have proper gym uniform and shoes.

UNIFORM NOTE!
Please check the uniform policy. Boys are to wear white polo shirts throughout the week, except for gym days. For the sisters, the abaya is to be plain without any decoration and the hijab as well. One piece, two piece, and square scarves that are plain and the right colors are acceptable. Under pieces and scarf must be the same color. Wrap scarves are not part of the uniform this year.

Coming soon to a classroom near you... MONDAY!

Assalamu alikum,

Can you believe it? Summer vacation is coming to an end and now school is right around the corner. School starts this Monday, August 26th.

Some quick reminders;
Make sure students arrive between 7:50am and 8:05am. Students are marked tardy after 8:05am. The uniform policy has gone out to all families. Please take the time to review it before school starts. There is no hot lunch so please make sure to send in lunch with the students. Our lunch is at 10:30am during the school year. There will also be a short snack break in the afternoons before salat. Remember that soda, candy, cookies, cake, etc. are not permitted.  Chips (not spicy) are fine for lunch but not for snack.

A quick note on communication with the teacher;
I know many sisters have seen me active on Whatsapp with the Sisters of Tawheed group and that my cell phone number is posted there. I find it important to separate my work and home life and to have consistent systems of communication with my parents. For this reason, I keep Whatsapp and my cellphone for personal use and community activities. I will not be using either for school communications. There are still plenty of ways to reach me. You can e-mail me, message me through Orbund or Class Dojo, contact the school to setup a phone conference during my prep, or schedule a conference ahead of time. While I am very good about checking for messages, please keep in mind that messages sent after school may not be returned until the following day although I will try to respond same day if possible. Messages after 9pm will definitely not be seen until the next day.

A note about the first week;
This first week of school we will be learning routines and procedures for the classroom and different areas of the school. We will go over expectations a lot. I will also begin assessing students to find out where we are coming back from summer. I have a lot of fun activities planned as well. I will post more later discussing these routines and procedures with parents.

I look forward to seeing all my students on Monday and ask Allah to bless us with a beneficial year filled with learning, excitement, happiness, and most importantly to lead us to be better Muslims in our understanding and practice of Islam.

Jazak Allah Khayr,
Sister Patti Picard

One week! Are You Ready!?! Learn about the teacher.

Assalamu alikum,

We are one week away from the first day of school. ***Quick note: Please make sure to check your e-mails regularly for e-mails from admin and teachers with important back to school information. If you haven't yet, please make sure to subscribe to the blog.  (If you are viewing this on a phone, scroll down to the bottom to view web version. In the web view, the Follow by Email is on the right.) You will get an email whenever the blog is updated.***

With a new year coming, I want to introduce myself for the new Tawheed families. My name is Patti Picard. I am originally from the state of Maine from a small town called Unity. After high school, I attended the University of Maine at Farmington where I majored and received my Bachelors in Secondary Education - Area Science in 2005. After accepting Islam in 2006, I decided to move to an established community where I would be able to freely practice my faith and have access to masjids, markets, and be able to raise my children among their community.

In 2006, I moved to Dearborn, Michigan to continue my teaching career. I've been teaching for 13 years at Islamic schools in this community. I have taught elementary for 7 of those years and middle school and high school for 8 of those years. Two years ago, I decided to further my education and pursue my graduate degree so this July I graduated with my Master's in Curriculum in Instruction. 

Teaching is a passion but I enjoy my time outside the classroom discovering new places and seeing new sights. At home, I loved spending time in my gardens. I enjoy growing organic vegetables and planting new foods for my family to try. In my flower gardens, I focus on planting host and nectar plants for native butterfly species. My goal is a be a registered Monarch Waystation. 

Now that the summer harvests are in full swing another at home activity I enjoy is canning fresh produce to enjoy through the summer. I visit local farm markets for local fresh produce. This summer I have canned family favorites; pickles, salsa, and tomatoes. I still have a lot planned. 

When I'm not at home, our family enjoys traveling to see places in the United States with beautiful scenery and unique nature.  A few times a year, I lead nature walks at local parks to share the wonderful we have with members of our Tawheed Community. 

I hope to share many more enjoyable experiences with my students this year. I look forward to seeing everyone on the first day of school. If you have any questions before then, feel free to send me an e-mail at tawpatti@gmail.com.

Jazak Allah Khayr, 

Sister Patti Picard

School is Almost Here, Yay! A few notes about supplies...and other things

Assalamu alikum,

In sha' Allah, you have had an wonderful summer and that this post finds you in the best of health and iman.

In just two short weeks school will be beginning.

If you are using a computer or laptop, make sure you have subscribed to this blog page to get the most up to date information. Check out the links on the right. They contain information and content that we use in the classroom. For tablet of smartphone users, you will need to scroll the page down to the bottom and click "web version". You will then see the links of the right to subscribe and see important documents.

The administration sent an e-mail a couple weeks ago with the supply list. In sha Allah, you have been able to find everything in the list. I tried to shorten the list as much as possible and only included the items we will be using on a regular basis. It is important that the students come with their materials during the first week of school as this is when we will be organizing materials, setting up binders, labeling everything, and practicing classroom routines, including how to store and care for our classroom materials so they will last all year in good condition.

Binders: I have asked for 1 binder. They only need to be the 1-inch binders. The binder will be used for organizing our classwork. Please make sure it is a hard-sided binder, not soft plastic.

Composition Notebooks: Please make sure to get the composition notebooks and not the metal spiraled single subject notebooks. Thank you.

Pencils: This one may have been a head-scratcher. "Why only yellow #2 regular wooden pencils, Sister Patti?" "What's the problem with mechanical pencils?"  In my teaching experience, mechanical pencils quickly become a problem in the elementary classroom for the following reasons;

• lead runs out quickly or breaks often
• students don't have extra lead
• class gets interrupted by students exchanging and passing lead
• students borrow pencils, lose them, and now their friend is mad
• students argue over mechanical pencils
• students pull them apart and play with the parts during class and then don't have anything to write with. 
• plastic pencils don't last, aren't recyclable, and contribute to landfill waste, something we try to cut down on as responsible global citizens

As a solution, pencils will be a community supply. Everyone will use the same ones. Mechanical pencils, printed pencils, etc. will not be used and will be sent back home with the student for use at home. I used this system last year with great success. Other community, or shared, supplies include; rulers, tape, glue, scissors, coloring utensils of all kinds, erasers, lined and construction paper. 

Water bottles: Please send your child with a reusable water bottle, labeled with their name. Single-use plastic bottles are also a major source of landfill waste. In the classroom, their thin plastic makes them easy to tip over. Students also have the habit of punching holes in the caps, making them leaky.

In the next few posts, I will be explaining classroom routines and procedures in detail along with the rationales behind them. By giving you, the parent, as much information into how our classroom operates as possible, a stronger learning partnership is formed between school and home. 

Don't forget to finish up those summer workbooks and Arabic packets and in sha'Allah I'll see you on August 26th!

Jazak Allah Khayr, 

Sister Patti Picard