This week in literacy we will be wrapping up our non-fiction unit. We will review the different features of non-fiction text that we have been working on. These include caption, bold face words, glossary, index, table of contents, maps, photographs and charts. All guided reading groups will also be reading short non-fiction articles as well. We will focus on identifying the main idea as well as supporting details. Our text connection this week will be a non-fiction article on animal adaptations.
We will also be working on our reading response journals with a focus on using text evidence to support thinking. This relates to both fiction and nonfiction reading responses.
In writing, we will be selecting our "best pieces" from Trimester Two. Once the piece is selected, students will work on editing, revising, peer conferences and teacher conferences. After all of these steps are complete, students will be publishing their work. Our grammar focus this week is compound sentences.
In math,we continue on with our measurement unit. We will focus the majority of the week on learning about perimeter and area. Students will still be working on word problems as well as explaining the strategies used to solve the problem. As usual, Fridays are reserved for review and enrichment focus groups.
We will read our Book of the Month in preparation for Friday's All School Meeting. Our March book is The Ant and the Elephant. We will be reading, discussing and writing about the author's message of this book.
Report Cards will go home next Monday April 1!
Please remember that our student teacher Mrs. Stech will be starting her first takeover week April 8. She will assume all of the classroom responsibilities. Her second week of full student teaching will be April 22.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Weekly Update 3.11.13
We continue to work on our non-fiction unit this week. Our text connection for the week will be Biggest, Fastest, Strongest. Students will be working on citing new facts that they learned and questions that they wonder about. They will also work on identifying a "Wow!" fact as they read. "Wow!" facts are pieces of information from the text that spark the students' interest as they read. Guided reading groups are finishing up their latest chapter books this week and will be moving on to non-fiction articles. We will also use some time this week to finish up Trimester 2 assessments.
In writing, we will be working on the persuasive genre of writing. Students will be working on book recommendations where they will be required to write a topic sentence, details and supporting text evidence and a closing sentence. We will also use the same format as we begin to write about the author's message. We will learn about the capitalization of book titles and that book titles should be underlined in writing.
In math, we will review and assess Unit 8 Monday and Tuesday. We will begin Unit 9 on Wednesday. Unit 9 concentrates on measurement. Our first two lessons will focus on measuring with yards and meters and linear measurement. We continue to work on subtraction of two and three digit numbers and word problems.
In social studies, we will assess the oceans and the borders of the United States on Friday. Students have already made their study guides and they should be reviewing in preparation for Friday at home. Students will need to identify and label the five oceans on a blank world map. They will also need to draw the international boundary lines between the United States, Mexico and Canada. They will also need to label these countries on the map as well.
In writing, we will be working on the persuasive genre of writing. Students will be working on book recommendations where they will be required to write a topic sentence, details and supporting text evidence and a closing sentence. We will also use the same format as we begin to write about the author's message. We will learn about the capitalization of book titles and that book titles should be underlined in writing.
In math, we will review and assess Unit 8 Monday and Tuesday. We will begin Unit 9 on Wednesday. Unit 9 concentrates on measurement. Our first two lessons will focus on measuring with yards and meters and linear measurement. We continue to work on subtraction of two and three digit numbers and word problems.
In social studies, we will assess the oceans and the borders of the United States on Friday. Students have already made their study guides and they should be reviewing in preparation for Friday at home. Students will need to identify and label the five oceans on a blank world map. They will also need to draw the international boundary lines between the United States, Mexico and Canada. They will also need to label these countries on the map as well.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Weekly Update 3.4.13
This week in literacy we will continue working on non-fiction text and will focus on asking and answering questions. Students will reflect on text, before, during and after reading and generate questions after this reflection. We will discuss how readers find answers to these questions. Readers can find answers right in the text, readers can infer answers to questions by using text clues and their schema. Readers also sometimes come across questions that can not be answered and may need further investigation from other sources. We will explore these different methods of answering questions. We will also being to do some individual reading assessments as the close of Trimester Two approaches.
In writing, we will take time to prepare for our Trimester 2 writing assessment on Friday. Last week, we wrote to a practice prompt and this week we will look at the feedback forms and conference to see strengths and areas for improvement before the assessment. Students are expected to include all parts of the writing diamond including an entertaining beginning, descriptive setting, a main event on one small moment and an extended ending. We will also learn about proper and common nouns as our grammar focus.
We continue on with Unit 8 this week as we extend our knowledge of fractions. This week our lessons will focus on equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and fraction number stories. We will be using fraction cards to help make the concept of equivalent fractions more concrete. We will also begin to assess trimester two report card skills as well.
In social studies, we will talk about the five oceans of the world. Students are responsible for naming and locating the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern Oceans.
In writing, we will take time to prepare for our Trimester 2 writing assessment on Friday. Last week, we wrote to a practice prompt and this week we will look at the feedback forms and conference to see strengths and areas for improvement before the assessment. Students are expected to include all parts of the writing diamond including an entertaining beginning, descriptive setting, a main event on one small moment and an extended ending. We will also learn about proper and common nouns as our grammar focus.
We continue on with Unit 8 this week as we extend our knowledge of fractions. This week our lessons will focus on equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and fraction number stories. We will be using fraction cards to help make the concept of equivalent fractions more concrete. We will also begin to assess trimester two report card skills as well.
In social studies, we will talk about the five oceans of the world. Students are responsible for naming and locating the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern Oceans.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Weekly Update 2.25.13
This week in literacy we will begin a new unit on non-fiction text. To start off the unit, we will connect the strategy of asking questions to our non-fiction pieces. Our text connection this week will be Recess at 20 Below. This book also ties in nicely with our science unit on weather. In addition to applying the strategy of questioning to our non-fiction unit, we will also be looking at features of non-fiction text such as index, glossary, bold face words, and headings.
In writing, we will talk about an author's purpose of writing. Authors write for one of three reasons, to entertain, to inform or to persuade. We will take a look at examples of these different types of writing. We will work on both persuasive writing and personal narrative writing, or writing to entertain, this week. In persuasive writing, we will focus on writing with a topic sentence, two or three reasons or pieces of evidence that support the topic sentence, and a closing sentence. We will also address persuasive writing throughout the year in our reading response journals. Students will also be learning about abbreviations.
In math, we will start a new unit focusing on fractions. This week, students will be learning the vocabulary numerator and denominator. Students will be learning about equal parts of a whole, collections of things and how fractions relate to groups and equivalent fractions. We continue to practice the secure skills of word problems and subtraction with regrouping as well.
In social studies we will address our Trimester Two mapping standards. This week will begin to learn the different oceans of the world and their place on the world map. We will also continue to work on our leadership project based learning experience. Students have conducted their interviews in person or via email. Those who conducted a face to face interview used the iPad to record their interview to make sure the information was remembered accurately! This week we will take our notes or recordings of the interviews and summarize them into a one page written piece.
In writing, we will talk about an author's purpose of writing. Authors write for one of three reasons, to entertain, to inform or to persuade. We will take a look at examples of these different types of writing. We will work on both persuasive writing and personal narrative writing, or writing to entertain, this week. In persuasive writing, we will focus on writing with a topic sentence, two or three reasons or pieces of evidence that support the topic sentence, and a closing sentence. We will also address persuasive writing throughout the year in our reading response journals. Students will also be learning about abbreviations.
In math, we will start a new unit focusing on fractions. This week, students will be learning the vocabulary numerator and denominator. Students will be learning about equal parts of a whole, collections of things and how fractions relate to groups and equivalent fractions. We continue to practice the secure skills of word problems and subtraction with regrouping as well.
In social studies we will address our Trimester Two mapping standards. This week will begin to learn the different oceans of the world and their place on the world map. We will also continue to work on our leadership project based learning experience. Students have conducted their interviews in person or via email. Those who conducted a face to face interview used the iPad to record their interview to make sure the information was remembered accurately! This week we will take our notes or recordings of the interviews and summarize them into a one page written piece.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Weekly Update 2.11.13
This week we will continue to look at the strategy of determining importance in text. We will discuss the difference between important vs interesting pieces of information. Our text connection for the week will be Ibis. Guided reading groups will be finishing up their books before we head into the vacation week and will be working on some short non-fiction passages in their sessions this week.
Part of our writing block this week will be used to work on our social studies project. Last week we launched the project based learning experience on leadership. Students chose one member of the school or the community they felt was a leader and are set to interview them. Some students will be working in teams of two, while others elected to work alone. This week, students will be developing a introduction email to send to their leader and will be arranging either a sit down interview or an email interview. We will use this week to generate the questions for the interview as well as to schedule and conduct the interviews. So far, this project based learning experience seems to be generating a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the students! Please ask your child about it at home!
We will also be reviewing plurals and looking at irregular plurals during writer's workshop.
We will conclude unit 7 this week and will be able to fit our assessment in before the vacation. Right now, we plan on having the assessment on Wednesday. The rest of our unit 7 lessons this week will focus on measurement, data collection, graphing and finding the median number.
In science, we will be looking at different types of storms, specifically hurricanes and tornadoes. Students will be engaging in some hands on activities to simulate these storms as well as some different reading activities.
We will hold our Valentine's Party on Thursday afternoon at 1230. Students are invited to bring valentine cards for each student in the class that will be distributed during the party. If you need another copy of the class list, please let me know and I can send one electronically. As always, please send your child with a snack for the party, as food will not be provided.
We will have All School Meeting on Friday. Our book of the month for February is Odd Velvet, a story about acceptance of others.
Part of our writing block this week will be used to work on our social studies project. Last week we launched the project based learning experience on leadership. Students chose one member of the school or the community they felt was a leader and are set to interview them. Some students will be working in teams of two, while others elected to work alone. This week, students will be developing a introduction email to send to their leader and will be arranging either a sit down interview or an email interview. We will use this week to generate the questions for the interview as well as to schedule and conduct the interviews. So far, this project based learning experience seems to be generating a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the students! Please ask your child about it at home!
We will also be reviewing plurals and looking at irregular plurals during writer's workshop.
We will conclude unit 7 this week and will be able to fit our assessment in before the vacation. Right now, we plan on having the assessment on Wednesday. The rest of our unit 7 lessons this week will focus on measurement, data collection, graphing and finding the median number.
In science, we will be looking at different types of storms, specifically hurricanes and tornadoes. Students will be engaging in some hands on activities to simulate these storms as well as some different reading activities.
We will hold our Valentine's Party on Thursday afternoon at 1230. Students are invited to bring valentine cards for each student in the class that will be distributed during the party. If you need another copy of the class list, please let me know and I can send one electronically. As always, please send your child with a snack for the party, as food will not be provided.
We will have All School Meeting on Friday. Our book of the month for February is Odd Velvet, a story about acceptance of others.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Valentine's Day
We will be having a Valentine's Day party on February 14 at 12:30. A class list has been sent home in the Monday Folders for those who would like to participate in a valentine exchange. Bringing a valentine is optional, but if your child would like to participate, please ensure that a valentine is provided for every member of the class! Also, please supply your child with a snack for the party as food will not be provided here at school!
Weekly Update 2.4.13
This week we will shift gears to a new comprehension strategy known as determining importance. This strategy asks the reader to identify important vs. non-important parts of text and use their knowledge of the important parts to synthesize the text for themselves and for others. Our text connection for the week will be Me First. We will be using this strategy in whole grou lessons, guided reading and in our reading response journals independently. During Daily Five this week, students will be asked to write about an important character from their Read to Self book and identify reasons and text evidence that makes them important to the story.
We will focus on our main event in Writer's Workshop this week. The focus strategy will be "Show Don't Tell". The use of this strategy allows the writer to show emotion in his or her writing through description, similes and elaborative detail. We will also look at plurals ending in y and the change y to i and add -es rule.
In math, we continue on with Unit 7. Our lessons this week will focus on addition of three or more numbers, patterns in doubles and halves, weight, and data collection. We will continue to practice addition and subtraction with and without regrouping as well as word problems and the explanation of strategies used to solve.
We will extend our unit on weather with information about clouds this week. The three different types of clouds we will study are cirrus, cumulus and stratus. We will also being our new unit in social studies on citizenship and leadership. We will start this week by identifying leaders within our school, community and world as well as identifying qualities of good leaders. We will launch a project based learning experience on this topic next week.
We have a school wide presentation on Abraham Lincoln on Thursday morning.
Friday morning is our field trip to Mechanics Hall. Please ensure that your child is at school promptly by 9:00. We will be back in time for lunch and our regular afternoon routine.
We will focus on our main event in Writer's Workshop this week. The focus strategy will be "Show Don't Tell". The use of this strategy allows the writer to show emotion in his or her writing through description, similes and elaborative detail. We will also look at plurals ending in y and the change y to i and add -es rule.
In math, we continue on with Unit 7. Our lessons this week will focus on addition of three or more numbers, patterns in doubles and halves, weight, and data collection. We will continue to practice addition and subtraction with and without regrouping as well as word problems and the explanation of strategies used to solve.
We will extend our unit on weather with information about clouds this week. The three different types of clouds we will study are cirrus, cumulus and stratus. We will also being our new unit in social studies on citizenship and leadership. We will start this week by identifying leaders within our school, community and world as well as identifying qualities of good leaders. We will launch a project based learning experience on this topic next week.
We have a school wide presentation on Abraham Lincoln on Thursday morning.
Friday morning is our field trip to Mechanics Hall. Please ensure that your child is at school promptly by 9:00. We will be back in time for lunch and our regular afternoon routine.
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