Thank you to everyone for your patience and support as we've begun to get our classroom up and running. I feel very lucky to be our class' teacher this year! Your children have been respectful, engaged, and responsible learners. I am confident that this strong community we are already building will help keep everyone motivated throughout this exciting year!
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: 💡
MATH:
We officially began math last week with Chapter 1: Whole Numbers. Students explored place value and numbers to 10,000,000. We also practiced writing numbers in standard, word, and expanded form.
READING WORKSHOP:
Over the last week, our whole class instruction has focused on the first two Notice & Note Literary Signposts: Contrasts and Contradictions and Aha Moments.
We used the text "Thank You, Ma'm" to examine Contrasts and Contradictions; when you're reading and a character says or does something that contradicts what he has been saying or doing all along. We learned to ask ourselves the question, "Why is the character doing that?" to help make a prediction or inference about the plot and conflict.
Next, students were introduced to Aha Moments. Using an excerpt from Crash, by Jerry Spinelli, students found and analyzed Aha Moments; when you're reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out. We practiced answering the question, "How might this change things?" Answering this question helped us realize that if the character figured out a problem, we probably just learned about the conflict; or, if the character understood a life lesson, we probably just learned the theme.
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Writer's workshop is off to a great start! Our focus last week was on gathering writing ideas for our own writing. Using inspiring authors as examples, students wrote freely about personal topics of interest.
SCIENCE:
Our study of Earth in Space began last week! We kicked off the unit by exploring evidence to support the claim that the shape of the Earth is round. Students created self-made models of Earth and will use their own notes to create video explanations proving the Earth's shape! We're excited to finish up and share videos later this week!!
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS: 📌
MATH:
We will finish up our Chapter 1 lessons this week as we practice rounding and comparing numbers. Students will take their chapter assessment on Thursday.
READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of the Notice and Note Literary Signposts will continue this week! Students will examine Tough Questions and Words of the Wiser.
WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
We will continue to build our writing community this week. Students will explore ideas from poetry, as well as their own lives to write about.
SCIENCE:
Earth in Space will continue this week as we examine Earth's gravitational pull.
UPCOMING EVENTS: 📆
Tuesday, 8/30: BAND LESSONS BEGIN!!
Wednesday, 8/31: Reading MAP Test (pm)
Thursday, 9/1: Chapter 1 Math Assessment (Anderle)
Monday, 9/5: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 9/6: Math MAP Test (pm)
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: 💡
MATH:
We officially began math last week with Chapter 1: Whole Numbers. Students explored place value and numbers to 10,000,000. We also practiced writing numbers in standard, word, and expanded form.
READING WORKSHOP:
Over the last week, our whole class instruction has focused on the first two Notice & Note Literary Signposts: Contrasts and Contradictions and Aha Moments.
We used the text "Thank You, Ma'm" to examine Contrasts and Contradictions; when you're reading and a character says or does something that contradicts what he has been saying or doing all along. We learned to ask ourselves the question, "Why is the character doing that?" to help make a prediction or inference about the plot and conflict.
Next, students were introduced to Aha Moments. Using an excerpt from Crash, by Jerry Spinelli, students found and analyzed Aha Moments; when you're reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out. We practiced answering the question, "How might this change things?" Answering this question helped us realize that if the character figured out a problem, we probably just learned about the conflict; or, if the character understood a life lesson, we probably just learned the theme.
WRITERS' WORKSHOP:
Writer's workshop is off to a great start! Our focus last week was on gathering writing ideas for our own writing. Using inspiring authors as examples, students wrote freely about personal topics of interest.
SCIENCE:
Our study of Earth in Space began last week! We kicked off the unit by exploring evidence to support the claim that the shape of the Earth is round. Students created self-made models of Earth and will use their own notes to create video explanations proving the Earth's shape! We're excited to finish up and share videos later this week!!
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS: 📌
MATH:
We will finish up our Chapter 1 lessons this week as we practice rounding and comparing numbers. Students will take their chapter assessment on Thursday.
READING WORKSHOP:
Our study of the Notice and Note Literary Signposts will continue this week! Students will examine Tough Questions and Words of the Wiser.
WRITER'S WORKSHOP:
We will continue to build our writing community this week. Students will explore ideas from poetry, as well as their own lives to write about.
SCIENCE:
Earth in Space will continue this week as we examine Earth's gravitational pull.
UPCOMING EVENTS: 📆
Tuesday, 8/30: BAND LESSONS BEGIN!!
Wednesday, 8/31: Reading MAP Test (pm)
Thursday, 9/1: Chapter 1 Math Assessment (Anderle)
Monday, 9/5: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 9/6: Math MAP Test (pm)