Thank you to the dads who came and moved the loft away from the wall. I can't wait to come back and see the pretty blue wall and the kids can't wait for the loft to be moved back, so they can read in it again.
I hope you all are receiving notifications when your child posts in See Saw. Instead of trying to put pictures on the blog (which didn't always work and took forever) students will post on See Saw and you'll get a peek into their world at school. This week most students posted a fun math activity that provided a visual for them to better understand the concepts of multiplication. Also, in the ILC yesterday Mrs. Bates taught them about character traits and then students used the app Draw and Tell to show their learning. They posted their recordings on See Saw in our reading folder. This lesson was a great introduction to the lessons on using a character's dialogue, feelings, and actions to infer their traits. Later today they will also post their final product in their STEAM build. QUESTIONS TO ASK: What are the three branches of government and who is in charge of each? What is the commutative property and how does it help us solve multiplication problems? Tell me the small moment story you are writing about. Ask them questions to help them remember the details so they can add them to their narratives. REMEMBER: - No parent journals this week and no need to sign planners over break. NEXT WEEK: Math - Now that the students have a better understanding of the concepts of multiplication we will begin exploring the patterns and how to learn the facts. Students will begin practicing facts at home in the 2nd quarter. KEEP reviewing those addition facts now, please! Language Arts - After a few lessons on characterization we will begin using the novel Because of Winn Dixie to help them better understand characters and infer answers in the text. Please do Not let them watch the movie until we finish the novel. Social Studies - We will continue our study of government. Have a great fall break with lots of family time!
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, We celebrated International Dot Day which is tomorrow! Did you even know there was such a thing? It is based on the fabulous book, The Dot. We had a great time celebrating with our STEAM buddies. After watching the book read to them the students also sang the song with motions. Just check out the book and The Dot Song on You Tube. Our students were so sweet singing with their buddies. Then the pairs transformed their "dot". It was inspiring watching them work together and come up with so many different ideas. The dots became eyes on a dinosaur, centers of flowers, wheels on an airplane, an ice cream scoop, the bottom of a snowman, the cherry on a cherry tree, etc. We tried to let partners video and load to See Saw, but that proved to be a little challenging. There are a few posted. Your child can tell you if we made it to them or not. We hope to get together again and try again!
Questions to Ask: What are different ways to write a strong beginning to a narrative? What are some ways to be a good citizen? Why do groups in multiplication have to be equal? Remember: We are still testing on Monday and Tuesday. Monday is math and Tuesday is science/social studies. Parent Journals are in book bags. Please read and return by Wednesday. Next Week: Math - we will continue to explore multiplication, the different ways to represent it, and how it is used every day. Language Arts - students are developing one seed idea into a full narrative - adding dialogue, emotions, and details. We will use the book The Rain School to practice CLOSE reading - reading a book several times to draw different meanings each time. Social Studies - the need for government and the three branches of government will be introduced. STEAM - students will design and build a way to display a mineral for the Tellus Museum. We will post those results on See Saw so you can check them out! Have a great weekend and stay dry! Our kids are amazing! I think many of them are enjoying testing - the challenges and the structure. One more session tomorrow and then a break until next Thursday. This week they only have 3 - 10 min. sections each morning. Next week for the IOWA they will have longer testing sessions. Thanks for sending them ready to go!
We finished our second chapter book - Full Steam Ahead. See if your child can tell you about the problem the twins had to solve and the solution they invented. Students did their individual thinking today about our next STEAM challenge - designing a mineral display case for the Tellus Museum. After testing they will meet with their groups and build it. They will definitely record their groups results and post on See Saw. In math they've been working on solving 2 step word problems and not only explaining the steps they took but also explaining WHY they did each step. Check out See Saw for your child's group problem. Each group solved a different problem on chart paper and recorded the process of solving it. If you still haven't signed up and need another copy of the directions and QR code for your child just email me and I'll be glad to send it. Questions to Ask: When do good readers ask questions? What is the difference in a thin question and a thick question? (Thin questions are found right in the text - who is the character, etc. Thick questions require more thought and you have to search for the clues in the text or require evidence to defend your opinion. They often involve What if? Why?, etc.) What is a noun? What is a proper noun? Reminders: *Return the Tellus Museum field trip form AND complete the BACK marking a lunch choice for your child. Students will wear their grey STEAM shirts on the trip if they have one. *Continue to practice addition math facts with your child - in the car, waiting in line, etc. *RETURN parent journals by Wednesday, please. We will write in them tomorrow and there are still a few not back. Next Week: Math - Multiplication is introduced and students learn about using arrays and a number line to show multiplication. This is typically much easier for them grasp as it is more concrete and visual than what we've been doing. We will not start memorizing multiplication facts for awhile. They really need to understand the concept first AND to learn the addition facts better!! Language Arts - Students' narratives are progressing nicely as they've learned how to write like a storyteller not a news reporter. They will continue on these next week and practice self-editing of spelling and punctuation. In reading they will continue to learn 5 new vocabulary words and practice activating prior knowledge to answer questions in the text - both thin and thick. Social Studies - The study of Civics and what makes a good citizen will continue. Students will discuss the difference in rights and responsibilities. Thursday and Friday the testing session is 2 hours so we will alternate the subjects taught. Have a great weekend! |
AuthorMrs. Amy Benson Archives
December 2018
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