This Week...

September 22- September 26, 2014

Reading:  We continued practicing the reading strategy of main ideas and details. Students worked hard to identify detail sentences that would help them discover the main idea of a paragraph.  They recorded their ideas in a main idea and details chart.  “Life in Antarctica” and Penguin Chick were read in conjunction with the weekly theme: Antarctic Life.  We analyzed the poem “In Praise for Penguins” with a close reading activity.  Students determined the author’s purpose with evidence from the text.  Homographs were also a focus.  Students found various definitions for the same word and showed their meanings through sentences. Reading Logs are due Monday, September 29.  (100 minutes)

Math:  As we began unit 2, students discovered different kinds of fact families.  Students practiced using fact triangles to help them learn their basic facts.  They also analyzed various fact extensions by finding patterns.  At the end of the week, students completed function boxes by following various rules and solved total-part-part number stories.  We continue to have 2 fact tests a week.  Please remind your child to be practicing their facts at home…thank you for your support!

Social Studies:  We spent the week reviewing major concepts and skills from our map skills unit.  We started to share the country maps and will continue presenting next week.  The students have really enjoyed seeing the creative projects!  The map skills unit test will be on Wednesday, October 1.  A review guide went home on Thursday.

Writing:  Focus continues to be the target writing skill during WEX.  Students worked on developing tiny details that focused on sound.  They made careful observations to create interesting descriptions of various objects and moments.  Students continue to share their work and respond to each other using targeted, positive feedback.  In grammar, we worked on identifying the predicate in a sentence.

Spelling/Cursive: We took our week 4 spelling test.  In cursive, students practiced the letter “w” and “r”.

Miscellaneous:  The students were very excited to begin their Flat Stanley project!  Thank you for helping your child find a person willing to help with this project.  Please let me know if you are having any difficulty finding someone.  Student council applications went home this week and are due Tuesday, September 30.  Have a fabulous weekend and as always, please let me know if you have any questions!