This Week...

October 17- October 21, 2016

Reading:  Nonfiction text features were a key focus this week.  Students learned how to identify, locate, and utilize these features in a variety of nonfiction books.  They also discussed the purpose of each feature and how it helps the reader comprehend the text.  We also read A Butterfly is Patient.  Students worked on activating their prior knowledge and recording their wonderings about various topics.  To practice engagement in our books, students worked on FQR (Fact, Question, Response) charts during independent reading time in order to record their thinking about the topics.    Reading Logs are due Monday, October 24.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We dove right into unit 3!  Students practiced measuring line segments to the nearest whole, half, and quarter inch.  Finding personal references for the U.S. customary system and the metric system was a main focus.  At the end of the week, students practiced measuring the perimeter of polygons.  Just a reminder, please make sure your child is completing his/her fact test homework if applicable.

Science:  We started our new science unit: the solar system!  Students explored their own ideas about what causes daytime and nighttime.  They also tracked the shadow of a basketball hoop throughout the day.  They learned that the sun plays a part in creating shadows.  When the sun “appears” to move over time, it affects where the shadow moves on the pavement.

Writing:  Students learned how to incorporate “strong verbs” in their writing.  They continued to work on “showing” instead of “telling”.  In grammar, students discriminated between common and proper nouns.  The October writing words test will be on Thursday, October 27.  A list went home at the beginning of the month.  Students also have a list inside their take home folders.

Spelling:  Students took their week 7 spelling test.

Miscellaneous:  Thank you to everyone for their support in the Just Jump Challenge!  The Dryden PTA publication, Kidz Voice, is accepting essays, creative writing, nonfiction articles, and illustrations for their upcoming issue!  Please consider this great opportunity!  They are due on November 3.  An informational letter went home today that includes many important details for Halloween.  I also reviewed these with our class…please let me know if you have any questions!  Have a fabulous weekend!