This Week...

April 24-April 28, 2017

Reading:  Students continued reading various poems.  Students analyzed the subjects of poems to determine the poets’ inspirations.  We also discussed how the language a poet uses can elicit a certain mood or feeling for the reader.  Students connected to the poems through personal experiences to deepen their understanding.  We also talked about how poetry can contain difficult vocabulary or use words in unusual ways.  We used our background knowledge and context clues to determine the meaning of words. Reading Logs are due Monday, May 1.  (100 minutes)

Math:  Students continued to practice using the partial-products algorithm to solve double-digit multiplication problems.  Students also explored another multiplication method: lattice!  Positive and negative numbers were also a focus.  Students learned how to find the differences between negative and positive numbers using a thermometer.  The unit 9 test will be on Wednesday, May 3.  A review guide will be going home on Monday. **If applicable: for students still on addition and subtraction, fact tests and graphs are due Monday, May 1.

Social Studies:  Students analyzed and discussed pictures of artifacts that were found in the city after the Great Chicago Fire.  We also read a narrative account from a Great Chicago Fire survivor.  After reading and discussing the impact of the fire, students wrote letters from a survivor’s perspective.  They were able to include key information about how the tragedy changed the city of Chicago.  Chicago’s rich culture was also investigated by studying the various ethnic neighborhoods in the city.  We discussed the world’s fairs that took place in Chicago.   Jane Addams, one of the most influential women from Illinois, was a main topic of discussion.  Students learned how she made a difference through social change and the Hull House.  The Chicago test will be on Thursday, May 4.  A review guide will go home next week.

Writing:  We read The Secret Shortcut and identified parts of the story’s structure: introduction, problem, rising actions, climax, and resolution.  At the end of the week, students began planning out their own fiction stories by focusing on each part.   In grammar, we focused on the difference between possessive pronouns and contractions.

Spelling:  We had our week 29 spelling test.  Next week will be a review week, so there will be no spelling homework.

Miscellaneous:  On May 1 (between 9:00-9:30 a.m.), the district will be emailing you a letter that contains your child’s individual SnapCode number to register for next school year.  Every student needs to register every year.  Please watch for this very important email…thank you!  As the weather continues to change, please be sure your child has appropriate attire for outdoor recess.   As always, please let me know if you have any questions.  Have a wonderful weekend!