This Week...

September 25- September 29, 2017

Reading:  Book discussions were a main topic this week.  Students learned that good readers share their thinking and ideas with others.  We discussed important rules for sharing and how to be a good listener.  Students learned that their reading binder is a special place to record thinking about our reading.  We practiced responding with predictions, questions, and connections.  Students read their independent reading books, poems, and an interesting TFK article about dogs and their brains. Reading Logs are due Monday, October 2.  (100 minutes)

Math:  Students continued practicing various mental math strategies to solve double-digit addition and subtraction problems.  Another main focus this week was rounding to the nearest ten and nearest hundred.  We used number lines to help us visualize the numbers.  At the end of the week, students determined if word problems required an estimate or an exact answer by identifying key words.

Social Studies:  Students learned how to read various community maps.  They focused on points of interest and street names to understand the layout of downtown San Francisco.  By looking at a map of downtown Washington D.C., students learned how to use the metro system!  They also worked on identifying various lines and transfer stops.  Map projects were due today.  Also, our map skills unit test will be next Friday, October 6.  A review guide will be going home on Tuesday.

Writing:  In WEX, students continued working on applying the skill of focus.  They learned that making careful observations can help them identify tiny details.  Students also made sure to write about only one topic.  We did not have grammar this week due to the first week of buddy spelling.

Word Study:  Students created their individualized spelling lists and practiced their words through various activities.  Students made words with tiles and identified connections.  All the word study work from buddy spelling this week will be going home today.

Miscellaneous:  Flat Stanleys were sent out on Thursday!  Please tell your friends and family to be on the lookout for a giant envelope.  Also, we had our first set of “zones” lessons this week.  We read a book that focused on different feelings and then we sorted those feelings into the different zones: blue, green, yellow, and red.  We learned that it’s normal to have many different feelings.  To learn our best, we need to make sure we are in the green zone.  Students identified various tools and strategies that can help us get back to the green zone.  Some of these strategies included drawing, taking five deep breaths, doing jumping jacks, or getting a drink of water.  As always, please let me know if you have any questions.  Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!