This Week...

January 23- January 26, 2018

Reading:  We talked about the difference between literal and figurative language.  We discussed examples of similes, metaphors, personification, and idioms.  We also learned that a moral is a lesson that the author is trying to portray through the story’s main elements.  We read various fables and figured out how the elements help form the moral.  Students did an excellent job making inferences to determine the moral of the story.  In the fable, The Camel Dances, students came up with some of the following themes: follow your heart, don’t give up on your dreams, and believe in yourself.    Reading Logs are due Monday, January 29.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We began unit 8!  Students learned how to divide by making equal groups.  They also learned how to use their multiplication facts to help them solve various division problems.  Students figured out quotients and remainders using counters.  At the end of the week, students learned that when odd numbers are divided by 2, the remainder will always be 1.

Social Studies:  Branches of government continued to be our main focus in social studies this week!  We discussed how each branch of the government has a specific job, which helps the power stay balanced in our country and our state.  Students learned that the legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws.  We also discussed the Illinois economy.  Mrs. Toth from the Cook County Farm Bureau visited our room to discuss agriculture in our state.

Writing:  After reading the next chapter in My Name is Maria Isabel, students learned that Maria Isabel was shy.  The found details from the text to support their thinking.  They also worked on putting text evidence in their own words when describing a moment from the book.

Word Study:  This week, students worked on past tense verbs.  They learned that you typically add –d or –ed to show that the word is in the past tense.  We looked carefully at the sounds they produce and realized there are three distinct sounds: /t/, /ed/, and /d/.  Students completed a 3-way sort to differentiate between various words.

Miscellaneous:  Just a reminder, our Erin’s Law presentation will be taking place on Friday, February 16.  Also, the book fair is coming to Dryden next week!  Information will be sent home today explaining all the details.  We also enjoyed a book talk from the Arlington Heights Memorial Library this morning!  Finally, an email was sent home this week with the scheduling link for spring conferences.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!