This Week...

October 19- October 23, 2015

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 about butterflies and recording their wonderings about the topic.  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 26.  (100 minutes)

Math:  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.  Students practiced measuring the perimeter of polygons.  We also created an experiment involving probability and pattern block shapes.  Students predicted and confirmed their guesses by collecting data on how many times a shape would fall on its edge.  We discussed line plots as a way to display data.  Finding the minimum, maximum, range, median, and mode were also practiced.

Science:  Students investigated why birds have different beaks.  They used hands-on models to demonstrate why certain beaks are better for eating specific foods.  We also reviewed various physical and behavioral characteristics that animals have to survive in their environments.  At the end of the week, we read Cactus Hotel.  Students learned how various organisms use the cactus to meet their needs.  In the LMC, students learned the “sketch and label” note-taking strategy.  They utilized this method while reading about various habitats.  Next week, we will be dissecting owl pellets.  An informational letter went home explaining details.  If your child would like to bring their pellet home, he/she can bring in a small container on Monday.

Writing:  Students continued to incorporate strong verbs in their writing to show the reader what was happening at a particular moment.  In grammar, students discriminated between common and proper nouns.  Just a reminder, the October writing words test will be on Thursday, October 29.

Spelling:  Students took their week 7 spelling test.

Miscellaneous:  Students began celebrating Bullying Prevention month and Character Counts week!  Just a reminder, on Friday, students should wear their costumes for the afternoon only.  The Halloween parade will begin around 1:15.   Our party will take place when we get back to the classroom.  Thank you to everyone who donated supplies, organized games, and volunteered to help us!  Have a fabulous weekend and please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week...

October 13- October 16, 2015

Reading:  At the beginning of the week, students reflected on all the important foundational skills and routines from our launch unit.  We reviewed protocols for choosing a just right book and how to monitor our engagement.  We also talked about author’s purpose and the elements of a story map.  At the end of the week, we dove right into our nonfiction unit!  Students learned that there are three types of nonfiction: literary nonfiction, biography, and reference.  They analyzed different nonfiction books during a scavenger hunt and differentiated between the three types.  Reading Logs are due Monday, October 19.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We spent time reviewing key concepts from unit 2 and students took their test on Wednesday.  We also began unit 3!  We read the story How Big Is A Foot? to understand the importance of standard units of measure.  Students did a hands-on activity where we found our average class shoe size.

Science:  Students read about how animals have certain physical and behavioral characteristics that help them meet their basic survival needs.  While reading, students created open and closed questions to show what they were wondering about the topic.  Students learned that closed questions typically have one right answer or can be answered with a yes/no.  Open questions require more research and they typically start with “how” or “why”.  We also read Home is an Oak Tree.  Students learned how various organisms use the oak tree to meet their needs.

Writing:  Students learned how to incorporate “strong verbs” in their writing.  They continued to work on “showing” instead of “telling”.  In grammar, we reviewed key concepts from unit 1.

Spelling:  Students took their unit 1 review spelling test.  Next week, normal spelling lists and homework will resume.

Miscellaneous:  October book orders went home this week and are due on October 26.  Thank you to everyone who already brought in a one-inch binder for reading.  These binders are due October 20.  This week in the LMC, students worked on the skill of documenting by learning how to fill in a boxes and bullets organizer for habitat research.  We also had a bus evacuation drill this week where students learned important bus safety rules.  Have a great weekend and please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week...

October 5- October 8, 2015

Reading:  Students learned that good readers use the words in a story to create visualizations in their mind.  Creating these visualizations helps readers better understand the story.  We reread portions of Patricia Polacco’s The Bee Tree to practice this useful strategy.  Students also reviewed the key elements of fiction.  They used a story map to outline the main characters, setting, problem/conflict, plot, resolution, and theme.  They learned that thinking through a story map can help them monitor their understanding of a fiction story by focusing on the most important parts. Reading Logs are due Tuesday, October 13.  (100 minutes)

Math:  The partial sums addition method was practiced, in addition to the trade-first and counting up method.  We also worked on number stories with multiple addends.  Today, students completed a review guide.  The unit 2 test will be Wednesday, October 14.

Science:  Students learned that scientists use mental, pictorial, and physical models to represent ideas.  They made their own physical models of favorite animals using clay.  Students also had the opportunity to create their own science experiments based on an “I Wonder” statement.  They created questions, made a plan, and took observations.  Through this process, the students learned that they are scientists!  At the end of the week, we discussed how organisms have basic needs for survival.

Writing:  Students completed their first RA, or revision assignment, which asked them to turn one of their telling sentences into a showing sentence.  They also worked on a new skill: showing!  Students learned how to differentiate between telling and showing sentences.  They wrote about a time when they were excited using various showing details.  In grammar, we worked on combining sentences to form compound sentences, which included a connecting word and a comma.

Spelling:  We took our week 5 spelling test.  Next week will be a review week for spelling.  We will not have spelling homework and the test will be multiple-choice.

Miscellaneous:  Thank you to everyone who participated in Walk to School Day this week!  On Monday in the LMC, students worked on the skill of documenting by learning how to fill in a web for habitat research.  We will continue working on more note-taking organizers over the next few weeks.  Just a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday (School Improvement Day) or Monday (Columbus Day).  Enjoy the long weekend!  As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week...

September 28- October 2, 2015

Reading:  Students learned strategies for staying focused and engaged in their independent reading books.  Rereading, creating a picture in his/her mind, and tracking the words on the page were just a few ways that helped students stay focused.  They also read a nonfiction article about snakes from National Geographic.  In order to pay attention to their thinking, students recorded information on post-its using a coding system.  Some of these ideas included connections, surprising facts, questions, and new information.  They applied the guidelines for having an effective book discussion when they shared their post-its with a partner.  Reading Logs are due Monday, October 5.  (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.  Students completed function boxes by following various.  They worked on solving number stories with the problem solving steps and different diagrams.  Total-part-part, start-change-end, and quantity-quantity-difference were the diagrams students used. 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:  At the beginning of the week, students worked hard reviewing for their map skills unit test.  Students also shared their wonderful map projects!  It was very enjoyable to see all the interesting ideas and hard work students put into the projects.  Next week, we will begin our first science unit: habitats!

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:  We took our week 4 spelling test.

Miscellaneous:  Students enjoyed a presentation on fire safety from Lt. Larson, who works with the Arlington Heights Fire Department.  As the weather gets cooler, please be sure your child has appropriate outerwear for recess time…thank you!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Fire Safety!

Lt. Larson, from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, came to visit our class on Thursday!  We learned a lot of important information about fire safety.  He showed us his equipment and talked about what each piece is used for during emergencies.  We really enjoyed having him visit!

Meet Our Hermit Crabs!

Mr. Massive and Herman have joined our class for the past couple of weeks!  We have enjoyed taking care of them and learning more about these fascinating creatures!  Students completed KWL charts to record what they know about hermit crabs and what they want to learn.  Then, they used the iPads to research information about hermit crabs using Facts4Me and WorldBookOnline!

Writing Words!

Today, we started our monthly writing words!  Students took home the October list and an informational letter that explains the monthly writing words process.  We will take our October writing words test on Thursday, October 29.