Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful break, filled with family, friends, fun, and relaxation!
Here is an update on the next couple weeks of 2020!
Here is an update on the next couple weeks of 2020!
Language Arts:
Our new list of spelling/vocab words are from our next unit in Math:
Please remind your child to complete at least 4 Spellingcity activities and the meaningful sentences activity on Google Classroom. For your reference, I don't post these assignments until the words are introduced.
The new reading focus skill is fact and opinion. A fact is something that can be proven true and an opinion is someone's own thoughts, feeling, or beliefs. Students have been doing remarkably well with our focus skill assessments. These short assessments show
me if the student has mastered the skill or still needs more guidance. During stations, students rotate among
5 stations, with the focus being on differentiated instruction per small group during the meet with the teacher.
me if the student has mastered the skill or still needs more guidance. During stations, students rotate among
5 stations, with the focus being on differentiated instruction per small group during the meet with the teacher.
We have spent much time on writing! Students are well into their ideas for their realistic fiction stories.
We will spend some time on the topic called: Show, Don't Tell. Show, Don't Tell is a writing technique in
which the story and characters are related through sensory details and actions rather than exposition.
It fosters a writing that's more immersive for readers, allowing them to visualize the story and understand
the characters better. Here's an example:
We will spend some time on the topic called: Show, Don't Tell. Show, Don't Tell is a writing technique in
which the story and characters are related through sensory details and actions rather than exposition.
It fosters a writing that's more immersive for readers, allowing them to visualize the story and understand
the characters better. Here's an example:
Showing: As his mother switched off the light and left the room, Michael tensed. He huddled under the covers, gripped the sheets, and held his breath as the wind brushed past the curtain.
Telling: Michael was terribly afraid of the dark.
Historical fiction Book Talks are due on January 31st! The one area that continues to be a challenge for some students is making eye contact with the audience. Some students just read their notes, not engaging with the audience. Please help your child in practicing their book talk and timing them. Also you will notice on the graphic organizer that the oral reading part is no longer optional. Students are to pick a part from their book (could be a long paragraph, a few paragraphs, or a short page) to read to the class. They should also explain why they decided to read that page. For example, it shows Bob's character trait of how they were brave. Or this paragraph shows the main conflict of the book when Rob and Kate are lost in the woods. Since this is a historical fiction, there is also a different requirement for the object. Students are asked to bring in a creative object from the historical time period in the book. In addition, give three facts about this time period. These can be facts they learned in the book or facts they learn from a non-fiction book about their time period. Finally, as you listen to your child's Book Talk, ask yourself if the story makes sense! Do you have enough information to make sense of the book? If you have questions in your mind, help your child to add and explain more. Students have two months to complete this Book Talk so I can't wait to see the results. Below you will see the link for the rubric and graphic organizer.
Don't forget about the RAH calendar. To earn the points the following must be present: correct total of at least 100 minutes weekly, a parent signature and brought back on time.
Social Studies:
Before break, we kicked off our Colonial America unit by studying the three early English settlements. We
are moving on to studying the three Colonial regions (New England, Middle and Southern). Within each
region study, students will be comparing and contrasting these characteristics: reasons for settlement,
geography, natural resources, economy and way of life. Our first region we will study is the New England region.
are moving on to studying the three Colonial regions (New England, Middle and Southern). Within each
region study, students will be comparing and contrasting these characteristics: reasons for settlement,
geography, natural resources, economy and way of life. Our first region we will study is the New England region.
After we study the New England, Middle, and Southern region, our culminating activity is called
Colonial Day. Before break you got a letter that described what this day is all about. Colonial Day
is on January 27. This means we will veer from our normal schedule and participate in colonial activities
throughout the morning and lunchtime. We are all excited to simulate what life would have been like
in colonial times. Please remember to bring in one clean athletic sock for the craft that day.
Also don't forget to get your colonial attire ready too!
Colonial Day. Before break you got a letter that described what this day is all about. Colonial Day
is on January 27. This means we will veer from our normal schedule and participate in colonial activities
throughout the morning and lunchtime. We are all excited to simulate what life would have been like
in colonial times. Please remember to bring in one clean athletic sock for the craft that day.
Also don't forget to get your colonial attire ready too!
*We will resume science after Colonial America.
Math:
We are currently on Unit 4 (Multidigit multiplication). Last year, students were exposed to multidigit multiplication
but did not master the skill. This year, they will need to be proficient in the skill using partial products. Without
the automaticity of multiplication facts, students may fall behind as we get into harder concepts. Please help
your child learn his/her single digit multiplication facts. Reflex Math is a great tool for this. Students that have
gotten 100% fact fluency on Reflex Math have moved on to Prodigy, which is another math game online that is
application of facts.
but did not master the skill. This year, they will need to be proficient in the skill using partial products. Without
the automaticity of multiplication facts, students may fall behind as we get into harder concepts. Please help
your child learn his/her single digit multiplication facts. Reflex Math is a great tool for this. Students that have
gotten 100% fact fluency on Reflex Math have moved on to Prodigy, which is another math game online that is
application of facts.
Coming up in math is the 4th open response! A major goal for students is to learn how to EXPLAIN and model
both in words and pictures how a problem was solved. We've come a long way but will continue practicing this
with every unit.
both in words and pictures how a problem was solved. We've come a long way but will continue practicing this
with every unit.
Here is the link to Unit 4:
I get asked a lot how to print home links if a student should happen to forget them at school. Please
bookmark the above link as it gives you access to all the homelinks! You just have to know what lesson we
are on! :)
bookmark the above link as it gives you access to all the homelinks! You just have to know what lesson we
are on! :)
Social Skills:
Our last skill we covered was about joining in a group. Students learned that when joining a group it’s nice to stand nearby and watch and listen. Then give a compliment, ask a question, or offer to help. Lastly assertively ask to join in.
Our next focus skills is compassion. We will discuss what compassion looks like and doesn’t look like, role play real life situations, and watch some short video clips from our Second Steps Social Skills Program.
Important Dates:
Monday, 1/6: Classes resume
Monday, 1/6: Discovery Science in pm
Tuesday, 1/14: House meeting
Monday, 1/20: No School, MLK Jr. Day
Friday, 1/17: Spelling/vocab assessments
Monday, 1/27: Colonial Day
Friday, 1/31: Historical Fiction Book Talk due
No comments:
Post a Comment