Week of February 24 - 28

Even though it is a short week due to Parent/Teacher Conferences, we still have a lot of learning planned.  Here is what we are up to this week.

Math - Time is a main focus this week.  Students will be learning the difference between AM and PM and should be able to give examples of activities they might be doing at certain times.  Students will also be telling time to hour, half hour, and minute increments.  Near the end of the week we will be talking about picture graphs.

Literacy - We have finished our Folktale unit and are moving into a nonfiction focus.  This week we will be reviewing nonfiction text features such as the glossary, index, captions, diagrams, etc.  We will be using these features to help us when we start learning about different animal classifications.

Writing - Students should be finishing the letter/opinion pieces they are writing about a favorite book.  Students have been working hard on adding evidence to their writing and editing.

Word Work - Students will be starting a new Wordly Wise Unit, and due to the short week, there will not be spelling words this week.

Science - Students will be starting a unit on animal classification.  Students will be introduced to their new classroom "pets."  These "pets" will be with us for the whole unit so we can observe them.  Please ask your child what this "pet" is.

Reminders:
Thursday  - 11:30 Dismissal & Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday - No School & Parent/Teacher Conferences

Green Dot Hotshots!

I am proud that our class is now a Green Dot Hotshot Class!  This means that, as a class, we achieved 50% of the total amount of "green dots" on the YPP test.  A green dot means that a student is proficient in a particular skill.  Because we achieved this goal, students received a Green Dot Hotshot bracelet and  our class picture was put on the YPP Wall.  Great job, everyone!

In more YPP news, we had one student earn all the green dots possible.  Congratulations, Nate!  Nate received a Green Dot t-shirt for this accomplishment.  Way to go!

Week of February 17 - 21

Here is what is happening this week:

Literacy:  Students are working hard on their Reader's Theater scripts.  Students are in one of five groups and have enjoyed working on practicing their lines with fluency, expression, and meaning.  We will be practicing this week with a performance on Friday.  I will be sending home a note on Monday inviting you to be the audience for our performance.  I hope to see you there!

Math:  This week students will be diving into Unit 5.  This unit focuses on telling time and graphing.  We will be engaging in several activities to gain a better grasp of these concepts.

Word Work & Writing:  In writing we are continuing to write opinion pieces.  We are writing letters about books and explaining why others should read them.  A big component to these letters is students providing evidence to help back up their opinions.  The spelling words for this week include:  they're, wrong, pretty, won't, and afraid.  Please help your child practice these words at home.

Special Events:
Tuesday:  Jump Rope 4 Heart
Wednesday:  11:30 Dismissal (PLD) & Spirit Day - Dress in ONE COLOR from HEAD to TOE
Friday:  Reader's Theater Performance

  

Week of February 10 - 14

I am very excited to be back in the classroom after my maternity leave.  I enjoyed my time at home with my two sons, but I am happy to be back.  It's amazing how much the students have grown since I have been gone!  Here is what is happening in our classroom this week.

Math - We are reviewing for our Chapter 4 Test, which we will take on Thursday.  This chapter focusses on addition and subtraction of larger numbers.  We learned several methods to solve these problems including adding up and regrouping.  Problem solving using larger numbers is also a big focus, with comparison problems and 2-step problems being the most challenging for students.  Any help you can provide at home is encouraged.

Literacy -  We have been revisiting Folktales for the last few weeks.  We compared two different versions of Little Red Riding Hood and students even wrote Little Red Riding Hood a letter explaining the lesson they hope she learned.  This week we will be doing Reader's Theater with several different folktales.   In writing we are working on opinion pieces.  Students have been busy writing letters to other student to convince them to read a certain book.  Students are starting to use evidence to support their opinions.    

Word Work - We have been continuing to do word sorts and Wordly Wise to enrich vocabulary.  Spelling words for this week include:  enough, together, second, favorite, and through.  Please make sure to study these words at home.

Valentine's Day - We will be having our Valentine's Day party on Friday afternoon.  Please remember to have your child bring their valentines to school on Friday.

Week of Dec. 9-13

Here is an update of the learning from last week.

• Reading-We're working on conventions of nonfiction (text features). This week we worked on maps, labels, glossary, index, table of contents, heading, comparison, and captions.
• Writing-Students have written and shared their fairy tales.
• Math-We've studied inches, feet, yards, and centimeters.  We've taken measurements  and put them onto line plots. We have just finished this unit. We'll review together on Monday for Tuesday's test. *Please look for the review test to come home on Monday evening.
• Social Studies-We've studied the compass rose and worked on map keys.

Visit

This last week I was able to bring Nathan to school for a visit.  I was very excited and glad to see everyone again.  However,  I am pretty sure the students were more excited to see Nathan than to see me! : )   I also got to talk with Mrs. Wilke about what has been going on in class.  These are the topics studied last week.

• Math - We compared numbers within 200, explored 2-digit addition, used the all totals method in addition, used the new groups below method in addition, practiced addition with sums over 10
• Wordly Wise - We finished unit 4.
• Literacy - Guided reading groups are going well. We have started our fairy tale unit. We've read Cinderella and identified main characters, setting, and plot. We also read another "Cinderella" story entitled, The Rough-Face Girl.
• Writing - We have learned to study other authors to help us with our own writing. We studied similes.

I'm Back!

Well, back to the blog that is.  As many of you probably heard, I had a baby boy last Sunday.  Nathan is doing very well and our family is adjusting to another member.  I still plan on updating this blog every week.  I talk with and email Mrs. Wilke, so I will be able to keep the blog up to date with the learning that is happening in the classroom.  I heard that the class was very helpful this week!  Keep it up!  I like hearing all of the great things you are doing!