Greetings! Please see below for classroom updates and announcements.
Literacy: This past week, students reviewed genre characteristics of fables and practiced stating the moral of the story in kid-friendly language. We also reviewed determining the theme and theme topic of a story. Next week, students will begin reading an anthology of short folktales titled, The Cow-Tail Switch. The Cow-Tail Switch stories of West Africa are about men and animals, kings, warriors, and hunters. Students will practice determining the theme, understanding the conflicts, and finding details to support ideas and thinking. Additionally, students will meet with me in guided reading groups daily.
During the writing block, students will be drafting their "Rock Story." We began this project earlier this week. Students chose a rock to research. This rock will become the narrator of the story. Students will write about the rock's properties, minerals, and how the rock was formed in a first person narrative, non-fiction story. All research should be completed by Monday. Students will bring home their research this weekend if you'd like to take a look! This was a former "Quarter Project," so we will spend some time working on this in class.
Math: We are half-way through our fifth unit in the Everyday Math curriculum. Students are learning to use addition and subtraction with fractions. They are also exploring the relationship between fractions and decimals.
Science: Our Soils, Rocks, and Landforms unit is well underway. We've completed the first two investigations (there are 4). Assessments for both investigations were sent home this week. If you're child received below a 70%, they may make up the assessment. To make up the assessment, please have your child write the question they answered incorrectly as well as the correct answer and how they know or found the correct answer on loose leaf paper. I will only accept thoughtful responses and neat work for a 70%. In the current investigation, students are learning how the Earth's surface is mapped. We've studied topographic maps in depth this week. A "Problem of the Week" has been sent home for homework. It is due next Friday.
Report Cards were sent home last Friday.
30 Book Tower and a project are due this Thursday. I am extending the due date to Friday the 29th, as I will be at a meeting on Thursday.
