This week, our students will have reading lessons focusing on sequencing the events in a story and understanding how those events relate to each other (cause-effect and problem-solution). I'll be reading Wilma Unlimited (the inspiring story of the runner, Wilma Rudolph) as we work through these concepts. I'll also use I Could Do That:: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote (story about Esther Morris winning the right for women to vote in the 1800's). With this read aloud, I'll be focusing on students understanding their point of view versus the point of view of the narrator or author.
In writing, we'll continue working on creating realistic fiction stories. We want to develop interesting characters and share details that paint a picture of the character as well plan a beginning, middle (includes a conflict/problem), and an ending for the story itself. In math, we move on to our next unit: fractions! Our lessons this week get the students thinking about the parts of a whole. They will learn new vocabulary: numerator, denominator, fraction, and partition. We will be using many manipulatives during this unit to help children really grasp conceptually what a fraction is. To help reinforce fractions, get your student measuring in the kitchen. Help them understand that 1/2 added to another 1/2 is a whole or it takes four 1/4s to equal a whole. In social studies, we'll be taking a look at where we live and beginning to understand the history of North Carolina with the lessons on the Tuscarora Indians. Remember Friday is an Early Release Day ending at 1:15. Thanks for all your support! Amy Flowers [email protected]
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This week, we have a big treat! We will be having a writer in residence giving instruction! Students will be selecting a photograph and using that as inspiration to create their own story about what is happening in the picture.
In literacy, students will be reading about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. As we study these two great men, we'll focus on major life events (the main idea) and what that tells us about these famous individuals (character traits). We'll also look at unfamiliar words in the context and use strategy skills to figure out the meaning of unknown words. We'll continue with Word Work and add 5-7 more words to our growing list of words. Our goal is to study letter patterns, prefixes, and suffixes to help us write and understand other words. In math, we'll be finishing up our unit on area and perimeter with an assessment on Friday. As we work through our lessons this week, we will apply our knowledge to more real world situations. For example, when do use perimeter? We'll take a look at how we would create an enclosure for horses and how much fencing that would take. We'll also see how area and perimeter are used as we create dream homes! Finally, in science, we will cover mixtures and solutions. Our students have done a fabulous job of understanding changes in matter and the water cycle. We'll have an assessment on Wednesday or Thursday and then we'll shift over to social studies. Remember we have an informance this coming Friday at 10 a.m. Please continue to have your child read for 30 minutes and complete math assignments. Encourage your child to memorize multiplication facts and to log onto Achieve 3000 Thank you for all you do! Amy Flowers [email protected] This week, we'll continue to work with main ideas, supportive details, and how events build upon each other to give the reader a story. Students will use poems, plays, and mysteries this week. I'll be reading aloud a Cam Jansen mystery book to reinforce all these ideas.
In writing, we're writing a 7 sentence story as we focus on the elements of realistic fiction. So far, students have written one sentence sharing the setting (where and when), the character, and what is going on. They'll continue to add on each day: creating a problem that occurs, struggles the character might have, explanation of how the problem is resolved, and a conclusion. In math, we will work with area and perimeter using maps drawn to scale using a specific key. At home, measure rooms with your child and discuss the area and perimeter. In fact, have fun measuring everything! Science is wrapping up. We have a few more experiments to go: picking up ice cubes with a piece of string, making a liquid turn into solid by shaking a jar (butter!), timing to see if hot or cold water dissolves solids faster, etc. The experiments are fun! Students always make predictions and discuss if they were close in their guesses. This unit has kept them curious and asking questions...it's been great to see them really thinking! Be sure to read the green invitation for our informance that will be on Feb. 26th. Thank you for all your support, Amy Flowers [email protected] This week, students will be looking to see how events and actions build upon each other in poetry and in stories. This sequence of events helps the main story line unfold with each event resulting in another event.
In Word Work, students will work with contractions, synonyms, and homophones as they encounter our words: buy, didn't, one, sometimes, something, and general. The goal is for students to grasp spelling patterns that will carry over to their writing. In math, I just scored last week's test on area and perimeter. They did well! We will continue reinforcing these concepts with hands-on learning as students draw plans as if they are architects! Last week in science, we had a great time. Students observed Alka-Seltzer tablets fizzing and dissolving in water, baking soda and vinegar resulting in a lot of bubble action (gas!), Root Beer and Vanilla ice cream that created many bubbles, and Oobleck (a mixture of corn starch and water) that acted as a liquid and then a solid. Each experiment got the students thinking about how solids, liquids, and gases interact with each other. In each experiment, students witnessed a change in the state of matter. This week, we'll continue by looking at condensation, evaporation, and precipitation. I have some extra surprises and experiments for the students as well. Friday is February 12th. Can you help your child locate a box for our Valentine celebration? I can send home supplies if needed and students can decorate their boxes at home. Here are the names of all the students in our classroom: Amy Caleb Riley Caiden Julius Barrett Devon Brindha Faris Isaac Natalie Aubree Meghan Opal Isaiah Omar Miguel Josie Curtis Sydney Kerry Keyshawn Friday is also an early release day. Dismissal is at 1:15. Please continue to get math and reading (30 minutes) homework done. I'm also asking for all students to memorize multiplication facts. Please sign off on the log daily. Thank you SO much for all you do! We're having a fun year! Amy Flowers [email protected] |
AuthorHi! I'm Amy Flowers-mom to four great kids and one energetic puppy. I've been in education fifteen plus years and am passionate about igniting a love for learning, not just filling a bucket.. Archives
June 2018
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