Happy New Year!!
It was so good to get back into the routine and see all the smiling faces of 4-3. Here is what we are up to in class...
MATH
We finished and assessed on Unit 5 Big Numbers, Estimation and Computation. 2x1 and 2x3 multiplication was reviewed and introduced respectively. These tests were sent home last week for your review. We discussed as a class the importance for checking answers in math after computation.
During the 1st week after break we began Unit 6: Division, Map Reference Frames;Measures of Angles
In this unit students will learn different algorithms for long division.
The four main areas of focus in Unit 6 are:
Literacy
We began our Fiction unit in the Schoolwide Literacy program. We will study many types of fiction but the main genres will be:
We will explore story structure, theme, and character traits. Students will practice giving a good summary of a text and using text evidence to back up the conclusions they draw as they read.
These first weeks we discussed elements of realistic fiction, the point of view the story is told from, and the 5 common elements that can be found in all fiction stories. Using these 5 common elements when summarizing a story can be really helpful in giving a strong retelling.
We revisited theme and how most traditional tales try to teach a lesson about good and evil through theme. I modeled identifying the pieces of text that back up the theme of good vs. evil.
You may have noticed a reading log has not come home since we returned from break. From here to the end of the year students will be asked to write a letter to me each week in the 2nd reading notebook they have. I have modeled what the letter should look like and what it should contain. I will post an example for parents to see. Every Friday students will be asked to turn this letter in and from reading it I should be able to tell they have been completing their nightly reading homework. I have also reminded students that they should be reading the same book at home and at school. Both the weekly letter writing ,and the responsibility of bringing their book back and forth from school will be good "foundation" builders for strong work, study,organizational and time management habits. Students may use some time in class to complete the letter each week, but may need to also finish up for homework.
Students continued work in their"Grammar" folders. We discussed adverbs last week and reviewed them this week. Students were having a hard time differentiating between adjectives and adverbs, so we will continue to work on that.
WEX
Our next class read aloud, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, is part of our second Unit of study in the WEX writing program. We will use this novel to write a response to fiction piece. This book is a great story but can be challenging in that there is a lot of inferential thinking needed to comprehend the book. At times I may assign the students to reread parts we read in class to reinforce comprehension. It might be a good idea for them to read it aloud to you when it is assigned for homework to check for understanding. This would also be good fluency practice. Our response piece that will be written will focus on the character traits of the main character, Shirley Temple Wong.
Social Studies
We continued our study of Social Studies with Ch. 4 in the History Alive text as we examine the motivations behind European Exploration. There will be an open book evaluation for students near the end of this week. We will then switch back to Science for content time and begin our Earth Changing Surface unit.
Here's to a happy and healthy new year! We have definitely had a sick "bug" traveling our room as we have had several absences this week, myself included. I caught a stomach bug from my two boys and wanted to make sure I was symptom free before returning to school! Don't want to spread anymore germs!
It was so good to get back into the routine and see all the smiling faces of 4-3. Here is what we are up to in class...
MATH
We finished and assessed on Unit 5 Big Numbers, Estimation and Computation. 2x1 and 2x3 multiplication was reviewed and introduced respectively. These tests were sent home last week for your review. We discussed as a class the importance for checking answers in math after computation.
During the 1st week after break we began Unit 6: Division, Map Reference Frames;Measures of Angles
In this unit students will learn different algorithms for long division.
The four main areas of focus in Unit 6 are:
- To provide practice for solving multiplication and division number stories
- To introduce the division algorithm and the concept of remainders as fractions or decimals
- To provide practice drawing, measuring and naming angles using half circle and full circle protractors
- Review of longitude and latitude
Literacy
We began our Fiction unit in the Schoolwide Literacy program. We will study many types of fiction but the main genres will be:
- Realistic Fiction
- Mythology
- Traditional tales (fairytales, folktales, fables)
We will explore story structure, theme, and character traits. Students will practice giving a good summary of a text and using text evidence to back up the conclusions they draw as they read.
These first weeks we discussed elements of realistic fiction, the point of view the story is told from, and the 5 common elements that can be found in all fiction stories. Using these 5 common elements when summarizing a story can be really helpful in giving a strong retelling.
We revisited theme and how most traditional tales try to teach a lesson about good and evil through theme. I modeled identifying the pieces of text that back up the theme of good vs. evil.
You may have noticed a reading log has not come home since we returned from break. From here to the end of the year students will be asked to write a letter to me each week in the 2nd reading notebook they have. I have modeled what the letter should look like and what it should contain. I will post an example for parents to see. Every Friday students will be asked to turn this letter in and from reading it I should be able to tell they have been completing their nightly reading homework. I have also reminded students that they should be reading the same book at home and at school. Both the weekly letter writing ,and the responsibility of bringing their book back and forth from school will be good "foundation" builders for strong work, study,organizational and time management habits. Students may use some time in class to complete the letter each week, but may need to also finish up for homework.
Students continued work in their"Grammar" folders. We discussed adverbs last week and reviewed them this week. Students were having a hard time differentiating between adjectives and adverbs, so we will continue to work on that.
WEX
Our next class read aloud, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, is part of our second Unit of study in the WEX writing program. We will use this novel to write a response to fiction piece. This book is a great story but can be challenging in that there is a lot of inferential thinking needed to comprehend the book. At times I may assign the students to reread parts we read in class to reinforce comprehension. It might be a good idea for them to read it aloud to you when it is assigned for homework to check for understanding. This would also be good fluency practice. Our response piece that will be written will focus on the character traits of the main character, Shirley Temple Wong.
Social Studies
We continued our study of Social Studies with Ch. 4 in the History Alive text as we examine the motivations behind European Exploration. There will be an open book evaluation for students near the end of this week. We will then switch back to Science for content time and begin our Earth Changing Surface unit.
Here's to a happy and healthy new year! We have definitely had a sick "bug" traveling our room as we have had several absences this week, myself included. I caught a stomach bug from my two boys and wanted to make sure I was symptom free before returning to school! Don't want to spread anymore germs!