Blog Archives

Kicking off 3rd Quarter!

1/25/2019

Our little engineers got to put their designs to the test as they conducted a trial run of their seed dispersers this week. It was quite an experience for them to explore and evaluate how they thought their models were going to work and actually seeing them in action.

In language arts...

The standard covered this week was 2.RI.3 Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text. Using a text called What's in Your Backpack: Exploring Our Forest, students learned how paper and pencils are made and how it all starts in our forests. Students had to identify and describe the steps as well as sequence them in correct order.

In math...

Students first learned how to use the count back strategy on a number line to subtract. They practiced decomposing numbers to stop at "friendly" numbers.
Then, students learned how they can "think addition" on a number line to subtract. If a subtraction problem is 85 - 64 = ? Students were taught to start at 64 and make a "jump of 10" to 74, then another "jump of 10" to 84 and finally a "jump of 1" to 85. The answer is how many "jumps" were made.
Students applied these strategies when solving word problems.
The children sorted shapes into categories and by doing so they learned that polygons are closed shapes, have only straight sides, and are 2 dimensional.

In social studies...

Students learned that natural resources are materials that come from nature that people use, such as rock, soil, minerals, air, water, plants, and animals. Students also learned that some natural resources are renewable, such as plants and animals and others are nonrenewable, such as fossil fuels like coal and oil. Once fossil fuels are burned they cannot be replaced. Conservation efforts, such as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse are ways students are learning that can help with problems concerning limited natural resources.

Reminders & Announcements

No school 1/28 due to Teacher's Professional Development Day
Student Showcase starts on 2/4 and end on 2/8. During this time, come and check out student featured writing and art in the Cafeteria.
Our clothing drive is running until 2/1. If you have anything you would like to donate, drop off is on the stage cafe. Thank you for your donations!

0 Comments

Bringing in the New Year!

1/12/2019

0 Comments

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed time with family and friends this holiday season bringing in the New Year. Every start to a new year makes for the perfect opportunity to reflect on our achievements and set new goals. This is exactly what the children did. Going through this process is meaningful for the children as they are learning that they can track and monitor their progress and by doing this it motivates them to strive higher. Looking at their growth also allows them to self assess, set another goal, and make a plan to get there. Students set goals for reading, math, and they also set personal goals as well.

Here is a summary of what happened in our classroom:

In Langauge Arts...

This week's essential question was how does weather effect us? Students practiced to describe the main idea and find supporting details using a text called Tornados! Prior to reading, students activated their prior knowledge about the subject. Students learned this is an important reading strategy because it allows students to connect new information they learn about a subject to information they already know helping us to understand complex topics or ideas.

Using another text called Wild Weather by Seymour Simon, students learned about extreme weather conditions and how it can effect people. The practiced describing the main idea while learning about the differences between thunderstorms, lightning, tornados, hurricanes and blizzards. They even learned about some of the most devastating hurricanes in history, including Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans in 2005.

Grammar and vocabulary lessons this week included synonyms and antonyms.
In writing, students learned that introductions have two components: a hook and a summary sentence. Students used a divided circle map to develop various introductions then selected their favorite. Students used riddles, fun facts, exciting moments, questions, or sounds as their hooks.

In math...

Student used a hundreds chart to subtract numbers, learning that when you move directly up on a hundreds chart, you're subtracting 10 and by moving to the left you're subtracting ones.
Students then used a number line to subtract. They first had to decompose the subtrahend, then jump accordingly. For example, 57 - 13 = ? Students start at 57, make a jump of "minus ten" to 47, then another jump of "minus 3" to 44. This strategy is called the "jumps of ten" strategy.

In science...

Students built their seed disperser models this week. Using the Scientific process, students designed a model and got to evaluate and redesign to make improvements based on their findings. Click here for Photos

REMINDERS AND ANNOUCEMENTS

Progress portfolios, evidence binders and report cards with iReady scores will be going home with your child on Thursday 1/17. Please be sure to check for these things in your child's backpack on that day. You may take a few days or a week or so to review the binders. Please return them with everything intact. Please sign and return the report card envelop on Friday 1/18 and keep the report card and iReady report at home.
No School on Monday 1/21- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Please note that there is a new Reading A-Z homework routine. Students will be assigned an A-Z book and comprehension questions every other Monday. This assignment is due on Fridays.

0 Comments

Kicking off 3rd Quarter!

Bringing in the New Year!

Archives

Categories