December Already!

Kapolei Middle School Band and Choir sure put us in the Holiday spirit with a stellar performance this week.  We also learned about some of the instruments (up close and personal) and the ensemble of the band.  The children were very interested.  Not to mention our very own Gyonna Smith got to conduct a song with the band.  Who knows.. we might have some band champs in our future!

Here is a summary of what happened in our classroom:

​In Langauge Arts... 

• Our essential question this week was How can people help out their community? Together we read Biblioburro by Jeanette Winter.  Using a similar T-chart, students analyzed specific details the author included and discussed why they support the main idea or point the author wants to make.  The story Biblioburro is a narrative nonfiction text.  This true story is about a school teacher from Colombia named Luis Soriano who wanted to share books with children near and far.  We talked about Benjamin Franklin and how he also wanted to share his books with people who would have otherwise not have had access to them.  These two people's love for books and desire to share them with others helped and are continuing to help many in communities.  Using the text Biblioburro and talking about Benjamin Franklin, students learned about how the idea of a lending library all started. ​
• This week the reading standard addressed was Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text.   Previously,  students were taught to identify the main idea of a text or a portion of a text and determine supporting details.  These are prerequisite skills for the standard taught this week.  This week students read a text called Lighting Lives.  The main idea of the text is a lady named Debby Tewa works hard to help native people living without any electricity get solar panels.  Students had to look closely at specific details and explain why they support the main idea.   

• Students learned about writing good introductions.  Students practiced creating good hooks that engage the reader and grab their attention.  Then they practiced writing a short summary sentence that explains the main ideas of their writing. 

• Many students are on a draft 2 and soon will be ready to publish their pollination informational writing.  Here's the steps one student took.

In math...

• Students learned how to add two-digit number using an open number line.  Many students found the open number line easier to show their thinking on than a segmented one because you don't have to think about the exact position of each number.  Students learned that on an open number line, the position of your jumps need not to be so precise.  ​The purpose of empty number lines are to capture the thinking steps that were followed.  These strategies, when ready, will assist the children with mental math.  
• Students practiced more addition and subtraction strategies using dominos to help find the missing parts.  We reviewed that subtraction is Total - Part = Part and addition is Part + Part = Total.  
• Students practiced addition using double-facts or near-double facts.  
• Students learned that even with a missing unknown, whether it's a part or a total, you can still determine all the members of the fact family.  Students did this by solving for the unknown, then finding the turn around fact and two related subtraction problems.

In science...

• Students participated in another science lab.  They got to examine a lima bean seed.  Students noticed its hard coat.  The seeds were soaked over night in water to soften the hard coat, which then allowed for the first step in the germination process.  We watched and read different processes and studied the different parts of the seed and seed growth.  Students then "planted" their seeds in ziplock bags with a damp napkin and taped it to the window for sunlight so the seed could begin to grow.  We watched it all week and some seeds have already begun to grow the hypocotyl and roots! 

Announcements and Reminders...

• Tomorrow students are taking their Winter iReady Reading Diagnostic.  Please make sure students get a good night's rest, a well-balanced breakfast, and arrive on time to school. 
• On Tuesday they will be taking the Winter iReady Math Diagnostic.
• Monday is the last day for Book Fair sales.