October Updates
Posted by Beth Crawford-Mass on 10/9/2016
Math
Hopefully you had a chance to look over the chapter 2 parent page that went home this week. We are learning all about skip counting, repeated addition, and even and odd numbers. We will begin practicing incorporating math groups into our math rotations this week. This allows students to assess their own learning and either practice and apply a new math concept in a new way or challenge themselves through an extension activity. Students are eager to work independently as I work with math groups and I think we are ready!
Language Arts
I really enjoyed DRA testing and listening to each student read independently last week. We are all set to start reading groups this week. Our reading block will still look the same: whole group reading and discussion, a connected activity, and then independent rotations. Reading groups will meet during our rotation time.
We will expand upon our focus of asking questions by considering “thick and thin” questions. We have practiced asking thin questions such as who are the main characters? Where is the setting? What happened after …?
We will use the following question starters to help us connect to the stories that we read this week. These are great questions to ask your child as you are reading together at home as well!
Science and Writing Integration
I’m sure that you heard all about all of the butterflies that emerged last week! The students were lucky enough to watch a couple of butterflies emerge right before their eyes!
Each student has been gathering information on the lifecycle of a painted lady butterfly. They have been learning about sources that can provide information about a topic. Your child has gathered information from books, filled in a bubble map as a form of note-taking while watching 2 very informative videos, observed 3 of the 4 stages of the lifecycle in the classroom, and listened to a classmate present information that they gathered for last year’s science fair. Students will be continuing their research this week by gathering information online. Students will have a lot of information to pull from as they write an informative paper all about painted lady butterflies!
Chromebooks and frogrock accounts
Mrs. Ukich, our amazing librarian, spent some time in our classroom last week teaching students how to log in and out of their frogrock accounts on the Chromebooks. We will be incorporating the Chromebooks into our schedule more and more. This week, we will work in pairs on the Chromebooks to wrap up or butterfly research.
Important Upcoming Dates
Parent Conference Sign up on Skyward: October 7th – October 14th
HC nomination window: Monday, September 26th - Friday, October 14th
Field trip to Suyematsu: October 19th
Parent conferences/no school: October 20th and 21st
Costume Parade and Party: October 31st