We've had a great week this week! I wanted to focus on a mini-unit we've been doing instead of each subject this week. Enjoy!
This week we've been working on biographies and looking at different times in history. I've been taking a history of gender course and I had to create a few lessons for it. I decided to use the lessons in our class. We have spent time this week viewing pictures of people in different jobs, for example men as nurses, women as coal miners, women astronauts, etc. This is why we asked you what your jobs are. The list we created was great! They loved looking at the different jobs and noticing what most meant do and what most women do. We also talked about jobs that surprised us in each category. They've chosen biographies to read and have been listing important information and qualities of their person. We will continue looking at biographies next week as well. We've ended this mini unit focusing on student's thinking about what they want to be when they grow up. I loved their choices!
I want to be an artist because I draw a lot and practice. - Graham
I want to be a policeman because I can help someone when they fall down. - Ryan
I want to be an artist because some of the paintings colors are bright. - Hayne
I want to be a game creator because I day dream. - Lucas
I want to be a seamstress because I like to sew. - Lisa
I want to be a hockey player because I like to play hockey. - Keith
I want to be a soldier because I get to save the world. - Allen
I want to be a scientist because I am smart, for example, when I thought for myself. - Eliza
I want to be a soccer player because I practice a lot and I'm good at kicking the ball. - June
I want to be a soccer player because I am good at it. - Corey
I want to be a soccer player because I practice almost 2 times a day and score lots of goals. - Henry
I want to be an inventor because I'm smart. - Gabriel
I want to be an architect because I'm very good at drawing. - Naomi
I want to be a doggy daycare person because I like playing with dogs and writing reports about dogs. - Yalli.
I want to be an author because I like to write books. - Hazel
I want to be writer because my mom wrote a book. - Rachel
I want to be a veterinarian because I like to take care of animals. - Jazmin
Friday, March 28, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Weekly Update 3/21/14
It's Spring! Are you as excited as I am? Running outside…biking…playing in the yard…all activities I love about Spring weather! I hope it changes really quickly and starts to warm up!
A few reminders:
* The reading response is due at the end of the week. I know it is not much to write but it is another way for students to connect what they're doing in class with what they're reading at home. It's also a way for you to see what we are working on in class. I know families get busy and believe me I understand and feel the same way at my house sometimes, but please plan your week so it can be done by Friday morning.
* Although the snow is mostly going away, there is still a lot of mud on the playground area so you may still want to send in boots with your child for recess days.
* Don't forget to check out "What did we learn this week?"
* Also, please help me in welcoming David Gershon to our classroom beginning next Monday. He will be an assistant with our class from now on. Ms. Torchetti will be around but will also be working with 5th grade.
What's happening in room 235?
In literacy, we've been focusing on paraphrasing information from non-fiction texts we read. We have also been working on summarizing our information using post it notes to keep track of what we've read before we put it in a summary paragraph. In writing workshop, we're still working on book recommendations by adding our opinion, the details from the story, and we've started working on adding paragraphs to separate our ideas. We also received our pen pal letters and we'll write them back next Monday!
In math, we've focused on a unit called Ages and Timelines. We have been working on adding and subtracting on timelines using all the years you all were born! The students are so excited as they determine everyone's ages. We'll finish this unit next week and then move on to our measuring unit.
In social studies, we flew to China! The students loved "taking off", watching the inflight movie, and "landing in Beijing". We started our unit on Thursday focusing on what we think about China and what we wonder about. This helps us keep thinking through the unit about questions we are interested in.
A few reminders:
* The reading response is due at the end of the week. I know it is not much to write but it is another way for students to connect what they're doing in class with what they're reading at home. It's also a way for you to see what we are working on in class. I know families get busy and believe me I understand and feel the same way at my house sometimes, but please plan your week so it can be done by Friday morning.
* Although the snow is mostly going away, there is still a lot of mud on the playground area so you may still want to send in boots with your child for recess days.
* Don't forget to check out "What did we learn this week?"
* Also, please help me in welcoming David Gershon to our classroom beginning next Monday. He will be an assistant with our class from now on. Ms. Torchetti will be around but will also be working with 5th grade.
What's happening in room 235?
In literacy, we've been focusing on paraphrasing information from non-fiction texts we read. We have also been working on summarizing our information using post it notes to keep track of what we've read before we put it in a summary paragraph. In writing workshop, we're still working on book recommendations by adding our opinion, the details from the story, and we've started working on adding paragraphs to separate our ideas. We also received our pen pal letters and we'll write them back next Monday!
In math, we've focused on a unit called Ages and Timelines. We have been working on adding and subtracting on timelines using all the years you all were born! The students are so excited as they determine everyone's ages. We'll finish this unit next week and then move on to our measuring unit.
In social studies, we flew to China! The students loved "taking off", watching the inflight movie, and "landing in Beijing". We started our unit on Thursday focusing on what we think about China and what we wonder about. This helps us keep thinking through the unit about questions we are interested in.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Weekly Update 3/14/14
I hope everyone has had a nice week. I can't believe it snowed again this week! Hopefully that will be the end of it for the season and Spring will arrive soon!
A few reminders:
* Next Tuesday, March 18, is a dismissal at 3:00 with a Wednesday schedule so we will have art.
* Next Wednesday, March 19, is a 12:30 dismissal with a Tuesday schedule and we will have physical education.
* Please remember that we are a nut free classroom due to many allergies. Please keep this in mind when sending in snacks. Thank you for your help!
* Thank you for coming in for conferences…it's so good for us to touch base and the students love to share their work!
What's happening in room 235?
* In literacy, we are working on non-fiction again. We focused on reading non-fiction, focusing on what's important to learn versus what's interesting to learn. We also worked on paraphrasing what we read to put it in our own words. Next week, we will work on summarizing. In Fundations, we've been working on -ee and -ea words. Writing this week has been great! Students are working on choosing books and writing book recommendations. Once we're all done, we'll be putting the recommendations up for all to see when choosing books for reading workshop.
* In math, we finished up units 7 and 8 on hitting target numbers with open number lines and fractions. Today we started another short unit called Ages and Timelines. We will keep using the open number lines to figure out ages of characters from the book as well as members of our own family.
* In science, we've finished up our ramps unit! They loved it! This unit is wonderful and so engaging for them. They built ramps, used friction and weights to change the measurements, used the tape measure for correct measuring, graphed our data, and wrote our predictions and results. On Wednesday, we will be "flying" to China.
Have a great weekend!
A few reminders:
* Next Tuesday, March 18, is a dismissal at 3:00 with a Wednesday schedule so we will have art.
* Next Wednesday, March 19, is a 12:30 dismissal with a Tuesday schedule and we will have physical education.
* Please remember that we are a nut free classroom due to many allergies. Please keep this in mind when sending in snacks. Thank you for your help!
* Thank you for coming in for conferences…it's so good for us to touch base and the students love to share their work!
What's happening in room 235?
* In literacy, we are working on non-fiction again. We focused on reading non-fiction, focusing on what's important to learn versus what's interesting to learn. We also worked on paraphrasing what we read to put it in our own words. Next week, we will work on summarizing. In Fundations, we've been working on -ee and -ea words. Writing this week has been great! Students are working on choosing books and writing book recommendations. Once we're all done, we'll be putting the recommendations up for all to see when choosing books for reading workshop.
* In math, we finished up units 7 and 8 on hitting target numbers with open number lines and fractions. Today we started another short unit called Ages and Timelines. We will keep using the open number lines to figure out ages of characters from the book as well as members of our own family.
* In science, we've finished up our ramps unit! They loved it! This unit is wonderful and so engaging for them. They built ramps, used friction and weights to change the measurements, used the tape measure for correct measuring, graphed our data, and wrote our predictions and results. On Wednesday, we will be "flying" to China.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Weekly Update 3/7/14
Hello families!
This week has been going so well! I've been very impressed with how well students have worked together in science and how they are taking their time in publishing their writing!
A few reminders!
*Conferences are next week. You should receive a reminder email a day or 2 before. I will be sending home a reminder note as well. Don't forget…your child has wonderful things to share and talk with you about!
*Thursday, the 13th is an early release day for conferences. Dismissal is at 12:30.
**Switch schedules: On Tuesday, March 18th, we will have a long day with dismissal at 3:00 (art special). On Wednesday, March 19th, we will have a short day with dismissal at 12:30 (physical education special). This is due to MCAS and is the only switch all year.
*If you have not sent back your field trip forms, please do so tomorrow. We will be picking names out of a hat on Monday for chaperones.
What's happening in room 235?
In literacy, we've been focusing on trickster tales. How are they different from folktales and pourquois? We have talked about the elements of trickster tales, such as the main character usually outsmarts the stronger character, it sometimes has a lesson, and the trickster usually survives by being clever, getting into mischief, or using wisdom. We've also used this time to work on comparing stories and thinking about what's the same and different between the texts. In Fundations, we've been finishing up unit 10 on -ay and -ai words and homophones. In writing workshop, we've been working finishing up and publishing our opinion writing on a book we've read. They grown so much as writers in this unit and I'm very impressed! Ask your child which book they've been writing about.
In math, we've been working on "Hit the Target". We work with numbers and solve which number we started at, which number we finished at (the target), and how many jumps in between. This helps them work on both addition and subtraction skills. It's important for students to see that some problems can be solved with either addition or subtraction as long as they know which number is their answer. Explaining what they're doing, helps them determine the correct answer. We also measured our arm spans and jumps and focused on noticing information in our data. We will be starting fractions as well and talking about equal parts.
In science, we've been working on our ramp unit. We've talked about what slides and rolls, what makes something go faster or slower, and made predictions about which object would go down the ramp the fastest and then tested it. This unit is not only great for the science curriculum, but it focuses a lot on working as a group and explaining what they observed. Ask your child which object went down the ramp the fastest.
Look forward to seeing all of you at conferences!
Have a great week!
This week has been going so well! I've been very impressed with how well students have worked together in science and how they are taking their time in publishing their writing!
A few reminders!
*Conferences are next week. You should receive a reminder email a day or 2 before. I will be sending home a reminder note as well. Don't forget…your child has wonderful things to share and talk with you about!
*Thursday, the 13th is an early release day for conferences. Dismissal is at 12:30.
**Switch schedules: On Tuesday, March 18th, we will have a long day with dismissal at 3:00 (art special). On Wednesday, March 19th, we will have a short day with dismissal at 12:30 (physical education special). This is due to MCAS and is the only switch all year.
*If you have not sent back your field trip forms, please do so tomorrow. We will be picking names out of a hat on Monday for chaperones.
What's happening in room 235?
In literacy, we've been focusing on trickster tales. How are they different from folktales and pourquois? We have talked about the elements of trickster tales, such as the main character usually outsmarts the stronger character, it sometimes has a lesson, and the trickster usually survives by being clever, getting into mischief, or using wisdom. We've also used this time to work on comparing stories and thinking about what's the same and different between the texts. In Fundations, we've been finishing up unit 10 on -ay and -ai words and homophones. In writing workshop, we've been working finishing up and publishing our opinion writing on a book we've read. They grown so much as writers in this unit and I'm very impressed! Ask your child which book they've been writing about.
In math, we've been working on "Hit the Target". We work with numbers and solve which number we started at, which number we finished at (the target), and how many jumps in between. This helps them work on both addition and subtraction skills. It's important for students to see that some problems can be solved with either addition or subtraction as long as they know which number is their answer. Explaining what they're doing, helps them determine the correct answer. We also measured our arm spans and jumps and focused on noticing information in our data. We will be starting fractions as well and talking about equal parts.
In science, we've been working on our ramp unit. We've talked about what slides and rolls, what makes something go faster or slower, and made predictions about which object would go down the ramp the fastest and then tested it. This unit is not only great for the science curriculum, but it focuses a lot on working as a group and explaining what they observed. Ask your child which object went down the ramp the fastest.
Look forward to seeing all of you at conferences!
Have a great week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)