Before we started Unit 2 in math, we gave the students a pre-test. Between the two classrooms, we organized activities based on the students' needs. Yesterday, we re-assessed Unit 2 and the students did an amazing job! I am so proud of their hard work during their math time. We have already given the Unit 3 pre-test, so we will begin the unit on math patterns Monday.
We have also continued our science life cycle unit. The students have moved on from pumpkins and are moving into learning more about seeds. We had been watching pumpkins grow in our garden outside, but next week the students will be planting a garden of their own! We are reading books as a class and in small groups to learn more about these topics.
This week we spent some time going over making mental images in our minds while listening to a story. I read them the story A Night in the Country without showing them the pictures. At several places in the story, we stopped and the students had a chance to draw what they thought the illustrations would look like. Afterwards, I reread them the book and we compared our drawings with the pictures in the book.
We had a mixture of writing during our afternoons this week. One day we spent finishing up our pumpkin life cycle books. Another day we wrote our stories about what we want to be when we grow up from our writer's workshop lessons. And another day we recreated stories from some of our favorite books in the George and Martha series. The class has also been writing in October themed journals during their Daily 5 time, as well.
Here are some things to ask your child about:
-Are you playing Boggle or Number Boggle in the morning during choice time? What words or number sentences did you find?
-What was the trick in the George and Martha story you wrote?
-Were your mental images close to what the illustrator had drawn?
Thank you to Elana's grandparents for being mystery readers! It is always fun to have out of town guests!
Thank you to anyone who donated thin, black, expo dry erase markers. We use them all the time! And also thank you to anyone who donated a game for indoor recess. We have actually used them this week already! Anyone else who is able to donate, either would be greatly appreciated!
Reminders:
-Our field trip to Botanic Gardens is on Friday, October 26 from 9:05-12:30. Anyone who is interested in coming is more than welcome. We need a volunteer for every 4 kids if possible.
-We will be celebrating Halloween at school on Friday, October 26. The parade is at 2:15 and the party will follow. I look forward to seeing many of you that day for the field trip, the parade, or both!
-Scholastic book orders are due on October 31. I have already gotten a bunch of orders, which is great! Remember, the more books ordered, the more books I can purchase for the classroom library!
We have also continued our science life cycle unit. The students have moved on from pumpkins and are moving into learning more about seeds. We had been watching pumpkins grow in our garden outside, but next week the students will be planting a garden of their own! We are reading books as a class and in small groups to learn more about these topics.
This week we spent some time going over making mental images in our minds while listening to a story. I read them the story A Night in the Country without showing them the pictures. At several places in the story, we stopped and the students had a chance to draw what they thought the illustrations would look like. Afterwards, I reread them the book and we compared our drawings with the pictures in the book.
We had a mixture of writing during our afternoons this week. One day we spent finishing up our pumpkin life cycle books. Another day we wrote our stories about what we want to be when we grow up from our writer's workshop lessons. And another day we recreated stories from some of our favorite books in the George and Martha series. The class has also been writing in October themed journals during their Daily 5 time, as well.
Here are some things to ask your child about:
-Are you playing Boggle or Number Boggle in the morning during choice time? What words or number sentences did you find?
-What was the trick in the George and Martha story you wrote?
-Were your mental images close to what the illustrator had drawn?
Thank you to Elana's grandparents for being mystery readers! It is always fun to have out of town guests!
Thank you to anyone who donated thin, black, expo dry erase markers. We use them all the time! And also thank you to anyone who donated a game for indoor recess. We have actually used them this week already! Anyone else who is able to donate, either would be greatly appreciated!
Reminders:
-Our field trip to Botanic Gardens is on Friday, October 26 from 9:05-12:30. Anyone who is interested in coming is more than welcome. We need a volunteer for every 4 kids if possible.
-We will be celebrating Halloween at school on Friday, October 26. The parade is at 2:15 and the party will follow. I look forward to seeing many of you that day for the field trip, the parade, or both!
-Scholastic book orders are due on October 31. I have already gotten a bunch of orders, which is great! Remember, the more books ordered, the more books I can purchase for the classroom library!
-Please remember that if a book is sent home to read for the night, it needs to come back to school the next day. Often times, these are books that are used for their guided reading groups and they need them for their lessons. As soon as the students are done reading them, have them put them right back into their take home folders.
-Continue to contact me if you would like to be a mystery reader.
-I am thinking about trying to set up some parent volunteers during our math block, which is from 10:00-10-50 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and from 10:00-10:35 on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you are free during that time and are interested in coming in to assist with math activities, send me an email.