Monday is Valentine's Day. We will be doing some activities in Math and Reading relating to this tradition. Don't forget there is no school on Friday (teachers have professional development) or next Monday for Presidents' Day.
On Friday we finished up our unit on measurement. The main ideas students were to take away from this were: how to accurately measure using non standard units (snap cubes, tiles, kid steps etc), if two people use the same unit of measurement to measure the same thing they should get the same answer and if two people use two different units of measurement to measure the same thing they should get different answers (my steps versus kid's steps).
In Math we will be starting our Unit on Addition and Subtraction. We will be finding many ways to make numbers beginning with all the ways to make 10. If I have 1 what number do I need to make 10? This will soon morph into 3 digit addition and discovery of what combination of numbers make another number (1+2+7=10, 2+2+6=10 5+3+ what number = 10). This is sometimes difficult for students to conceptualize so we will be using manipulatives to help with the process. We will also continue or discussions of how you know when to add numbers and when to subtract them.
Last week in Reading we had our first assessment where the students had to read the reading passage and all questions and answers by themselves. As the year progresses, we will work more and more on reading comprehension in conjunction with reading fluency, phonics skills and word identification. Students need to read fluently (fast and accurately) and for comprehension (knowing what the passages are about and being able to understand and answer questions about them).
This week in Unit 21 we are learning about long a with silent e (a_e as in cake). We will discuss reading with expression and how that helps us understand a story (no robots!). We will also discuss problems and solutions in stories.
In writing, we wrote about our favorite places. This week I will conference with students and we will edit their papers. I am specifically looking for correct use of capitals, punctuation and spacing as well as details used to describe the place.
We have also started corresponding with Ms. Burkly, a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia, who teaches high school in Mozambique. We can't wait to hear what life is like for her.
In Science we are finishing our unit on Solids and Liquids and will have our assessment sometime this week or early next week.
In Social Studies we will continue Black History month and learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
I sent home Scholastic book order forms. You may order online or send in your form with correct change. (Online ordering and cash expedite the ordering process).
Pennies for Patients wraps up on Thursday February 17. Any money collected for this charity will need to be in by that morning so we can count it up!
Have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day!
Dave Ostheimer
On Friday we finished up our unit on measurement. The main ideas students were to take away from this were: how to accurately measure using non standard units (snap cubes, tiles, kid steps etc), if two people use the same unit of measurement to measure the same thing they should get the same answer and if two people use two different units of measurement to measure the same thing they should get different answers (my steps versus kid's steps).
In Math we will be starting our Unit on Addition and Subtraction. We will be finding many ways to make numbers beginning with all the ways to make 10. If I have 1 what number do I need to make 10? This will soon morph into 3 digit addition and discovery of what combination of numbers make another number (1+2+7=10, 2+2+6=10 5+3+ what number = 10). This is sometimes difficult for students to conceptualize so we will be using manipulatives to help with the process. We will also continue or discussions of how you know when to add numbers and when to subtract them.
Last week in Reading we had our first assessment where the students had to read the reading passage and all questions and answers by themselves. As the year progresses, we will work more and more on reading comprehension in conjunction with reading fluency, phonics skills and word identification. Students need to read fluently (fast and accurately) and for comprehension (knowing what the passages are about and being able to understand and answer questions about them).
This week in Unit 21 we are learning about long a with silent e (a_e as in cake). We will discuss reading with expression and how that helps us understand a story (no robots!). We will also discuss problems and solutions in stories.
In writing, we wrote about our favorite places. This week I will conference with students and we will edit their papers. I am specifically looking for correct use of capitals, punctuation and spacing as well as details used to describe the place.
We have also started corresponding with Ms. Burkly, a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia, who teaches high school in Mozambique. We can't wait to hear what life is like for her.
In Science we are finishing our unit on Solids and Liquids and will have our assessment sometime this week or early next week.
In Social Studies we will continue Black History month and learn about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
I sent home Scholastic book order forms. You may order online or send in your form with correct change. (Online ordering and cash expedite the ordering process).
Pennies for Patients wraps up on Thursday February 17. Any money collected for this charity will need to be in by that morning so we can count it up!
Have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day!
Dave Ostheimer