What Are We Learning About?
- During reader’s workshop, we begin each day with a mini-lesson that is focused on a reading strategy. This past month, we spent time thinking about the types of questions good readers ask while they are reading, pushing ourselves to ask deeper questions each time we read. We also practiced thinking about the author’s message. What is he/she trying to teach us? This month, we are beginning our study of nonfiction texts. We will learn how to access nonfiction texts by first examining their text features. Four days per week, the students spend one hour engaged in independent and small group work that is literacy-based. We began a new structure for this in the month of December called the Daily Five. During this time, students read to themselves, listen to reading (via computers), complete word work, and spend time writing. Students have even had the opportunity to do some of their word work (spelling practice) on the school IPads. It has been a very valuable time of the school day. The kids (and their teacher) love it!
- In writer’s workshop, we have begun our study of nonfiction writing. Students have chosen topics they are experts in. They are beginning to draft everything they know about their topic, while also determining what parts of their topic they might need further research in. Students will be starting research on their topic with the help of our librarian, Mrs. Robertson. We are supporting our efforts to learn about nonfiction writing by reading lots of nonfiction. You can encourage and support your child by encouraging them to read more nonfiction at home.
- In math, students have been working very hard to master their multiplication facts. They are doing a fantastic job! However, memorizing their facts is only a small part of our study of multiplication. Students are learning how to solve both multiplication and division word problems. They are identifying key language within the word problems that indicate whether they need to divide or multiply. Students have learned how to manipulate arrays to match multiplication equations. In the next few weeks, we will continue to study multiplication and division word problems, particularly multi-step problems. We will also be studying the properties of multiplication. These will include the commutative property, distributive property, and associative property.
- In science, students are exploring the concepts of forces and motion. We have learned key vocabulary (force, push, pull, gravity, motion) through hands-on experiments. We will soon be exploring Newton’s Laws through a series of readings and experiments.
- In handwriting, students have finally finished learning their lowercase letters. We are beginning our capital letters this week. Students had the option of entering into the National Handwriting Contest. I am very excited to see the work they did!
- Home Book Project- Hopefully by now you have read and reviewed the Paper Plate Pal book project with your child. Please see the project paper for details. If you have any questions along the way, or need help accessing any of the materials necessary for the project, please let me know!
