Reading Workshop:
Theme, main idea, and summary are the reading skills we have been working on in reader’s workshop lately. Mrs. Kinkoph has been working in Media class as well on the differences between theme and main idea. These are tough concepts for the students because they need to understand that theme is like a moral to a story or a lesson learned. Theme can be applied to many different types of stories. Main idea is different because it is unique to one story and has details that are directly tied to the main idea. Additionally, we have been reading mini leveled books and applying those skills. While, the rest of the class works on a skill based activity, I meet with a small group of students and we talk about the skill with a mini leveled book. This has been an effective reading practice, because I can really assist students with their reading needs such as fluency, word decoding, or other activities. Students also are working on a “Summary” project that goes with their literature circle book, Sadako, Sees Behind Trees, and Morning Girl. The project will be graded and is to be done in class. Students have clear expectations as to what needs to be done as they are following a rubric. Finally, when the project is finished, we will begin a new chapter book.
Writing Workshop:
During writing time, we are just finishing up a writing piece titled, “How to Build a Smore”. Students were able to build their own Smore to prepare them for this writing. We are also focusing on conjunctions and combining longer sentences together using conjunctions. Our next writing piece will focus on a “Compare and Contrast” essay. Students will be selecting a sibling, cousin, or friend to compare and contrast.
Word Study/Grammar:
This week will be focusing on Cycle 10 words which include the skill of long a spelled with either ei or ai. The grammar concepts for the next few weeks will focus on conjunctions, adverbs, and irregular verbs.
Science:
Students have finished our physical and chemical change unit. They are now experts on determining the differences between a physical and chemical change. To end our unit we celebrated with a “Chemical Change Café.” Students read through different scenarios to determine if an item could be placed on the menu. Only chemical change items were allowed on the menu! We then made our own chemical change-pancakes! Of course we were able to eat them as well. The test from this unit will be coming home in your child’s Monday folder next week. This week we started our weather unit. We start with learning about the different stages of the water cycle. We will be conducting several water cycle experiments in class, learning songs about the water cycle, and creating a book about the water cycle process.
Social Studies:
Students have done an excellent job preparing for their Unit 3 test. We are now well underway in Ch. 4. We packed our “covered wagon” and heading down the trail to settle in Ohio. The essential question becomes, “Why were people moving to Ohio and what conflicts did they face?” Students are completing an engaging activity where they had to decide what to take in their covered wagon because you can’t take it all. They had to think of all the possibilities settlers faced and what they did and did not have in that time period. Also, they had a transcript from a “real” settler to read and decode. Students really are feeling the hardships the settlers did as they moved. Next, we will discuss wars such as The American Revolution, French and Indian War, and Ohio and Indians Wars. Students will be addressing the causes and effects of these wars.
Math:
Wow, I’m truly impressed the student’s division strategies! They did an excellent job understanding and applying those strategies. Next, we are moving into the fraction unit. Mrs. Voinovich will be taking the lead in math for this next unit. We started our unit with discussing how fractions are an important skill to learn. We use fractions in our everyday lives! Then, students used geoboards to help them determine equal halves, fourths, and eighths. Next, students created grid cards for fractions such as 2/8, ¾, 8/10. Students will be comparing these cards and identifying which fraction is more than ½, less than ½, between ½ and 1 whole, etc. Soon we take our fractions and turn them into decimals.
Important:
*All parents have now been contacted about setting up a spring conference or have had a conference. Please let us know otherwise.
*Students will be decorating Valentine boxes for the party and will pass out Valentines prior to the party. Please have students bring in their Valentines in the morning so we have ample time to pass them out. Thank you!
*Please see attached “Secret Pal” letter information
Dates to remember:
February 2nd – Leighton Leaping Stars Assembly at LES – 2:30 PM
February 10th – Leaping Stars at the Cavs Game – 7:00 PM
February 14th – Valentine’s Party – 1:45-2:30 PM
February 27th – Board meeting at LES – 7:00 PM
February 28th and March 8th – Spring Conferences
