December 3-6
Reading
This week, students continued their focus on non-fiction reading and were taught about the importance of text features. Students spent most the week on a text feature scavenger hunt within our classroom library in which they looked for examples of things like subheadings, captions, the index and bold or italicized words in their reading. students noted what the text feature was, and how it helped them. After previewing multiple non-fiction texts, students will spend next week diving deeper into the tricky parts where they focus on the importance of tackling unknown vocabulary.
Writing
This week, students used their knowledge of non-fiction reading to help them begin the process of note-taking for when they get to informational writing. Each student was given an article on Tsunamis and asked to take notes on it, after they had highlighted or annotated the article as they listened to it being read to them. Students were given a giant post-it, bigger than a notecard and asked to write down as many important facts as they could. Then, they were given a standard post-it in which they had to narrow down what they thought the most important facts were. This practice skill helped students realize the importance of note-taking and how to do so in a way that taught them not to write things down word for word, which was then related back to plagiarism.
Math
This week students were introduced to the concept of multiplication and division by beginning a new technology program called Xtramath. Each student took a placement test to determine their just right level and will continue to practice their basic math facts until they have mastered them all. We also began a new inquiry math unit which focuses on having the students become number detectives and uncovering different rules of divisibility. After students have come up with rules for numbers 1 through 10, we'll spend our time focusing on what a prime and composite number are.
Inquiry
This week, students continued working on their new PYP unit which focuses on How The World Works. After our provocation, we began the unit by completing a picture sort of multiple different types of Natural Disasters, as well as watched a bunch of introductory videos about them on Brainpop. Students learned that during this unit we will mostly be focusing on Earthquakes/Tsunamis, Volcanoes, Wildfires, and Avalanches/Landslides and we finished the week by doing exactly that by learning about plate tectonics.
Upcoming Dates
Reading
This week, students continued their focus on non-fiction reading and were taught about the importance of text features. Students spent most the week on a text feature scavenger hunt within our classroom library in which they looked for examples of things like subheadings, captions, the index and bold or italicized words in their reading. students noted what the text feature was, and how it helped them. After previewing multiple non-fiction texts, students will spend next week diving deeper into the tricky parts where they focus on the importance of tackling unknown vocabulary.
Writing
This week, students used their knowledge of non-fiction reading to help them begin the process of note-taking for when they get to informational writing. Each student was given an article on Tsunamis and asked to take notes on it, after they had highlighted or annotated the article as they listened to it being read to them. Students were given a giant post-it, bigger than a notecard and asked to write down as many important facts as they could. Then, they were given a standard post-it in which they had to narrow down what they thought the most important facts were. This practice skill helped students realize the importance of note-taking and how to do so in a way that taught them not to write things down word for word, which was then related back to plagiarism.
Math
This week students were introduced to the concept of multiplication and division by beginning a new technology program called Xtramath. Each student took a placement test to determine their just right level and will continue to practice their basic math facts until they have mastered them all. We also began a new inquiry math unit which focuses on having the students become number detectives and uncovering different rules of divisibility. After students have come up with rules for numbers 1 through 10, we'll spend our time focusing on what a prime and composite number are.
Inquiry
This week, students continued working on their new PYP unit which focuses on How The World Works. After our provocation, we began the unit by completing a picture sort of multiple different types of Natural Disasters, as well as watched a bunch of introductory videos about them on Brainpop. Students learned that during this unit we will mostly be focusing on Earthquakes/Tsunamis, Volcanoes, Wildfires, and Avalanches/Landslides and we finished the week by doing exactly that by learning about plate tectonics.
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, December 10th- Reading Logs Due/ Vocabulary Test
- Friday, December 13th- Assembly
- Friday, December 13th- PTC Movie Night- 6:00-8:00 pm
- Friday, December 20th- Holiday Class Party- 1:30-2:30 pm
- Monday, December 23rd- Friday, January 3rd- WINTER BREAK