Writing Workshop
We continued working on opinion writing the past two weeks. The children have learned the most convincing letters state a clear opinion (Pinky and Rex is a fantastic book!), giving a specific reason (The character, Pinky and Rex, really care about one another.), then support it with examples from the text (For example, when Pinky was sad Rex tried many things to cheer him up.) They have really enjoyed this, and I'm learning about lots of new great books from them! Please have a conversation with your child about the books they like and encourage using this format for stating their opinions!
We also began writing Valentines this week. Each day for the next month, each child will write a thoughtful, personalized valentine to each of the other children in the class. Because of this, students do not need to bring in additional valentines. However, if your child would like to bring in additional valentines, s/he may do so as long as s/he brings in one for everyone in the class.
Valentine’s Day in 2 Ma
We will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Friendship Party on Thursday, February 14 with a party from 12:35-1:35. Each child has been writing a thoughtful, personalized valentine to each of the other children in the class. Students have also made an envelope to receive their valentines. Because of this, students need not bring store bought valentines or valentines made at home. However, if your child has already made valentines and would like to bring them, s/he may do so as long as s/he brings in one for everyone in the class. Also please note for the safety of all students that NO CANDY should be included with Valentines. Any candy sent to school will not be distributed. Thanks for your support in making this celebration safe and inclusive for all of our kids.
Math
The children also did more work with the second investigation of Unit 3 the past two weeks. The students have been solving story problems that have a change and start unknown. They are working hard to read the story and write an equation to match the action in the story. Then, the children can solve the problem in a manner that makes sense to them. We discussed the formulas: Total=Part+Part, and the reverse Part+Part=Total. This language helps students make sense of the information in story problems. Ask your child to explain this to you! We will wrap up Unit 3 next week and begin unit 4 which focuses on graphing and data collection.
The students also learned a new game called Plus/Minus 10 Five-in-a-Row. This game provides great practice for understanding place value and adding or subtracting ten. The children pull cards and make the numbers possible from the digits they pulled. Then they add or subtract ten from the number they made and cover that space on a hundreds chart. They work with a partner to cover five spaces in a row. The children are also choosing which hundred they want to work with from 100-500.
Social Studies - Geography
The children learned about the compass rose, cardinal and intermediate directions, the continents in social studies. They discovered the cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest. They watched a Brainpop Jr. video about continents and identified continents. They also read their social studies book and watched a Brainpop Jr. video about landforms.
Reading Workshop
During reading, we have been focusing on understanding literary language. First, students learned to pay attention to special language and think about what the author means. Next, we noticed comparisons such as similes and metaphors and noted how the two things being compared are alike. We also worked to figure out what playful language really means in the books we are reading. Ask your child to tell you if s/he found literary language in this week's reading.
We also began working with same-book partners to keep track of longer books. The children chose the same book to read with a partner, and meet to discuss the book. The partners make a plan for their reading, talk about confusing parts, reread to make sure they comprehend, and simply enjoy the book together. This has been very helpful for the students.
Finally, we are continuing to read Gooseberry Park, by Cynthia Rylant. This book is packed with literary language and is very long, so we are able to practice a variety of reading skills throughout the book.
Work Study
Due to the short week, we did not have word study this week. Last week students continued looking at r-controlled vowel words with the vowel i. They learned that /ir/ makes the engine sound, or rrrrrrrrrrr, as in bird and girl, while /ire/ and /ier/ make the long i sound, as in fire, wire, crier, and drier. This makes spelling very challenging, and requires the children to use their eyes and ears to spell words. They must use their eyes to memorize if a word makes the rrrrrrrrrrrr sound with /ir/ or /er/. They must also listen for sounds in words so they can try different spelling patterns, then see what looks correct!
We continued working on opinion writing the past two weeks. The children have learned the most convincing letters state a clear opinion (Pinky and Rex is a fantastic book!), giving a specific reason (The character, Pinky and Rex, really care about one another.), then support it with examples from the text (For example, when Pinky was sad Rex tried many things to cheer him up.) They have really enjoyed this, and I'm learning about lots of new great books from them! Please have a conversation with your child about the books they like and encourage using this format for stating their opinions!
We also began writing Valentines this week. Each day for the next month, each child will write a thoughtful, personalized valentine to each of the other children in the class. Because of this, students do not need to bring in additional valentines. However, if your child would like to bring in additional valentines, s/he may do so as long as s/he brings in one for everyone in the class.
Valentine’s Day in 2 Ma
We will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Friendship Party on Thursday, February 14 with a party from 12:35-1:35. Each child has been writing a thoughtful, personalized valentine to each of the other children in the class. Students have also made an envelope to receive their valentines. Because of this, students need not bring store bought valentines or valentines made at home. However, if your child has already made valentines and would like to bring them, s/he may do so as long as s/he brings in one for everyone in the class. Also please note for the safety of all students that NO CANDY should be included with Valentines. Any candy sent to school will not be distributed. Thanks for your support in making this celebration safe and inclusive for all of our kids.
Math
The children also did more work with the second investigation of Unit 3 the past two weeks. The students have been solving story problems that have a change and start unknown. They are working hard to read the story and write an equation to match the action in the story. Then, the children can solve the problem in a manner that makes sense to them. We discussed the formulas: Total=Part+Part, and the reverse Part+Part=Total. This language helps students make sense of the information in story problems. Ask your child to explain this to you! We will wrap up Unit 3 next week and begin unit 4 which focuses on graphing and data collection.
The students also learned a new game called Plus/Minus 10 Five-in-a-Row. This game provides great practice for understanding place value and adding or subtracting ten. The children pull cards and make the numbers possible from the digits they pulled. Then they add or subtract ten from the number they made and cover that space on a hundreds chart. They work with a partner to cover five spaces in a row. The children are also choosing which hundred they want to work with from 100-500.
Social Studies - Geography
The children learned about the compass rose, cardinal and intermediate directions, the continents in social studies. They discovered the cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest. They watched a Brainpop Jr. video about continents and identified continents. They also read their social studies book and watched a Brainpop Jr. video about landforms.
Reading Workshop
During reading, we have been focusing on understanding literary language. First, students learned to pay attention to special language and think about what the author means. Next, we noticed comparisons such as similes and metaphors and noted how the two things being compared are alike. We also worked to figure out what playful language really means in the books we are reading. Ask your child to tell you if s/he found literary language in this week's reading.
We also began working with same-book partners to keep track of longer books. The children chose the same book to read with a partner, and meet to discuss the book. The partners make a plan for their reading, talk about confusing parts, reread to make sure they comprehend, and simply enjoy the book together. This has been very helpful for the students.
Finally, we are continuing to read Gooseberry Park, by Cynthia Rylant. This book is packed with literary language and is very long, so we are able to practice a variety of reading skills throughout the book.
Work Study
Due to the short week, we did not have word study this week. Last week students continued looking at r-controlled vowel words with the vowel i. They learned that /ir/ makes the engine sound, or rrrrrrrrrrr, as in bird and girl, while /ire/ and /ier/ make the long i sound, as in fire, wire, crier, and drier. This makes spelling very challenging, and requires the children to use their eyes and ears to spell words. They must use their eyes to memorize if a word makes the rrrrrrrrrrrr sound with /ir/ or /er/. They must also listen for sounds in words so they can try different spelling patterns, then see what looks correct!