Writing CeLEbRaTioN!

We celebrated the end of our writing unit of small moments and personal narratives! For the past few days students have been working hard on one piece of work they created by editing, recieving peer reviews and then getting a teacher review. They took their sloppy copy with all the notes and ideas from others and turned it into a final copy. Friday we celebrated their hard work! Students left their final pieces on their desk to be read. Everyone was given a small stack of sticky notes to write positive notes with something nice to say about the different stories they read. In the end, with a donut, students were able to go back to their own desk and read the different sticky notes that were left on their desk. They did a GREAT job! 

Pocket Day!

Friday was Pocket Day!! It is extremely amusing how excited the students get over Pocket Day in the classroom! :) Pocket Day was an activity in our math curriculum at the beginning of the year, however, we have continued the activity due to the high interest level. Students are now linking it to what we are presently learning. All students counted their pockets and claimed their number. After all numbers were collected, we then looked for ways to add up 27 numbers! We have talked about number strings and finding digits to add together that would make the most sense first. Students immediately took all combinations that added to ten...AWESOME! Then added in the left overs. In the end they had two digit combinations to compute. I wish I had a picture of all their minds at work using strategies with fingers moving in the air and their faces intense with the thought process :) Finally the hands starting darting up and the answer was found...using tens and ones! 118 pockets on our third pocket day for sure beats the other two pocket days. Now they have a challenge for the next Pocket Day :) 

Creating Story Maps

Students have been working hard to take all the details in the stories and create a Story Map. After reading, they stop to think, then jot down notes regarding the setting, character traits, and identifying the problem. Last they are wrap it up by talking about the solution their story found OR they predict what could happen next in their story. Depending on the story and selection students are reading depends on whether they are able to conclude a book for the story map, or if they are only able to talk about the pages they read during readers workshop. Identifying the problem is huge by finding that main idea then talking about with evidence the most important parts are that connect to the problem. This helps students to be part of their stories and predict what they think will happen next by including evidence linked to the setting and their characters. 

Spelling 11/17-11/21

New spelling words came home last Friday! Students should be setting aside time throughout the week to practice all ten words with the long "i" theme in addition to the challenge words. Challenge words are subject material in our current curriculum that the students are reading and recognizing on a daily basis. They will be practicing these words in addition to just spelling time. 

Reminders

Thurs, Nov. 20
Scholastic book orders are due!

Unless you place an order online. (You are welcome to do online orders at anytime)
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns

NO SCHOOL

Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 27 & 28

Nov. 25

La Senorita Gives Back 

With all the sickness going around, our classroom would GREATLY appreciate donations of:

 Clorox Wipes

Kleenex

Please make sure students are bringing the necessary apparel for outside conditions. 

Hats

Winter Coats

Gloves/Mittens

Boots

Scarves

Thank you so much for all your continued support!

Scholastic Book Order

Students are bringing home a Scholastic Book Club Order to look through. All orders are due back on Thursday, Nov. 20. You are also welcome to make your order online. Please let me know if you have any further questions! Thank you!

Spelling List 10/10-10/14

I apologize this word list was not up sooner. All 14 words will be tested on Friday. Thank you!

Symmetry

Students have been describing and identifying objects and designs with symmetry.
They have been:
- Constructing 2-D & 3-D symmetrical designs with mirror symmetry
- Reflecting a shape across a line of symmetry
- Exploring symmetry by folding and cutting paper patterns
- Identifying lines of symmetry
- Determining what makes a design symmetrical

Building Shapes

A new math game was added to math workshop called Build It! There are a variety of baggies labeled with different shapes: pentagon, hexagon, octagon, rectangle, rhombus, trapezoid, and square. There are a certain number of popsicle sticks inside each bag for the students to construct that shape. This helps students to describe and identify the different shapes and all attributes for each. 

Peer Editing in Writing

Students have been working hard to develop a variety of personal narratives (small moments) to add to their writing folders. They are narrowing down what they have produced and are working with buddies to get an extra eye to help with the structure, development and conventions of their work. Students exchange their writing with a peer, where that peer gives helpful notes for the student to think about using. They did a really nice job today. I heard great responses and conversations from pairs working together. Now they are able to apply what they have been given and move forward. This was a positive experience that relayed positive feedback from the students, and something we will try again!