Zoo Reading!

We had the BEST reading audience today- our zoo animals!

Newsletter 5/27/16

We worked on strengthening good reading habits this week.  Both our phonics and reading workshop lessons focused on reading fluently and “making a movie in your mind” of the story so that it’s easier to retell.  A fluent reader reads smoothly, using appropriate phrasing.  S/he is not reading “choppy” (word for word).  The best way to improve fluency is to have your child read the same just right book multiple times!

We are getting close to the end of our persuasive writing unit.  We are writing more pieces about various problems and wants.  In handwriting this week, we focused on beginning sentences with a capital and ending with a period.  We are trying to remember that every time we write.

We continued our work with subtraction this week, getting more practice with equations and gaining confidence!

In Second Steps this week we continued our work on problem solving.  We tried how to have empathy for someone who is alone and invite him/her to play.  We attended an assembly about our new BUDDY BENCHES on the playgrounds.  Ask your child about them! Lastly, we learned about the 3 ways to play fair: share, take turns and trade.  

We celebrated the end of our shelter unit by building strong shelters with our buddies.  What a blast!  And… big news!  We have FIVE adult ladybugs!  We also had such a fun Zoo Day.  We wrote about our animals, read books to them, and made zoo crafts.  Lastly, we discussed the importance of Memorial Day.  See you at the parade and Post 53 Food Fair!

News and Notes

This was the last week of Book Buddy bags.  Please return your bags ASAP so that we may take inventory.

Sharing persuasive writing

Retelling with partners

                           

LADYBUGS!

Shelter celebration!

We were all architects today, building sturdy shelters with our 5th Grade Buddies!  We built using all kinds of materials: wood (popsicle sticks), "bricks" (sugar cubes), "cement" (glue), and then we added important details like roofs to keep out the harsh weather, windows and doors.  Our shelters will be coming home soon, so be on the lookout!

The newest shelters on the block!  Well done!

Newsletter 5/20/16

In Reading Workshop, we continued our unit on avid readers.  This week we learned how an avid reader resists distractions, gives a “Just Right” word to describe a character’s feeling (not just “happy” or “sad”), uses all the super powers and talks to a buddy about books for as long as possible.

We are becoming such skilled authors!  Each week, we write in our journals.  We are really working on improving our entries from one week to the next.  We also wrote two persuasive pieces this week, working on adding even more reasons to persuade our readers.

When a word ends with a /k/ sound, how do you know if it is spelled with a “c”, “k” or a “ck”?  Ask your child!

We began subtraction in math this week.  First, we talked about how it is different from addition.  We learned that subtractions finds a difference, not a total, like in addition.  We made up stories that require subtraction and drew pictures to explain our thinking. 

Our newest science unit is on shelters.  We began our unit by reading books on shelters and learning about different types.  Next, we read “The Three Little Pigs” and discussed various building materials.  Then, we learned the sequence of building a house.  Finally, we learned that the type of shelter people build usually depends upon the resources available within that region.

News and Notes

Friday 5/27 is ZOO DAY.  Send a small zoo animal in with your child.

Check out these shelters we made!

Shh... it's a SECRET! Save the date!

Save the date, Parents!  Letters Q and U are getting married and YOU'RE invited!  The event will be taking place in our classroom on Friday, June 3rd from 9:30-10(ish).  All parents are invited (no siblings, please).  The ceremony is only minutes long, so you don't want to be late.  There will be a reception (cake and bubbly!) immediately following the ceremony.  You'll want your camera for this one!

Please note:  this gathering acts as our year-end celebration.

**THE STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS YET.  PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND KEEP THE SECRET... for now!

Newsletter 5/13/16

Avid readers react to books like they would a movie!  Avid readers get wrapped up in the character’s emotions, so much so, that it’s hard to put the book down.  This week, we searched for characters’ emotions, tried to feel for them, and share our findings with our partners.

We read The Grouchy Ladybug this week and then wrote our own version.  We also learned how persuasive writers can include an “or else…” moment in their writing to make it more powerful.  We made a chart to help us become more independent as authors. 

In Second Steps this week we discussed the first steps to solve a problem.  Please see the homework sent home on Friday to review.

We really worked on thinking and planning what we need to do when presented with a math problem.  What can I do to help me solve this problem?  What tools will help: tally marks, pictures, a table, etc.?  We also wrote a class book with ladybug addition! 

Animals are also living things, so it’s time for us to observe their growth!  Enter our class pets- ladybugs! We can’t wait to see them grow and change over time.  We did all things the ladybug way this week.  We also had High Touch/High Tech come in for a “Get Buggy!” lesson, where we learned all about insects.

News and Notes

Save the Date!  K Field Day is scheduled for June 7^th, 9:45 (or 10)-11:30.  Come for a bit or whole whole thing.

Think sun!

Insects have 3 body parts: head, thorax and abdomen.

Sorting bugs by number of legs

Darien Library Fun

Two of the Darien librarians came to Ox Ridge today to tell us all about their summer reading program.  Sign ups begin on June 6th, and there will be a raffle to win a BB-8 toy!  The Library will store your child's progress, so you don't need to keep track at home- super convenient! If I were to recommend ONE thing to do with your child this summer, THIS IS IT.  

New babies!

We are so excited!  Our new babies arrived today!  In case you haven't heard, we're raising ladybugs!  

Tell your child that you heard about it!  

Parent Workshop: Summer Fun with Math & Literacy

Date: Tuesday - May 10, 2016

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Board of Education

In this workshop parents will learn about a variety of resources, activities and ideas that will foster your child’s love, learning and confidence in math and literacy over the summer.

Look at the AVID READERS in our class!

We are learning how to be avid readers in Reading Workshop!  We were really "in the zone" this week!

Newsletter 5/6/16

We want to increase our stamina and be avid readers!  What makes an avid reader? Ask your child!  An avid reader: reads a lot, reads in many places, keeps a stack of books-in-waiting, really pays attention to books and can’t stop reading!  Are you an avid reader?  J  Tell your child!

We had fun making a brainstorm of words that have an “X” sound in them this week, and we all made X-ray crafts.  We also read the classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, and searched for the characters, setting and main events.  This helped us retell the story.

In Second Steps this week we discussed how to handle being knocked down.  If someone bumps into you, what do you do?

We really worked on understanding what we need to do when presented with a math problem.  What information is important?  What do we have to do to organize our thinking?  What is the question we need to answer?

 

Thank you to the Konecke, Shanley, Cippoletti, Daula, Hapgood, Wellenius, Van Wyck and Barber families who purchased books from the Book Fair for our classroom.  Everyone gobbled up the new books!  We also spent a big part of this week getting ready for Mother’s Day.  We hope you like your cards and gifts.  We’ve been thinking about you all week!  Enjoy!  J

News and Notes

Book Buddy Bags due on Monday.  New books will come home on Tuesday.

More living things next week!

We are working on fully understanding math problems

X is for X-rays!

Thank you to Mrs. Shanley for our Cinco de Mayo snack!

Book Fair and Bake Sale TODAY/this evening

What's better than books and cookies?!  Come to the Book Fair and the 5th Grade bake sale today!


Your child made a wish list at the Book Fair yesterday. Don't forget, while visiting the Book Fair, check out our class wish list (located in the pocket chart in front of the Library)!  

Have Fun!