Newsletter 2/13- 2/24

Our study on nonfiction reading and writing continues!

In Writing Workshop we made an Informational Writing Checklist listing important components that we should include in this style of writing.  We are learning to use the checklist to see how we can improve our individual pieces (i.e. Did I state my topic/title?  Did I include important details? Etc.). We also wrote a detailed narrative piece about our long weekend.

In Reading Workshop we learned how readers can use post its to mark talking points for partner time. The students loved marking their pages with our "secret code" post its (see attached photo).  We learned how to find important vocabulary within nonfiction texts.  We noted important vocabulary words on post its, too!

In Social Studies we learned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

In Math we've begun our study of geometry.  We just finished up our lessons on 2-dimensional shapes.  Students should know the names and attributes of the shapes in the photo below.  We had many hands on experiences with these shapes- with pattern blocks, attribute blocks and geoboards.  Please try to point out these shapes if you see them at home.  By far, the hardest to remember are the trapezoid and hexagon.  Up next: 3-D shapes!

News & Notes:

• Please keep your child's book sleeve through next week.
• Make sure to note each special day for Dr. Seuss Week next week.

Making pattern block pictures with 2-D shapes

Writing "talking point" notes in Reading Workshop

Making 2-D shapes on geoboards

Noting the attributes of various 2-D shapes

Our nonfiction reading anchor chart (so far!) with "secret code" for post its.

The names of the 2-D shapes we need to know

Dr. Seuss Week is Coming! Every day is special...

Hooray for Seuss Week!

In order to get into the Seuss spirit next week we will be having some special days!

Mon (Feb 27^th  )— Silly Sock Day (wear silly socks, socks with design or two different colored socks) *Twin sheet will be sent home today in preparation for Friday.

Tues(Feb 28th )— Crazy Hat Day  (wear your silliest hat)

Wed(March 1^st )— Wacky Clothes Day(wear mixed up clothing—shirt on backwards, inside out, etc…--be creative!)

Thurs(March 2^nd  )— Dress Like Your Favorite Storybook Character

Fri(March 3^rd) — Fifth Grade Friday/Twin Day  (check your *sheet from Monday to see what you should wear to match your buddy AND bring in your favorite Seuss book for you and your buddy to read)

               

        Should be a fun week!    J K Team

Teddy Bear Day!

Look at how we found our bear friends this morning!  Those bears must have had a great sleepover!

On Teddy Bear Day, we read ALL THREE of Corduroy's adventure stories.  Then we wrote about Corduroy and sequenced the events of his first story.  We also wrote about our own bears, remembering to capitalize their names, of course!  Everyone was so excited to have their bears for partners during Reading Workshop!  We read them books and we acted out the poem "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around".   We also learned about fictional bear friends versus real, nonfiction bears.  Lastly, each of us made our own bear to decorate the room for the sleepover.  What fun!

Happy 100th Day

We are 100 Days Smarter!  Yesterday's 100th Day was full of 100 kinds of fun.  We made a 100th Day hat; we wrote about how we would spend $100; we counted to 100 by ones, fives and tens while playing a math game; we counted our mac n' cheese boxes (106!); and lastly, we used a 100s chart and our numeral recognition skills to find a hidden number... 100, of course!

Newsletter 2/3/17

We continued our study of nonfiction texts this week, learning that readers point and talk to others about what they notice while looking closely at the pictures.  Readers ask questions like, "I wonder why...?", "Where does...?", and "What is this?" while studying photos and illustrations.  There is SO much more to learn about a topic other than what is in the written text!  We enjoyed following our character friend, Peter, in Ezra Jack Keats' A Letter to Amy.  Peter is growing older and becoming a good friend!

We are also writing non-fiction texts!  We'll be reading and writing non-fiction throughout the month of February.  We continued learning about How-to writing: that a partner can act out the steps to see if they are confusing.  We can also add diagrams with labels to our work.

In math we continued to explore all the ways to make 10.  We shared our findings and made a chart showing all the ways.  A +1 pattern makes a cool design!  It's not done yet, but I'll take a photo and share it when it is.

In social studies, we welcomed February and discussed the MANY celebrations we'll be having.  We predicted what the groundhog would do and who would win the Superbowl (see attached).  We also attended an all-school assembly on Friday about Kindness Week (next week).

We had our science Weather-a-thon on Thursday!  We mixed up all of the classes and went from room to room, enjoying hands on experiences with various kinds of weather.  We made sun prints with Mrs. Egan, snow with Dr. Trifiatis and we recorded evidence of wind with Mrs. G.  Everyone had a blast in our room, discussing the water cycle and making it rain!

News & Notes  (February is a BUSY month so please read!)

• all mac n cheese boxes are due on Monday.  We are SO close to having 100!
• $17.70 for field trip transportation is due Monday.
• book sleeves are due Monday.
• 100th Day of School is Tuesday (no prep needed on your end)
• If there is NOT a snow day early next week, then we will have a Teddy Bear Sleepover on 2/8. This is a secret for now, as I will have to cancel it if there is a snow day.  I will send home information on Monday and hope for the best!
• student valentines due by 2/10 (one for each student, please).  Send them in earlier if you'd like.

  

  Adding important details to our How-To steps

  
  

  

  Raindrops falling around the room!

  
  

  

  Recording scientific observations outside

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Do you know which is your child's?  It may surprise you!

  
  
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  Many raindrops wrapped into a cloud (Sorry! Can't rotate it!)

  
  

Our Groundhog Prediction Table

Bobby and I are outnumbered!