Weekly Update- 5/20

This week in math we worked on a few different concepts.  We learned about using logical reasoning and did a "super challenge" problem at the end of the lesson.  The students did a great job using their logical reasoning skills to get through the challenge.  We also started practicing long division.  The students learned a few different methods including; using place value blocks/ drawing, breaking numbers apart, and finally we learned the typical method of long division.  After doing some practice and following the steps (divide, multiply, subtract, bring down), the students are really starting to get the hang of it.  We will be having the chapter 11 test next Thursday 5/26.  After that we only have 1 chapter left!

In social studies, we spent the week practicing our map skills.  The students learned about how National Parks were created protect land and wildlife and how to read the map of  Denali National Park in Alaska.  They also learned a little about the 13 colonies and we compared and contrasted the 13 original colonies to the current states in that region.  Finally, the students learned about westward expansion and read maps that showed some of the trails that settlers followed to move west.  Next week we will be beginning our final science unit of the year, Food Chains and Webs.

The students are really enjoying the Sarah, Plain and Tall series.  We started reading the book, Skylark this week, which is a continuation of Sarah, Plain and Tall.  The students have become very good at making reasonable predictions that are related to the story and revising them as we go along and the story changes.  We will continue to read this book next week..

For some more practice with our writing, the students have been working on writing friendly letters.  The students wrote rough drafts and then we went to the computer lab a few times this week for them to type out their final drafts.  Today the students drew pictures to go along with their letters.  We will go back to the computer lab next week for students to finish typing their final drafts.  When they are completed, we will be sending them to a third grade class in southern New Jersey.  Their teacher is one of my college roommates!

In Fundations we are completing unit 12 and we will begin unit 13 next week.  Unit 13 focuses on words in which ch makes the /k/ sound, ph makes the /f/ sound, and words with silent letters.  Unit 13 will take 2 weeks to complete.

In Spanish we did more practice with the seasons (las estaciones).  We played the game, Quatro Estaciones, Quatro Esquinas (Four Seaons, Four Corners).  This is the game Four Corners, but instead of numbers, each corner is a different season.  The students had a good time practicing their vocabulary this way.  Our first round came down to our two newest students: Eric M. and Evalyn.  Evalyn triumphed in the end!

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a white t-shirt for field day.  We are really looking forward to this event next week!  Also, if you haven't done so already, please send in a cereal box with your child for a writing project we will be doing.