Classroom News


10/22

Math-New skills in Unit 3:

  • Telling time to the nearest five minutes

  • Finding patterns with frames and arrows

  • Making change

  • Using a ruler to measure inches


Reading-This week we will be looking at character development in fictional texts. What a character says and does are clues that tell us how they’re feeling and how they feel about each other. We will also begin to take a look at author’s purpose; authors write to entertain.


Writing-This is an exciting time in writing! To start off the week, students will finish fine tuning their favorite personal narrative. At the end of the week, they will begin publishing it into a book.


Social Studies topics covered:

  • Natural resources found in IL

  • Map reading with a compass rose

  • Climate and weather in IL

  • All living things have basic needs to survive.


9/25/22

Math-Skills covered:

  • Recognizing and counting coins

  • Rainbow math to make 10

  • Addition word problems

  • Trading 10 $1 bills for 1 $10 bill. Trading 10 $10 bills for 1 $100.

The last activity is a game called, The Exchange Game. The kids love it because they get to use play money.


Reading-We wrapped up or unit on story elements by creating retelling books. Story elements are: characters, setting, beginning, middle and end of story that also includes the problem and solution. My favorite part was listening to the kids share their books with each other.


Writing-After learning how to write conclusions, the class finished their first personal narrative paper of the year. Ask your child what they wrote about. You might be surprised at what they tell you!




9/12/22

Math-This week we are finishing up our first unit in math. Today I’m sending a math review packet home to help the students prepare for their unit test on Friday. I will NOT be collecting this packet and it is not a grade. Although we always review in class, I’m often asked by parents what they can do to help their child prepare at home. The review packet is a tool that you can use to do this.


Reading-Team Michigan has been working hard to identify all the parts in a story: the setting, characters, problem and solution. This week we will take it one step further and begin identifying the main events in a story. To make it a little more fun, the students will be finding all of these “ingredients” in a story to make a story stew in small groups. On Friday, the groups will present their “stews” to the class.


Writing-Last week the class began brainstorming small moment ideas that they can write about for a personal narrative story. This week they will begin planning their narrative by drawing and labeling pictures in the correct sequential order. Lastly, they will write their first flashdraft of the school year!


S. Studies-Our needs and wants unit continued by introducing the students to vocabulary words such as supply and demand and producer and consumer. The students chose one producer that the local government provides, (police, fire, water etc.) and examined what knowledge the workers would need to do their job and who the consumers were that they would help.


Science-Last week students studied the ribbit sound that frogs make. They listened to frogs from different areas to see if their sounds were similar or different. Ask your child what they learned about a frog’s ribbit.




8/26/22


I am having a blast with your kiddos! They have all been extremely kind, hard working and funny!!!!


Math-Unit One Objectives

Students will:

  • learn key words in word problems. These are clues that tell you if you need to add or subtract.

  • identify number grid and number line patterns.

  • identify and count coins.

  • identify even and odd numbers.

Teacher tips: Give students any change you have in the house. Model how to tell the difference between the coins and practice skip counting with them.


Reading-Team Michigan had 2 goals this week:

  • Identify the setting of a story

  • Describe the setting of a story in writing and provide evidence from the text to support where and when the story takes place.

Students should spend 15-20 minutes reading every night. Yes, being read to counts! It models fluent reading and helps with vocabulary development.


Social Studies-

This year we are using a new social studies curriculum called Inquire Ed. Inquire Ed. is designed to teach students how to work in groups, and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Our first unit is, Understanding Needs and Wants. In class the students have:

  • sorted needs vs wants

  • learned the needs and wants of a community

  • budgeted money to purchase a healthy meal (needs)


Science-Our first unit is all about animals. This week the students had to group animals by similar characteristics, just like real scientists. This week focused on mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates.