MATH:

This week, we are continuing with Lesson 7 in our decimals unit. Students are building on their previous work with adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals.

• Adding & Subtracting Decimals
  We’re focusing on the importance of lining up the decimal points when solving problems. Misalignment can lead to simple errors, so students are practicing strategies to keep place values organized and double-check their work.
  
  

• Multiplying Decimals
  We’re also working on understanding why the decimal moves when multiplying. Students are learning that shifting the decimal isn’t just a step to memorize — it changes the value of the number. We’re using visual models and place-value reasoning to help them see what’s happening mathematically, not just follow procedures.
  
  

By the end of this lesson, students should feel more confident in applying their whole-number strategies to decimals while understanding why accuracy and place value matter when working with these operations.

LITERACY:

This week, we are continuing our work on main idea and key details as part of our first text set in Wonders. Students are practicing how to determine what a text is mostly about and identify the specific details that support that idea.

To be successful, we are focusing on the skill of rereading. While rereading can be time-consuming and is often something students don’t prefer to do, it’s an essential strategy for accuracy and full comprehension. Going back into the text allows students to confirm their thinking and ensure they’ve gathered the most relevant details to support the main idea.

We are also exploring narrative nonfiction texts and will be reading a biography this week to help us compare genres. Students will analyze how different types of nonfiction present information and recognize how an author’s style and purpose can vary depending on the text.

In writing, we’re continuing our one-minute writing practice to encourage creativity and build fluency, and we’re also beginning to incorporate grammar practice into our writing block to strengthen foundational skills.

Additionally, this week we will take our beginning-of-the-year pre-assessment using our SRSD writing framework. This assessment will help me better understand what students already know and what we’ll need to focus on as we move forward in our writing instruction.

SCIENCE:

This week in science, students will continue their project imagining they are a water droplet beginning as snow in the Rocky Mountains and traveling along the Colorado River all the way to the Gulf of California.

As they trace their journey, students are discovering how both human activities (such as dams, reservoirs, and irrigation systems) and natural processes (like evaporation, precipitation, and runoff) affect the path of water.

We are connecting this activity to our study of the water cycle, helping students see how the movement of water is impacted not only by natural forces but also by human choices. This hands-on exploration encourages students to think critically about the relationship between science and society while deepening their understanding of how water circulates through our environment.

SPECIALS: 

We have MUSIC this week with Mr. DiFebo!

DISCOVERY SPECAILS:

This week, students are beginning a new Discovery Special that they will attend once a week. For this week and next, their special will be Total Wellness.

CALENDAR:

• September 5-  Watch D.O.G.S. Interest Meeting- 5–6 PM at Casa Caliente.

• September -  Volunteer Information Meeting from 9:15–10:15 AM at Arrowwood

• September 9- Coldstone Night- Teachers Scoop