We have had a lovely first part of the year! I hope you have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving!
Enjoy, rest, and relax!
-Dave
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Friday, November 18, 2016
Rectangles, rectangles, rectangles...
This week our focus in math has been on rectangles. We have been investigating them, defining them, finding examples of them, describing them, drawing them and analyzing them. We have been focused on the fact that a rectangle is a closed shape with exactly four right angles, as well as the ways to find the area and perimeter of rectangles based on their dimensions.
During our writing work our focus has been on information, using paragraphs, and spelling the long-o sound. As we write we are working to produce enough volume as to be able to paragraph our writing, and we are working with the understanding that there are three markers that tell us when to start a new paragraph (ask your student what they are!).
We have also been reading some mysteries! When reading these we are discussing how reading a mystery is different than reading other types of novels. Readers of mysteries often get totally "sucked in" to the story and work to be the detective trying to solve the mystery. One thing we have talked a lot about is that when reading a mystery one has to use only the information provided in the book to keep the clues and suspects all in order.
We also have been investigating the industrial revolution through the lens of spinning and textile mills. We have been learning about the rise of water driven mills here in the Northeast.
I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
-Dave
During our writing work our focus has been on information, using paragraphs, and spelling the long-o sound. As we write we are working to produce enough volume as to be able to paragraph our writing, and we are working with the understanding that there are three markers that tell us when to start a new paragraph (ask your student what they are!).
We have also been reading some mysteries! When reading these we are discussing how reading a mystery is different than reading other types of novels. Readers of mysteries often get totally "sucked in" to the story and work to be the detective trying to solve the mystery. One thing we have talked a lot about is that when reading a mystery one has to use only the information provided in the book to keep the clues and suspects all in order.
We also have been investigating the industrial revolution through the lens of spinning and textile mills. We have been learning about the rise of water driven mills here in the Northeast.
I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
-Dave
Friday, November 4, 2016
Great weeks, end with puppies!
We had another great week this week. In math we have been working with repeated addition. As we lay this foundation for multiplication, we are reinforcing the prerequisite skills for multiplication (addition). We have also begun to see and think about repeated addition as "groups of." That is to say, along with thinking about 5+5+5+5+5=____, we are also thinking about 5 groups of 5 things. We are also working on crafting statements and questions that match these repeated addition strings.
Another focus this week has been writing, we are working to be sure that students spell the long a and long e sounds using the most prevalent patterns in English. Students are also concentrating on using paragraphs to organize their writing. On a more individual note, students each have an individual focus for writing. Some are; using paragraphs, writing legibly, adding illustrative details, and returning to the left margin.
During our reading group we are getting into a new unit about mysteries. We are investigating the different "mind work" that is involved when reading a mystery. Our first selection is a "Hardy Boys" mystery...expect to see your student carrying home some mysteries in the coming weeks!
On Friday, we had the opportunity to be visited by some puppies! One of the students in our class is related to a local dog breeder, and we were lucky to have a new litter of puppies come and share part of our morning with us! They were two week old balls of cuteness.
Have a great weekend!
Dave
Another focus this week has been writing, we are working to be sure that students spell the long a and long e sounds using the most prevalent patterns in English. Students are also concentrating on using paragraphs to organize their writing. On a more individual note, students each have an individual focus for writing. Some are; using paragraphs, writing legibly, adding illustrative details, and returning to the left margin.
During our reading group we are getting into a new unit about mysteries. We are investigating the different "mind work" that is involved when reading a mystery. Our first selection is a "Hardy Boys" mystery...expect to see your student carrying home some mysteries in the coming weeks!
On Friday, we had the opportunity to be visited by some puppies! One of the students in our class is related to a local dog breeder, and we were lucky to have a new litter of puppies come and share part of our morning with us! They were two week old balls of cuteness.
Have a great weekend!
Dave
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