Classroom Update and Welcome Back Mrs. Wood on Monday!

HAPPY SNOW DAY!!!
 

Reader’s Workshop

This week, we completed our Author Study. I used Kevin Henkes books, like Sheila Rae the Brave, to model to students how to complete the author study packet. Students worked on the Author’s Theme or Purpose page where they used books by their author to find their author’s message for writing a certain story. Good readers recommend their favorite books and authors to people they know. Students also completed the Recommendations page by suggesting to family members, friends, and teachers a book or all books by their author. You will see the completed Author Study packets come home on Monday. Ask your child about their favorite book by their author!
 

 

Writer's Workshop

Students continued to use Jonathan London as a model for their own writing. I noticed many students using sound words, dialogue, repeated words and repeated phrases in their writing when conferring with them. We read the story, Fireflies! by Julie Brinkloe and made Text-to-Text Connections to Jonathan London books. Students noticed that Julie Brinkloe used similes by comparing one thing to another and dialogue.

Math Workshop

This week, students continued Unit 6 of Everyday Math. We reviewed solution strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems within number stories. Students identified change, parts-and-total, and comparison number stories. Students used coins to find multiple ways to make $1.00.

We explored division by grouping with counters and counted dots in arrays.

Students learned a subtraction strategy by using base ten blocks. The class pointed out that sometimes they needed to trade a long (10 or 1 in the tens place) for 10 cubes in order to subtract because there were not enough in the ones place. Students need to show their work when trading a long for 10 cubes.

Science

This week, students continued the Weather portion of our Air, Wind and Weather unit. Students have been tracking the weather on their Weather Calendars since the beginning of January. We used symbols to record our daily weather observations on our calendars. 

Students noticed what type of weather we had to most and least of. We read thermometers and discussed the differences between hot, warm, cool, cold and freezing on a thermometer. People use thermometers to measure the temperature. We need to know the temperature to help us decide what to wear when we are outside. Students learned about three main cloud types: Cirrus, Cumulus, and Stratus.

Reminders:

- 100^th Day of School and Mrs. Wood’s 1^st day back: Monday, Feb. 11^th
- Valentine’s Day Parties: February 14^th at 2:15 p.m. 

- Mid-Winter Break: Monday, Feb. 18^th & Tuesday, Feb. 19^th

- SPRING BREAK: March 29^th - April 5^th

 

I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure getting to know your child over the last few months. It was not easy filling the shoes of such an amazing teacher, like Mrs. Wood. I am sad to leave Mrs. Wood’s classroom, but happy for her to be back with her students! Thank you for all the time dedicated and support during my time in Room 8! There is a Valentine’s treat from me waiting for students when they return to school on Monday.
J Ms. Eckardt