Homework

• Complete math rest review, test tomorrow (see key below).
• Spelling homework

Reminders

• Tomorrow is Picture Day!  

Homework

• "Show, Not Tell" Writing homework
• Math pages 103-104

Reminders

• Get midterm report signed and return tomorrow.
• Return Cahokia Mounds field trip permission slip and $6.00 at your earliest convenience. 

I'm working on making a Science tab...here's the links for today's device time:

Magic School Bus Games

National Geographic Videos

Math

     This week in Math, we spent time reviewing adding and subtracting with regrouping, a skill we learned and practiced in third grade.  We also practiced estimating sums and differences.  Later in the week, we learned the importance of annotating story problems in math.  Annotating helps us to find the important facts, decide what exactly we need to solve, identify unimportant information, locate any labels, and more.  

Alondra uses a highlighter to make important facts stand out. 

Zoe & Griffin show off their annotating skills.

Anina proudly shares how annotating can help us better understand a math problem.  

Writer's Workshop

     In Writing, we continued with our unit of study on Realistic Fiction.  We learned that writers organize their scenes into paragraphs.  We start a new paragraph when a new person speaks, when something big is about to happen, when time moves forward or backward, and when the setting changes.   We also learned about using dialogue in writing, as it infuses emotion into the story.  

Reader's Workshop

     We learned the nuts and bolts of fluent reading this week.  To read fluently involves reading voraciously, never feeling like we've had enough practice.  To be fluent readers, notice and react to punctuation.  We read with emotion, and phrase groups of words together, pausing to give the listener time to absorb and think about new information.  To become more fluent, we can practice repeated reading, using any text: poems, lists, songs, parts of stories, and more.  

Maddie, Jacob, Ciara, & Luis on Pajama Day

Henry, Gage, Alondra, Zach, & Gaby share their stuffed animals.  

Miles, Jack, Anna, Rachel, & Samantha look cozy in their pajama pants. 

Anina, Zoe, Griffin, Javeion, & Ben have fun on our Marble Celebration Day!

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes 
• Math pages 91-92

Reminders

• Cahokia Mounds permission slip & $6.00

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes

Reminders

• Put spelling words in a safe place.
• Tomorrow is PJ & Stuffed Animal Day!
• Tomorrow is an early release day.  Students are dismissed at 1:40.  
• A permission slip for Cahokia Mounds is coming home today.  Please return the signed permission slip and $6.00 at your earliest convenience.  

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes
• Math pages 83-84

Writer's Workshop

     We continued our work with Realistic Fiction, and students created a story arc to plan their stories.  They also made some very important decisions about their main character(s).  They determined external and internal characteristics, actions and relationships, and self view and others' view.  Knowing our main character well and knowing how (s)he will change and grow throughout the story is key in a strong Realistic Fiction piece.  

Javeion and Griffin, Spelling partners, give each other their choice words as a part of our first Spelling test. 

Math

     In Math this week, students learned about the different properties, or rules, of addition.  The commutative property teaches us that we can add numbers in any order, and the sum will be the same.  The associative property teaches us we can group addends in different ways, and again the sum will be the same.  The identity property helps us remember that any number added to zero doesn't change.  We also did some practice with compensation, an addition strategy that allows us to add numbers mentally.  

Rachel & Ciara "give a little and take a little" from two addends to help them combine the numbers in their heads.  

Ben & Zach work together to adjust the value of numbers so they can quickly add them without stacking.  

Social Studies & Science

     We sketched model Earths this week and learned about lines of latitude and longitude, as well as the equator and prime meridian.  We also explored the six regions of the United States.  Students used their Social Studies text to research information and acquire new terms.  Mrs. Branding taught us more about the layers of the earth and the concept of Pangea.  

Homework

• Be prepared for our Spelling Test tomorrow.
• Be prepared for our (x) test tomorrow. 

Reminders

• Consider bringing a towel for 
• Spiritwear orders due Monday, September 15. 

Homework

• Spelling homework (due tomorrow, test Friday)

Reminders

• We have a multiplication test this and every Friday. 
• There is an informational meeting about Girl Scouts at Crestwood tonight at 5:30.
• PTO will meet at 6:30 in the library this evening.  All are welcome to attend!

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes 
• Math pages 71-72

Reminders

• We will have a spelling and multiplication test on Friday. 

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes
• Math pg. 65-66
• Cut & study the Math cards

Reminders

• New spelling words are coming home today. Our first test will be on Friday.

Reader's Workshop
     In Reader's Workshop this week, we worked to increase our reading stamina.  Reading stamina means that every student reads the entire time without getting distracted.  Stamina reading also includes thinking while we read and using our Reading Journals to document questions and connections.

Writer's Workshop
     We started our first Unit of Study on Realistic Fiction this week.  We learned that Realistic fiction is a made up story that could really happen.  It has a believable problem or struggle, and the setting is real and in our lifetime.  Realistic Fiction has one or a few main characters and is usually dedicated to someone specific.  

Students share their seed ideas that - with time and effort - could grow into a Realistic Fiction piece.  

Math

     In Math this past week, we practiced rounding numbers and preparing for our first tests.  We participated in Math Workstations which allowed us to work with a partner or a group.  

Rachel & Miles complete a "Facing the Math" activity to help them review place value and the three forms of numbers.  

Luis & Anna use iPads to work on their ALEKS pie.

Social Studies
     In Social Studies, students continued to study geography, learning about the oceans and continents.  They practiced songs for each of these lists, then defined and illustrated some important landforms and bodies of water including archipelago, canyon, gulf, mountain range, and more.

Science
     In Science, Mrs. Branding led the students through an experiment.  Students wrote a hypothesis, prediction and conclusion for the inquiry and also practiced their observation skills.

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes. 
• Prepare for (x) test tomorrow.

Reminders

• We'll have some "device time" tomorrow afternoon.  Students are encouraged to bring a device if possible.  

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes
• Use Math Review to prepare for tomorrow's test

Reminders

• We will have a multiplication test on Friday; continue studying at home!  

Homework

• Read 20+ minutes 
• Math pages 47-48

Reminders

• Girls on the Run applications due online tomorrow