I can't believe it's December already! The next two weeks are going to be busy and slightly crazy! I will try to keep you all undated on all of the events, but please let me know if you have any questions.
Important Announcements
Reading
This week we will be continuing to focus on note-taking skills in nonfiction reading. Towards the end of the week, we will be finalizing our research and beginning to write our Narrable scripts. I am excited for everyone to see the final products!
Writing
This week in writing, I will be meeting with the students individually and in small groups to work on their books. It's easy for students to get caught up in the pictures, captions, diagrams... and forget about the actual writing part of the text. We will be working this week to enhance the amount of writing in the text. We will also be thinking about the purpose behind the writing. Writers write from one of three reasons; to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. Once students have decided upon a purpose for their writing, it will help direct the kind of book he or she is writing.
Social Studies
We are beginning our study of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. A very cool fun fact; we have two descendants of signers of the Declaration in our class, Maggie and Ivey. Maggie's dad shared a great website www.dsdi1776.com with us. We spent some time exploring it in class. I've also emailed it to the kids so they can continue to explore it.
For homework this week, I am adding a Social Studies component. The Declaration is divided into three parts with three separate purposes. For homework, I have given the class two different versions of the document, the original text and a translation in more modern English that might be easier to read. They are to read the document and do their best to determine what the three different parts are and what the purpose of each part is. Even if they read the modern translation, they will come across words they don't know. It is important that they look up the words and not just skip over them. Every word is important! This is due on Thursday and my count as part of reading.
Math
Unit 6 focuses on data and fractions. Students will learn how to match "mystery plots" with data and how to read and use contour maps to display certain types of data. In unit 6, students will also learn how to find common denominators and use them to add and subtract fractions. After unit 6, we will take the mid-year assessment. I will provide more information on that assessment next week.
Homework
Important Announcements
- Wednesday is another late start day. School will start at 8:45.
- The "Paparazzi Picts" have been updated with all the pictures from Grandparent and Special Person Day.
- Our Unit 6 math assessment will be next Thursday and Friday. I will send home a study guide this Friday. I will also have a review tutorial next Wednesday.
- We have a weird chapel schedule for the next two weeks. We will not have chapel tomorrow, 12/2, or next Wednesday, 12/10. Instead we will be having our Lessons and Carols chapel next Friday, 12/12. Students only need to wear their chapel uniforms on Friday, 12/12.
- On Wednesday, 12/17, we will be having a celebration of our non-fiction reading and writing. We would love to invite parents to join us for the celebration. It will take place at 12:05 and will last around 45 minutes.
Reading
This week we will be continuing to focus on note-taking skills in nonfiction reading. Towards the end of the week, we will be finalizing our research and beginning to write our Narrable scripts. I am excited for everyone to see the final products!
Writing
This week in writing, I will be meeting with the students individually and in small groups to work on their books. It's easy for students to get caught up in the pictures, captions, diagrams... and forget about the actual writing part of the text. We will be working this week to enhance the amount of writing in the text. We will also be thinking about the purpose behind the writing. Writers write from one of three reasons; to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. Once students have decided upon a purpose for their writing, it will help direct the kind of book he or she is writing.
Social Studies
We are beginning our study of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. A very cool fun fact; we have two descendants of signers of the Declaration in our class, Maggie and Ivey. Maggie's dad shared a great website www.dsdi1776.com with us. We spent some time exploring it in class. I've also emailed it to the kids so they can continue to explore it.
For homework this week, I am adding a Social Studies component. The Declaration is divided into three parts with three separate purposes. For homework, I have given the class two different versions of the document, the original text and a translation in more modern English that might be easier to read. They are to read the document and do their best to determine what the three different parts are and what the purpose of each part is. Even if they read the modern translation, they will come across words they don't know. It is important that they look up the words and not just skip over them. Every word is important! This is due on Thursday and my count as part of reading.
Math
Unit 6 focuses on data and fractions. Students will learn how to match "mystery plots" with data and how to read and use contour maps to display certain types of data. In unit 6, students will also learn how to find common denominators and use them to add and subtract fractions. After unit 6, we will take the mid-year assessment. I will provide more information on that assessment next week.
Homework
- Math: POW and Study Links as assigned
- Reading Comp: "Getting Around"
- Social Studies/Reading: See above
- Writing: Students will be working on their nonfiction books and their Narrable scripts.