Weekly Update

This week in Math, we have continued Chapter 4 with properties of addition, equations, and in/out tables.  We will finish Chapter 4 next week with balancing equations and reviewing for the Unit 1 Test (Chapters 1-4).  The Unit Test is tentatively set for Thursday (10/3).  Our back up date is Friday (10/4) if we need an extra review day.  The test date will be finalized next week- make sure to check our class blog and your child's assignment book.  Students will receive a study guide next week.  Also, don't forget- the Moodle and Online Math Textbook are always available for extra practice.

Table 4 working at the Problem Solving Rotation

Table 3 at the Games Rotation

In Reading, we are finishing up our Nonfiction Text Features Unit.  This week we discussed the text features in articles and how they help us to better understand the text.  Also, we have finished our first Mark Twain Nominee read aloud, Pie.  We celebrated the end of the book on Monday with... pie!  Enjoy the pictures below from our guest photographer, Reagan.  

There was even more to celebrate this week!  In Writing, we shared our finished personal narrative pieces!  It was fun to move around the room during our "gallery walk" to read our classmates' stories.  After reading, we commented on things that the writer did well.  Our next unit of study is fiction narrative writing.  In Spelling we took our tests, so we will receive new word sorts next week.  

In Social Studies, we reviewed latitude and longitude and studied Missouri's resources.  Students were given the Chapter 1 Study Guide.  Whatever students did not finish, they took home to finish over the weekend.  We will play a review game on Monday, and the Chapter 1 Test is Tuesday (10/1).  Extra study pages can be found in the Social Studies textbook on pages 94-95.  Of course, the Moodle has great resources as well.  After our Social Studies test, we will move on to our Ecosystems Unit in Science!  

Table 1 working hard on their study guides

Please continue to go through Flyer Folders with your child.  Also, if you have not yet signed and returned the half sheet stating that you have seen the Mid-Quarter Report, please do so.  Enjoy the extended weekend!

Mid-Quarter Reports

Today students took home Mid-Quarter Reports.  Please look over the report with your child.  Then, they are to be signed and returned.  Here is what the report looks like:

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Weekly Update

This week in Math, we have started Chapter 4 with expressions and basic algebra.  We also reviewed our first eValuate assessment that we took last week by sharing the great strategies we used to solve the problems.  Don't forget- the Moodle is always available for extra math practice (including the study of math facts), using my school website link: click here.  

Practicing fact fluency at the Activity Rotation

At the back table working with fact families 

John has a great trick in identifying parallel lines

Reagan remembers that multiplication is repeated addition

In Reading, we continued to identify text features in multiple texts.  We also received our first Scholastic order!  Just from ordering, we earned 10 free books!!  Also, Mrs. Leighton used her points to order some "Who was...?" biography series, "Dear Dumb Diary" fiction series, and "I Survived" historical fiction series books that our class really enjoys!  Students were given a book talk about each new book that was added to our class library, and they added the titles of interesting books to their "Books to Read" list.  It was so much fun!  We are a class of readers. 

Here are the many good books that we added to our classroom library 

 In Writing, we have finished our personal narrative stories with paragraphing, editing, and publishing.  We will celebrate these pieces next week!  In Spelling, we have started our new word sorts.  

Miles boxing topics for paragraphs

Katherine is finishing a great personal narrative piece

In Social Studies, we are in Chapter 1.  We have discussed Missouri's 5 regions as well as latitude and longitude.  There are games on the Moodle to help students in practicing latitude and longitude at home.

Gianna color coding Missouri's regions

Finally, this week we got to meet our first grade buddies in Ms. Burns's class!   We reviewed the first of the 7 Habits- Be Proactive!  

Social Studies and Spelling Tests need to be signed and returned if you have not already done so.  There are also other graded assignments and notes that went home in Flyer Folders this week.  Don't forget that Picture Day is next Wednesday at 10:30 for our class, and that there is no school on Friday (9/27).  That means that the Reading Friday Homework and the Girls' Reading Letters will be due on Thursday (9/26).  Note that the Spelling Test will also be on Thursday as well.  

Weekly Update

This week in Math, we have finished Chapter 3.  We focused on regrouping with big numbers in addition and subtraction.  We have also reviewed good problem solving strategies when working with word problems, such as underlining the question and identifying key words.  The Moodle is always available for extra math practice (including the study of math facts), using my school website link: click here.  

Lola and John at the Games Rotation

In Reading, we started our nonfiction unit.  Students used a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast fiction and nonfiction.  We also had a scavenger hunt race to find text features in our Social Studies textbook.  We found text features such as the table of contents, headings, subheadings, pictures with captions, maps, diagrams, bold words, and much more!

Table 2 finding good examples of nonfiction and fiction books

Macey adding example books to her Venn Diagram

Eric choosing great books to complete his Venn Diagram

The finished products!

Text Features Scavenger Hunt

In Writing, we self-assessed our own first drafts for the good qualities of personal narratives that we've been learning about.  I also got to confer and conference with many students about their writing.  What beautiful pieces we are creating!  Our class will be moving on with editing our finished drafts next week.  In Spelling, we took our first test!  That means students will get a new word sort list on Monday.
 

Dorothy writing her 10 sentences

Katherine and Raph working on their Quarterly Word Study Activities

In Social Studies, we finished our Landforms/Map unit with a test on Wednesday.  Students brought these tests home to be signed and returned on Monday.  

Ask your student how Chef MIMAL helps us with U.S. geography!

We also discussed 9/11 with a neat e-book titled, "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers."  

Finally, this week we took the Reading and Math eValuate Tests.  These are monthly assessments that help us to prepare for the MAP Test in April.  We chart our progress in the classroom. 

Gianna working on her Reading eValuate

We also had our first counselor's lesson this week with Mrs. Maddock, our School Counselor.  We reviewed "I Care" language as a problem solving strategy.  You can learn more about "I Care" language here: I Care.  We also had fun in getting to know more about our classmates.  

Katherine and Reagan demonstrating a timely tool that can help solve a problem

Please find your child's Social Studies Test in their Flyer Folder to sign and return.  There are also other graded assignments and notes that went home.  Additionally, a note went home earlier this week to remind families that our first Early Release Day is next Wednesday the 18th at 1:40.  Please make sure your child knows how they are getting home.  Don't forget to take a look at the "Homework" page on our blog for important homework and event reminders throughout the week.

Spelling

We have finished our first two week study of our Spelling sorts!  That means that students have their first Spelling test tomorrow.  I will randomly choose 15 words from the student's sort for the words on the test.  Students can use SpellingCity.com  to help them in studying their words at home.  There are many resources and games available on this site.  Students can download the SpellingCity app as well.  Once on the site, students click on "Find a List."  Then, type in "Leighton" for the teacher name, scroll down, and click on my name.  Finally, click on your sort!  Yellow is studying Sort 29, Green group is on Sort 1, Blue group is on Sort 1, and White group is on Sort 28.  Students, don't forget that your Quarterly Word Study Activity (Q.A.) is due tomorrow!  Students have a blue sheet in the Spelling tab of their binder with a list of activities to choose as their Quarterly Activity.  We started these today.  These are always due on Spelling test day. 

Social Studies-Landforms and Maps

This is a reminder that students have their Landforms/Map Test tomorrow in Social Studies.  Students have study materials in the Social Studies tab of their binder, including the study guide.  Additionally, there are games on the Moodle that students can use for extra practice- Click here!  Furthermore, we talked about a new website to study our vocabulary words.  Quizlet is a site with online flashcards and games to practice unit vocabulary!  Click here to visit Quizlet.  Throughout the year, we will be using new websites that may require usernames and passwords.  As we add them, I will create labels to stick on the back of students' log in cards.  So, for now, see below for the username and password for Quizlet.  Everyone uses the same class account. 

Username:  Long-Leighton

Password:  leighton

(The username and password are case sensitive!)

Weekly Update

This week in Math, we have finished Chapter 2 and have started Chapter 3.  We reviewed rounding and estimating.  We also used mental math strategies in adding and subtracting.  Students can visit the Moodle for extra math practice (including the study of math facts), using my school website link: click here.  

Using dry erase boards to practice rounding!

Alex ordering numbers at the Activity rotation

Reagan and Tyler at the Activity rotation

In Reading, we focused on using prior knowledge and making connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world).  I also pulled reading groups and met in small groups to go over our first Reading Friday Homework.  Students were given new Friday Homework, a fiction text titled, "The Skeleton Key."  Of course, this is due next Friday.

In Writing, students have made some amazing revisions to their personal narratives!  This week we wrote great leads and made sure our stories had powerful endings.  Students were thinking of the message they want to relay to their readers by asking, "What is the point of my story?"  I can't wait to read the final pieces!  Also, we have started our Spelling groups this week!  The first spelling test will be next Friday, September 13th. 

John and Ava working with their spelling word sort

In Social Studies, we continued our study of landforms.  Our big project this week was a "Hand Map!"  Students traced their hand to make an island full of landforms such as a lake, delta, gulf, bay, harbor, coastal plain, cape, mountains, etc. These projects will be due on Tuesday, September 10th.  Students took these home to finish.  Our Landforms/Map Test will be Wednesday, September 11th.  We will review in class on Monday, and students already have their study guide behind the Social Studies tab of their binders.  Again, our class Moodle has many games and resources to help students in studying.

Elayna working on her Hand Map

Reagan working on her Hand Map

It's Friday!  Therefore, students came home with Flyer Folders tonight.  As always, please go through these with your child and return any forms.  The green, updated PTO Volunteer Form that I had mentioned in an email earlier this week is included in the Flyer Folders.  The Daily Edit and Rounding quizzes are also coming home in Flyer Folders, as well as other graded work.  Quizzes do not need to be signed or returned.  Students brought home Scholastic Book orders too!  If you would prefer to order online, here is the link: http://scholastic.com/readingclub.  Our Classroom Code is L8V73.  Ordering online is quick and easy, but I will send directions for ordering online as an attachment in the Weekly Update email reminder.  Don't forget to take a look at the "Homework" page on our blog for important homework and date reminders.  

Finally, Long Lawn Day was today!  Students got to visit a variety of stations, such as outdoor relays and indoor inflatables.  Here are some pictures of the students having fun!