Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling
Students finished their spooky poems and stories this past week.  Students could have written a poem or a descriptive paragraph, but either one had to include sensory details.  Take a look at a couple of them below!  This week we are starting our new writing unit, essay writing with personal and persuasive essays.  In Spelling, students received new word sorts today.

Reading
This past week in reading we focused on main ideas and supporting details in nonfiction texts.  We even practiced this by reading text from our science textbook during reading time!  This was a focus in reading groups as well.  Again, this week the students have time "off" from reading letters and Friday Homework.  The next Friday Homework (Math) will be passed out this Friday and will be due Thursday, 10/30.  (There is no school Friday, 10/31.)

In reading groups, we wrote the main idea of a paragraph in a "box" and the supporting details in "bullets" to correlate with our boxes and bullets format in our upcoming writing unit.

Math
This past week in math we finished and were assessed on Chapter 3.  This week we start Chapter 4: Multiply with One-Digit Numbers.  The MathatHome sheets for Chapter 4 will go home tomorrow.  Students should continue to study their multiplication facts at home. 

Science

This past week we focused on different biomes and finished our biome quilt project.  The quilt has not yet been assembled, but here's a sneak peak at some of the pieces. Our Chapter 4 Test over Ecosystems will be next Wednesday, 10/29.  Students will come home with study materials and will be learning how to use our online science textbook as a resource as well.  

Buddies  

This past week with our buddies, we learned that first and fourth grade buddies will be focusing on a study of the army this year!  Different grade levels will be responsible for learning about a different branch of the armed forces to help support our school service learning project.  Here's what we learned so far: 

Then we wrote down one important fact that we can teach someone else about the army on a boot! 

Other Important Info.

• Report cards will be emailed out this week.  
• Don't forget to sign and return tests coming home! 
• The Scholastic Book Fair will be open for students to purchase books this Wednesday until next Wednesday, 10/22-10/29.  We are previewing the book fair tomorrow.
• Ability Awareness Day is this Friday!  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are Monday, October 27th and Wednesday, October 29th. 
• The classroom Halloween parties will be held Thursday, October 30th at 2pm.  
• There is no school Friday, October 31st!