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!

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling
Students are nearing the end of their spooky, descriptive paragraphs and poems and they will be publishing them soon.  In Spelling, students received new word sorts.  The next spelling test will be Friday, 10/17.

Reading
This week we started our informational text unit.  So far we have compared and contrasted fiction and nonfiction books and have identified many different text features such as the table of contents, diagrams, maps, captions, and bold words in various nonfiction books.  This is a focus in reading groups as well.  The Friday Homework this week is another reading titled, "Wetlands."  This will be the last Friday Homework of the quarter, and it will be due 10/17.  Students will then have a week "off" as they will not be given a new Friday Homework assignment until 10/24, which will then be due 10/30.  Similarly, students will be given time "off" from writing their reading response letters.  

Choosing nonfiction and fiction books to add to our venn diagrams

Text Features Scavenger Hunt!

Math
This week in math we focused on the properties of multiplication and division as well as multiples and factors.  We will finish Chapter 3 on Monday.  Students will receive the study guide on Monday, and the Chapter 3 Test will be next Wednesday 10/15.  Students should continue to study their multiplication facts at home. 

Activity Rotation: Keeping a running total of books bought with a $200 budget 

New multiplication math games!

Science

This week we focused on how living things get their energy.  Additionally, in reading groups, we are reading nonfiction books that focus on specific biomes and ecosystems.  

Missouri Heritage Days at Babler State Park!  
Here's a look at our field trip!  We had a great time learning about the pioneer days!  We rotated to many different stations to learn about the ways of life for the pioneers. From listening to Sacagawea's journey to visiting the mercantile to learning about the different clothes the pioneers wore and the jobs that they had to watching a blacksmith make a nail and "J" hook to square dancing to making a "buzz saw" toy to so much more, we had a blast!

Want to hear pioneer music for yourself?  Watch the clip below! 

Other Important Info.

• First Quarter ends Friday, October 17th.  It is a half day with dismissal at 11:50, so no lunch will be served.  Please make sure your child knows how they are going home.  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on Monday, October 27th and Wednesday, October 29th.  SignUpGenius invites have been sent, so please check your email if you have not already signed up.

Weekly Update

Writing/Spelling
This past week in writing we published our realistic fiction pieces and celebrated our success!  See our celebration pictures below!   Students are now writing spooky, descriptive paragraphs and poems before our next big writing project- personal and persuasive essays.  In Spelling, students took the test.  They receive new sorts this week.

Reading
Check out the hallway display containing our book recommendations.  This past week we focused on the characters in our books.  We will finish our study of characters this week, and then move on to our informational text unit.  The Friday Homework this week is a reading titled, "Caroline and the Castle."  Boy's reading letters are due this Friday, 10/10. 

Math
We are currently in the middle of Chapter 3 in our textbook.  This week we are exploring multiplication and division properties and rules as well as factors and multiples.  Students should be studying math facts at home as we are taking multiplication quizzes in class. 

Problem Solving rotation

Science
We finished our study of landforms and have started our first science unit on Ecosystems!  Students have a vocabulary quiz this Friday, 10/10.  This week we will discuss the website Quizlet as a means of studying vocab words.  Everyone uses the same class account.  

Username:  Long-Leighton

Password:  leighton

(The username and password are case sensitive!)

Blue Ribbon Status Celebration

Other Important Info.

• Please remember to sign tests coming home with a "parent signature" stamp so that I know you are informed on your child's progress.  
• Tomorrow (10/7), we will go to Babler State Park for Missouri Heritage Days!  Make sure your child dresses for the weather, wears comfortable shoes, and brings his/her lunch!  
• New on the Links & Resources page is Reflection Journal Prompts.  Following our writing celebration, students were given a Reflection Journal.  Once or twice a week, students will either answer a prompt or free write in these journals.  These notebooks will stay at home until collected randomly to check for completion.  Students will be given a few days notice before collection day.  
• First Quarter ends Friday, October 17th. 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on Monday, October 27th and Wednesday, October 29th.  SignUpGenius invites will be sent soon.