Weekly Update

Reading Workshop
We are digging deeper in our "Bringing Characters to Life" unit this week. Students are continuing to "walk in the character's shoes" to deepen their understanding of the story and to help make predictions. Students are using their understanding of the characters and the traits that they display in the story to predict not only what will happen next but also how it will happen. Students will also be reflecting on the ways important events that happen in stories can evoke strong emotions. During reading time, students are now expected to write down their thinking about the books they are reading. This writing will help them as we begin to look for patterns in characters' behavior and grow theories about characters.


Writing Workshop
We are focusing on a variety of elaboration strategies this week.  These are ways that students can really develop their stories. Adding sensory details, including the internal story (what they are thinking or feeling), describing the action, and writing detailed descriptions will help students' stories come alive! Students have been revisiting old stories and using these elaboration strategies by inserting details. (See photos below.)

Math Workshop
As we continue in unit 2, students were introduced to "unknown number multiplication tables" where they must put into practice the multiplication and division strategies we have introduced so far in the year. They will also learn strategies to multiply and divide by 8. At the end of the week, students will practice writing their own word problems and then determine the appropriate equation to solve the problem. We have also begun "Math Talk." After all students have attempted to solve a "problem of the day," a student is chosen to show the class how they solved the problem.  The "audience" is able to ask that student questions about how he or she solved the problem, while other students are encouraged to demonstrate different ways that they solved the same problem. Emphasis is placed on cooperative math discussion and being able to verbally explain how a math problem was solved.

Social Studies
We began our tour of the Northeast Region last week, and we are having a great time! We have made stops in West Quoddy Head, Maine, Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Students pretend to travel by train during our tour. (All hats are numbered so that students wear the same hat each day. Hats are washed after each use.)

All Aboard!!

Students follow along in their textbooks as our Northeast tour guide (on an audio CD) tells them information about each new stop.

As we travel, pictures of each tour stop are posted on the Smart Board to help students visualize where we are.

In Plymouth, MA, students acted as pilgrims as they tried to determine the best form of government to adopt once they got off of the Mayflower.

Each group of "pilgrims" had to explain their ideas and answer questions about their plan.

Since we were pretending to be Pilgrims, we had a "feast" (muffins) to mark the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth.

Afer each tour stop, students write about what they learn on their "travel journals" in their region tour binder.

Red Ribbon Week

Each year Hill students team together to say "no" to drugs and "yes" to a healthy lifestyle.  Each day of the week, students were asked to dress in a certain way to show their support.

MONDAY: "Sock it to Drugs" (Crazy Sock Day)

TUESDAY: "Dreaming of a Life Without Drugs (Pajama Day)

WEDNESDAY: "Team Up Against Drugs" (Wear favorite team or school shirt)

FRIDAY: Red Ribbon Day (Wear Red!)

All-Star of the Week

Brett was our All-Star this week. The kids loved seeing his photos and listening to him read his favorite book, but their favorite part of the week was when Brett brought his pet rabbit Rolo to school.  His mom also joined him as his lunch buddy in the cafeteria.