We have started our Informational Units in both Reading and Writing Workshop. In reading, students have learned to "preview, predict, and tap prior knowledge" before reading an informational text. They have also learned how to pause and paraphrase. When students use this strategy, they pause at the end of a paragraph, think about what they've read and paraphrase the information they recall in their own words. Students also learned how to locate the main idea of a paragraph. They practiced this strategy with their reading partner. Students reread paragraphs from their assigned informational texts to locate the main idea of several different paragraphs.
Writing Workshop
In writing, students were asked to create a list of topics in which they feel they are an "expert." After choosing a topic from their list, they began by writing as much as they knew about the topic. Students were also taught to determine categories of information for their topics. First, they told their writing partners the categories and corresponding information using their fingers. Then, they wrote more about their topics in categories in their notebooks.
Techie Texts Day
Thank you so much for purchasing Scholastic books for your child this year! We were able to purchase several nonfiction ebooks for the iPads using bonus points which we've earned from your orders. Students enjoyed reading the ebooks on Friday! They will have another opportunity to read the ebooks on Thursday during our computer lab time.
Math Workshop
We wrapped up Unit 4 this week. We practiced multi-step word problems, corrected the unit reviews and took the Unit 4 test. Look for your child's test in his/her homework folder tomorrow!
Science
The crayfish have finally arrived! Students have been anxious to meet the crayfish since we started our Structures of Life Unit about a month ago! Each table took a closer look at the crayfish and completed a "See, Think, Wonder" activity. For example, students may have noticed the crayfish has 2 antennae (See); they may have thought the crayfish uses its antennae to smell (Think); they may have wondered if the crayfish uses its antennae to communicate (Wonder). Small groups shared their thinking and wondering with one another. This week we cleaned out the water the crayfish had been living in and fed them. We have tried to separate the crayfish by size into two tubs, however, we have one crayfish who is quite a bit bigger than all the others. Only a few brave students have tried to pick the big one up! Maddie is holding it below.
All-Star of the Week
Alina was our amazing All-Star this week! Her parents put together a very special presentation for her which they shared with the class. It was so nice to see many great pictures and learn so much about Alina! She also enjoyed lunch with her parents on her lunch buddy day. Students enjoyed her sharing sack items and her beautiful pictures! They also loved hearing her read aloud so much they wanted her to read it again when she finished! The class wrote very sweet compliments to her on Friday to end her special week.
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