Week 7

Dear Parents,

     This week in math we started a unit on addition and subtraction stories. We began the week by recognizing if the problem was addition or subtraction. We then wrote the numbers from the problem and put them into our part/part/whole box. After that we used our part/part/whole to write a number sentence like 12-8 = 4. We then circled our first number from the number sentence and then added or subtracted the second number from that number by counting on the 100s chart. We ended the week by doing mental math! 

      In reading this week our focus was on asking and answering questions while we read. It is important to ask questions before, during, and after we read so that we have a good understanding of the story. We also learned the elements of drama and read a play together. We learned how to connect the text and visuals to tell us more about the words and the characters. On Thursday we learned about Johnny Appleseed, tasted apple Juice and dried apples, and learned how this good citizen helped our country. We used our map skills to color a map of the United States to show which state Johnny visited.

       In writing we learned about common and proper nouns. We practiced them using two sorting activities. We continued on with taking our fall writing through the writing process. Soon our final copy papers will be displayed in our hallway. We began a second personal narrative on Friday using the mentor text Wemberly Worriedas an inspiration. We talked about things we worry about and discussed how we could write a personal narrative writing our thoughts and feelings while we organize our paper on a flow map.

       In science we began a new unit called Changing and Combining Matter. We had three investigations this week as we changed matter by adding heat. We predicted what would happen and then wrote down our observations. On Friday we watched as a gobstopper changed over time when we put it in water. We were surprised by the outcomes of these fun, but informative investigations!

• Our snack bin is running low again. The children are so relieved when they find that they get a snack if they have forgotten theirs. If you can help replenish our bucket, I and the children would be very grateful.

Book Fair will be open for shopping next week, September 30 – October 4, 2019. Please see the attached letter for times, special events, and more! If you are interested in volunteering, we still have spots open! Visit the Voly link athttps://tinyurl.com/y4cvzpnk to sign up.

Week 6

Dear Parents, 

         Thank you so much for signing up for conferences. I still need three parents to send in their form. I’m sending home a copy of the times and dates that were taken. If there is an X on the spot, that time is no longer available. Conferences start next Monday. I sent home a conference confirmation form in your child’s Coyote Folder tonight if you have been scheduled. I will send a reminder home the night before your conference. I’m looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress thus far.

         In math this week we concluded our unit on counting coins and took our assessment on Wednesday and Thursday. We proved our answers and did very well. We are learning that using the strategies we learn in class, helps us get correct answers. 

 On Friday we started our new unit on solving addition and subtraction stories using multiple strategies.

         In reading we learned all about our Constitution. We learned the meaning behind the words of the pledge of allegiance and why we respect our flag as well as how we take care of our flag. We continued in guided reading groups with taking running records on everyone to see if we can raise our reading levels.

          In writing we learned about the writing process and began editing and revising our fall personal narratives . There was much excitement in the room as we became word detectives and began this process. We also focused on using the dictionary to help us. We went on a dictionary dig to see how a dictionary is set up. We found the guide words, the definition, the page numbers and used the word in  sentence.

          In science we finished Unit 2 on properties of matter and took our assessment on Wednesday. We looked at the icons for the big idea and details and realized the connection between Unit 1 and Unit 2. In Unit 1 we learned what scientists do and in Unit 2 we used those skills to BE scientists. We finished the week with a CER activity. We made a claim and found evidence to support our claim.

Book Fair will be here the week of September 30 – October 4, 2019. Please see the attached letter for times, special events, and more! If you are interested in volunteering, visit https://tinyurl.com/y4cvzpnk to sign up.

A Nonfiction Scavenger Hunt in the Library!

Week 5

Dear Parents,

         Week #5 was full of wonderful learning opportunities! In math we focused on counting money. The strategy used is for the children to put the what the coin is worth above the coin and count up the amount under the coin until they get the total. We use a hundreds chart to help us with the counting. We also learned how to use different coins to make the same amount. We used greater than, less than and equal to signs to compare two groups of coins. If we miss a problem on a practice page we go back and correct it. We also took our istation math test on Monday.

          In reading we have been focusing on reading realistic fiction books. We created mental pictures of the characters and drew them. We focused on the words in the text that helped us create our image. Om Wednesday we discussed what Patriot Day is and why we celebrate it. We saw a powerpoint about 9/11 and created a class circle map about peace. We filled out a story element graphic organizer on a book called It’s Only Stanley. On Friday we talked about how we make connections to stories we read and how those connections build our comprehension.

           In writing we continued learning about writing tools that can help us, like an alphabet chart and a consonant cluster chart. It helps us be fearless spellers and makes our writing easier to read. We wrote a peace acrostic poem on 9/11 and began a writing about Fall. We built our background knowledge, made a sensory chart, and began our rough draft.

            In science we continued observing properties of matter as we sorted objects by their physical properties. We then observed several objects and filled in a chart listing whether the objects were flexible/not flexible, cool/warm, a solid/a liquid, or smooth/rough. On Friday we did a talk-read-talk-write about sorting matter.

·      Please send in earbuds so your child can use the ipads during guided reading.

·      If your child has not turned in his/her completed Leadership poster, please send it in on Monday.

·      Thank you to the two parents who sent in snacks this week. Our snack tub is full again. I appreciate your help in providing snacks so the children feel good and ready to do their best!

* Link to Mrs. Moore’s Guidance Lesson:     https://app.secondstep.org/Portals/0/g2/Lesson_Materials/Home_Links/g2L5_Home_Link.pdf

*The CRE Under the Sea Book Fair will be September 27 – October 4th. Volunteers are needed! Sign up to volunteer through the CRE Voly page at https://tinyurl.com/y4cvzpnk. Volunteers are especially needed September 25, 26, and 27 to decorate, set up, and help with previews. Contact Mrs. Watts with any questions at wattsbm@lisd.net. Thank you!

Sorting by Physical Properties

Week 4

Dear Parents,

            This week zoomed by being only 4 days. In the Coyote Folder your child’s first progress report and istation report went home. I have their beginning of year writing sample yet to collect and will be sending home a sign-up sheet for conference times  in about two weeks.

             In math we continued counting money (pennies/dimes), counting with snap cubes (towers and single cubes) and counting using our own drawings of stickers ( Rows and singles). We are getting the hang of number talks and are finding strategies to help us add using mental math. Our intentional problem solving is going well and the children are already enjoying sharing their work in front of the class.

             In reading we read several stories and focused in on the setting and the characters. We talked about the characters having external and internal characteristics. We have our guided reading groups up and running and are working on their independent work stamina (getting work completed on their own while I am with reading groups.) Thank you for helping your child fill out their reading log nightly ( Mon.-Thurs.) and turning it in on Fridays.

             In writing the children have been excited about writing using authors as their mentors and they are busy creating their first book. We are learning how to be fearless spellers, use a spelling dictionary, and our word wall to help them spell.

           In social studies we again focused on being a good citizen, took a self-assessment, and wrote about ourselves for our leadership notebooks. We also worked on a shutter book that tells more about what we want to learn this year. We began setting goals this week and started to track them on our September calendars.

            In science we have been learning about matter and how to classify things by looking at their physical properties. Check out our blog to see some children who took objects from around our room and sorted them by size, shape, color, mass or texture.

• There are quite a few children who come without snack each day. Please send your child with a healthy snack. I try to provide snack if it is forgotten. I bought snacks and had some snacks donated, but those are almost gone. If you would like to send snacks for our tub to help out it would be appreciated. The individual bags of goldfish, pretzels, cheez-its are always met with smiles.
• Please send in earbuds so your child can use the ipads during guided reading.