Nov. 27th Classroom Updates

A Few Things You Need to Know:

Winter Weather Gear-Now that the weather is wintery, please be sure to send boots, snow pants, hats, and mittens in for recess. It’s good to label everything with a black permanent marker since many gloves and mittens are found in the hallway each day. Some students bring an extra bag for their snow pants if they won’t fit in the backpack.

Field Trip next week: We will be taking the Ann Arbor Transportation bus to go to 826 Michigan on December 5^th. At 826 Michigan, they teach wonderful writing lessons which go along with our lessons in Writer’s Workshop. If you are able to chaperone, please let me know. I have one chaperone and we could use one or two more! Our trip is from 9:15-12:30.

Curriculum Corner:

Math: We just started Unit 3. Last week we described rules for patterns and used these to solve problems (in and out boxes). This week we will be focusing on using the partial-sums and column-addition methods. We will subtract using the counting-up and expand and trade methods.

Reading:  We are learning to build meaning in nonfiction text by using strategies to look closely at the text for the main idea. Stopping and thinking frequently about questions or confusions we have about a text helps us understand what we are reading. This week we will also learn how to build meaning by jotting notes about nonfiction texts. 

Writing :  In Writer’s Workshop, each student is writing a Feature Article. Students brainstormed a list of topics that they were experts on. Next, we narrowed down our topics to be more specific (this was not an easy task!). Next we will begin drafting our first draft of a Feature Article. The topics are amazing!

Science:  We will begin a new Science unit called “Let’s Move It”. We will investigate what causes movement.

Word Work: We will begin our word work groups next week. Words Their Way is our new spelling program and we have been reviewing long vowel spelling patterns together in  whole group lessons.

Mark your calendars:

Dec. 3-Dec. 7-Follett Book Fair- Open times: 8:45am-10am, 3-4:30 daily

Wed. Dec. 5-Field trip to 826 Michigan in downtown Ann Arbor

Thurs. Dec. 20-Field trip to Power Center to see the Nutcracker 

Friday, Dec. 21-Community Sing-3pm

Friday, Dec. 21-Winter break begins at the end of the day

Monday, Jan. 7-School resumes