Week of October 22nd – 26th

Dear families,

What a fun and exciting week this has been in our classroom! The children learned more about the importance of non-fiction reading and writing, had a few opportunities to try their hand at some new addition and subtraction strategies, and conducted experiments about force and friction in science...
In addition to all of that, we started out the week by celebrating my birthday!
Our room has been full of fruit bouquets, muffins, home-made cards, arts and crafts gifts from the heart, beautiful bouquets of flowers, and a digital camera to take photos of the class in action! I am truly blessed!

Reading Workshop

During our reading workshop time we will continue to focus on Expository text but will transfer our focus to Procedural texts.  We will read a variety of literature that outlines “how to…” complete a task.  We will use our Reading Workshop time to focus on the study of Pumpkins.  We will read The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons and focus on the portion of the story that outlines how to grow a pumpkin.  We will discuss the elements of “how to…” writing as we examine different author’s work.

Writing Workshop

During Writing Workshop we will transfer what we’ve learned from our reading experiences to our own writing.  We practice writing the step of a “How to” as a class.  We will reflect on our experience of making pancakes during our science investigation a couple of weeks ago.  Together we will illustrate and write a How to make pancakes.  The students will choose a subject that they could explain how to do something.  These could include how to make a basket (Basketball), how to ride a bike or how to make a necklace

Math

This week during math we will explore data and graphing.  The students will be expected to make graphs with real objects, picture graphs and bar type graphs.  We will explore how to collect data through our “quick surveys”.  The students will ask each other questions like, “Do you like your ice cream in a cup, or in a cone?” They will ask their classmates and record their data on a tally chart.  After the students collect their data they will make a picture graph or a bar graph to display their results.   We will answer questions such as, “are there more of our friends who like ice cream in a cup or in a cone?”

Science

Magnets have always been a big fascination with children. This week we will be exploring the concepts that magnets have two poles: a notrh pole and a south pole. Magnets attract, or pull, magnetic materials, such as iron and also attract the opposite pole of another magnet. Magnets also repel, or push, the same pole of another magnet. We will predict whether magnets will push, pull, or have no effect on objects based on the physical properties of those objects. We will ask what happens when you put two magnets together; what physical properties of objects allow them to be attracted to a magnet, and many others.

Thanks to you…

Tuesday Folders: Alina Postelnicu

Copies and cutting: Alina Postelnicu

Computer Lab: Carl Alagar

Homework Helpers: Jen VanMetre and Santrupta Bhatia

Thursday Chores: Lissa Anderson

Friday Reader: Julie Cooper 

And a continued thank you to all of you who are working with your children at home with their homework packets. You make a HUGE difference in their lives and mine! I appreciate you!

Reminders:

Red Ribbon Week Events:

Monday, “Sock it to Drugs” day – wear crazy or mismatched socks

Tuesday, “Drugs and I DO NOT Mix” day – wear mismatched clothes

Wednesday, “Say No to Drugs” day – wear a red shirt or clothing

Thursday, “Boot out Drugs” day – wear boots or western wear

Friday, “Say BOO to Drugs” day – Wear Halloween colors or t-shirt

Wednesday, October 24^th  Early Release

Thursday, October 25^th Family Science Night

Saturday, November 3^rd  Harvest Festival