The students finished their Big Maps of Massachusetts this week! Many of the geographic landforms the students have come to know and describe have been found in the state we live!!!!! How exciting to apply our knowledge in this way! Using Massachusetts as a model, students next week will begin to research other New England states in small groups. Outlines of states will be projected so students can trace a Big Map of their New England states. Using informative texts and detailed maps will help students identify geographic landforms, capitals, cities, rivers, mountains, bays, ocean, etc. in their state.
In math, students are beginning to learn multiplication facts using multiplication charts, arrays, intersections, and drawing stories to multiplication word problems. A variety of multiplication charts will be given to students with missing factors and missing products. In class, I have reviewed the “rules” of multiplying any number by zero, one, or two. Students made the threes multiplication flash cards to use in school and to review at home. In an email, I sent you some multiplication facts’ sites that students can use at home to practice multiplying factors to find products.
So many Patricia Polacco books have been read to the class! Patricia’s memories as a child, along with her family, are well recorded in her books. Students have responded to Patricia’s books, writing about characters’ traits and showing evidence. They have been telling me the “theme” of many of Patricia’s books. Students have also been noting the “descriptions” that Patricia uses, noting the choice of words she uses, and the “dialogue” that pushes her personal narratives along. Patricia has also written a book called Bully that I will be reading to 3F to kick off Baker’s Anti-Bullying program.
Please start looking at photograph books with your children to find “special events” in their lives. Eight photographs, (or the photos can be printed on your printer at home), should be sent to school. These photographs will be put on a timeline to depict your child’s memories in his/her childhood. These photographs will be used to begin our Personal Narrative/ Memoirs Writing Unit.
DEAR time has been a big hit and part of many students’ quiet time activities. I have brought in many new series and good graphic novels to the classroom to engage all students. Students are also beginning to choose my friend Ralph’s books to draw a series of detailed pictures, step by step of insects, robots, Halloween creatures, ocean creatures, etc. If anyone has origami paper at home, please donate to our class. I have some beginning Origami books to add to Quiet Time. THANK YOU!!!!!!
Buddy time was extra special this week! 1D and 3F are making a special book for Mrs. Fairley and her family. SH…It will be a surprise for the Fairleys when we finish next week!
Word Study has been a new routine this week. As with all new routines, it takes time for students to get used to what Word Study homework they will have on Monday to Thursday. I have patience and your children know to tell me if they did not understand what to do. In class, I always help individual students correct their homework and their work in class.
Also, just to clarify, the Reading Logs will be given to students on Monday, but they do not have to be completed until Friday. Book Club will be on Friday. Students will read their “Readers’ Responses in small groups as they eat their snack in the room. I prefer to see children complete one detailed “log” per week than many shorter logs. These Readers’ Responses have been modeled ahead of time in class.
Today, Thursday, was the fifth day I have been teaching this wonderful class of students. I feel the transition has been smooth. The students are happy and learning. Yes, I have mixed up some names, which always happens to me at the beginning of teaching a new class. I am getting to know your children better and better each day. It takes time to learn deeply about each student. And it takes time for students to learn deeply about their teacher. (Some students are still calling me Mrs. Fairley). A transition to a new grade is typically six weeks every new school year. It is only natural that there will need to be time for me as a new teacher to get to know every student well, and every student and parent will get to know me.
By the way, we have been reading some non-fiction books about Christopher Columbus and studying "primary sources" from his time. Ask your children what they know about Christopher Columbus so far in our studies. :)
In math, students are beginning to learn multiplication facts using multiplication charts, arrays, intersections, and drawing stories to multiplication word problems. A variety of multiplication charts will be given to students with missing factors and missing products. In class, I have reviewed the “rules” of multiplying any number by zero, one, or two. Students made the threes multiplication flash cards to use in school and to review at home. In an email, I sent you some multiplication facts’ sites that students can use at home to practice multiplying factors to find products.
So many Patricia Polacco books have been read to the class! Patricia’s memories as a child, along with her family, are well recorded in her books. Students have responded to Patricia’s books, writing about characters’ traits and showing evidence. They have been telling me the “theme” of many of Patricia’s books. Students have also been noting the “descriptions” that Patricia uses, noting the choice of words she uses, and the “dialogue” that pushes her personal narratives along. Patricia has also written a book called Bully that I will be reading to 3F to kick off Baker’s Anti-Bullying program.
Please start looking at photograph books with your children to find “special events” in their lives. Eight photographs, (or the photos can be printed on your printer at home), should be sent to school. These photographs will be put on a timeline to depict your child’s memories in his/her childhood. These photographs will be used to begin our Personal Narrative/ Memoirs Writing Unit.
DEAR time has been a big hit and part of many students’ quiet time activities. I have brought in many new series and good graphic novels to the classroom to engage all students. Students are also beginning to choose my friend Ralph’s books to draw a series of detailed pictures, step by step of insects, robots, Halloween creatures, ocean creatures, etc. If anyone has origami paper at home, please donate to our class. I have some beginning Origami books to add to Quiet Time. THANK YOU!!!!!!
Buddy time was extra special this week! 1D and 3F are making a special book for Mrs. Fairley and her family. SH…It will be a surprise for the Fairleys when we finish next week!
Word Study has been a new routine this week. As with all new routines, it takes time for students to get used to what Word Study homework they will have on Monday to Thursday. I have patience and your children know to tell me if they did not understand what to do. In class, I always help individual students correct their homework and their work in class.
Also, just to clarify, the Reading Logs will be given to students on Monday, but they do not have to be completed until Friday. Book Club will be on Friday. Students will read their “Readers’ Responses in small groups as they eat their snack in the room. I prefer to see children complete one detailed “log” per week than many shorter logs. These Readers’ Responses have been modeled ahead of time in class.
Today, Thursday, was the fifth day I have been teaching this wonderful class of students. I feel the transition has been smooth. The students are happy and learning. Yes, I have mixed up some names, which always happens to me at the beginning of teaching a new class. I am getting to know your children better and better each day. It takes time to learn deeply about each student. And it takes time for students to learn deeply about their teacher. (Some students are still calling me Mrs. Fairley). A transition to a new grade is typically six weeks every new school year. It is only natural that there will need to be time for me as a new teacher to get to know every student well, and every student and parent will get to know me.
By the way, we have been reading some non-fiction books about Christopher Columbus and studying "primary sources" from his time. Ask your children what they know about Christopher Columbus so far in our studies. :)