Reading Workshop
In reading workshop we have been focusing on fluency. It is important to teach students to monitor their own reading rate. Through repeated practice students can learn to self-monitor and adjust reading rates as needed. We call this "making our reading sound like talking". Learning about different reading rates and becoming aware of the purpose of using different rates is essential to improved fluency and comprehension. To practice their fluency, the students independently read springtime poems and used a fluency self evaluation checklist to rate their fluency followed by setting a goal for themselves to further improve their fluency. Once the students were confident reading their poem on their own, they were paired with one or two other students to buddy read their poem. After deciding how they wanted to read the poem together (echo read, read together, switch off reading lines) and practicing until they felt they were reading fluently, the students performed their poems with their partners in front of the class. The students did an awesome job!
Phonics
In phonics the students have been exploring multisyllabic words. As students' reading abilities continue to develop, it is essential for them to notice word parts, or "orthographic chunks," to help them decode longer, more complex words. The students have also been practicing reading and writing compound words. The students discovered that a compound word is formed when two words are joined together to form a new word. Compound word fun! http://www.spellingcity.com/compound-words.html http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/match/dragflip.asp?filename=kderittecompound |
This week the students will begin to examine contractions. They will complete challenges such as correctly matching contractions to their base words (ex. wouldn't and would not) as well as searching the classroom for examples of contractions. Check out the following contraction games! http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/vocabulary_games/contractions.html |
Writer's Workshop
The students are just about done completing their perfect pet persuasive writing. I'm so proud of the amazing writing the students did and look forward to displaying their work at our end of the year writing celebration! The students have become quite good at defending their opinions :) This week the students will write a letter to convince you of something they would like to do during April school vacation. Do you think you will be convinced?
Math
We've been very busy in math the past few weeks. We completed Topic 8: Tens and Ones. Understanding place value requires integrating the concept of grouping by tens with the knowledge of how groups are recorded in our place-value system, how numbers are written, and how they are spoken. Children can count out a set of 46, one by one, but they should also see that making groupings of tens and leftovers is another more efficient way of counting the same quantity. Throughout this topic the students practiced representing two-digit numbers as groups of tens and ones.
Last week we began Topic 9: Comparing and Ordering Numbers to 100. Throughout the topic, the students will practice finding 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less than a number. The students will became more aware that counting is the same as adding one as they work with the idea of one more. The idea of one less is the same as counting back. Children often use the idea of one more and one less when taking about dates, ages, and other everyday occurrences. The students will also learn how to compare and order numbers to help them understand the absolute and relative size of numbers.
Last week we began Topic 9: Comparing and Ordering Numbers to 100. Throughout the topic, the students will practice finding 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less than a number. The students will became more aware that counting is the same as adding one as they work with the idea of one more. The idea of one less is the same as counting back. Children often use the idea of one more and one less when taking about dates, ages, and other everyday occurrences. The students will also learn how to compare and order numbers to help them understand the absolute and relative size of numbers.
Social Studies
We wrapped up our unit on American symbols by learning about the Liberty Bell, the White House, and the president. In addition, the students learned and practiced many patriotic songs! As a fun end of the unit activity, we read the book Duck for President and the students wrote a persuasive piece on why they would make a great president :)
April Fools!!!
The kids each received a brownie (aka a brown E) :)