*My auto update did not work this weekend, I just realized this did not publish. Updates will normally be published on Friday*
Thank you for taking the time to read our classroom blog. Every week This blog will tell about our learning for the week, give important information, share pictures and maybe video, and list upcoming events. Please remember to subscribe to this blog (scroll down on the right hand side bar), and you will receive an email when the blog is updated. I will send an email with the blog link the next two weeks, after that you will need to be subscribed to receive the email updates.
We have had a busy 4 days! We began your curriculum, we set up our iPads, and we have taken some baseline assessments!
in Reading Workshop our first reading unit is: Interpreting Characters in Fiction, by talking about how we need to read intensely. We learned how to slow down and notice everything in the we are reading. We Learned that good readers make movies in their minds, noticing when the movie get blurry, and analyze why the author uses certain words or phrases in the story. We also discussed having sympathy or empathy for our characters to help us better understand them. Students too a pre-assessment before beginning the unit and students spent some time evaluating themselves by looking at the rubric of skills they will be learning with this unit, so that they can see where they started and at the end of the unit we will repeat the process to see what they have learned. We will be beginning the tri-annual reading assessments next week. These assessments allow me to get to know your child as a reader and help guide them toward “just right” books. The assessments also help me individualize reading instruction for each student.
In Math our first unit is all about place value. This is the math curriculum that was rolled out last year. This first unit is short and mostly review of third grade skills, just extending those skills to larger numbers. This year our math Homework (Practice Buddy) and a Quick Check are on the iPads every day. The benefit of doing it this way is immediate feedback for your child. Often students will complete the paper homework, getting many problems incorrect and not know they are practicing it incorrectly until the next day or even later when the teacher grades it. By that time, it is too late. Practice Buddy on the iPad tells them immediately if they are correct or not, and gives help. We will go over all the help options available to them in class. Often your child will be able to complete most of the homework in class. Math homework will be written in their planner. Please review the Homework and Quick Check with your child, check to see if it is complete, and review what they are learning. Your child can show you how to go on to the program and see what we are working on. I will post a short video this week, going over the steps for logging on to see their work.
I am aware that there have been some issues with logging on at home. Rest assured, SL Tech Team realizes there have been some issues with their new filter and not being able to get into programs at home. They are working on resolving these issues, and promise it should be fixed by Tuesday! Thank you for taking the time to check over your child’s work each night and signing their planners!
Our first science unit is A View from the Earth, we are studying the sun, moon, and Earth. Your child has been asked to go out and observe the moon the next few days, for most of this week the moon (waning gibbous) will be visible in the morning before school and on the way to school. The observation sheet is due Friday, September 15.
Our first Chicago fundraiser began on Friday, Wesco Popcorn buckets! Please try to sell all 5 buckets and return the $60 to school as soon as possible. The fundraiser will continue for a few weeks. We have more buckets available to sell, as your child sells five we can give them more! Remember selling 15 buckets covers the cost of the trip! Buckets are $12 each and good to use at many Wesco stores (see the side of the bucket) immediately until December 2018. Please be sure to return any unsold buckets and lids.
I have noticed a few students do not have headphones/earbuds yet. We will need these by Wednesday for a diagnostic assessment we are taking.
A huge thank you to all who donated Oreos! We are all set and will be doing our moon phase lab soon!