Fractions

This week we are kicking off our study of fractions.  In class we will watch a video each day that introduces a specific topic about fractions.  We are going to be taking notes on these videos to ensure that each student understands what is presented.  Here are the first few videos that we will be watching.  I am putting them here so that your children can repeat them at home if they are confused on a topic.  The nice thing about watching at home is that they can watch at their own pace, stopping and rewinding as needed.  Here are the links for day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4 and day 5.   

This week we will be watching the videos together in class and learning how to take notes on what we see.  Next week, if all goes well, we may begin watching the videos at home and discussing them in class by looking at the notes we take at home.  This is called flipping the classroom.  Here is an interesting article that outlines what it means to flip a classroom.  As it states, each version of a flipped classroom is unique.  My goal if to begin with math to see if viewing the material at their own pace is beneficial to your children.  I will, of course, be reviewing the information in class as well.  I would love to hear how you think it is going at home.

Science ~ Light Energy

We are continuing our look at types of energy by focusing on light.  We will start by watching this video in class.  You may wish to review it with your child, and discuss the important facts.  Some of the vocabulary words that we will be focusing on in class are:  light energy, absorb, reflect, refract, and light source.  Here is another video we will watch later in the unit to review these words. We will also do several experiments that demonstrate the concepts mentioned in these videos.   Please talk with your child about what they are learning, and perhaps have them teach you so that they can solidify their understanding of the topic. 

MCAS, conferences, and what's new

Well, MCAS is finally here.  Your children and I have been working hard getting ready by reading voraciously, and practicing test taking strategies.  We have talked about multiple choice questions, and how to read them carefully, cross out the obvious incorrect answers, and go back to the text to choose the best possible answer.  We have talked about answering short answer questions by choosing the best answer from the text, and explaining why that is the best answer.  We have talked about answering open response questions by formulating a topic sentence that reflects the question (to ensure that they are indeed answering what is asked), and supporting that answer with three pieces of evidence from the text, and explaining each piece of evidence.  I hope that you will review these techniques with your children, and reassure them that they are well prepared, and if they give it their best effort the day of the test, no one could or would ask for anything more. 

Just a reminder that a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast play an important role in success.  We have also told the children that they are allowed to chew mint gum the mornings of the test.  There is some research which has shown that the mint stimulates brain cells and encourages focus.  I know the children were excited at the prospect.  If you would like your child to chew, please send in a stick or two this Wednesday and Thursday.

We have been very busy doing many other things, as well.  In reader’s workshop we have performed some reader’s theater to practicing fluency.   We are also finishing up the book groups mentioned in the last entry, and will be switching partners and books within the next week or so.

In math we have finished the division test, and are starting geometry this week.  We are also continuing to work on multiplication fact memorization.  Please make sure that your child is practicing their flashcards and/or going on Xtramath nightly.  The goal is to be able to say each fact (up to 10 x 10) within 3 seconds.  WIN groups are up and running.  WIN stands for 'what I need,' and each child has their own folder with papers to practice on skills that they have found challenging.  Mrs. Green and I meet with small groups to reteach challenging topics, as well as to push the thinking of those who understand the topics taught.

We have been working on our second non-fiction text in writing.  The children have researched in the computer lab and planned out their chapters.  They are using a variety of text structures and text features throughout their books.  We will be moving on to poetry after we complete these.

Please look for conference notices to come home this week.  Conferences at this time of year are optional, and I will let you know if I feel one is necessary.  Feel free to request one if you feel the need, and send it back either way so that I know you have seen it.

Finally, we are still trying to go outside as much as possible.  Please make sure that your child dresses for the weather.  Hopefully, spring weather will be here soon, but until then they should have warm jackets, hats and mittens as the wind makes it quite chilly on the playground. 

World Reading Week

This week we celebrated reading in a variety of ways.  The entire school read the book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, and we discussed many ways we could display kindness to others.  Students in class have created a kindness box which they will fill with observations of kind acts they witness.  Each day we had a special guest reader. 

Mrs. Vozzella came and read Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie DePaola.  She shared a lot of connections with the students about her own grandmother and great-grandmother.

 

 

Mrs. Higginbottom read Possum Magic by Mem Fox.  She also brought maps of Australia, the setting of the story, as well as pictures of foods enjoyed in that country.

 

 

Mr. Higginbottom read a book he loves to read with his granddaughter,  Howard B. Wigglebottom by Howard Binkow. 

 

 

 

 Mrs. Wolf came to read one of her favorite stories, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. 

 

 

 Mrs. Ristaino read her granddaughter's favorite book, The Sea Chest by Tony Buzzeo, as well as The Luckiest Kid on the Planet by Lisa Campbell Ernst, in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.

 

 

 

All of the readers shared their love of reading, and the children had a wonderful time!

 

Lastly, the children are deep into book discussion groups.  There are five different groups in the classroom, each reading a different story.  Right now we are reading The Haunting of Third Grade, Invisible in Third Grade, Jake Drake Bully Buster, The Chocolate Touch, and Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One.  Students are reading independently and then meeting every other day to hold a discussion about their book.

 

I have seen a huge increase in stamina over the course of the year.  As the children increase their reading, real progress is being seen as well.  Please make sure that they continue to read nightly to reinforce strategies learned during the day.