Hello Families,
We have jumped into November with both feet and are settling back into routine after a few wacky weeks. Thank you to everyone that brought in something for the Harvest Celebration on Monday. The students had a great time creating spooky monsters and eating delicious treats!
We have jumped into November with both feet and are settling back into routine after a few wacky weeks. Thank you to everyone that brought in something for the Harvest Celebration on Monday. The students had a great time creating spooky monsters and eating delicious treats!
Math
In Math we have started Unit 2 which immerses the students in a variety of multiplication situations. Students have been making use of a variety of models for multiplication and have been seeing the operation used in different contexts. This unit helps to build flexibility in strategies which is key to strong mathematicians.
In Number Corner we introduced our new November calendar. This month we add a new rectangular array marker each day. Students will find the dimensions and total squares (area) of each array and share observations about the emerging patterns.
Our new Calendar Collector this month is the "Fraction Race!" Each day the students spin two spinners one shows what size unit fraction to collect that day (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) and the other shows how many of that unit fraction to collect that day. Each kind of fraction is added to its own growing number line (see the picture below!) As each collection grows, students compare them and in doing so, develop deeper understanding about fractions.
Some key vocabulary..
In Math we have started Unit 2 which immerses the students in a variety of multiplication situations. Students have been making use of a variety of models for multiplication and have been seeing the operation used in different contexts. This unit helps to build flexibility in strategies which is key to strong mathematicians.
In Number Corner we introduced our new November calendar. This month we add a new rectangular array marker each day. Students will find the dimensions and total squares (area) of each array and share observations about the emerging patterns.
Our new Calendar Collector this month is the "Fraction Race!" Each day the students spin two spinners one shows what size unit fraction to collect that day (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) and the other shows how many of that unit fraction to collect that day. Each kind of fraction is added to its own growing number line (see the picture below!) As each collection grows, students compare them and in doing so, develop deeper understanding about fractions.
Some key vocabulary..
- Multiple- A multiple of a number is the product of that number and any other whole number. This week, we started "count arounds" where we found the multiples of 3, 6 , and 9 and then saw what those numbers had in common.
- Communtative Property- Is the property that says you can swap numbers around and still get the same answer when you multiply (or add).
- Distributive Property - This property says that multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately
Example: 3 × (2 + 4) = 3×2 + 3×4
So the "3" can be "distributed" across the "2+4" into 3 times 2 and 3 times 4. - Unit Fraction- A fraction where the top number (the "numerator") is 1
Writing
Room 24 is filled with budding authors. This week, students have been working hard to begin publishing their Small Moment stories. Leading up to publishing, students have created strong leads, sequenced their stories, added dialogue (and learned how to punctuate it!!), and unforgettable endings. These stories will be typed on student Chromebooks. Once they are published, I will encourage the students to show you their writing at home. All students have access to their Google Drives at home.
In addition to our Small Moments, since Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, we have started building our Thankful Turkey! Each morning students come in and write something they are thankful for on a feather and then it goes up on our turkey in the hallway. He has already grown to be VERY thankful in just one week. We have so many things to be thankful for and our Thankful Turkey is a wonderful visual for the students to see.
Room 24 is filled with budding authors. This week, students have been working hard to begin publishing their Small Moment stories. Leading up to publishing, students have created strong leads, sequenced their stories, added dialogue (and learned how to punctuate it!!), and unforgettable endings. These stories will be typed on student Chromebooks. Once they are published, I will encourage the students to show you their writing at home. All students have access to their Google Drives at home.
In addition to our Small Moments, since Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, we have started building our Thankful Turkey! Each morning students come in and write something they are thankful for on a feather and then it goes up on our turkey in the hallway. He has already grown to be VERY thankful in just one week. We have so many things to be thankful for and our Thankful Turkey is a wonderful visual for the students to see.
Reading
This week we finished our last Session in our first reading unit. Students talked about how good readers "talk back to the text". The children noticed that when a text prompts them to ask questions, they should think about the questions, revisit earlier parts of the text and rethink, to come up with possible answer.
Next week we will start our Nonfiction reading unit. This is a unit that students tend to REALLY enjoy; I am so looking forward to introducing it to all the brilliant readers in our class!
This week we finished our last Session in our first reading unit. Students talked about how good readers "talk back to the text". The children noticed that when a text prompts them to ask questions, they should think about the questions, revisit earlier parts of the text and rethink, to come up with possible answer.
Next week we will start our Nonfiction reading unit. This is a unit that students tend to REALLY enjoy; I am so looking forward to introducing it to all the brilliant readers in our class!
A few reminders:
Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Deirdre Phalon
- Parent conferences are 11/21 and 11/22, please send back the yellow sign up sheet if you haven't yet.
- Please send in headphones with your student to use during Chromebook time.
Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Deirdre Phalon