Weekly Updates 12/15-12/19

NEWS/EVENTS

• 3-509 is running the winter farm stand this Wednesday from 8:00-8:50. Students should arrive as close to 8:00 as possible to maximize their experience!
• Family Friday is this Friday! We will do an interactive read aloud about China, and will have an opportunity to grow some ideas in mini-accountable circle groups.
• Winter recess is approaching. We will be on break from 12/24 to 1/5 (Returning to school the 5th).
• Our class is going to Circle in the Square on January 20th to see student scripts performed.

Homework:

Monday- Read for 30 minutes and jot, math homework, sort words in notebook. If applying to lead a review seminar, applications are due tomorrow.

Tuesday- Read for 30 minutes and jot, math homework.

Wednesday- Read for 30 minutes and jot, , math homework, word study menu option.

Thursday- Read for 30 minutes and jot, complete review for post unit assessment, study for spelling test.

Over the weekend: Read each day for 30 minutes and jot.

CURRICULUM

Reading- This week we are using questioning and context clues as strategies to dig deeper and find more information about our nonfiction topics. Students will be switching to a new interest bin with their partners, and will eventually decide on a topics they would like to teach others about.

Writing: This week we have shifted into drafting our first persuasive speech, and today we categorized reasons and wrote long about those reasons. Our goal is to publish one persuasive speech before the vacation, and then let the kids have an opportunity to go back into their notebooks and select a second topic worth speaking about. We are exploring the idea of turning these speeches into kid "TED Talks," so that they can be shared and viewed by others.

Math: This is our last week in Multiplication and Division 1-9 Facts. This week we are reviewing word problem strategies such as bar models and other property work, and we are also working with the class to develop goal setting center work to ensure understanding and practice of all topics covered. The post assessment will take place Friday.

Social Studies: This week we are launching China! We are visiting flash centers (quick 3-5 minute experiences) involving quick samples of treats, the study of some real artifacts, and some images of parts of China. This will help us get a taste of all the great things we will learn more about in the weeks to come! 

Weekly Updates 12/8-12/12

NEWS/EVENTS

• On Wednesday December 17th 3-509 will have the opportunity to run the first farm market of winter! Students should plan to arrive at 8:00 for a full farm stand experience. Dress in layers on this day!
• The next Family Friday is December 19th!
• On Tuesday January 20th 3-509 is visiting Circle in the Square to see their scripts performed by real actors. Our performances will take place between 12-2. All parents are welcome to join us at the theater.
• Next Monday December 15th will be Ms. Steinberg's last day with our class! We are working on a special class project for her that will be presented on this day.
• Our December Newsletter will be posted on the PS 11 Website by tomorrow. Please visit http://ps11chelsea.org/3-509-ms-aimee-bouchard/  to view monthly newsletters.
• We will be launching China as our next Social Studies unit this week! We are looking to plan a day of flash centers, to give the kids an opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture. If any family have ideas for flash centers ( a traditional treat, a fairy tale, a video clip) please email me! These flash centers will most likely take place on Friday.

This week's homework:

Monday: Read for 30 minutes from just right book baggie and jot in reading notebook. Distributive math practice. Sort words (write not glue) in word study notebook.

Tuesday: Read for 30 minutes from just right book baggie and jot in reading notebook. Finish section for Ms. Steinberg project. Math- one step multiplication problems.

Wednesday: Read for 30 minutes from just right book baggie and jot in reading notebook. Math- Multiplication 2 step problems. Word Study- menu option.

Thursday: Read for 30 minutes from just right book baggie and jot in reading notebook. Math-Division 1-step word problems. Glue words in purple book, study for spelling test.

Friday: Read for 30 minutes from just right book baggie and jot in reading notebook. Math- Division 2-step problems.

CURRICULUM

Reading: This week students are continuing to read nonfiction books in interest groups, and are pushing their thinking by working with partners to ask follow-up questions. Later in the week we are learning other strategies to identify the main idea of a passage- like chunking texts, looking at key details, and looking back and asking ourselves, "Does this information fit together?"

Writing: This week we are working on persuasive flash drafts and working on addressing the needs of our audiences. 

Math: For the past few days students have been learning how to use the distributive property as a means to make challenging facts easier. Over the next week we will learn how to use bar models to solve one and two part multiplication and division problems.

Social Studies: We are launching China this week! 

Weekly Updates December 1-5

NEWS/EVENTS

• Family Friday will take place Friday December 19th!
• Homework this week will consist of the following:

• Monday: Nightly reading and jotting, sort words in word study notebook
• Tuesday: Nightly reading and jotting, math homework
• Wednesday: Nightly reading and jotting, math homework, word study menu option
• Thursday: Nightly reading and jotting, glue works in Word Study book (purple), study for spelling test, math
• Friday: Nightly reading and jotting, math

CURRICULUM

• Reading: Last week we launched our nonfiction reading unit! Students are now sorted by nonfiction interest topics, and during the independent reading time will read with group members of similar interests! This week we are examining strategies required during nonfiction reading, and looking for ways to pinpoint the main idea of a section.

• Writing: This week we are launching our third writing unit- Opinion Writing! During this unit students will learn how to make a claim and support it with reasons, evidence, facts and details. This week we are starting with topics that are dear to our hearts, and are drafting a persuasive piece to present to Mrs. Mueller!

• Math: This week students are using patterns to help solve multiplication and division problems with multiples of 10 and 100. We are also taking a closer look at the distributive property, and how breaking down facts can be an excellent strategy for multiplying and dividing.

• Social Studies: As we wrap our study of the United States, we look ahead to our next unit of study- China!