Weekly Updates 1/12-1/16

NEWS/EVENTS

• 3-509 is going to Circle in the Square to watch their plays performed on Tuesday January 20th from 11:30-2 or so. All parents are invited to meet us at the theater to watch performances. If you are interested in joining us as a chaperone, please indicate this on the permission slip. I will announce chaperones on Wednesday.
• We are visiting the Rubin Museum on January 29th! Permission slips for this trip will be distributed Friday.
• Friday January 30th is family Friday.
• Alec is joining us Friday to guest speak!

Homework:

Monday: Read for 30 minutes and jot, Math group work (intro to area), sort words in word study notebook

Tuesday: Read for 30 minutes and jot, Math group work (Area- square units in inches and cm)

Wednesday: Read for 30 minutes and jot, Math group work (Area- square units in ft and m), Word Study menu option

Thursday: Read for 30 minutes and jot, Math group work (perimeter and area), glue word study words in purple workbook and study for spelling test

Friday: Read for 30 minutes and jot, Math HW (review of this week's work)

CURRICULUM

Reading: Today we started our next nonfiction reading unit, Countries Around the World. Students are working in small groups to learn about persona characters, realistic but fictitious student characters from China. During this unit they will learn how to consider what life is like in another place by stepping into their shoes. They will read with the lens of looking for information about their characters that might offer them insight about their lives.

Writing: After publishing their first persuasive essay students have a chance to use all that they know about opinion writing to craft a new persuasive essay, petition, or letter. We are practicing pacing and meeting a deadline, as all students are working through each step of the writing process by Friday.

Math: Today we officially launched our third math unit of the year Multiplication and Area. This week students are learning about square units and how they can be used to calculate area.

Social Studies: We are continuing to visit China centers to learn more about how the land, culture, economy, and history affects life in China. This week we will participate in a mini-lecture about the Yangtze River, and will learn some note-taking strategies to help absorb new information.

Have a great week!

Weekly Updates 1/5-1/9

Happy New Year Families of 3-509! I hope you had a restful and relaxing break with your families.

NEWS/UPDATES

• We have two exciting field trips coming up this month! On January 20th we are visiting Circle in the Square to see student plays performed by real actors! Our performances will take place between 12-2 that day. Then, on January 29th we are walking to the Rubin Museum to participate in the Silk Road: From China to the West tour to support our current Social Studies unit. These trip slips will be sent home within the next week.
• Family Friday will take place on January 30th.
• Consider signing up to guest speak in room 509 sometime in 2015! We have many slots available. Visit 
  www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EA8A823A0FA7-center to view dates and options.

HOMEWORK

We are starting the new year with several math assessments and check ins. Our next Unit, Multiplication and Area will officially start on Friday. Because of this we have not had math assignments the past 2 nights, but students are encouraged to work on their review games from break for extra reinforcement or practice.

We are also in the midst of wrapping up our Nonfiction Reading Unit. Students are currently creating either a brochure, poster, or diorama in class, highlighting 3-5 main ideas learned about their selected topic. For the past two nights I gave the students extra time to finish any additional reading, researching, or jotting to support their in class work. They have had 3 days to work in class, and will present their work to others tomorrow.

MONDAY: Read and jot for 30 minutes, work on nonfiction projects for 20-30 minutes (this could be creating a diagram, creating a written portion, or conducting any other necessary research.)

TUESDAY: Read and jot for 30 minutes, work on nonfiction projects for 20-30 minutes (this could be creating a diagram, creating a written portion, or conducting any other necessary research.)

WEDNESDAY: Read and jot for 30 minutes, work on nonfiction projects for 20-30 minutes (this could be creating a diagram, creating a written portion, or conducting any other necessary research.)

THURSDAY: Read and jot for 30 minutes, complete introduction to area assignment

FRIDAY: Read and jot for 30 minutes, complete area assignment

CURRICULUM

Reading: This week we are wrapping up our Nonfiction Unit by creating informational posters, dioramas, or brochures highlighting main ideas learned about a given topic.

Writing:  This week we are adding powerful language to evoke emotion from our readers in our persuasive speeches. We also crafted conclusions that leave a lasting impression. At the end of the week we will go through the revision process before publishing our first of 2 persuasive pieces.

Math: This week we took the Unit 3 Preassessment, as well as a fact fluency check in. By the end of the week we will launch Multiplication and Area.

Social Studies: Today students completed their first China center rotation, and engaged in a Mini-lecture about the Great Wall of China.