Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop and Science: Informational Texts
In November, we concluded our character reading unit that focused the reading comprehension skills of envisioning, inference and interpretation. In addition, our fiction writing unit concluded in early December.
Currently, students are working on an exciting interdisciplinary project in science, reading and writing. After learning about the earth’s layers, fossils, rocks, plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes in science, students chose one topic that was most interesting to them. Then, in reading workshop, students learned even more about this topic using a variety of informational texts such as online articles, videos and nonfiction books. Students read these texts, wrote research notes and discussed their learning with others. In addition, students learned about informational text structures – or different ways informational texts are organized - including: sequential or time order; compare and contrast; cause and effect; and description. Now that students are experts on one earth science topic, they have begun to use their notes and discussions from reading workshop to draft an informational article. The informational texts students read in reading workshop also serve as a models as students write their own article. As with our other writing units, students are drafting, revising and editing their piece on the computer.
This authentic project reflects the real-world work of scientists, readers and writers. In addition, it prepares students for the Language Arts PARCC test in March, where students will be asked to read multiple articles or watch videos and synthesize their knowledge in a piece of writing.
Math: Unit Five: Multiplication, Estimation and Large Numbers
In math, we have concluded our decimals unit. During this unit, students learned concepts in small groups called “math stations”. Students rotated among stations, learning concepts in a small group with the guidance of the teacher, playing cooperative Everyday Math games, and completing independent work.
Our next unit will begin in January; it focuses on multiplication, estimation and large numbers. We are learning how to estimate sums and products, read and write large numbers, and express them using exponents. We are also learning to multiply 1- and 2-digit numbers using three methods: partial-products, traditional and lattice multiplication. The traditional method is what most adults were taught in school. Please go to my website (mswordensclass.weebly.com) and click the “For Parents” tab. Under “Everyday Math”, you will find a link to video tutorials and PowerPoint documents that illustrate the partial-products and lattice methods. After learning three different ways to multiply, students will stick to the method that they prefer.
I encourage students to continue working on their basic multiplication facts by using flashcards or online games. Please encourage your child to practice his/her facts a few times a week, for five to ten minutes at a time.
For this unit, students will have a different fourth-grade teacher for math. Students took a pretest to demonstrate what they knew about the upcoming topics. Using this data, students will be receiving math instruction based on their strengths and goals. The fourth grade teachers will share more information, including the contact for your child’s math teacher, in January.
Other News: Exciting Events and Winter Break Learning Activities
Over the next few days, students will enjoy many fun activities, including: making gingerbread houses with our kindergarten buddies, making gifts for our families and our class celebration.
During break, I recommend that students complete math and reading work. Completing the following simple activities can help students maintain valuable skills they have gained throughout the first term.
Reading: Please have your child read at least 30 minutes a day, when it is possible in your schedule.
Math:
· Log in to www.everydaymathonline.com Under the “practice” header, click on “EM Online Games”.
· Students can play these games for 10 to 15 minutes each day, as your schedule allows, to practice concepts we have learned the first term. Here are some Everyday Math games and the concepts they reinforce:
o Factors: “Factor Captor” (Under “Challenges” Tab).
o Practice with the four operations: “Name That Number”
o Place Value of Large Numbers: “High Number Toss”
o Adding and Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers: Top-it: “Addition or Subtraction with 2 Digit Numbers”
o Comparing Decimals: “Top-it: 2- and 3-Place Decimals”
o Fact Fluency of Basic Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction Facts:
· Also, check out the games on my website (mswordensclass.weebly.com) for games that help students practice of all the concepts we have learned so far this year, including decimals, multiples, function tables and geometry (which are not found on Everyday Math online).
Thank you for your continued support at home. I wish you and your family a happy holiday season.
In November, we concluded our character reading unit that focused the reading comprehension skills of envisioning, inference and interpretation. In addition, our fiction writing unit concluded in early December.
Currently, students are working on an exciting interdisciplinary project in science, reading and writing. After learning about the earth’s layers, fossils, rocks, plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes in science, students chose one topic that was most interesting to them. Then, in reading workshop, students learned even more about this topic using a variety of informational texts such as online articles, videos and nonfiction books. Students read these texts, wrote research notes and discussed their learning with others. In addition, students learned about informational text structures – or different ways informational texts are organized - including: sequential or time order; compare and contrast; cause and effect; and description. Now that students are experts on one earth science topic, they have begun to use their notes and discussions from reading workshop to draft an informational article. The informational texts students read in reading workshop also serve as a models as students write their own article. As with our other writing units, students are drafting, revising and editing their piece on the computer.
This authentic project reflects the real-world work of scientists, readers and writers. In addition, it prepares students for the Language Arts PARCC test in March, where students will be asked to read multiple articles or watch videos and synthesize their knowledge in a piece of writing.
Math: Unit Five: Multiplication, Estimation and Large Numbers
In math, we have concluded our decimals unit. During this unit, students learned concepts in small groups called “math stations”. Students rotated among stations, learning concepts in a small group with the guidance of the teacher, playing cooperative Everyday Math games, and completing independent work.
Our next unit will begin in January; it focuses on multiplication, estimation and large numbers. We are learning how to estimate sums and products, read and write large numbers, and express them using exponents. We are also learning to multiply 1- and 2-digit numbers using three methods: partial-products, traditional and lattice multiplication. The traditional method is what most adults were taught in school. Please go to my website (mswordensclass.weebly.com) and click the “For Parents” tab. Under “Everyday Math”, you will find a link to video tutorials and PowerPoint documents that illustrate the partial-products and lattice methods. After learning three different ways to multiply, students will stick to the method that they prefer.
I encourage students to continue working on their basic multiplication facts by using flashcards or online games. Please encourage your child to practice his/her facts a few times a week, for five to ten minutes at a time.
For this unit, students will have a different fourth-grade teacher for math. Students took a pretest to demonstrate what they knew about the upcoming topics. Using this data, students will be receiving math instruction based on their strengths and goals. The fourth grade teachers will share more information, including the contact for your child’s math teacher, in January.
Other News: Exciting Events and Winter Break Learning Activities
Over the next few days, students will enjoy many fun activities, including: making gingerbread houses with our kindergarten buddies, making gifts for our families and our class celebration.
During break, I recommend that students complete math and reading work. Completing the following simple activities can help students maintain valuable skills they have gained throughout the first term.
Reading: Please have your child read at least 30 minutes a day, when it is possible in your schedule.
Math:
· Log in to www.everydaymathonline.com Under the “practice” header, click on “EM Online Games”.
· Students can play these games for 10 to 15 minutes each day, as your schedule allows, to practice concepts we have learned the first term. Here are some Everyday Math games and the concepts they reinforce:
o Factors: “Factor Captor” (Under “Challenges” Tab).
o Practice with the four operations: “Name That Number”
o Place Value of Large Numbers: “High Number Toss”
o Adding and Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers: Top-it: “Addition or Subtraction with 2 Digit Numbers”
o Comparing Decimals: “Top-it: 2- and 3-Place Decimals”
o Fact Fluency of Basic Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction Facts:
- “Baseball Multiplication” with 2 Dice
- “Top-it”: Addition with 2 or 3 card; Subtraction with 3 cards; multiplication.
- “Beat the Computer”: Any game to practice multiplication facts.
- Try any game under the “Challenges” tab for a challenge!
· Also, check out the games on my website (mswordensclass.weebly.com) for games that help students practice of all the concepts we have learned so far this year, including decimals, multiples, function tables and geometry (which are not found on Everyday Math online).
Thank you for your continued support at home. I wish you and your family a happy holiday season.