Happy Friday!

I started this post on Friday, hence the date...only getting back to it now...sorry! (Went to the beach with my sister, my mom and my dad...shopped til we dropped...just got in...so here's the week's rundown!)

This has been a great week full of learning...


Language Arts
In Language Arts this week we began a unit titled, "Reading Social Studies Textbooks." We are using biographies for this unit because we use the textbook during social studies and that would be incredibly redundant! The students have been putting their schema and new facts into their "learning laptops"...ask them about this. After I modeled the entire process with Harriett Tubman, they got to choose to read and learn more about Thomas Edison or Louis Braille. They will take the information gained and develop a timeline of their famous person's life early next week. This is all in preparation for an in school biography project that your child will be hearing about on Monday. We will be doing ALMOST all of this project IN SCHOOL...so have no fear...we're not assigning this during the science fair at home projects!! More to come about this in next Friday's blog...but be on the lookout Monday evening for a paper informing you about this project!


Science Fair
Speaking of the science fair...I am SO excited to see and hear about all of these projects. In speaking with a parent, I know there is a little bit of frustration about how quickly these due dates seem to be popping up...I am sorry for this...we tried to make all of the due dates have your child finish the project BEFORE Thanksgiving...we figured you didn't want a project looming over you during the 5 day break...HOWEVER...if that five day break is what you and your child need...please feel free to send me a note explaining that you all will be completing the project that weekend...I have no problem with this. I just need it in writing from you, so that I know what schedule you're on. Thanks.


I went over the "data collection due Tues 11/18" with the kids in detail today, but if you have any questions, please feel free to email me this weekend. (wrote that part on Friday!)


Math
We have analyzed and constructed double line graphs and are moving into probability...they will be using terms such as more likely, less likely, outcomes, probability, and using a fraction to express the probability of something occuring. This is a particulary fun part of the unit and will take us into midweek...I love teaching this class...I'm always learning something from THEM!!

Fluency
Last week the kids all memorized a short poem about Fall to continue work on their fluency. This was our third formal speaking presentation so far this year. I am very proud of the work the kids have been doing with oral communication. They will be well prepared for the biography project we are embarking on!! (A couple of kids chose different poems...favorites from home...we REALLY enjoyed hearing them!)

FYI...we are doing some activities with "sticky notes" and it has come to all of our attention that the sticky notes we use from the county are generic and are not very sticky...so if you happen to have extra "post it" (the real brand) notes laying around the house and would like to donate them to our classroom...we'd love it! Thanks!

Hope you have a great week and I look forward to seeing your children tomorrow!