REMINDER: Tomorrow is a two hour early dismissal! Magnet students are done at 12:30!!
We had a great week...here is an update...sorry no pictures...I'll try to take some this week!
We do writing almost every day...but we began our first formal writing assignment this past week...the kids are writing an opinion essay. We all read a debate in the Scholastic Storyworks about whether or not all kids should get a trophy in sports. I am using that debate to model each important step in the opinion writing process. I pulled out some old Storyworks and the kids chose debates they found interesting. They have read both sides and will now choose an opinion and begin building their argument. Funny how excited I get about writing!!
In Language Arts rotations we worked on non-fiction text features and how they help determine importance in an article. I modeled this in small group and then the kids worked independently during seatwork to determine important parts of an article. The kids also prepared for Readers Share this week...you may be aware because they had the option to practice at home. I was SOOOO pleased with their ability to talk about what they are reading. They each shared a book they have been reading during INDEPENDENT reading...and they each had a paper entitled, "Books I'd Like to Read," so as they listened, they could record books they found interesting! It was a great Readers Share on Thursday!
In Social Studies we have been finishing up our maps and globes unit...as you know, the kids have a test soon. The study guide went home Thursday...your child already knows most of the things on the study guide, but I like to give kids time to "brush up" on a skill they need to review, so use it as you wish. I will send home blank maps tomorrow that the kids can practice with!
This week the kids took the Global Scholar Math Test...this gives me an indication of what standards your child needs to learn in the third grade curriculum and onward. I will be sending a note home this week to let you know where your child stands in addition and subtraction facts. FCPS standards state that by the end of second grade your child should be proficient with both of those fact sets. Not all of our class is proficient, so I'm hoping if I can share those scores with you, you can help your child remember they have to continue to be practiced ALL THE TIME. I am getting ready to head into multiplication and so there will not be a focus on attaining addition and subtraction facts in the classroom...that practice needs to happen at home. Thanks for your help with this!
We worked on estimation this week with a focus on rounding...many kids round to the nearest ten when estimating in the thousands...that definitely gives you the most accurate estimation, but takes a lot more brainwork...I was trying to show them that in estimation you want something close, but the idea behind estimation is to make it easier, so that they don't necessarily have to calculate...I explained that they should round to the nearest largest place value to get a round about answer...it was just a suggestion, but some like to make it challenging...and I LOVE that! We also did some problem solving in pairs. This year on the new report card there are TWO math grades: one is for skills and concepts and one is for problem solving. So I am keeping records of different ways the kids are solving problems...a lot of those grades won't come home because it is part of a lesson and is just observed or noted...but sometimes you'll see a grade that represents problem solving.
This coming week we will be diving into the physical geography, climate, and natural resources found all over our country. I will use Maryland to model, but the kids will be researching a state of their own and designing a brochure to convince others to visit their state. They will use books and a research portal on-line to gather information. We will use different methods of note-taking and use text features to determine importance. Then, the kids will be using text features in our brochures for the same purpose...we will be integrating LA and SS a lot this week!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact me...email is best! Have a great week!
