Unit 6 Test Wednesday

We will have our Unit 6 Math Assessment this Wednesday.  I apologize for the late notice; however, students will perform better on the assessment before break, rather than coming back from break.  Students are coming home with their review tonight.  It is not due until Wednesday.  

Below, I've listed some tips to help with the review, if you child is struggling.

• For questions that say "write 3 names for (a given fraction)": remind them that "names" is a synonym for equivalent fractions.  
• To find equivalent fractions, we multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number.  We say "if you put 3 shirts on (numerator), put 3 pants on (denominator)."  For whatever reason, this seems to stick with students, and they remember how to find equivalent fractions.  
• For questions that require them identify fractions on a number line:  Remind them that to identify the denominator, we count the spaces in between two whole numbers.  To identify the numerator, we count the hash marks.
•  Below, I've taken a picture of our fractions anchor chart.  This may help with other portions of the review.

Homework:

• Unit 6 test review: due Wednesday
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Unit 6 Math Assessment:  Wednesday, March 23
• Spring Break: Thursday (3/24) - Monday (3/28)
• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Book Club Projects!

The big reveal... Our book club trailer links are below! Check them out!

Shipwreck

Winn Dixie

Diamond Willow

Space Brat


Homework:

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Tomorrow students get to come to school dressed as their favorite book character!

In Writers' Workshop, students used examples in their writing that would help "pack an emotional punch".  We jotted "emotion faces" in the margins and revised that area to try to make our audience feel that emotion.  

Today was the last day to work on book club projects. They are looking great! I will be sure to share them on the blog tomorrow.

In Math Workshop, we continued our work with proper and improper fractions and mixed numbers on a number line.  Students learned to count the spaces in between each hash mark on the number line to identify the denominator (if they get stuck on homework, this will help).   To support with fractions at home, ask your child to identify a real life fraction.  For example, 1/3 of a traffic light is green,  2/7 stuffed animals on my bed are bears, etc..

To celebrate "Telling Tales Thursday",  we visited our kindergarten buddies in Mrs. Lark's class and read to them.

Ask your child about what's going on in our read aloud book.  How does the inclusion program change Melody?  Which impacted Melody more: the inclusion program or her Medi-Talker?   Be sure to ask you child to defend their thinking, refer back to the text.


Reading Week Schedule (March 14-18)

• Book Character Day:  Dress like your favorite book character!

Homework:

• Math homework 
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Projects

In Readers' Workshop, students had time to work on their projects.  These should be done by tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be able to share them on tomorrow or Friday's blog post.  Here are some snapshots from today.

Reading Week Schedule (March 14-18)

• Telling Tales Thursday/ St. Patrick's Day: Read with our kindergarten buddies and wear green.
• Book Character Day:  Dress like your favorite book character!

Homework:

• Math homework 
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Wear Your Words Wednesday

In Writers' Workshop, students considered audience to help them order their sections in a way that makes sense.

In Readers' Workshop, students practiced linking their evidence back to their claim (reasoning).  Students also had time to work on their book club projects.

In Math Workshop, students used equal groups to show fractions of a set. 

Pictures from "Twilight Tuesday" below!

Reading Week Schedule (March 14-18)

• Wear Your Words Wednesday:  Wear a shirt with words.
• Telling Tales Thursday/ St. Patrick's Day: Read with our kindergarten buddies and wear green.
• Book Character Day:  Dress like your favorite book character!

Homework:

• Math homework 
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Flashlights!

Be sure to bring a flashlight tomorrow for "Twilight Tuesday"!

Throughout the day, students have the opportunity to play math games on the iPad or Kindle Fire.  A very popular game is "Times Ninja Adventure";  this one works to increase multiplication fluency.   It's available to download on tablets and desktops.

Reading Week Schedule (March 14-18)

• Twilight Tuesday: Bring in a flashlight to read with!
• Wear Your Words Wednesday:  Wear a shirt with words.
• Telling Tales Thursday/ St. Patrick's Day: Read with our kindergarten buddies and wear green.
• Book Character Day:  Dress like your favorite book character!

Homework:

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Hero or Criminal?

In Readers' Workshop, we finished Encounter.  The book ended with the illustration below.  Ask your child why the author and illustrator made his legs fading (A:  He represents the Native American culture/ Columbus "stole" their culture--  these were ideas students brought up in class).  Students also had the opportunity to begin work on their book club projects.  Ask your child what they're doing for their project.

In Writers' Workshop, students answered the question: Christopher Columbus: Hero or Criminal?  They included evidence and reasoning in their writing to prove their thinking.  They then created portraits of Columbus based on the point of view they most identified with.

We're a little more than halfway through our Read Aloud book, Out of My Mind, and students are eager to read and talk more.  Here are some questions to consider/ discuss:  Is Rose mostly a "flower" or  "thorns"?  What did Melody learn about friendship at the aquarium? How does the Medi-Talker change Melody's life?

In Math Workshop, students drew fraction models to compare fractions with different numerators and denominators but same values (equivalent fractions).  Ask your child to name an equivalent fraction for 1/2.

In Science, we compared and analyzed data from our bridge designs.


Reading Week Schedule (March 14-18)

• Mellow Monday: Wear your pajamas and cozy up with a good book.
• Twilight Tuesday: Bring in a flashlight to read with!
• Wear Your Words Wednesday:  Wear a shirt with words.
• Telling Tales Thursday/ St. Patrick's Day: Read with our kindergarten buddies and wear green.
• Book Character Day:  Dress like your favorite book character!

Homework:

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Herr's Field Trip:  March 30, 2016
• Please return permission slip ASAP.
• Picture Day: Thursday, March 31

Classroom Supplies:  Again, thank you, thank you, thank you to families who continue to keep our classroom stocked with supplies so we can focus on learning.  Your generosity is so appreciated.  Thank you!

• Dry erase markers

Kidblog Link:  

• https://kidblog.org/class/RES11/login

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill