NO HOMEWORK!

Our school-wide reward for filling the E.A.G.E.R. tube has been decided: NO HOMEWORK! That means not even reading tonight (of course, they can read if they want to :) ). 

In Readers' Workshop, student learned two strategies to help them put the problem of a story in a word or phrase. We call this strategy "Bumper Sticker" themes and topical themes. 

In Writers' Workshop, students used thought prompts to push and grow their ideas about text. These next few weeks, students will learn strategies and elements of writer's craft to help them write a literary essay. 

In Math Workshop, students are making sense of improper fractions. They're drawing fraction models to help them plot improper fractions on a number line. 

These past few days, students studied scarcity issues in the community and brainstormed a few possible solutions to solve these issues. We wrote letters to the mayor with our suggestions. 

Improper Fractions

In Math Workshop, students identified and explored characteristics of improper fractions.  They discovered that improper fractions are fractions with denominators equal to or greater than their denominator.  Give your child a few fractions (six- sixths, seven-fifths, two-thirds); quiz them: improper or proper?

Homework:

• Math homework
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Persuasive speech rubric (yellow): Due back to school at your earliest convenience.  Thank you!
• Early Dismissal: Friday, April 15

Classroom Supplies:  

• Hand sanitzer  

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Persuasive Speeches

Students' persuasive speeches with grades are coming home today.  Please review the speech and feedback with your child, and sign and return the top (yellow) paper only.  Thank you!

Homework:

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Persuasive speech rubric (yellow): Due back to school at your earliest convenience.  Thank you!

Classroom Supplies:  

• Hand sanitzer  

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Number the Stars

We started our new read aloud book today, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.  Below is a short summary.  Although this book deals with sensitive topics (war, Nazi Germany), Lowry does an excellent job of explaining the war while also being sensitive to children and protecting them from the more gruesome realities of World War II. 

"Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life..."  (Goodreads.com).


Homework:

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

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!

• Hand sanitzer 

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Planetarium Tomorrow

In Readers' Workshop, students are learning strategies to help them think about and identify themes in texts.  Specifically, students will use the process outlined below.  Today, we started with the first step (1).  At home, when your child is reading, ask them to name some problems in the story they're reading.  Readers can use this process today and everyday, when trying to identify themes, life lessons, etc..  

1. Name the problems in the story
2. Put the problem in a word or phrase
3. Reflect: What is the story teaching about the problem.

In Writers' Workshop, students learned to "grab and go"; grabbing an idea from their pre-writing maps, and applying everything we've learned this year to write fast and furiously. 

In Read Aloud/ Word Study, if you haven't heard yet, we finished Out of My Mind! Because effective readers don't just finish a book-- especially a really powerful book-- and move on, we're letting Out of My Mind "linger in our hearts".  To do this, students analyzed the text (characters, conflict, theme, etc.) to create meaningful color portraits of Melody; paying special attention to color choice and space to capture the essence of the story/ Melody. 

In Math Workshop, students used benchmarks to compare fractions.  We also added a "Dollar Word" station to our workshop-- it's challenging and fun! Ask your child about it!  See if you can come up with any dollar words!

In Social Studies, we used our experience in our bookmark assembly lines to explain pros and cons of specialization and interdependence. 

Homework:

• Math homework
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Planetarium:  Tomorrow (4/7), 9:15 AM
• Permission slip due.  If I don't have your child's permission slip by tomorrow morning, unfortunately, your child won't be able to visit the planetarium with our class. 

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!

• Hand sanitzer 

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

FREE eBooks & Audiobooks

Below are directions to download, or "check out", ebooks and audiobooks from your local library.  Meaning, you can get books from the library for FREE without having to visit your local branch.  For future reference, you can find these directions in the "eBooks & Audiobooks" tab.

  Set Up for Tablets/ Smartphones:

1. Download "OverDrive" app (FREE).
2. Click in the top left corner where you will see 3 lines.
3. Under "My Libraries", press "Add a library".
4. In the search box, type "Harford County Public Library."
5. Click the first link, "Harford County Public Library" (underneath will say "Belcamp, Maryland, United States").
6. Click "Maryland's Digital Library"
7. Go to top right corner where it says "Sign In", and click.
8. Once there, underneath the search box, in blue, it says "Having trouble logging in?  Click here for a complete list of libraries".  Click on this.
9. Select "Harford County Public Library" from the list.
10. Type in library card barcode and check "Remember my login information on this device."  Then press "Sign In".
11. Viola! You can search and download ebooks and audio books straight to your device.

Set Up on Desktops:

• HCPL eBooks & Audiobooks: Sign In  
• Once you child finds a book, they can click"Borrow" and then the "Read (in your browser)" button.
• Happy reading!

Homework:

• Math homework
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Planetarium:  Thursday (4/7), 9:15 AM
• Permission slip due tomorrow.

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!

• Hand sanitzer 

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill

Planetarium Thursday

In Writers' Workshop, students had the entire hour to plan, draft, edit and revise an on-demand writing sample for me.  This is just a pre-assessment to help see what students can already do as writers, and what I need to teach them.  It's also important to practice on-demand writing, as students will be asked to do this with PARCC.

In Readers' Workshop, we had our 3rd Book Club Selection Show.  Based on interest and each student's individual needs, I will sort students into clubs.  Not all of these titles will be chosen.  Ask your child for their top pick!  Here are the titles students had to choose from:

• Island II:  Survival, Gordon Korman
• Storms, Seymour Simon
• Mr. Popper's Penguins, Richard and Florence Atwater
• Judy Moody & Stink: The Big Bad Blackout, Megan McDonald
• Half Magic, Edward Eager
• Because of Mr. Terupt, Rob Buyea

In Math Workshop, students compared fractions with like and unlike denominators by drawing and shading equal parts.  Students have math homework today.  If they struggle, show them our anchor chart below:

In Word Study, students learned the meaning of the word, humble.  They identified examples and non-examples, and then generated their own list of people who are humble.  Ask your child to name someone who is humble; have them explain why.  We describe humble using this language: Not proud.  Not thinking you're better than others.

In Social Studies, students finished up their bookmarks.  They used specialization and interdependence to create the book marks, and work on an assembly line.  

Homework:

• Math homework
• Practice multiplication facts
• Read 20 minutes 

Reminders:

• Planetarium:  Thursday (4/7), 9:15 AM
• Mrs. Jurich and Mrs. O'Neill's classes will be visiting the planetarium Thursday morning.  A permission slip is coming home with students today.  Please return by Wednesday, April 6.

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!

• Hand sanitzer 

Kidblog Link:  

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

Thank you,

Mrs. O'Neill