This Week in Our Classroom...

Below is a brief overview of what to expect this week in our classroom...

Literacy:  Students will begin a short mini-unit using non-fiction texts that focus on forces that change the earth's surface.  The texts align with the content we are studying in science.  Throughout the unit, I will teach students to use text features strategically and notice the structure of the text.  Students will review using the index, table of contents, and headings/subheadings to locate information.  We will also explore multiple structures (cause/effect, problem/solution, compare/contrast, etc.) within a text.  During the writing block, students will apply using the text structures to write a non-fiction book.  This week they'll add an essay section to their book, as well as a short story!

Science:  Investigation 2 explores landforms, erosion, and deposition.  Students will use stream tables to model and investigate the slow processes of erosion and deposition over time.  They will observe how landforms grow and change during this process.

Math: Students will continue to explore adding and subtracting fractions using a line plot and number stories.  Later in the week, I'll teach students to measure angles and determine missing angle measurements using what they know about shapes and angles.

Carnivale @ Skinner North

The specials teachers organized a special Carnivale celebration for us today!  The kids loved showing off their hats in the Hat Parade.

This Week in Our Classroom...

I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend!   Below is a brief overview of what your child will be up to this week in our classroom...

Literacy:  Several groups need one more week to finish up their guided reading novels.  They'll study character motivation, vocabulary connotations, and themes.  The other groups will begin a mini non-fiction unit of study.  In this unit, students will study the author's craft and structure.  They'll review text features, non-fiction text structures, and arguments the authors make within the text.  Likewise, during the writing block, we'll begin drafting non-fiction, historical pieces based on topics we've studied in social studies.  Your child may need to do a little research at home to fill in any holes as they get going with their writing.  Please ask your children what topic they'll be writing about this week!

Math:  Students will learn to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators this week.  They'll also work in teams to solve a tricky math problem.  Check in with your child to make sure he/she is understanding the Home Links content.  The content on the Home Links directly connects to the content on the quizzes and the final assessment.

Science:  We'll begin the week reviewing the effects of physical and chemical weathering.  Then, students will work on an activity focused on erosion and weathering and watch a brief movie.  On Friday, students will take the first science assessment.

Reading Response #7 is due on Thursday.  Please make sure you read over your child's response before it is submitted, as they cannot be made up or redone.

Thank you FOSN for our new indoor recess STEM building set! 

Soils, Rocks, and Landforms

Today in science we studied soils from 4 different land areas.  Students learned that soil is made of humus, pebbles, gravel, sand, silt, and clay.   Ask your child how humus is made!  Tomorrow we discover the effects of weathering.  Students will learn the difference between physical and chemical weathering. 

 

This Week in Our Classroom...

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week at Skinner North.  Although everyday is a great day to be kind, this week we will celebrate kindness and all of the joy it brings.

During the literacy block, students will finish up their guided reading texts and take a final comprehension assessment later in the week.  As we wrap up the books, we'll discuss the theme and character change in more depth during small group meetings. 

In writing, we'll begin a new non-fiction writing unit.  Students will begin to write about history using  some of the events we've studied in social studies.  They will learn to research in more depth and expand current knowledge to create a non-fiction text.  

Science will also begin this week!  Students will study 4 types of soils to discover which ingredients make up soil.  They'll also study different types of weathering and explore the effects of weathering.  

Our math unit will explore adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers.  Students will decompose fractions into sums of fractions with the same denominator.  They will also add mixed numbers this week.  Home Links will be assigned nightly.  

This Week in Our Classroom...

Literacy:  Throughout the week, students will continue to read their guided reading book and focus on the character development.  Each day, they read an assigned section and answer corresponding comprehension questions.  Following the reading, they meet with me to discuss the plot and character development.  We have about 5 more days with each of the books.

In writing, students have been working on the final stages of editing and revising.  They learned to paragraph dialogue yesterday and spent today editing for paragraphing in the computer lab.  During the remainder of the week, we will print, publish, and illustrate the realistic fiction books.

Social Studies:  Much of the social studies time has been spent working on finalizing ABC book pages as we got off to a late start on the book.  Tomorrow we will spend more time discussing the Great Migration prior to our trip on Thursday.

Math:  We will wrap up Unit 4 this week and early next week.  Students will continue to practice multiplication skills throughout the unit.  You can expect the study guide over the weekend and the final test early next week.

40 BC Check In and Response #6 due this Thursday, February 6th

Social Emotional Learning

Students have been learning to manage strong feelings by saying stop, naming the feeling, and using different Ways to Calm Down.  This is important because when strong feelings are under control, children are better able to think clearly and pay attention.  We practice belly breathing as a calm down strategy.

How to Belly Breathe
1.  Focus your attention on your breathing.
2.  Take a breath that makes your tummy move out when you breathe in, and in when you breathe out.
3.  Breathe in slowly through your nose an out slowly through your mouth.  It should be so quiet that you can hardly hear it.