At the present time, we are currently in between Halloween and Thanksgiving break. We are also ending our first Literature Circle this coming Tuesday. As I may have mentioned in a previous post, our Lit Circle focused on "conflict" in the main character or "protagonist". As the students read their assigned pages, they looked for examples of conflicts in their chosen books. We then discussed these and other topics in our small groups during the 3 weeks we did this. The final project is to do a "Reader's Theater" in which the students read selections from their stories to all the lit circle group. Their selections, in this case, illustrate the conflicts seen in those particular selections.
Our Writing sessions these past two weeks have been about "special places". We started with choosing a special place that means something to the students, then choose three "special moments" that occurred in that special place. From there each student has to create an idea map which allows them to organize all the pieces they remember about that moment. They will then start the actual writing process involving sentences, paragraphing, and proofreading. We continue with these pieces next week. We are also working on basic spelling patterns twice a week in groupings according to what needs to be learned.
4th grade math class has completed the Data Unit, did the final unit assessment, and will move into Unit 3: Multiplication and Division 2. We will investigate methods beyond the typical algorithm for double digit multiplication and division. Lots of interesting math computation in the unit. 5th grade math has also been involved in a unit on multiplication and division, as well as geometry and volume.
Science classes about biomes and ecosystems continue this week. The students have been working on biome mapping on large poster paper. Each group had a biome to investigate by first reading an information sheet, and then creating a content map about their biome. Each group created 5 questions about their biomes that all the others will have to complete as well.
Social Studies has been split between Kru Beau's lessons about Thailand, and Ms. Deb's mapping and Columbus activities. Kru Beau has taught us Thai numbers, writing our names in Thai, and many other interesting things about her homeland. (Check out the cool picture at the top of this post!) Ms. Deb has taught us about mapping the world, and language areas in the Western Hemisphere that were specific to the early explorers. The students are currently completing map outlines showing where the many countries of the America's are located, and what the predominant languages are and why.
So hopefully you have all received a conference notice as we are right in the middle of them. I have a few more to schedule so I'm sure you will not be missed.
See you soon! Mr. B and Ms. Deb
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