Science

Yesterday after reviewing for the Unit 4 Social Studies test, we took a peek and the next science unit.  The students will be learning about matter and how matter changes.  We started the chapter talking about evaporation.  The students washed their desk tops and then we watched the water evaporate into the air.  They were amazed at how fast the water evaporated.  The added bonus was we have clean desks now!

Making Change

We've been counting lots of money these days and the students are really working hard! They're getting better and showing different money amounts with the fewest coins.  Yesterday and today the students have been learning to make change.  This is a difficult concept but they're really improving!  We will continue to practice counting money this week and our Chapter 13 test will be on Tuesday.  

Writing About Books

We've been writing about reading. The students love the books about a funny, spoiled pig named Mercy Watson. After helping me write an opinion letter about Mercy, the students have been writing about other favorite characters. We're using examples from the text to help others understand our opinion.  It's fun writing about books and characters because the students now are interested in so many more books and characters since they're sharing their thoughts in letters.

Fun at The Magic House

The students worked hard today at The Magic House.  They all worked at their job site and earned a paycheck.  The cashed their paycheck when they went to the bank.  Some students stopped by the Ranger Station to fish on their break and others stopped in the Market to shop.  Others went to the Pizza Parlor and enjoyed a little pizza before stopping by the Service Center.  Our post office workers were busy delivering paycheck and other letters.  Our Electric Company workers delivered flashlights and electric  bills.  The students who worked in the Hospital were busy taking care of the babies and the workers at the Pet Clinic were busy caring for the pets there.  After working in the Community, the students worked on a family budget.  There were a lot of great conversations as they decided the best way to pay for their needs and wants.  Ask your child all about our day!  Here are a few pictures:

The Fabulous Four - Fab 4

In reading we've been talking about the Fab 4 - They are Paula the Predictor, Clara the Clarifier, Quincy the Questioner, and Sammy the Summarizer.  Good readers use all of these strategies!  We've been predicting before we read since the beginning of the year.  Clara the Clarifier helps students clarify unknown words or phrases.  Students often can read the word but don't really know what it means. We've been taking the time to talk discuss these interesting words and building our vocabulary.  We've been asking questions before, during and after our reading just like Quincy the Questioner.  Last, we've been learning about Sammy the Summarizer.  Summarizing is difficult because students have to figure out the most important parts of the story to retell.  We'll continue to use the Fab 4 to help us with our reading comprehension strategies.

Money Fun and Games - Test Tomorrow Too!

The students have been working hard learning to count money. They're doing great as they count quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.  The students love playing "The Trading Game" and "Money Bags".  The students have been learning to make a list of possible answers of the money in my pocket!  We will have a test on Chapter 12 on Money.  You can help at home by practicing counting groups of coins with your child.

Prism Projects

If you'd like more information about Prism, there is an informational meeting tonight at Long from 7:00 - 8:00.  Come with your questions and you will get the answers you need.  I'm encouraging my students to participate.  The students have been learning to research this week and we'll be writing a penguin report.  Hopefully the research and writing we're doing at school will help your child research and  write a report needed for Prism.

Animal Research

We've been learning more about penguins by reading a nonfiction book called Penguins and searching the internet.  The students are gathering facts about a penguin's body, their eating habits, and penguin babies.  Tomorrow the students will learn how to take the information they've learned about penguins and begin writing an informational story about penguins.  

Snow Day on Tuesday

I hope everyone is enjoying their snow day.  Due to another snow day on Tuesday, we'll miss our field trip to the Magic House.  This is my favorite field trip and I'll try to reschedule.