Early Dismissal Tomorrow

Today in Math Workshop, students used their understanding of place value to explain subtraction with "borrowing".  A note about borrowing, while this is the term I was taught and, I'm sure many parents, this terminology is actually misleading and confusing to many students.  Rather than using this term, we will be referring to borrowing as "making change" or "exchanging".  These terms are a better representation of this math concept, as you are not actually taking away or borrowing, you are simply "getting 10 singles for a 10 dollar bill", for example.  At my station in workshop, we worked through this idea using base ten blocks.  Students have homework coming home tonight, due tomorrow.

In Readers' Workshop, students took on more responsibility regarding identifying unknown words.  Today we really practiced using that mental movie to help us solve meanings of unknown words.  When your child is reading tonight, have them read a page or two aloud, then ask them to tell you their mental movie, discuss what words helped them make this movie.

In Writers' Workshop, we used our senses to describe the setting of the theme park below (our shared write is below it). This is an excellent strategy that authors use to hook their readers.  Students tried this element of writer's craft in their personal narratives.  Ask them to describe their opening setting using their senses.  The kids really took off with this strategy; coming up with really creative imagery!

I opened my eyes….. I see rolling hills of glowing rollercoasters. I smell the sweet cotton candy in the air; it melts in my mouth.  The hotdogs are burnt and crunchy, so delicious. The air fills with music, screaming, and fear. I see people singing and dancing with joy. The water is like a mirror of the park’s lights.  The long, crowded lines are calling my name.  The cold, bitter air blows through my hair as I finally race down the steep, terrifying rollercoaster.

In Words Study, students worked with partners to do a practice quiz for their Word Study Challenge tomorrow.

In Social Studies, students used a visible thinking routine to explain the roles of authority figures in community governments.  Ask your child what color they chose for community government; have them explain their reasoning to you. Following this routine, student made claims about the different levels of government and their similarities and/ or differences.


Homework:

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Study starred Word Study words, if applicable
• Read 20 minutes  

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal this tomorrow, 12:30.
• Word Study Challenge on Friday.

Thank you,

Ms. Smith