Heart Maps!

Today in Writers' Workshop, students learned another pre-writing strategy that they can refer back to when they can't think of any stories to write about.  Students used the Heart Map to identify people, memories, etc. that are very special to them (see below).  Ask your child what special ideas they jotted down in their Heart Map.

In Read Aloud, students used everything they knew about the different perspectives in Voices in the Park to ready their mind to think about theme and relationships (our current unit of study).

In Word Study, students applied their knowledge of the "CVC" rule to words ending in -ing.  Ask your child if the rule is the same for -ed and -ing (Answer: It is; if the last 3 are CVC, double the letter and add -ing/ -ed).  Ask them how to spell letting, baking, having, stopping, etc.

In Math Workshop, students studied graphs to help them make mathematical claims about the data represented.  Every day students visit four stations that reinforce and extend prior knowledge and current concepts.  Students have homework coming home today, due tomorrow.

In Social Studies, students used the "Matrix" to compare characteristics of rules and laws.  Students worked in pairs to identify and describe their differences, in their Social Studies notebooks.

In Readers' Workshop, students learned how to "check in" when they're reading to make sure their mental movie is still strong and they're understanding and thinking about what their reading.  Tonight when your child is reading, have them show you how they check in.  When they check in, have them explain to you what they just read; if they can't, they know to reread.

Homework:

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Read 20 minutes  

Reminders:

• Parent/ Guardian Permission forms due Tuesday, September 9.
• Blog permission slip due Friday, September 5.
• Tomorrow is Bank Day! Please make sure you have signed your child's planner!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith