October 8, 2020
Reading
This week, the students began their president projects! The students have been split into groups to research one of these randomly assigned former presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy. These presidents were selected because there is ample reading material written at the elementary level on each of them! Throughout the next month, the students will read and record notes on their president. This is the perfect opportunity to practice the phonics patterns we have studied (short and long vowel sounds and “y” as a vowel) and use their reading strategies (like visualizing details, identifying the main idea of paragraphs and chapters, and sequencing important events.) These projects will culminate on November 3rd with the airing of each groups’ positive presidential campaign ad. All research, writing, and recording will happen at school, but they can read more about their presidents at home if they’d like!
Spelling
This week, the students studied words that end in a “y” that makes a vowel sound, like in the words cherry, fly, and pray. Next week the students will review how to spell words containing the short “a” and “i” sounds like in the words pinch and mattress.
Writing
The students are hard at work on stories from their real lives. They are learning how to choose strong writing topics and create a logical beginning, middle, and end. They are doing an excellent job including interesting details about their vacations, sleepovers, birthdays, and that time one their computer was hacked. 😊
Daily Language Instruction or D.L.I.
Our focus this week was on capitalizing the pronoun I, identifying nouns (a person, place, or thing), and capitalizing proper nouns like Abraham Lincoln. The students are learning how to edit their own writing using proofreading marks. Next week, will review these skills and learn how to write dates like November 3, 2020.
Math
We have begun our second math unit which focuses on writing and solving word problems. The students worked on a “Fall Addition Storybook” where they wrote word problems about pumpkins, turkeys, and other fall-related items. Next week the students will learn about ounces and pounds, and how to use pan balance scales. The students will have a chance to compare ounces to pounds (16 ounces make up one pound) and determine which type of objects you would weigh with each unit of measurement. The students are also practicing addition and subtraction strategies and working with fact families like
4 + 8 =12
8 + 4 = 12
12 – 4 = 8
12 – 8 = 4.
Social Studies with Mrs. Jaydn
The students have learned about citizenship and what it means to be a good citizen. We talked about being good citizens to our friends by complimenting them, sharing, playing at recess, or helping them when they’re hurt. We can be good citizens at school by following the rules, cleaning up our area, and being kind to others. We can be good citizens in our community by voting, picking up litter, recycling, helping our neighbors, and helping our families.
Currently, the students are learning about communities and have been discussing the different types (urban, rural, and suburban). We have learned what people do for fun in those communities, how they get to and from work/school, and what types of buildings and other scenery we would find in each community. To show their knowledge on the topic, the students completed an assessment and wrote a pretend Pen Pal letter describing a certain type of community. Next, they will work with a partner to create a visual of their own community. They will be assigned a specific community type (urban, rural, suburban) and work with a partner or two to create a name for their new community. They will have to include the specific things you would find in their community. They will present their project to their class when they are finished. After communities, we will move into learning about goods and services. We will discuss how goods are made and brought to us and who provides services in a community.
