• Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend my Back to School Night Presentation last Tuesday, Sept. 19th.  It was great to see and meet everyone.  

    Below is an update on what is happening in each subject in Room #205. Before that - here are a few things to be on the lookout for in coming weeks:

    1.) BOOK FAIR - Our class visits the Book Fair on Tuesday, September 26th during library / media special (1:30 to 2:10). 

    2.) RESPECT WEEK 10/2 - 10/6 (first week in October)  

    3.) FALL PICTURE DAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD. 

    4.) SAFE SCHOOLS WEEK OCTOBER 16TH - 20TH

    5.) RED RIBBON WEEK OCTOBER 23RD - 27TH

    Literacy:  Students are learning how to "Read as a Writer."  Meaning they are learning to read with an extra alertness, paying close attention to (nitty gritty) details, particular objects, and story elements.  The goal is to grow Big Ideas or wonders about these and write a response in their readers' notebook explaining their wonder using evidence from the story as proof their idea does indeed live in the text.  

    Here is an example response I used as a model to show the class what good writing about reading looks like. This response is about a nitty-gritty detail from the story Home of the Brave, by Katherine Applegate. 

    Reading with a Writerly Wide-Awakeness

     

    In the story Home of the Brave, by Katherine Applegate, I think on page 10 the author begins to develop a possible theme.  The main character, Kek, has been sent during the middle of winter to the state of Minnesota from his original home in Africa.  Kek’s father and brother are no longer alive and his mother is missing.  Shortly after arriving in Minnesota from a long plane ride, Kek, who doesn’t speak English, is greeted by a “helping man” named Dave. Dave works for the refugee resettlement center.  A refugee is a person who is forced to leave their country in order to escape war, natural disasters, or persecution. 

     

    Dave drives Kek to his family in Minnesota.  During the ride, Dave and Kek have a conversation where Dave asks Kek many questions.  Kek mentions that he would one day like to fly a plane and when his mama comes they will take a plane around the world.  Dave replies to Kek by saying, “You know, Kek, he says, we aren’t sure where your mother is.  We don’t know if she is-” And before Dave could finish his sentence.  Kek interrupts, saying, “She’s fine", I tell him. And Kek then looks out the window at the not dead trees.  I think Katherine Applegate had Kek look out the window at the not dead trees to give him a sense of hope that his mother was still alive. Even though the trees might look dead (during the winter), Kek has learned they are still alive, and even though his mother is missing, Kek believes / or hopes she is still alive.   I think this is the beginning of a possible theme that might occur throughout the story and that is hope will help you through tough times.  Kek is undoubtedly going through a very difficult time and he is holding on to hope that his mother is still alive. I am anxious to read on with this idea in mind to see if I am correct. 

     

    When students learn to read by noticing more (what most readers would zoom past), they become not only better readers, but also better writers.

      Advanced Math:  Students are currently working on Topic 1 Understanding Place Value of the 5th grade Textbook.  More specifically, students are learning how to read and write whole numbers & decimals in standard form, expanded form, expanded form with exponents, and word form.  Next week, students will be assigned a place value project where they will create a Google Slide Show with a theme related to Place Value (For example, Powerful Place Value).  

    Science:  Students are learning about the properties of matter. Some of the topics discussed so far include the states of matter, physical and chemical changes, and chemical reactions.  Students even did an experiment using water, baking soda, q-tips, paper and basalmic vigegar to create a chemical change.