Marvelous Monday

This morning, after the announcements, we began our literacy block.  The students worked on independent guided reading group tasks.  Then they practiced writing their word work words twice, once in print and then in cursive.  After that, they completed their rough draft, and submitted it, if they had not done so.

While they worked, I met with individual students to conference on their rough drafts.  Then I met with guided reading groups.

Orange and Pink:  Independently the students copied the sentence in the book, the definition from the glossary, and then wrote a sentence of their own for three vocabulary words from their new book, America's Ben Franklin.  Then, in group, we built some background knowledge about the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, and Benjamin Franklin.  After that, we began reading the book and discussing the important information on each page.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read pages 2-7 and list unknown words on a sticky note.

Green:  Independently the students watched a short video clip depicting life, for a child, in the mid to late 1800s.  In group we shared their writing and discussed how life was quite different over 150 years ago.  After reviewing the characteristics of literary non-fiction and biographies, I distributed their new book, Helen Keller's Teacher, and we identified understandings we gained from the front cover.  Next we identified questions we had about the book.  Finally, we read the back of the book to help us gain a better understanding of what we will be reading.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read chapter 1 and list unknown words on a sticky note.

Blue:  Independently the students explored a web site about Gary Paulsen and the Alaskan Itidarod and then, in their RRJ, listed 3 facts about the Itidarod, 2 facts about Gary Paulsen, and 1 question they were wondering.  In group we reviewed the characteristics of literary non-fiction and autobiographies.  Then we shared the facts they learned and the questions they were wondering.  After that we identified information we gained from the front cover of their new book, Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers, by Gary Paulsen.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read pages 1-7 and list unknown words on a sticky note.

After our literacy block the students enjoyed outdoor recess and lunch.

When they returned to class we began our math block.

During the small group, teacher-led, instruction we practiced comparing fractions (>, <, =) with the same denominator.  Students drew visual models to prove their answers.

During math with a partner, the students practiced identifying equivalent fractions as they played the Go Darth card game, which is similar to Go Fish.

Finally, during the technology rotation, the students watched a LEarn Zillion lesson about comparing fractions with the same denominator.  The second time they watched, they took notes in their math journal about the review, a common mistake, and the core lesson.

HOMEWORK is posted on Google Classroom.

In between our first and second rotation, the students went to PE with Mr. Benco.

Remember the Culture Project is due March 21...believe it or not, that is next week!