Thrilling Thursday

This morning, after the announcements, we began our literacy block.  We began by reviewing the expectations for the realistic fiction picture book.  Then I finished modeling my story in front of the class.  After the students had time to ask questions for clarification, they began working independently, on the following tasks, while I met with guided reading groups.

All groups began with an independent guided reading task.  Then they practiced their word work words.  The orange and pink groups drew boxes around their words to help with visualization.  The green and blue groups did a meaning check for 10 more words and drew symbols or pictures to help them remember.  Finally, the students continued writing their realistic fiction picture book.  Those who were finished read their story to a friend to see if it makes sense.  They also began revising for capital letters, punctuation, and spelling.

Orange and Pink:  I pulled these two groups together, twice.  The first time we reviewed yesterday's vocabulary assignment and I modeled completing an entry, again.  Then the students redid two of the three words.  After that, they independently copied and answered the shared inquiry discussion question in their RRJ.  Finally, we met, in a group again, to discuss why the ;lion never wanted to leave his cage again.  For HOMEWORK the students need to listen to the story, The Happy Lion, one last time, thinking about the theme of friendship.

Green:  Independently, for three assigned vocabulary words, the students copied the sentence from the text, identified the meaning or a synonym using an online resource, and then used the word in a meaningful sentence that shows they understand it.  In group I modeled doing a directed reading of the story and then the students completed it on their own.  During the directed reading we marked places where we thought Kuo Ming made a good choice with a G and places he made a poor choice with a P.  Then we shared and discussed these marking.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread White Wave and think about why White Wave left her shell behind.

Blue:  Independently the student answered the question, "Why does White Wave grant Kuo Ming the gift of the shell even though he has done what he knew he should not do?", in their RRJ.  In group we had a shared in inquiry discussion surrounding this question.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread White Wave, once more, and think about the theme of the story.

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 continued identifying equivalent fractions using number lines and multiplication.  Today we practiced using halves, fourths, and eighths.

During math with a partner, the students played a game called Fraction Contraptions, to reinforce the concept of equivalent fractions.

During the technology rotation, the students played an online game of Fraction Bingo to practice identifying equivalent fractions.

HOMEWORK is on Google Classroom.  We will have a math quiz tomorrow.

In the middle of our second math rotation, the students went to art.  When they returned we finished our rotations.

After our math block we reviewed the concept of culture and I explained the culture project that is due March 21.

Reminders:
Game day afternoon tomorrow.
Math quiz tomorrow.
Culture project due March 21.