The morning after...

The Monday morning after any break from school is usually very quiet. Today was no different! :-)

In math we began reviewing for the unit 2 assessment. The students worked, independently, on a review packet. Tonight they need to complete/recheck the packet for homework. Tomorrow we will go over the entire packet, together, in class. On Wednesday the students will take the unit 2 assessment.

In reading we reviewed the characteristics of a summary and applied them as we took notes in a two column format after reading The Great Plant Contest in the book How Plants Survive.

Then we discussed the difference between a thick and a thin question. Thin questions have answers that are only one or two words and are typically right or wrong. Thick questions demand details and elaboration. For example, do you like peanut butter is a thin questions. How do you like to eat your peanut butter is a thick question.

As part of their independent work today students will be choosing a topic for their next informational writing piece and then writing 5 thick questions to research about that topic.

Following art, lunch and indoor recess the students will work independently while I meet with small groups.

Tigers: When time permits, I am going to try to pull this group in smaller groups of 2-3 students to help maintain their focus. Today we practiced some word work and read pages 8 and 9 to answer some right there questions. Right there questions are questions whose answers are written verbatim in the text. The students will independently read pages 10 and 11 and answer a right there questions in their RRJ. For homework they need to reread the entire book.

Bears: We will practice the words we have been learning to spell and continue reading about Zoo Vets. Tonight they need to reread the book.

Lions: Will reread Ooka and mark areas with a "c" where they can make connections to the text. Then they will complete page 35 in their Ooka packet...for a score! This will become homework if it is not completed in class.

We will end the day with a social studies lesson. The students will write about opportunity cost in their social studies journal. They will give an example to demonstrate their knowledge. Then they will use symbols to draw a picture of the geographical characteristics they see in their community...this might turn into homework. If so, it will be noted in their planner.