Thursday

This morning we continued identifying the main idea in the article about spiders. Today, though, the students worked in small groups using the iPad. In groups of 4, the students read two specified sections of the article and wrote a main idea for each section using an app called "pages" on the iPad. Then, we shared these by plugging the iPads into the Elmos and making improvements using the white board. I am seeing improvement but the students are still struggling with this concept.

While I met with reading groups the students worked on individual reading group assignments, a cause and effect worksheet and practiced writing Z in cursive.

Reading Groups:
Bears: I met with this group first to discuss and review the BCRs they wrote yesterday. These did not meet my expectations. I shared, with the group, my expectations regarding the organization and content for this assignment. Then the students asked questions that they still had. This afternoon they will redo this assignment and turn it is for a score.

In math we reviewed converting feet to inches and yards to feet. Then we practiced converting feet to yards. There is a worksheet for homework.

Following art, lunch and outdoor recess, we will continue reading The Hickory Chair and identifying examples of "juicy details" from the text.

Then the students will continue working on independent work while I meet with reading groups.

Cheetahs: Look for a note coming home about new reading classes that begin tomorrow. When I met with this group we discussed this change.

Crabs: We reread pages 8-13 and shared examples of cause and effect that they had identified independently earlier in the day.

Lions: We previewed their next book and identified text features.

We ended the day with a discussion about perspective as it relates to obtaining the news through the TV, the Internet and the newspaper. It was a good discussion.