Terrific Tuesday

The sun is shining...and the Redskins beat the Giants!!!  Of course, it will be a terrific day!  :-)

After going to PE and participating in our December fire drill, the children returned to class and we finished reading the play called The Calabash Kid.  After discussing the central message and using context clues to determine the meaning of calabash, we moved on to writing.

In writing we reviewed the idea of transitional, or linking, words and phrases.  Then we examined their use in the sample writing piece Heating and Cooling.

While I meet with small groups, the students will glue a list of linking words and phrases into their writing journal, they will complete their research on the past section of the tech tool graphic organizer, they will complete individual reading group assignments and they will highlight linking words and phrases in the Heating and Cooling writing sample.

Sharks:  We reviewed last night's homework and then read about improvements made to playgrounds.  For homework they need to read pages 12-13 and identify the problem with the design of the bike.

In math we watched a video lesson about using partial products to quickly solve multiplication facts with 6 or 7 as a factor.  View the lesson here.  Then the children completed two problems, independently, using this strategy.  There is a basic fact worksheet for homework.

Following lunch and outdoor recess, the students continued their independent work, while I met with reading groups.

Yellow Jackets:  The students received new books.  We discussed grandparents and great-grandparents to activate background knowledge for the new book called Saturdays with Pop.  For homework the students need to read chapter 1.

Cheetahs:  The children used last night's homework to write summaries of chapter 4.  Those who didn't finish will need to do so for homework.  In group we discussed the problem of the book, which is the mystery surrounding the key on the dog's collar.

Snakes:  Independently they circled the letters in their word lists from homework that produced the long e sound.  We went over these in group.  Then we read pages 12-17.  For homework they need to reread pages 4-17 and list all words with the long a sound.

We ended the day by reviewing the concept of observable physical properties and beginning a discussion about how applying heat could change these.

PLEASE NOTE:  I have rearranged the "pages" on the blog to help you locate links to lessons and web sites easier.  As always, I would love to hear feedback!!