Marvelous Monday

Can you believe that it is above 30 degrees and the sun is shining???  What a great start to the week!!

The children began their day in the media center.  They got a chance to do a book exchange and 4 of the groups video taped their skits for last marking periods inquiry project.  The rest of the groups will complete this next Monday.

When they returned to class we began our math rotations.  When working with me, we used Cuisenaire rods to mark fourths on a number line.  During guided practice the children continued last Friday's lesson using the rods to mark halves on a number line.  However, they were to choose different colored rods as the unit fraction, or whole.  Finally, at the technology rotation, they students watched a Learn Zillion lesson about identify fractions as points on a number line.  They also completed the guided practice.

Math HOMEWORK tonight is through Edmodo.  Students need to watch the fractions on a number line video clip, on Discovery Education, and post something they learned or something they want to remember by hitting the "reply" button.  Children will need their DE log-ins which they were given today, in class, on a salmon 3x5 card.

Due to a fire drill an some housekeeping type tasks, after math the students began working independently while I met with small groups.  Independent work included reading group assignments, completing the character analysis graphic organizer for Richard Wright and watching author interviews and identifying where they get their ideas.

Sharks:  The children watch a video clip about the Blizzard of 1888.  They also previewed their book, marked 50" high on a wall in the room and wrote about how they would feel if they were trapped in a blizzard, in their RRJ.  For HOMEWORK the children need to read chapter 1.

Pandas:  I handed out a novel schedule for their new book, Snow Treasure.  We discussed how to use it and reviewed their first assignment.  Then the students watched a video clip providing background information on World War II.  They also read the back cover and the forward for the book.  Finally, they wrote a summary (3-5 sentences) about the information they learned in the forward.  This is all due tomorrow.  Anything not done in class becomes homework.  In group we did review the concept of a summary and I suggested paying special attention to the topic sentences of paragraphs to figure out the important points.  For HOMEWORK the children need to read the forward and write a summary in their RRJ.

Following lunch and outdoor recess the students continued working independently while I met with more groups.

Dolphins:  The students reread Footprints.  In group we discussed that the letter y has two different vowel sounds when it appears at the end of a word.  It can sound like an i or an e.  Then we read some words and identified whether the y made an i or an e sound.  We added these words to the student's word bags.  After that, I collected Footprints and introduced our next book, The Fun Club Goes to the Aquarium.  They did not get this book yet.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read the book Cranes and practice reading their word bag words.

Cheetahs:  The students watched a video clip about the early settlers of Jamestown.  In group we discussed the dangers facing the early settlers and its affects on families back in England.  Then I passed out their novel schedule and book.  We discussed how to sue the schedule.  For HOMEWORK the students need to preview the book and read the back cover.

We ended the day with a guess box.  Students had to ask yes/no questions to guess an object that gives off both light and heat.  It was a candle!  We discussed how students adjusted their thinking as they listened to my answers to the yes/no questions.