Thriving Thursday

This morning the students came in and read quietly, exchanged books in the media center or practiced keyboarding skills.  After that we began our math rotations.

During small group instruction the students practiced their basic 8s facts and drew pictures and wrote equations, using a variable to represent the unknown, to solve word problems.

Math with a partner provided students the choice of two games to play.  Both games focused on memorizing the basic 8s facts.

During the technology rotation today, the students went to Sumdog, their favorite, and chose the 8s times tables.

For HOMEWORK there is a word problem on Google Classroom.  We will have a quiz tomorrow...after our field trip!  :-)

After math we took a quick GO Noodle brain break.  Then we reviewed our literacy tasks for today.

After going over the individual reading group assignments, I reinforced the idea that literal language is saying what we mean, while non-literal language uses images to get a meaning across.  Metaphors and similes are two types of non-literal language.  Then I assigned a task where the students will sort sentences according to whether or not they are examples of literal or non-literal language.  After completing these activities, students will finish work from earlier in the week such as watching a lesson about verbs and taking notes using the 3-2-1 format and identifying their topic choice for our next inquiry project by filling out a Google form in Google Classroom.  If there is time left, they will work on fluency and comprehension by reading poems with a partner.

Tigers:  We whisper read "Should Have Studied".  Then we reviewed -ed endings...focusing on -ed can be added to verbs to signal past tense and we can cover up -ed endings to help us decode words.  The students highlighted -ed words in the poem, "Falling Asleep in Class" and then we whisper read the poem.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread "Falling Asleep in Class" twice.  We will discuss the poem tomorrow, but we didn't have time today!  :-)

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

Panthers:  The students reread the poem, "Mummy Slept Late..." and illustrated it.  Then in group we shared their illustrations and discussed why I had them do this activity.  The children thought I wanted to see how well they can draw.  So, I explained that although they had to draw to do this activity, this was not an art task.  Instead it was to help me determine how well they comprehend the poem.  Next, we reviewed the concept of theme and our list of common themes in literature.  Finally, we determined the theme of the poem is perseverance.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread the "Mummy Slept Late..." poem and highlight or underline 2 examples of similes in the poem.

Leopards:  The students used the words from homework (cocooning, concealing, and obscuring) in sentences to prove they know the meaning of each.  In group we began by sharing some of the better written sentences.  Then we reviewed the concept of a theme and the common ones used in literature.  After that, the students reread the poem with a partner and discussed possible themes.  Then we discussed the theme, honesty, as a group.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread the poem, "Jessica Jean" and explain the theme to an adult.

Lions:  The students used the words from homework (cocooning, concealing, and obscuring) in sentences to prove they know the meaning of each.  In group we began by sharing some of the better written sentences.  Then we reviewed the concept of a theme and the common ones used in literature.  After that, the students reread the poem with a partner and discussed possible themes.  Then we discussed the theme, honesty, as a group.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread the poem, "Jessica Jean" and explain the theme to an adult.

After our literacy block, the students began working collaboratively to sort social studies related vocabulary into groups.  There were only two rules...each group must have more than 1 word card and each group had to be named according to the rule used for putting the word cards into the group.  They will complete this task tomorrow afternoon.

Before packing up, I introduced a new homework assignment that we will begin next week.  Starting next Friday, students will be expected to turn in a written paragraph in a journal.  The directions will be glued inside the front cover of this journal.  Students will choose a topic (any topic) and then either write a narrative, informative or opinion piece.  They will need to do some research, using the computer with adult permission, and provide a picture or illustration to go with their writing.  This will NOT be graded but we will attempt to share them during our class meetings.  The purpose is to get students reading and writing each week about subjects that motivate them.  I will answer more questions, from students, tomorrow, and hopefully pass out their journals at that time.

The students ended their day in art, with Mrs. Daniell.

Our field trip is tomorrow.  We WILL eat in school, after the field trip.  There WILL be a math quiz tomorrow!!