And we're back....again! :-)

Welcome to winter!!  While I do enjoy the occasional snow day, I certainly hope this winter is not a repeat of last...the continual start and stop of instruction was enough to drive me crazy!!  I DO like my routine!!

So, with our first official snow day yesterday and a 2 hour delay today, we had to make some adjustments to our schedule.

Our day began, oddly enough, with lunch!  :-)

When we returned to class, we reviewed the independent tasks for today's literacy block.

Students began by completing individual reading group tasks.  Then they worked on publishing the final drafts of paragraphs 1 and 2 of their inquiry project, using my written feedback.  After that, they practiced writing the letters f, p and j, in cursive.  Next, they watched 4 different, "How It's Made..." videos and thought about what material it began as, what heating and cooling processes were used, and what was the end result, usable object.  After that, the children listened to the BES nominee, Martin and Mahalia, and rated it on their sheet.  Finally, they completed any unfinished work assignments and practiced reading to themselves, with a partner, or listening on the Internet.

Tigers:  We reviewed the homework from Monday night and worked on revising their answers to be in complete sentences, using key words from the question.  Next we reviewed common spelling patterns for the long /e/ sound.  Then we read pages 13-15 and highlighted words with the long /e/ sound.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread pages 13-15, twice,  working on fluency.

Panthers:  Independently the students read page 6 and wrote, and answered, a green, "right there" question.  In group we shared their questions and answers....GREAT news...every student was successful!!!!  I explained to the students that is why we repeat lessons and tasks!!  What was once a challenge has become easier!!  :-)  Next, we reviewed the concept of cause (why) and effect (what happened).  We revisited the text and, together, identified examples of cause and effect.  We added these to the t-charts in out RRJ.  For HOMEWORK the students will reread page 6 and add one example of cause and effect to the t-chart in their RRJ.

Leopards:  Independently the students read pages 16 - 18 and listed any unknown words.  In group we began by reviewing their examples of cause and effect that they identified for homework last night.  Then we reviewed their lists of unknown words and applied some of our word works rules to identify the pronunciations and meanings.  For HOMEWORK the students will reread pages 16-18.

Lions:  Independently the students reread pages 20 and 21 and added another example of cause and effect to the t-chart in their RRJ.  In group we shared their examples of cause and effect from Monday night's homework and from today's independent work.  For HOMEWORK the students will read pages 22-24.

After literacy block, we revisited our focus for this science unit; how heating and cooling processes change the observable properties of materials to create usable objects.  Then, as a class, we began viewing one of the "How It's Made..." videos that they have been assigned to watch during literacy block.  As we watched it, I paused the video to point out the starting material, the processes it went through and WHY they were applied.  I was modeling how to pause the video and think about what I was learning....and even rewinding it when I needed to clarify information that I didn't hear or didn't understand.

The students ende their day in PE with Mr. Benco.

We did not have math today.  There is no math homework.

Every child does have reading homework and a writing journal entry is due Friday.  :-)