Marvelous Monday - Welcome to the FOURTH marking period!

Just a little background--something went wrong when I attempted to post my blog for today...so I had to redo the entire entry.  Please forgive me if it is not as informative as usual...I am a bit frustrated!

This morning, after reading quietly, exchanging books in the media center, or practicing keyboarding, we changed classroom jobs and then began math rotations.

This week, in math, we will continue working towards the memorization of the basic multiplication and division facts, and we will write equations, using variables to represent the unknown, to solve multi-step word problems involving all four operations.

During the small group, teacher-led, instruction I modeled how to analyze and evaluate a word problem to determine what is known and what is unknown.  Then I modeled writing equations, using variables to represent unknowns, to solve the word problem.  I explained to students that today I did a lot of modeling but each day I will do less and less, with the children doing more and more of the work and talk...until they are solving the entire problem on their own.  :-)

During math with a partner, the students rolled two dice to determine the factors they will use to write, and then solve, a multiplication equation.  Then they will write the other 3 number sentences in the fact family.  This will provide practice in the memorization of the basic multiplication and division facts.

Finally, during the technology rotation, the students watched a Learn Zillion lesson about solving two step word problems, using models.  They watched it twice and took notes in their math journal.

For HOMEWORK there is an assignment on Google Classroom, the homework page.  There will be a writing journal entry due Thursday and they need to write equations, using variables to represent the unknown, and solve them, for two word problems.

After math we took a Go Noodle brain break and then began our literacy block.

During the independent work time all students will view a Google Slides presentation about Traditional Tales.  Then they will watch a folk tale called, Jack and the Giant Barbeque, and identify the theme and three key details to support it, in their RRJ.  After that, all students will cut apart their new word work cards and put their initials on the back of each.  Next, the children will practice writing the letters P, B, and R, in cursive.  Finally, they will watch a Brain Pop Jr. lesson about spending and saving (social studies/economics) and, in their social studies journal, they will create a financial plan, using elements of the lesson, explaining what they would do if they were given $20.

Panthers:  We met and read and discussed the Google Slides presentation about Traditional Tales.  Then I modeled sorting their new word work words which focuses on the long and short I sounds and the long and short O sounds spelled vowel-consonant-consonant.  For HOMEWORK the children need to do a written header sort using their new words and read for 10 minutes - free choice.

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

Tigers:  We reviewed the Traditional Tales presentation and then I modeled sorting their new word work words which focuses on short e and long e spelled ee or ea.  For HOMEWORK the students need to do a written header wort using their new word work words and read for 10 minutes - free choice.

Leopards:  In group we reviewed the Traditional Tales presentation and then discussed the theme, and key details supporting it, for Jack and the Giant Barbeque.  After that I did a model sort for their new word work words focusing on the /k/ sound spelled -ic, -ck, -ck-, and -x.  For HOMEWORK the students need to do a written header sort using their new word work words and read for 10 minutes - free choice.

Lions:   In group we reviewed the Traditional Tales presentation and then discussed the theme, and key details supporting it, for Jack and the Giant Barbeque.  After that I did a model sort for their new word work words focusing on the /k/ sound spelled -ic, -ck, -ck-, and -x.  For HOMEWORK the students need to do a written header sort using their new word work words and read for 10 minutes - free choice.

F&P group:  This is a new group which uses ON GRADE level books to improve comprehension.  It is a scripted program.  Today I did an extensive book introduction for our first book, a biography entitled, Calling Dr. Carson.  Then the students whisper read the book.  Finally, we discussed challenges Ben Carson had to overcome to reach his goal of becoming a doctor and hearing himself paged in a hospital...hence the title!

The students ended their day in music with Ms. Guerra.