Terrific Tuesday

This morning, after reading quietly, exchanging books in the media center, or practicing keyboarding, we jumped into our math rotations.

During the small group, teacher-led, instruction we solved multi-step word problems by writing and solving equations, using variables to represent the unknowns.  Today the children were asked questions and given hints to help them solve multi-step word problems involving any of the four operations.

During math with a partner the students played multiplication war to help memorize the basic multiplication facts.  This is a student favorite, so we have been playing it a lot over the past few weeks!!

Finally, during the technology portion, the students visited the Thinking Blocks site to practice solving word problems involving multiplication and division.  I love this site because it involves modeling and has built in check points so the students can monitor how they are doing.

For HOMEWORK there is an assignment on the Google Classroom homework page.  A writing entry is due Thursday.  Tonight, for math, the children will visit the Solve It! web site to solve multi-step word problems and then watch a video to check their answers and see how to solve each problem.

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

Today students received their new guided reading group books and did a first reading, listing unknown words on a sticky note, independently.  Then they read through a Google Slides presentation called, Understanding Theme.  After that the completed an assigned word work activity and practiced writing T and F in cursive.

Panthers:  We met first and I did a heavy book introduction for their folk tale, The Three Little Pigs. Then the students read the story on their own, as I listened in, to discover how the pig tricks the wolf.  After group the children completed a syllable sort using their word work words.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread their book and write their words twice, once in print and then in cursive.

Following lunch and outdoor recess we visited the media center for an introductory lesson for the 4th quarter inquiry project.  Students will pick an issue to research.  They will write an informative piece about the issues, including both sides, and then form an opinion, and explain it in writing using facts and definitions to explain their thinking.

Today's lesson focused on the question, what is an issue, and the topics from which each child can choose.

When we returned to the classroom, the children continued working independently while I met with more guided reading groups.  Unfortunately, time was limited, so I was unable to spend a lot of time with all groups.

Tigers:  Independently the students read Prince Cinders and listed unknown words on a sticky note.  They also did a syllable sort using their word work words.  In group we discussed the meaning of the word cinder and reviewed their lists of unknown words.  Then we reread the beginning of the book.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread their book, Prince Cinders and write each of their word work words, twice, once in print and once in cursive.

Leopards:  Independently the students read through their new book, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter, and listed unknown words on a sticky note.  They also did a meaning check with 10 of their word work words.  In group, I quickly took note of the lengthy unknown words lists, and realized the book was a bit more challenging than I had anticipated.  So, I read the beginning of the book out loud, explaining difficult vocabulary along the way.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread up to the sticky note and write their word work words twice; once in print and once in cursive.

Lions:  the students read their new book, Lon Po Po, and listed unknown words in a sticky note.  They also did a meaning check with 10 of their word work words.  In group, we reviewed their lists of unknown words.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread their book and write their word work words twice; once in print and once in cursive.

F&P:  We began group with a phonics lesson where we practiced using common vowel patterns to help us quickly decode new words.  After that the children reread part of their book, Calling Dr. Carson.  Then we discussed the theme of the book using key details from the text to support our thinking.

After our literacy block, Ms. Snyder visited us and did a lesson about goal setting.  It was the perfect ending to our day!!