Wonderful Wednesday

This morning the students were given one last chance to complete the Learn Zillion lessons about modal auxiliaries and run-on sentences.  Then we worked on completing the MAP-R, self-adjusting, computerized reading assessment.  Many of the students finished, but some need more time, which they will get.

After that we had a Go Noodle brain break and switched for math.

In math we practiced rounding the population of counties in Maryland to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000, during the small group lesson.  During math with a partner, the students engaged in math discourse as they practiced rounding to the nearest ten thousand while playing the game, Round the Town.  Finally, during the technology rotation, the children received logins for another math site, Ten Marks.  They logged in and completed their first assignment, which focused on rounding.  If they finished early they were able to work on a jam session.  Please look for parent letters, about Ten Marks, in home folders this evening.

After math, the students enjoyed lunch and outdoor recess.

When they returned to class, we began our literacy block.

First we viewed a Google Slide presentation introducing our first inquiry project.  The students will write historical fiction stories.  They will begin by choosing a group of Indians to research.  The information they uncover will serve as their setting in their story.  Then they will write an informative paragraph about the group of Indians and their setting.  After that, they will plan and write a fictional story set in the time and place of the Indian group they studied.

After reviewing the inquiry project, we discussed how author's use reasons and evidence (or facts) to support their points of view (or opinions).

During their independent work time, the students watched a video about freshwater mussels and identified reasons and evidence the speaker shared to support particular points.  Then they explored two native American groups and selected one to research.  Next they completed the body paragraph for their character analysis.  After that they viewed a Learn Zillion lesson about sentence fragments and completed a follow up worksheet.

While the children worked, I pulled a small group to practiced watching, pausing, and rewinding in order to identify reasons and evidence to support an opinion.

The children ended their day in art.