Wonderful Wednesday

This morning the students completed the Wednesday section of the vocabulary sheet for our word of the week, typical.  Then they practiced making words, using an online site, since it is Word Wednesday.  After the announcements, we switched for math.

We began math with a fraction magic square.  Then, after a heart-to-heart chat about class expectations, we began our rotations.

During the small group instruction, we practiced adding and subtracting mixed numbers, with like denominators, using a number line.  During math with a partner, the students engaged in math discourse, as they compared fractions, while playing Fraction War.  Finally, during the technology portion, the students completed a session of Xtra Math.  Then,  they watched a Learn Zillion lesson about using number lines to add and subtract fraction.  Finally, if they had time, they chose a game from the fraction Live Binder.

Between the second and third rotations, the children enjoyed lunch and outdoor recess.

Math homework is posted in GC.

After math we began our literacy block.  First, I reviewed and explained the rubric I will use to grade their expository writing piece.  Then, I modeled how to take their draft and use it to publish and print their essay.  After that I explained their independent work assignments.

Today the students watched a Flocabulary video about word roots, and completed 2 associated activities.  Next, they revised and typed the final version of 3 of their paragraphs for the expository piece.  Finally, they participated in an Hour of Code activity since this week is Computer Science Education Week.

Reading groups:

Today's focus was using the text and our background knowledge to make inferences.  I met with each group and we practice reading a selection of text, underlying clues, describing what we learned from them, and then writing an inference we made.

After our literacy block, we began module 5 of the science curriculum.  First, we reviewed important vocabulary.  Then we learned that we will be testing the water quality by collecting a sample of run-off , suing our water collection tools.  We will determine if the water is polluted and  whether it would contaminate the Chesapeake Bay since we are in its watershed.  After that, we watched a couple of video clips to further our understanding about the importance of testing the water in the bay and how and why we test for the pH of a substance.