Terrific Tuesday - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

This morning, the students slowly came in, unpacked, commented on their Winter Break, and completed the Monday and Tuesday sections of the vocabulary sheet for our new word of the week, cause.  After the announcements, we switched for math.

We began math with an open ended math problem for warm up.  Then, we began our rotations.

During the small group lesson we focused on representing and solving additive and multiplicative comparison problems involving fractions.  During math with a partner, the students practiced multiplying fractions by whole numbers, as they increased the servings of a recipe in "Fraction Feast".  Finally, during the technology rotation, the students completed a session of Xtra Math and then practiced multiplying fractions by whole numbers using an online game.

In between the second and third rotations, the students enjoyed lunch and indoor recess.

Math homework is posted in GC.

After math, we had a quick class meeting to share what we did over break.

Then, we began our literacy block with a writing lesson.  First, we reviewed what we have learned about personal narratives thus far.  Next, we read and discussed another personal narrative by Lessie Jones Little.  This piece was about a time she learned something the "hard way".  So, after that, the students shared, with their writing partner, a time they learned something the hard way.  After that, the students began a personal narrative either about a time they learned something the hard way or about another event or memory from their own life.  Finally, while they ate snack, they shared their writing with their partner and then their partner shared it with the class.

Next, we began our reading and independent work portion.  First, we reviewed the cause and effect text structure, by identifying signal words and phrases and examples in short passages of text.  Then, the students worked independently on the following tasks.

They started by reading a piece about Christopher Columbus and marking places that were surprising and/or confusing.  Next, they watched "The Lorax" and identified examples of cause and effect on a graphic organizer.  After that, they read a debate about plastic straws and listed evidence, from the text, for both sides of the argument.  This will turn into a graded opinion piece later in the week.

While they worked, I had time to meet with one reading group.

Pink:  We reviewed the unknown words in their text about Christopher Columbus.  Then, we took a look at a map showing the routes to help us better comprehend our reading.  Finally, we discussed Columbus's origin, destinations, and goals.

The students ended their day in art, with Mrs. Daniell, while I attended our weekly collaborative planning meeting.