Thrilling Thursday

This morning the students completed the Thursday section of the vocabulary sheet for our word of the week, conclude.  Then, they attempted to solve the weekly puzzles and posted their guesses in the comment section.  Those who finished early read about the superstitions associated with Groundhogs Day, which is tomorrow.  After the announcements, we switched for math.

Math began with a warm up involving the addition of decimals or fractions and then identifying the sum as the opposite...so if they added fractions the sum was written as a decimal, and vice versa.  Next, we reviewed last nightś homework.  After that, we began our rotations.

During the small group instruction we added and subtracted decimals to solve word problems involving distances and liquid volume.  During math with a partner, the students played a board game of Squares, which provided practice with adding fractions but identifying the sum as a decimal.  Finally, during the technology portion, the students completed a session of Xtra Math and then practiced adding and subtracting decimals, involving word problems, using an online game.

In between the second and third rotation the students enjoyed lunch and outdoor recess.

Math homework is posted in GC and we will have a formative tomorrow.

After math, we began our literacy  block with a writing lesson.  Today, we finished reading the book, Miss Rumphius.  Then, we did a 3 minute Quick-Write, listing interesting or unusual people we know outside of school.  After sharing our lists, the students chose a person to write a fictional story about during our 20 minute writing time block.  Then, we shared the ideas we wrote about today.

Next the students went to music.

When they returned to class, we ate snack and reviewed todayś independent work activities.  First, the children completed the Thursday section of the reading skills worksheet.  Then, they read the myth about Athena, circling unknown words and marking changes in a character with a C and changes to the Earth with an E.  After that, they completed a vocabulary review quiz.  Next, they watched a screencast about writing complete sentences and completed a follow-up practice sheet.  Those who finished early, continued identifying the definition, characteristics, locating, and importance for each of Earthś four major systems.

Guided Reading Groups:

Blue - First we identified the authorś purpose for different types of writing, on the reading skills practice sheet.  After that we reviewed and defined the unknown words they marked in the passage about Athena.  Then, we reread parts of the text and located examples of change in characters and the environment.

Pink - First we identified the authorś purpose for different types of writing, on the reading skills practice sheet.  After that we reviewed and defined the unknown words they marked in the passage about Athena.  Then, we reread parts of the text and located examples of change in characters and the environment.

Green - First we identified the authorś purpose for different types of writing, on the reading skills practice sheet.  After that we reviewed and defined the unknown words they marked in the passage about Athena.  Then, we reread parts of the text and located examples of change in characters and the environment.