February 4, 2002
READING
We have continued focusing on identifying topics and details in our reading selections this week. We are learning how to take notes. We have been making “t-charts” for our notes with the headings “Topic” and “Details.” We added a section for our connections and questions this week. We read several nonfiction texts this week including an article about Amelia Earhart. We continued reading our chapter books and finished rotating through our Language Stations. In our Language Stations, we practiced our dictionary skills. We also researched burrowing animals, used the sports page to write math problems, and responded to writing prompts. This week we read aloud several books including a book that weaves together many fairy tales. We read an informational passage with multiple paragraphs about basketball and answered questions about it. As we answered our questions, we underlined where we found our answers.
WRITING
This week we continued focusing on the “how-to” informative genre. On Monday, Stephen Shearer, a writing specialist from the district, gave a lesson to the class. What a treat! We read a book about reading and organized our thoughts about being a good reader. Then, throughout the week, we wrote a shared-writing composition about how to be a good reader. We reviewed comma rules and capitalization rules. We also reviewed how to write singular and plural possessive nouns. We wrote in our journals this week to record our ideas. On Wednesday, we wrote about why we need parents.
SPELLING
This week we our spelling list contained words with the long a sound in the medial position spelled using the vowel digraph "ay". We also learned two content words, Sunday and Friday, and several high frequency words.
MATH
This week we continued practicing how to solve two-digit addition and subtraction story problems that include regrouping. We used a strategy called QDPAC. To QDPAC, we identify the question, list and circle our data, decide on a plan, solve to find an answer, and check our work using the opposite operation. We are learning how to identify key words that let us know when to add and when to subtract. For instance, we know that difference, remain, and how many more are usually signals to subtract. We also know that altogether and in all are usually signals to add. We practiced our addition facts using Mad Minutes. Please continue to practice math facts daily. If we have our facts memorized, we can focus on the more complicated processes of addition and subtraction with regrouping. We introduced new Math Stations this week. In our stations, we are reviewing coins. Our lessons this week focused on telling time. We reviewed telling time to the hour and half-hour. Then we learned how to tell time to the five-minute marks. We are focusing on proper placement of the hour hand. We have learned that as the minute hand moves around the clock, the hour hand moves towards the next hour. This can be tricky! This is another great skill to practice at home. As you are leaving the house, you can ask your child for a “time check.”
SOCIAL STUDIES/SCIENCE
This week we continued our Social Studies unit about real people in American history. We continued conducting research in the library. We are working on a time line about our famous person. We are also beginning to write our papers in class.
****If you have any board games at home that you no longer use, we would love to have them at school to use during indoor recess. Thank you to those of you who have already donated games to our classroom!
*****Progress Reports will be sent home on Wednesday, February 6th.
*****Western Day will be Friday, February 8th. The Talent Show will be at 10:55 in the cafeteria during our lunch period. We will be square dancing during our specials block in the cafeteria. (12:55-1:55)
We are working on building independence as we move into the second semester. We are learning to read and follow directions independently.
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