Camp Can Do News
February 5, 2016
Close Reading, Stop and Jot, and Experts
Our story this week The Signmaker's Assistant, helped us look at the small things an author and illustrator can do to create a memorable and multi-layered story. We got out our magnifying glasses and took a closer look at our story. After reading, we understood the problem and solution, the characters, the sequence, and the setting. To get the deeper meaning of the story, we had to take a closer look or a close read at parts of it. Illustrations combined with words help the story in a more complex way. When you are reading at home with your camper, stop and reread a page or two to see what extra information you can find from the pictures or the author's word choice. Just a little close reading can really make a good story great and the understanding go from good to great!
Our reading clubs meet this week to discuss, debate, and write about their mini chapter book. We have been working on the strategies of 'stop and jot' and word collecting. As each club read their selection, they practiced stopping at the end of a chapter or every 1 - 2 pages. Using Post It notes or their reader's journal, the campers collected new vocabulary, made predictions, thought about character traits, highlighted important phrases or moments. This is a fantastic way to deepen comprehension and to be a thoughtful, engaged part of our reading club discussions. Several clubs asked for more time to continue their discussions away from their club time!
Non-fiction/ Information Writing/ Expert Writing is in full swing! The campers have organized their information, designed a table of contents, made decisions about pages they will utilize, and are tackling writing introductions for their expert writing. It is very exciting to see how self directed this process is! I am so very proud of their thoughtfulness in choosing information, perseverance to find the information they want, and reflection in how to organize and make their expert file their personal best! Look for these to head home next week!
Check out your camper's SeeSaw portfolio! We have new items added!
Scaredy Squirrel our Camp Mascot
PBL Project: Little Free Library
Runaway Ralph
All About Math
Decimal Discoveries!
Such a great week of thinking and exploring in math! Using place value blocks and meter sticks, the campers built and compared decimals. We started out just exploring how we could build decimals with the blocks and then moved to work on paper. As the groups worked, we listed our learning 'ah ha' moments.
The campers 'ah ha's':
*Place value blocks make great visuals for comparison and to see how far away a decimal is from 1.
*You need a zero in the tenths place if you do not have any tenths. (.04) You do not need a zero if you have no hundredths. (2.9)
*To compare decimals, start with the tenths.
*Decimals are like the prices you find in the store and the amount after the decimal point is the coin amount. (1.37 has 37cents)
*When working on adding or subtracting decimals, line up the numbers with the decimal point.
A lot of great learning uncovered as the campers discovered decimals together!
We reviewed today and will assess Unit 5 on Monday. The campers have a study guide on their take home folder that we worked on as a class.
Fact Fluency Reminder:
We have begun to move through the facts of multiplication at an individual pace. Some of the campers have a little work to do yet on subtraction as well. Each day we will spend 5 - 10 minutes with practice, fast math, and fact fluency interviews. The campers will work on their own to practice using their carabiner cards, take fast math exercises, and once a week check in with me on their facts. The goal of the combination of these activities is to have the campers understand the facts on their own and how they relate to other facts, become fluent with the basics of calculation, and have strategy to find the answers when calculating. You can find your campers' cards in the pouch in their binder! Great practice options are below!
Here is the link to Kakooma, Math Magician, and Math Fact Practice! Play Kids Games.
http://www.gregtangmath.com/games.html?game=kakooma# Kakooma
http://oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/mathmagician/cathymath.html Math Magician
http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/mathFact.htm Math Fact Practice
Math Fact Practice us new to us. You can choose the operation, even mix them up, the level of difficulty, and the time.
Everyday Math website for great practice in fact fluency and math skills. Usernames and passwords are inside your camper's binder.
Decimals with Hundred, Tens, and Ones Blocks
Decimals with a Meter Stick and Place Value Blocks
Decimal Place Value
✨Congratulations Corner
*Cougar Crew Member: Congratulations to Sophia O. for his nomination this week!
*Mrs. Patterson provided each classroom with 30 new books with the part of the proceeds from the fall book fair! We added books to our LFL collection too! Thanks Mrs. Patterson and HC PTO and Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Hicks the PTO book fair ladies!
đź“…For Your Calendar
PTO Meeting 2/10 7 - 8 pm
Valentines Parties 2/12 2:15 - 3:00
President's Day 2/15 No School in Session