Mrs. Baker's Class Newsletter
October 25, 2013
What is happening?
Math: This week we the students will be describing how cent, dollar and decimal symbols describe money. Students will also be recalling and applying basic addition and subtraction facts to 18, and in some cases higher. Students will use partner facts (7-4 and 7-3) as well as turnaround facts (4+3 and 3+4) to help increase their mental math fluency. Students will be problem solving daily to connect math to everyday experiences, while they communicate, and use logical reasoning to solve *Daily: warm up in math - this covers a variety of skills that the students will spiral through. The goal is that the constant exposure will keep all the skills fresh.
Social Studies/Writing: The spotlight in social studies will be our PBL project on community landmarks. Research is underway and wrapping up as students conclude their research and move towards the construction of their final exhibit. Students are maintaining their group jobs as they learn collaboration, they have realized that collaboration isn't always easy but it's a necessary skill. Thanks for all the helpers coming in next week!! I appreciate you!
Reading: The focus in reading will be distinguishing fiction from nonfiction. Students will be answering the question: how do readers know when a book is fiction versus nonfiction? Students will determine their purpose for reading a nonfiction book as well as the author's purpose for writing the book, known as TAP (Topic Audience Purpose). Later in the week, students will generate questions. Asking questions helps the reader gain new information or thinking. Friday we will focus on the poem of the week.
Writing: The big idea in writing this week will be researching to gain information and All About Books. Students will continue to add to their All About book, which is a topic they know a lot about. At the end of the week, we are going to start an ALL About on our community landmark.
High 5!
Students took home their Reader’s Response Journal. I hope you enjoyed your tour of their notebook and got to hear your child explain all that we have been learning.
Coins for Coats
Friday, November 1 is the last day for Coins for Coats! Thank you for your donations thus far.
Halloween Candy
Our class will be collecting extra candy on November 1st to donate to the Texas Baptist Children's Home. Through our landmark research we have learned that the TBCH takes candy donations to distribute to the families and students. Our class thought this would be a great way to give back to the community.
On the calendar....
Friday, Oct. 25 - Kona Ice Day after lunch
Tuesday, Oct. 29 - TAG Parent Information Night at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 30 - Early Release at 12:45 pm
Thursday, Nov. 7 - Picture Retake