November 27-December 1

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content." -  Lin Yutang

We began our week with new vocabulary, spelling words, phonics and Anchor Text. Our new story is an informational text titled What Do Illustrators Do? Students made predictions after taking a picture walk through the story. We all enjoyed Brain Gym this morning as well. 

Our math lessons this week will explore different ways to measure area, partition rectangles and represent data on a scaled bar graph. Ms. Devyn, our intern from SST, will teach tomorrow's lesson on creating scaled picture graphs. Other lessons this week include identifying square numbers and understanding the turn-around rule for multiplication. Students will have a Home Link each night for homework.

Our spelling rule this week features Three-Letter Clusters. Students will have a spelling menu choice each night for homework. Our spelling test will take place on Friday afternoon.

We are so excited to see "Wonder" on Friday morning. Thank you to the parents who offered to be chaperones. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we are only allowed two parents per classroom. I will contact you today if you volunteered to chaperone. 

Have a fantastic week! :)

November 20th and 21st

T   hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H  for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A  for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N  for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K  for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S  for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about.
    That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good    Thanksgiving.                  
-   Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

Have a fantastic holiday with family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving! :)

November 13-17

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."

We began our week with a new essential question, vocabulary and spelling pretest. Our Anchor Text for the week is a narrative non fiction titled Bat Loves the Night. Students are very excited about it. We also enjoyed Brain Gym this morning and using the racquet balls to practice a balance/auditory/visual exercise. 

Our math lessons this week include using partial sums addition to add 2- and 3-digit numbers, understanding column addition, reviewing the counting up method of subtraction and trying expand and trade subtraction. Students will have a Home Link each night for homework. 

Our spelling rule involves both short and long vowels this week. Students will have a spelling menu activity each night.

We will begin our Solar System Unit this week. I look forward to studying the moon's phases, planets and Earth's rotation with the class.

Have a wonderful week! :)