Hi all!
Mrs. Elzey and I have been working with the 4th graders over the past week to prepare them for our Biography project. We have experienced introductory lessons on choosing people, searching effectively on the internet, using resources, and determining what is important.
More details to come later this week, but just wanted to give you a heads up! We are essentially getting them started on the project here at school, and by the end of the week they will transition home with the project. It is due Feb 20th and our Wax Museum will be Wed., Feb 22 from 1-2.
More to come....
Jaclyn Karabinas
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January is in full swing!
Hi everyone! Just want to give you an update on the classroom happenings since we returned from break. Remember that you can click on the link in the email and it will take you to right to our site.
Word Study
We completed the scope and sequence of Fundations Level 3! This means we have had instruction and practice on all phonics patterns and 6-syllable types. Now we move into the direction of filling in gaps and increasing our knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and root words. Starting next week, students will have personalized lists again, containing words that are best suited to his/her needs.
Literacy Workshop
The students did an excellent job working in book groups to read immigration-themed chapter books. The books fictionalized stories about immigrants from many backgrounds- some titles being In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord, Letters From Rifka by Karen Hesse, and Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen. Students designed a mini-project of choice to share with the class to show their new learning and comprehension. Our primary reading goals for the books were "Decoding Meanings of Unknown Words" and "Showing Comprehension" using our thinking stems as we wrote responses in our Reader's Notebooks.
Writer's Workshop
In December, students learned revision strategies and chose 1-2 pieces they had done since the start of the year to work toward publishing. While they had been anxious to publish since September, we were really focusing on expanding our ideas, word choice, and revision strategies. Currently, we are learning how blogs create a "global" discussion based on interesting ideas and comments that create conversation. We will continue with this and learn more about internet ethics and determining site authenticity.
Additionally, we are learning how to use favorite authors and/or stories to be "Mentor Texts". We will be working on 'reading like writers' to use models of great writing to expand on our own skills.
Math
We are currently in Unit 6 of Everyday Math, which practices division of whole numbers, division of circles for use as measuring angles with protractors, and the division of maps as grids. They will be learning a Partial-Quotient strategy for division. Please refrain from teaching them 'traditional' division until I see that they understand the process and/or need that as their main algorithm. Students are making so much progress on Xtra Math. Please note that ANY practice of facts is accepted and needed- if your student loathes Xtramath, a different site or mode of practice (flashcards etc.) will be just fine!
Social Studies
We continue making our way through the country! For the Northeast, we explored immigration, cities, and mills. During the Southeast we have touched upon the time of the Civil War, Civil Rights, Appalachia, and will learn about the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The goal of our USA unit is to learn the locations of states/regions and gain a general understanding of the differences between each one, based on location and history.
Science
Maple Sugaring will be here before we know it! I will send a separate email/update about that at the end of the week.
So much learning- so much fun! As always, give a call or send an email if you would like to chat. I am here!
Mrs. Karabinas
Word Study
We completed the scope and sequence of Fundations Level 3! This means we have had instruction and practice on all phonics patterns and 6-syllable types. Now we move into the direction of filling in gaps and increasing our knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and root words. Starting next week, students will have personalized lists again, containing words that are best suited to his/her needs.
Literacy Workshop
The students did an excellent job working in book groups to read immigration-themed chapter books. The books fictionalized stories about immigrants from many backgrounds- some titles being In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord, Letters From Rifka by Karen Hesse, and Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen. Students designed a mini-project of choice to share with the class to show their new learning and comprehension. Our primary reading goals for the books were "Decoding Meanings of Unknown Words" and "Showing Comprehension" using our thinking stems as we wrote responses in our Reader's Notebooks.
Writer's Workshop
In December, students learned revision strategies and chose 1-2 pieces they had done since the start of the year to work toward publishing. While they had been anxious to publish since September, we were really focusing on expanding our ideas, word choice, and revision strategies. Currently, we are learning how blogs create a "global" discussion based on interesting ideas and comments that create conversation. We will continue with this and learn more about internet ethics and determining site authenticity.
Additionally, we are learning how to use favorite authors and/or stories to be "Mentor Texts". We will be working on 'reading like writers' to use models of great writing to expand on our own skills.
Math
We are currently in Unit 6 of Everyday Math, which practices division of whole numbers, division of circles for use as measuring angles with protractors, and the division of maps as grids. They will be learning a Partial-Quotient strategy for division. Please refrain from teaching them 'traditional' division until I see that they understand the process and/or need that as their main algorithm. Students are making so much progress on Xtra Math. Please note that ANY practice of facts is accepted and needed- if your student loathes Xtramath, a different site or mode of practice (flashcards etc.) will be just fine!
Social Studies
We continue making our way through the country! For the Northeast, we explored immigration, cities, and mills. During the Southeast we have touched upon the time of the Civil War, Civil Rights, Appalachia, and will learn about the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The goal of our USA unit is to learn the locations of states/regions and gain a general understanding of the differences between each one, based on location and history.
Science
Maple Sugaring will be here before we know it! I will send a separate email/update about that at the end of the week.
So much learning- so much fun! As always, give a call or send an email if you would like to chat. I am here!
Mrs. Karabinas
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