Academics (Summary of this past week's learning)

Math- Students have learned several strategies to build number sense with multiplication and division. We broke numbers down into smaller pieces to create manageable problems to solve.  This week we took all these strategies and applied them to story problems. Students were able to compute numbers more fluently in solving real-life application problems. 

Reading- Students have read many folktales in class. We have worked to find the author's perspective and that author's write story so we can learn a lesson about life through the action's of the characters and the events that take place. We also have been learning how to use the context to find the meaning of unknown words. 

Word Study- Students finished working with spelling with "r-controlled" vowel patterns such as words like burn, shirt, there, and squirm. We learned about the suffix "-er" and "-or" which you add to a verb to make it a noun. Some examples are teach + -er = teacher, and invent + -or = inventor.

Writing- Students are continuing to draft their own story in a planning packet. They are learning how to elaborate storytelling by using dialogue, describing the setting, telling what the characters are thinking, describing actions, and using specific vocabulary. 

History- Students are learning all about the history of ancient China. We learned how the Silk Road played a major part in China's history as many ideas and resources spread throughout the world. China gained great wealth from trade. We learned how they adapted to their environment for survival. We also learned a variety of resources available to them which made them a powerful civilization. 

Valentine's Party

We will have our valentines party on Tues, Feb 14 @ 1:30. If you want your child to participate, please help them  make a valentine for each student. Make 30 generic valentines that can be shared with each student.