Reading Partnerships

This week we explored reading partnerships. Today we interviewed our reading partners and got to know each other as readers. We asked questions like...
"What is your favorite series of books?" and "Why do you like it so much?"
"Where is your favorite spot to read?"
"What are your goals for yourself as a reader?" and "How are you going to meet them?"
"Who has helped you as a reader?" and "What did that person do that was helpful?"
Here are some friends interviewing each other and taking notes about what their reading partner shared.

Multiple Meaning Words/Homographs

This week in Reader's Workshop we continued to learn about Homographs/Multiple Meaning Words
(M & M). We learned that Homographs are words that sound the same and are spelled the same, but have different meanings. Students chose a homograph and wrote a sentence using their word in two different ways. We even noticed some of our spelling words this week were Homographs :). Great Job Class!!

Multiple Meanings

Today, we talked about Multiple Meaning Words.  First, a few brave students volunteered to close their eyes and trust Mrs. Rossignol to put a surprise in the mouth.  Mrs. Rossignol placed M&Ms in each friend's mouth....although each was a different color.  We then discussed, that although each was a different color (like words spelled the same), they were, in fact different (like words with different meanings).  

Multiple Meaning Words are words that have several meanings depending upon how they are used in a sentence. 

Below is Sophia and Gavin's work about the word "stick" and how it has different meanings to different people or situations.  

Oreo Writing Activity

In Writer's Workshop, we are learning how to add details to our Narrative Writing. We started off with a fun activity to get our juices flowing :). Students used their five senses to come up with details about an Oreo cookie. They had to imagine that they were writing to someone who has never seen or tasted an Oreo before.   Yummy!!! 

The Oreo:  By Bonny B

An oreo is delicous, creamy, sweet, all in one bite.  It's hard on the outside, and creamy on the inside.  The cream is like heaven, nice and cool.  As you crunch it's cookie, there's a cracking in your head.  It's a sandwich built of chocolate and thick cream. As you put it near your mouth, your nose fills with sweet, sugary, chocolateness.  It attracts you by just looking at the pattern on the top.  You feel like your going to faint as the smooth, tender frosting goes down your throat.  That is an oreo.  

The Oreo:  by Jair

I see a really dark brown oreo with white frosting and a round chocolate cookie.  They look sugary and sweet.  It smells like chocolate and it smells sweet.  It feels flat, bumpy, and smooth on the side.  I take a bit, close my eyes, and it sounds like rocks breaking.  

The Oreo:  by Tabitha

You can see the rich chocolate and the chocolate is brown and the white cream looks like pudding.  It smells like chocolate and smells sweet.  It sounds crunchy and it sounds like a cracker when you chew it.  It feels bumpy and rough and it feels smooth on the side.  It tastes creamy and sweet and very chocolately.  

The Jungle Journal - Week of September 9-13

Reader's Workshop

This week we will begin exploring clues in the context, recognizing how these clues can help us determine the meanings of unknown words.  Pronouncing words correctly is part of reading, but an equally important part is understanding what those tricky words mean.  Often times, students think if they can pronounce a word, they can move on and continue reading.  This often leaves them confused as to what is actually happening in the story. Below is a passage from the book, The Chocolate Touch.  Have your child use context clues to determine possible meanings for the unknown, bold words.  

   “Hey, sleepy!” Mrs. Midas called.  “Everyone else is up!”

   John put on his bathrobe and ambled to the bathroom.  His sister, Mary, was still brushing her teeth, and he had to wait until she finished. 

   “Come on, Mary,” he said a little crossly.  “Don’t take all morning.”

   Not wanting a quarrel to begin, Mary spat out her toothpaste and swiftly left the bathroom. 

Writers’ Workshop

We will continue drafting our memoirs this week.  Our focus will be to include oodles of exact, true details in our pieces.  Students will be reviewing and ultimately adding sensory details (details that appeal to the five senses) to their drafts.  These details will help bring their stories to life and let readers feel as though they were in that moment with the author.  Your child is welcome to bring their writing home and show you their progress.

Skills
Spelling begins this week.  Students should study and complete one of the homework options for list 1.  Our quiz will be Friday. The quiz will also cover our skills topic of the week, complete sentences vs. fragments.  Students will have a study guide in their ROAR folder. 
 

Math Workshop

Students are recognizing and representing the groups of 10s in 3-digit numbers.  We are using place value to determine the size of any number up to 1,000 and finding pairs of numbers that add to 100. 

The students have a quiz on Groups of 10 on Wednesday, September 11th.  Here are questions you can discuss with your child: 

·     If Mrs. Durkin has 142 stamps and wants to put them in rows of 10, how many rows will she have?  How many extra stamps will there be? 

·     Ms. Symons went to the Sticker Station and bought 2 sheets of stickers, 4 strips of stickers, and 7 singles.  How many stickers did Ms. Symons buy?

Students are developing a number of awesome strategies for adding 2- and 3-digit numbers.  We are also beginning to discuss different ways to start solving addition problems. 

Science                                                                    

This week our focus is on the tools scientists use to make observations and the importance of keeping records and communicating with other scientists.  Ask to see your child's Interactive Science Journal to check out our class lessons.

Social Studies                                                                                 
The students have a quiz on Chapter 1, Lesson 2 on Friday, September 13th.  Our lesson focuses on types of communities.