This week we practiced short o. Our word family was -op (pop). Students noticed that we could also use our weekly works to create -ox (fox, box) and
-ot (got, not) word families.
During Reading, we are continuing to focus on how readers build good reading habits. This week our class learned how to get ready to read. Students practiced previewing a new book by looking at the front cover, the back cover, and flipping through the pages to look at the illustrations. Afterwards, students practiced thinking about the words that could be in the book. When students get ready to read, they can say, “I previewed the book! I thought about the words! I am ready to read!”
Example:
Book Title: Clifford’s Birthday Party
Words that might be in the book: happy, cake, balloons, gifts, presents, fun
This week our class learned about six writing traits that help writers become better at writing.
Six Writing Traits:
Ideas - Start with great ideas.
Organization - Make your words and sentences easy to follow.
Voice - Sound as if you are really interested in your topic.
Word Choice - Choose the best words.
Sentence Fluency - Use sentences that are fun to read.
Conventions - Follow the rules for writing.
We finished chapter 2 in Math this week. Our new chapter focuses on practicing addition facts to 10. Students will use what they have learned about parts and a whole to practice ways to add. One way to add is to count on. We used ten frames, counters, and counting cubes to be introduced to counting on. I also modeled how to use a number line to count on.
Example:
5 + 3 = ___
We put 5 counters in a cup. Then we got ready to add 3 more. We shook the cup and said, “5…” and while adding one cube at a time said, “6, 7, 8.”
Vocabulary
Add
Plus (+)
Equal to (=)
Addition Sentence
More than
This week we learned the importance of following rules. We discussed rules at home, school, and in the community. Students thought about how rules at home and at school are similar and different and recorded their ideas in their Social Studies workbook.
Vocabulary
Rule: Rules tell us what to do and what not to do. Rules keep us safe and help us get along with others. Rules keep things fair.
Law: A law is a rule for a community.
Our Science focus this week was “Think Like a Scientist!” We completed two investigations. We reviewed that an investigation is a test scientists do and scientists plan investigations when they want to learn more.
Our first investigation was called Holding Water. Our question was, “Does the same amount of water look the same in different containers?”
Our second investigation asked the question, “What would happen if we mixed yellow paint and blue paint?”
During these investigations, we practiced following 5 scientific steps:
1. Observe and ask a question
2. Hypothesize - “I think…”
3. Make a plan
4. Do the test and record observations (drawing, writing)
5. Draw conclusions and share observations with others - “I learned…”
Friday, September 29th was UST's International Children's Day event. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible. It was wonderful to celebrate the diversity at our school and see the excitement from our students!