January 14, 2016
Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed their break, it looks the winter weather has finally
arrived! Please be sure your child has the appropriate clothing for outside recess, the students
will go outside unless the temperature is below zero with the wind chill. Here is an update on what
is happening in Room 103!
Due Friday, January 22nd
*Math Game Mania Page
*Write Your Own Solution Reading Response
*Words Their Way Homework Page and Sort
*Book Orders
Important January Dates
Institute Day – No School: Jan 15th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School: Jan. 18th
After School Book Club: Jan. 25th
Box Top Collection: Jan. 28th
January Reading Calendar Due: Feb. 1st
Reading & Writing
We have been studying the author Ezra Jack Keats and the students are really enjoying his work!
Our class watched videos explaining his journey to becoming an author and his unique style of
adding collages in his illustrations. We have read many wonderful stories written by him such as A
Letter to Amy, Jennie’s Hat, Whistle for Willie, Maggie and the Pirate, and of course The Snowy
Day. The students created collages with construction paper of themselves on a snowy day and
wrote about their art. We described the main details of story and practiced the skill of retelling
a story. As a class we wrote a letter to Mrs. Rothermel and each student wrote a letter to
their 4th grade Learning Buddy. We also reviewed different phonics skills such as contractions and
words ending with -ed. We have been a busy bunch!
Math
Our class has doubles fever! The students have been hard at work memorizing those doubles
facts and it shows. As those doubles facts come easier and easier, we discussed how we can use
these facts to help us solve other math problems. The students have been working with
dominos and addition sentences of “doubles plus one” facts. For example, if we know that 8+8=16,
we can use that to help us solve 8+9. We can look at that problem as “8+8 plus one more” and if
I know 8+8 is 16, then one more is 17. Thinking of numbers this way helps build number sense and
allows the students to have multiple strategies when solving a problem. We will continue to work
with doubles throughout the year and practicing using them to help us solve other problems.
Social Studies
We recently wrapped up our Cultural Comparisons unit. Our last topic was the difference
between wants and needs. It was interesting to hear the children’s opinions about what makes
an item a want or a need! After reading different texts and some discussion, our class agreed
that a need is something a person must have to survive, while a want is something they would
like to have. We sorted objects into the categories of wants and needs and realized many of our
favorite things fell into the want category. The students have really enjoyed learning about
different cultures and experiences!
Science
Up next is our new science topic: Solids, Liquids, and Gases! We will begin this unit in the coming
weeks where we will identify the different states of matter and how they are formed. Our class
will complete experiments, read non-fiction text, and use technology to create projects
showcasing new learning. It promises to be an exciting unit!
Enjoy the long weekend, stay warm!
Miss Rogers