This week we are starting Unit 2 in Math "Multiplication with Whole Numbers" In this unit the students will learn how to use Area Models to work out multi-digit multiplication problems. Area models are a new concept to most of the students so here is a video that we all watched to help explain how to do an area model.
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On Friday Sept 25th Martell held their annual FUN Run fund raiser. Our class did amazing. I was so impressed with how many laps everyone completed. Here are some pictures of our run.
The students have been working with their math partners to help teach each other addition and subtraction.
As part of our reading lesson today we read the book The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. The book discusses the ways we can get "lost" in a book and how important it is to never stop reading. After the book we watched a video of the book. This video has no words so it would be great for you and your child to watch together and have them describe what is happening in the book. This year our class is working on reading one picture book a day. Picture books are a great way to teach fluency, expression and comprehension skills. Today we read Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna. This is a wonderful story about the power of our words and once we say something it is very hard to take it back. We discussed how to "seek first to understand, then to be understood." We also did the toothpaste activity. In groups the students had to empty a tube of toothpaste in a bowl, then try to put all of the toothpaste back in the tube using just a toothpick. The students got to see how easy our words come out, but how difficult they are to take back.
The students did such a wonderful job with their Wax Museum. This video includes each students' presentation.
Wax Museum from Jessica Mumaw on Vimeo. Homework:
1. What habit could you put in place to help this situation? 2. Write a headline for this picture. A few months ago the students did a writing unit on persuasive letters. The whole purpose for writing a persuasive letter is to make change. The students were allowed to write to anyone and on any topic they were passionate about. One student (Alexis) was particularly upset with the lack of lunch options available (namely pizza every Wednesday.) Alexis wrote a very detailed letter to the director of Food Services about how pizza every Wednesday is not the best option. The director, Gayle Moran was so impressed with Lexi's letter that she asked to come speak with our class about menu options. Last week Gayle and Julie Rankin (dietician)came and spoke with our class about what goes into making a menu for school lunches. The students learned about the food pyramid and portion size. Then the students got to vote on a meal that will appear on the March calendar. After much debate the winner was a "Taco Tuesday Bar" so be on the lookout when the March lunch calendar comes out.
For the last few weeks the students have been working on Non-Fiction Reading. We have gone over non-fiction text features and how to read for information. Each day the students have a reading task to complete. We have been working a lot with the Bloom's Ladders of understanding. The students are to go through the 6 levels of understanding and answer a question at each level. As the levels get higher the questions get harder. This really helps to see how much the students "understand" what they are reading.
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October 2015
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