December 8, 2018 Update...

Hi Parents,

Thanks for visiting today!  We had a very busy last two weeks!  So busy, I haven't updated the blog in two weeks!  Check out below to find out what we've been doing and make sure to update your calendar with our important events coming up this month...

Phonics/Grammar:  We learned how to punctuate dialogue when the speech tag comes before, in the middle of the quote, or after.  We also learned the difference between a simple and a compound sentence and how to use correct conventions when writing both.  We have been focusing on words with suffixes for the last two weeks as well.

Writing:  We finished our informational chapter book on the topic of our own choosing. We focused this past week on adding important nonfiction text features to add to the information, such as a table of contents, a glossary, pictures and captions, and headings and subheadings.  We will begin a new informational chapter book on gorillas next week.  We have been reading articles and watching documentaries in order to research this topic. We've been taking notes as well, to prepare for our writing.

Reading: We finished The One and Only Ivan.  We looked closely at challenging vocabulary and used context clues to decode these words.  We also looked at character traits of the characters and studied how complex these characters can be, displaying both positive and negative characteristics.  We read several articles on gorillas and identified main ideas and supporting details by creating an outline (boxes and bullets).  We read independently and with partners to  practice our oral reading fluency.

Math:  We completed our unit on Area, looking at how we can determine an unknown side length when given one side and the total area.  We worked on the "analyzing" step when completing two step word problems involving all four operations.  We learned several games to help us practice our multiplication facts.  Remember, we will begin timed multiplication quizzes after the first of the year. Please encourage your child to practice these facts every night.

Class News and Announcements...

We did an amazing job collecting money for our Kemp Giving Tree activity.  We were able to get two more paw  prints  off  the tree.  I shopped on Friday, along with some student helpers and we purchased a winter jacket, a sweatshirt and pants, two arts and craft items, a Lego building set, and a Nerf gun!  

Congratulations to Taylor Gitonga who participated in the Cobb County Reflections Contest. She entered two different items. We are so proud of her!

Don't forget to send in a NEW, WRAPPED chapter book (not a graphic novel, please) for our book exchange on December 20th.  Please write "from (child's name)" on the outside of the book.  If you need to look up a book's Lexile level to ensure it is between 650 and 850, you can go to Lexile.com and enter the title.  

We are still accepting stocking stuffers if you haven't sent anything in yet!  Hank the Elf would greatly appreciate any items you can provide!

If your child attends Target with Mrs. Dorsey, classes will pick back up after the first of the year.  The teachers are working on testing children for eligibility beginning  in the new year.