This Week Sept 15-19

I am sorry that I have not written this week. It has been crazy. I am looking forward to seeing all of you next week at conferences (parents and kids!). If you don't remember your day or time please drop me an email or check the calendar.

Here is a recap of the week...

Quick Read: This week we read about Ice Fishing. ***Do you remember what the machine is called that they use to put their fishing line in? What happens when something bites at the line?*** Need a different book to read at home? Visit www.raz-kids.com and read a new book and take a quiz.

Writing: This week everyone made a spider map about what a teacher does. The students wrote a rough draft, edited their papers and wrote final copies. I am looking forward to reading them this weekend. ***Tell you parents what you wrote about!***

Next week we are going to be writing letters to Christopher Columbus. But this week we learned all about the parts to a letter. ***Can you name the 5 parts of a letter? *** Want to write a letter online? Visit readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/ . It will walk you through all the parts of a letter.

Spelling: New words came home on Thursday. Visit www.spellingcity.com to type in your words and practice.

Reading and Social Studies: We have jumped right into learning about explorers. Monday we read about Christopher Columbus. ***Do you remember where he landed ... and where he thought he was? What did he call the people that lived there? Why did he call them that?*** Then on Wednesday we read about Vasco De Gama. He was trying to reach the same place as Columbus but he tried a different way. ***Do you remember which way he went?*** On Thursday we read about John Cabot. AGAIN, he was trying to get to the same place as Columbus and De Gama but he tried a 3rd way. How did he go? All of these men where trying to reach the same place. ***BUT WHY?? What was there that they wanted? Which explorer came closest to where they were going?*** Today we made a recipe box with a recipe for hardtack in it. Students had to put the directions in order. They did a great job! Want to learn about more explorers? Visit sf.factmonster.com/biography/explorers.html

Math: This we not an easy week of math but I KNOW that everyone is getting better at partial sums addition. We looked at rule boxes and reviewed fact triangles on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday we read different story problems and tried to organize our information into part-part-total boxes. Then on Thursday we learned about partial sums addition. It is a little different the the "Old Fashion Carrying" addition but it really helps kids understand why they are carrying numbers. On Friday we spent over an hour practicing the partial sums addition. I think the kids are really getting it. Today an extra credit addition worksheet came home for over the weekend. Each problem that is completed and brought back Monday is worth 10 extra credit points! Good Luck!!!

435
+372
------
700
100
7
------
807

Need some help on this? Visit http://www.swsd.k12.pa.us/baresvle/MathMaterials/powerpoints/partial_sums.pps#256,1,Partial Sums . This power point will walk you through the whole process.

Grades have been updated online and student work will be given out at conferences. See you all next week and have a great weekend!

Miss T :)