Tuesday, October 15, 2013

October 15, 2013

Hi all,
I am hoping to have the students begin updating the classroom blog sometime next week, but until then, I thought I would provide you with an update. ELA has been quite full of quality learning and discussion! We have been busy learning about prefixes and word patterns during our Word Study blocks.  In Reading, we continue applying our nonfiction reading skills and the students are in the process of creating nonfiction brochures that incorporate various text and graphic features that they have learned about. In Writing, the students are beginning to develop mini-stories from their own and their classmate's lives to support a thesis statement for their Personal Essays. We have a wide variety of thesis statements this year, including ideas about sports, the environment, amusement parks, food, and pets.  The students are very engaged in this process.

In Social Studies, we are finishing up our study of the Vikings.  The students are writing "Viking Time Travel Reports" in which they pretend they have traveled back in time to the era of the Vikings and must report back on what they see, incorporating facts that they learned about. In Science, we have finished our unit on Variables and Pendulums and are beginning our study of types and forms of energy and how they transform from one to another.

Math has been quite exciting as the students are learning different ways to solve complex multiplication problems by using factors, multiples and area models.  Very soon, we'll begin using traditional algorithm and examining how area models and traditional algorithms are related.

Well, that's the update for you! Have a great week!

Mr. Weinstein

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