Week 2

Math- This week we worked on forms of numbers including:
              Standard form: 23,532
              Expanded form: 20,000 + 3,000 + 500 + 30 + 2
              Word form: twenty three thousand, five hundred thirty two

Additionally, the students began rounding smaller numbers and reading larger numbers. Please have your child work on his/her multiplication facts at home. Flashcards are a great way to practice. You can often find these at the dollar store. There are also many apps and computer games that students can use to practice memorizing those facts. As I mentioned in the past, student will need to do the homework side of the math sheet at home each night. They will work on the remembering side in class. If a child does not finish the remembering side in class, the remaining problems will also need to be completed at home or during study hall.

Writing- Students continued to work on building their writing stamina. They drew maps of places that mean something to them and began to pinpoint stories from those places. They also wrote about their hopes and dreams for the future. These will be posted in the classroom for the remainder of the year next to their pictures.

Reading- Students also continued to work on building reading stamina this week. On Friday afternoon, we had a "read in" where students got to independent read and partner read all afternoon all while using comfy pillows and blankets. This week, we will begin our writers workshop units of study. We will be reading Tiger Rising as our class mentor text and students will begin to interpret characters.

Social Studies- This week, students will continue to work on learning where they live. They will be sending a post card to themselves at their address. We will also begin our first unit from Wisconsin: Our State, Our Story.  This unit focuses on thinking like a historian and analyzing artifacts from the past.

Jason Reynolds, author of Ghost visited our school on Friday. The kids thought he was very "cool" and some even got to have books signed.

The students are getting into the routines of our classroom. They do a great job of transitioning, lining up, and having meaningful conversations with partners. The class goal this week is to work on following directions quickly and efficiently.

Have a great week!