Math: Orange Group: The children in the orange group continue to make their way through Unit 9. In this unit the children have been working on their multiplication and division skills. Last week they learned how to solve multiplication problems using the partial-products method and this week they were introduced to lattice multiplication. They have also been learning how to solve a variety of word problems using division. Throughout this unit, the children have needed to use the basic multiplication facts. If your child is still having trouble with these basic facts, it would be beneficial for you to help him/her with these at home.
Blue Group: The students in the blue group just ended our unit on measurement last week, and have begun Unit 10 which focuses on decimals and place value. Place value is a very significant concept for children to master.
Students can easily confuse and misrepresent numbers if they don’t have a strong foundation of place value. We have spent much time this week discussing the significance of the “0” as a place holder, as the number 98 is much different than 908. Some “do anytime activities” for this unit include counting coins to use dollar and cents notation for place value and decimals, writing out 4 digit numbers to have your child identify the place value of each digit, and having your child practice using a calculator to add up and check a grocery receipt.
Reading: Our play Character Matters has become our main focus in reading this month. The two classes have been getting together on a daily basis to practice and review the script and songs. We have been impressed with how well the children are learning the songs and their lines. We sent home copies of lines and songs that your child has in the play this week. The more practice your child has in reciting his/her lines, the more comfortable he/she will be on stage. Everyone is very excited to share our hard work with you on May 23rd!
The children continue to read “just right” books of their choosing during independent reading and both classes are quite absorbed in the world of Gone-Away Lake. The books have us dreaming of summer and long lazy days by the water.
Writing: Our phonics word study has taken us to the world of abbreviations. Students enjoyed learning what words many of our commonly used abbreviations come from, and also enjoyed playing a lotto game using these abbreviations.
Our whole school was thoroughly entertained by children’s author Marty Kelley this past Tuesday morning. Kelley shared a variety of his writing samples and illustrations with us. He left us with a lasting message of how he goes through the writing process, and his continued effort in editing and changing his work. This first hand information hopefully made lasting impressions in our developing writers’ minds as they work their way through the writing process.