We had another GREAT week. We have been working very hard! In math this week, we moved into more challenging multiplication. Students solved multiplication word problems using a variety of strategies. We learned how to use starter problems, and visualize multiplication using arrays! Today, we reviewed how to estimate before multiplying. This helps students make sure their answers are reasonable. Next, we will be learning the various algorithms for multiplication (two digit by one digit). In writing this week, we learned from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech to learn some craft. We all tried his strategy of repeating lines to make a powerful message. Then, we moved on to editing our writing for proper capitalization. We made a list by looking at books in our desks and thinking, "When do real author's capitalize?" We are really looking forward to celebrating our writing next week! As readers, we have been navigating non-fiction text, and specifically identifying non-fiction features and how they help us. We went on a scavenger hunt through some ecosystem books to summarize different features we found and how they help us as readers. Then, we all read some TFK articles, and cut and pasted one feature that we felt really helped us understand the text better. Then, we described how it helped in words. Last, as scientists we have been discussing ecosystems and what defines an ecosystem. Students have been sorting some cards and identifying, "Is that really an ecosystem?" We kept going back to the definition: An ecosystem is an environment where biotic and abiotic things interact with one another." We had some "friendly debates" about certain items (a moldy sandwich/an abandoned lot). Ask your child what they think about these: are they ecosystems or not? Why? Have a great weekend! |
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June 2015
Author4th Grade Teacher, Jessica Nastasi Categories |