It's been an excited week at Quincy Elem., as student's had a costume parade and Halloween parties in their classrooms. In the Resource Room, we had a short celebration with cupcakes, and Halloween activities (i.e. multiplication math pumpkin, Halloween math bingo and create your own pumpkin creation. We were going to write short paragraphs to go with the pumpkin creation but ran out of time due to the Book Fair.)
Here's what we're working on in class:
PHONICS/SPELLING:
* 4th graders are participating in activities to help them learn to read and spell words with beginning blends (2 consonants that are stuck together but you can still hear both sounds. ie. br, pl, st, tw)
* 5th graders are participating in activities to help them learn to read and spell words with 3-letter beginning blends (3 consonants that are stuck together but you can still hear both sounds. ie. str-, spr-, spl- scr-)
READING:
Both 4th and 5th graders are learning about informational text structures (descriptive text, sequential text, compare/contrast text, & problem-solution text). We've been reading examples of these types of text. We are also using the SQ3R strategy to help us better understand what we are reading about. I encourage you to use this strategy AT HOME when reading informational books or articles.
S= Survey the text for special features (headings, pictures, captions, maps, graphs, fact boxes, etc.)
Q= Questioning: look at each heading or subheading and turn it into a question.
R= Read one paragraph or section at a time.
R= Remember was was important about that section by highlighting or jotting down notes.
R= Review your notes when you're done and study for a quiz.
Also, I am conferencing with students weekly and listening to them read. After listening I tell them what they are doing well on and give them a goal and strategy to work on for the week. We write this on a post-it note and they keep it inside their reading folder. I use the acronym CAFE to discuss the qualities of a good reader. (C= comprehends, A= accurately reads, F=fluently reads, E=expanding vocabulary). Most students are currently working on "A" (reading accurately). Then I give them strategies to read more accurately. For example: 1. Skip the word, read to the end of the sentence, then go back and try the hard word again. 2. Cover up the suffix ending and try it. Ask your child what strategy they are currently working on!
WRITING:
After reading an informational text written in one of the above text structures (descriptive, sequential, compare/contrast, or problem-solution) I model for students how I would write a paragraph. Last week students wrote a sequential paragraph about a topic of their choice. This week they are practicing writing a descriptive paragraph on the same topic. For example, I am writing about Golden Retrievers. For the sequential paragraph, I wrote a How-to paragraph about how to teach a Golden Retriever to do the "nose trick". This week for the descriptive paragraph, I'm describing 3 different important ideas about Golden Retrievers. 1. What they look like 2. Tricks they can do 3. Why they make good family pets.
To write our paragraphs, we are using the "Stop Light Strategy". Green means "go" and write your topic sentence. Yellow means "slow down" and give a detail. Red means "stop" and tell more about that detail or give examples. Students are writing their paragraph and then using colored pencils (green, yellow, red) to color code their sentences. Next up, we will revise and edit these paragraphs to include better word choice, transition words, etc.
MATH:
Both 4th and 5th graders work on "Daily Math". Each day we start our time together with a quick review problem. Monday= adding, subtraction of whole numbers or decimals. Tues.= multiplication Wed.= division Thurs.= time, money and/or fractions Friday= make up day or game day.
We also work on multiplication math facts for fluency and problem solving or word problems.
4th Grade: in their general education classes, students are working on Unit 3. I am reteaching and reviewing important concepts during our time together such as addition and subtraction in word problems. Also, we are working on writing addition and subtraction equations using <, >, =.
5th Grade: in their general education classes, students are finishing up Unit 3. I a reteaching and reviewing important concepts such as adding and subtracting decimals to the thousandths place. Also students are constructing and interpreting graphs. Tomorrow (Friday) is testing day and they will take the test in my classroom so I can read it aloud. I will keep you informed of their progress/achievement.
WHAT ELSE?
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held Nov. 19 & 20 from 2:00-8:00. Next week you will receive confirmation of your 20 minute time slot. I will be AT the conference with your child's general education teacher. Please let me know if you would like to schedule a separate conference.
Have a great weekend! GO BLUE!
~Sarah Beckham
