Perhaps it was the full week after a short holiday week, or the full moon on Sunday, or the winter blues beginning to set it (w/ the accompanied sniffles). But many students, including myself are just a bit off it seems. We will push through. Please note, it is very, very important for you to send gym shoes to school with your child. Many kids are sitting out of P.E. because they only have winter boots. Please send them in (and think about keeping a pair in their lockers too). Thanks. Here's the latest...
Language We are reading more books about animals, specifically harbor seals and kangaroo joeys. Students are asked to talk about what they know about the animals and what things they wonder about them too. While reading, partners will periodically share their thoughts. We will continue to review the different text features found in informational text too. Writer's Workshop This week we will be wrapping up the first leg of our opinion papers. Students have been busy at work writing about their favorite part of a collection they own. Pokemon cards are the topic de jour, as well as shells, rocks and coins. Students are writing at least three reasons why this special part of their collection is the best, and explaining why with details. We are reviewing our capitalization and punctuation as well. Math Addition and subtraction with teen numbers are the name of the game. We are using story problems to identify whether or not the problem is looking for an unknown total or unknown partner. We are using the Daily 3 method as well, and the kids are getting used to its independent nature and freedom of choice. Their number scrolls are growing each day as well as their number sense. Science This week we will be learning all about the sun. Specifically what types of patterns does the sun have/show? We will be discussing shadows, times of sunrise/sunset, and how different a day in the winter looks than a day in the summer. We will also learn some fun facts about the sun too. Miscellaneous -Thanks for those paper towel tubes. I only need one more! And thanks for those box tops too. -We will be going on a field trip next Monday. I haven't had a chance to count all the permission slips yet, but if you have not already, please get the form and payment to me by Friday latest. Additionally, I am in the process of finding out how many chaperones I can take. I will email those of you who are interested as soon as I find out the number. Thanks. -Parent visitation is this Friday. Please come by any time. However, please note: *Read Principal Ruffino's letter that was sent home. It will be a normal day. No pictures, no cellphone use, and if you would like to visit another parent, do so in the library. *Lunch begins at 10:50. Recess lasts until 11:35. FYI. * Reading and Library will be held in the morning. Math, Social Studies and Writing in the afternoon. -Conferences are coming up in a few weeks. Please sign up when you get a chance. I would love to meet with every one of you. If you would like to skip this conference for any reason, please let me know via phone/email. Thanks. That's all for now. I'll repost if necessary. Take care, ~Mr. Layes
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It was called to my attention that there were some date discrepancies in my reading letter last week. Please use the list of words that start with 'very' and 'time' for this week. My apologies.
~Mr. Layes Important reminder! Two pieces of information went home this week, both which need to be read and possibly replied to:
-Our field trip form went out and we need parental signatures and $7 before next Friday. -A blue letter detailing next Friday's Parent Visitation Day. Please read it carefully if you plan on coming. Return the lunch form if you will be eating lunch with us. We take lunch at 10:50 on Fridays. -We still desperately need more empty paper towel rolls for our math scrolls. Send one in if you remember. I think that is all. Thanks everybody! ~Mr. Layes It was downright balmy today, with a nice dusting of snow on the ground. No wind, and beautiful snowflakes fallen gently to the earth. Much better than the frigid temps we were getting this weekend. Anyhoo, I hope everyone enjoyed their MLK holiday, and took a moment to reflect with their children the importance of equality and other important values this important man preached. Here's the latest...
Language This week we will be learning more about animals and animal groups. Specifically, we will learn about elephants and how baby elephants grow up. Some fun facts we learned is that a baby elephant can suck their trunk like a baby sucks its thumb, and that adolescent elephants prefer one tusk to the other like right vs. left-handed people. We are using visualizations to imagine how big elephants are, and reviewing non-fiction text features. Writer's Workshop Opinions!!! We introduced what an opinion is and how to write an opinion and give reasons to back it up. We will be playing several games to get them started (favorite pet, food, specials, etc.) We will begin writing this week around collections and picking our favorite piece from our collection and writing about why it's the best (sea shell, action figure, book, etc.) Later in the unit we will cover what it means to be persuasive with their writing. Math We began Unit 5 this week. We are using teen numbers to add, subtract and solve story problems. Our differentiation coach helped me introduce Daily 3 (like our Daily 5 during language), but for math. The kids are now becoming more independent with their time, choosing activities in a center based system. I still work with whole group instruction, but give more support to those who need it during the day. I am also giving more specific choices for the kids on iPads that align with that days' lesson. Long story short, the kids are more engaged and working in smaller groups. Science We are discussing the types of objects that a person can see in the sky, both during the day and at night. We are also talking about the patterns that some of those objects make over the course of a day, month or year. We made a great list that even included birds migration and lunar/solar eclipses. We watched a video on constellations and how Orion was named from Greek myth. The kids are so excited about space, and I'm trying to field as many questions as possible, even though it is hard for them (and myself) to truly understand how vast space is. Miscellaneous -Enrichment begins next Monday. If you received a pink envelope on Tuesday this week, then you are signed up. Sign ups are now closed. -Parent Visitation Day is next Friday the 29th. A letter will be coming home soon about this important day -We are going to be going to the Adler Planetarium for a field trip on Monday, February 1st. The cost is $7, and permission slips will be going home this week. -I still need more empty paper towel rolls. If you have any, send them in. Thx. -Family fun night at Jump Zone tonight from 6-8. Sponsored by the PTA. Love 'em. That's all for now. I'll try to post some more pics soon. ~Mr. Layes We are continuing writing numbers in our math scrolls, and several of my students still need a paper towel roll in order to roll their sheet up with. I collected almost enough for everyone, but we're still about six shy. If any of you remember or have a one or two lying around, could you please donate an empty paper towel roll to our classroom? Thanks.
~Mr. Layes |
AuthorMr. Layes hails from the Pacific NW, cut his teeth on the streets of NYC, and now calls the Midwest... home. Archives
September 2017
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