We've had a busy couple of weeks in the classroom, so let me get you up to date:
Reading : Recently, we've been working on fluency. We say that reading fluently is reading 'like a story teller.' Reading fluently is an important skill to master because it leads to deeper understanding of texts. (It also can be a good indicator as to how much one understands a text.) We've spoken about reading smoothly rather than like robots. We've also spoken about giving different characters different voices. One of the best ways for students to develop their fluency is for them to hear models of good fluency. When you read to your child, pay careful attention to use expression and good fluency when you read.
Writing : The students worked hard to publish their small moment pieces. I'm very impressed with the progress that 1-Bu writers have made so far this year. When we get back from break, we'll be working on a 'how to' unit. During this unit, the students will write books about 'how to' do various things (like tying a shoe, brushing your teeth, riding a bike, etc). Over break, think about tasks that your child is an expert at, as we will be creating a list of possible 'how to' topics when we get back.
Math : We wrapped up unit 3, which was all about number stories, and have moved on to unit 4. Unit 4 is about measuring and addition facts. So far, we've been focusing on measuring lengths. The students have had a lot of fun exploring different ways to measure with various objects.
Science : We wrapped up our weather unit by taking an in depth look at the water cycle. We did three investigations regarding the water cycle. The students observed cups of water over the course of a week and marked the level of the water each day so that we could tell some of the water was evaporating. The students were also curious if it was just water that evaporated, or if sugar could evaporate too (if it was in the water), so we set up an investigation for that. Finally, we used some hot water and ice to demonstrate condensation in bottles. The students had a lot of fun with these investigations. Ask your child about the three main parts of the water cycle. Have your child sing the Water Cycle song to you. Singing the song might help your child to recall some of those big words.
Here are some recent pictures of the students in the classroom :