September 2019
Welcome back! We are off to a great start! Check here every month to see what is happening in our classroom. Here is this month's highlights:
Reading- Our first unit is is Living in Learning. Our focus is, "Which skills help us make our way in the world?" The skills we will cover this month are literary elements and sequence. There will be tests given at the end of every week.
Math- We start off the year covering the concepts of multiplication and division. The students will be understanding the concepts of these basic operations and what they mean. It would greatly benefit students to complete homework online. All of the tests will be taken online.
Writing- In the first trimester the students will be writing personal narratives. We have been brainstorming topics and are beginning our first drafts. They have lots of great ideas!
Social Studies- Our first unit is on map skills. This month we are learning how maps are made and how to use a map key.
Science- Weather and Climate is the first unit of the year. We will start by students different ecosystems and their plant life and wildlife.
Reading- Our first unit is is Living in Learning. Our focus is, "Which skills help us make our way in the world?" The skills we will cover this month are literary elements and sequence. There will be tests given at the end of every week.
Math- We start off the year covering the concepts of multiplication and division. The students will be understanding the concepts of these basic operations and what they mean. It would greatly benefit students to complete homework online. All of the tests will be taken online.
Writing- In the first trimester the students will be writing personal narratives. We have been brainstorming topics and are beginning our first drafts. They have lots of great ideas!
Social Studies- Our first unit is on map skills. This month we are learning how maps are made and how to use a map key.
Science- Weather and Climate is the first unit of the year. We will start by students different ecosystems and their plant life and wildlife.
October 2019
We are now into the second month of school and the students have settled into the classroom routines nicely! Here's what's happening this month:
Reading- We are continuing our first unit. The skills this month will focus on compare and contrast and author's purpose. We will also be reading some tall tales and comparing and contrasting them!
Math- The students have been introduced to the concept of multiplication and we are now learning the basic facts. Please make sure your child is doing Reflex Math every week. They are required to get three green lights a week. This will greatly help their fluency!
Writing- We are working on revising our personal narratives and making them better. The students will learn how to peer edit also.
Social Studies- Our class is learning about landforms this month and how to read a map scale. There will be a final map project where students will create a map of a town.
Science- The students are working on weather reports and presenting them to the class. Next we will be studying different climates.
Reading- We are continuing our first unit. The skills this month will focus on compare and contrast and author's purpose. We will also be reading some tall tales and comparing and contrasting them!
Math- The students have been introduced to the concept of multiplication and we are now learning the basic facts. Please make sure your child is doing Reflex Math every week. They are required to get three green lights a week. This will greatly help their fluency!
Writing- We are working on revising our personal narratives and making them better. The students will learn how to peer edit also.
Social Studies- Our class is learning about landforms this month and how to read a map scale. There will be a final map project where students will create a map of a town.
Science- The students are working on weather reports and presenting them to the class. Next we will be studying different climates.
November 2019
Even though there are many days off and have days this month, there is lots of learning happening! Here are the highlights for this month:
Reading- We are starting Unit 2- Smart Solutions. The question we will be focusing on is "What are smart ways problems are solved?" Skills focused on will be main idea and details and compare and contrast. We will also be reading a novel, Molly's Pilgrim, which will tie in to what we will be learning in Social Studies.
Math- Our topic on division will be finished this month and then we will review multiplication and division in topic 5. Please make sure your child is doing Reflex math at least 3 times a week. Everyone will be switched over to multiplication after Thanksgiving!
Writing- The students are publishing their personal narratives and then will be writing a persuasive letter from the point of view of a turkey giving reasons why they shouldn't become Thanksgiving dinner!
Social Studies- We completed our map unit by making maps of a fictional town. This month we will learn about the Pilgrims which will lead into our next unit on immigration.
Science- The last section of our weather unit will be covered this month- severe weather. We will be studying about different storms and how to protect ourselves. There will be a test and a study guide sent home for the end of the unit.
Reading- We are starting Unit 2- Smart Solutions. The question we will be focusing on is "What are smart ways problems are solved?" Skills focused on will be main idea and details and compare and contrast. We will also be reading a novel, Molly's Pilgrim, which will tie in to what we will be learning in Social Studies.
Math- Our topic on division will be finished this month and then we will review multiplication and division in topic 5. Please make sure your child is doing Reflex math at least 3 times a week. Everyone will be switched over to multiplication after Thanksgiving!
Writing- The students are publishing their personal narratives and then will be writing a persuasive letter from the point of view of a turkey giving reasons why they shouldn't become Thanksgiving dinner!
Social Studies- We completed our map unit by making maps of a fictional town. This month we will learn about the Pilgrims which will lead into our next unit on immigration.
Science- The last section of our weather unit will be covered this month- severe weather. We will be studying about different storms and how to protect ourselves. There will be a test and a study guide sent home for the end of the unit.
December 2019
December is a fun month filled with lots of holiday fun! The students have been practicing hard for our music performance coming up on December 13th. Hope you can make it! Here is this months highlights:
Reading- We are continuing Unit 2 looking at problems and solutions. The skills focused on are author's purpose and drawing conclusions. We will also be reading some holiday stories and practicing our skills with them!
Math- We are finally finished the topics on multiplication and division! Next up will be area. Multiplication will still be reviewed all year. Please make sure your child is getting their green lights for Reflex Math and practicing for the timed 50 Club quizzes.
Writing- We are doing many holiday writing activities and poetry this month. Next month we will start our next major writing project.
Social Studies- Our pilgrim unit led into our immigration unit. We are learning about the history of immigration and Ellis Island in particular.
Reading- We are continuing Unit 2 looking at problems and solutions. The skills focused on are author's purpose and drawing conclusions. We will also be reading some holiday stories and practicing our skills with them!
Math- We are finally finished the topics on multiplication and division! Next up will be area. Multiplication will still be reviewed all year. Please make sure your child is getting their green lights for Reflex Math and practicing for the timed 50 Club quizzes.
Writing- We are doing many holiday writing activities and poetry this month. Next month we will start our next major writing project.
Social Studies- Our pilgrim unit led into our immigration unit. We are learning about the history of immigration and Ellis Island in particular.
January 2020
Happy New Year! We are starting a new decade along with a new year! Now that the winter break is behind us, we have a fresh start of learning. Here is what's happening this month:
Reading- We are finishing unit 2, and will be starting the next one. Unit 3 is People and Nature. Our focus will be, "How are people and nature connected?" Skills that we will be learning are draw conclusions and literary elements.
Math- Topic 6 on area is finishing and now we will be moving on to addition and subtraction-multidigit. First we will be rounding to the nearest 10 and 100- a tricky concept! Please continue to work on Reflex math and master those multiplication facts!
Writing- We are starting on next major writing project- opinion essays. Students are brainstorming topics and we will begin drafting our essays this month.
Social Studies- The immigration unit is ending and next we will start our unit on Native Americans. First we will study the Delaware People from New Jersey.
Science- Our next unit will be on force and motion. We will start by learning about balanced forces.
Reading- We are finishing unit 2, and will be starting the next one. Unit 3 is People and Nature. Our focus will be, "How are people and nature connected?" Skills that we will be learning are draw conclusions and literary elements.
Math- Topic 6 on area is finishing and now we will be moving on to addition and subtraction-multidigit. First we will be rounding to the nearest 10 and 100- a tricky concept! Please continue to work on Reflex math and master those multiplication facts!
Writing- We are starting on next major writing project- opinion essays. Students are brainstorming topics and we will begin drafting our essays this month.
Social Studies- The immigration unit is ending and next we will start our unit on Native Americans. First we will study the Delaware People from New Jersey.
Science- Our next unit will be on force and motion. We will start by learning about balanced forces.
February 2020
Although February is the shortest month, we have lots of learning happening in room 208! Here is this month's highlights:
Reading- We are continuing with unit 3, doing lots of expository text reading. We are learning about graphic sources and making generalizations. We will also be reading a trade book for black history month about the underground railroad.
Math- This month we are starting our units on fractions! First we will be learning about the parts of a fraction and how to identify on a number line. We'll be doing some hands on activities to help us understand the concepts!
Writing- The students are finishing up their opinion essays, Next they will research a famous African American to write a report to present to the class.
Social Studies- Our class started our Native American unit. We are learning how the Delaware people lived long ago. We will learn about their food, clothing, homes, and government.
Science- We are learning about motion and Newton's laws. The class is conducting experiments on inertia!
Reading- We are continuing with unit 3, doing lots of expository text reading. We are learning about graphic sources and making generalizations. We will also be reading a trade book for black history month about the underground railroad.
Math- This month we are starting our units on fractions! First we will be learning about the parts of a fraction and how to identify on a number line. We'll be doing some hands on activities to help us understand the concepts!
Writing- The students are finishing up their opinion essays, Next they will research a famous African American to write a report to present to the class.
Social Studies- Our class started our Native American unit. We are learning how the Delaware people lived long ago. We will learn about their food, clothing, homes, and government.
Science- We are learning about motion and Newton's laws. The class is conducting experiments on inertia!
March 2020
March has arrived and it's coming in like a lamb! Nice warm spring temperatures for us. Students should still bring a jacket as it gets chilly in the morning and in the classroom. Here's what we're learning this month:
Reading- We are starting Unit 4 - One of a Kind. Our main question is "What does it mean to be unique?" Our stories will be lots of biographies and expository texts. The skills we will focus on this month are making generalizations, using graphic sources, and fact and opinion.
Math- Our study of fractions continues! Topic 13 is about finding equivalent fractions and comparing fractions with like numerators and denominators. Also fractions as whole numbers. Many students have already achieved their 100% on Reflex. Great job!
Writing- This month the students will be learning how to write a compare and contrast essay. This will be helpful when it's time for the NJSLA in the spring!
Social Studies- We are now studying the Native Americans of the Great Plains. We will be comparing them to what we learned about the Delaware Indians.
Science- Our unit on forces and interactions will be wrapping up this month. We are now learning about magnets and static electricity! Lots of fun, hands on lessons!
Reading- We are starting Unit 4 - One of a Kind. Our main question is "What does it mean to be unique?" Our stories will be lots of biographies and expository texts. The skills we will focus on this month are making generalizations, using graphic sources, and fact and opinion.
Math- Our study of fractions continues! Topic 13 is about finding equivalent fractions and comparing fractions with like numerators and denominators. Also fractions as whole numbers. Many students have already achieved their 100% on Reflex. Great job!
Writing- This month the students will be learning how to write a compare and contrast essay. This will be helpful when it's time for the NJSLA in the spring!
Social Studies- We are now studying the Native Americans of the Great Plains. We will be comparing them to what we learned about the Delaware Indians.
Science- Our unit on forces and interactions will be wrapping up this month. We are now learning about magnets and static electricity! Lots of fun, hands on lessons!