Literacy
*In the past week we have made the transition in our reading from primarily fiction texts to nonfiction texts. We are working on quoting accurately and comparing/contrasting characters and events within these nonfiction texts. We have begun practicing these skills by using shared reading text titled Rainforest Food Chains. The students have begun looking at various text features in this text and using them to help them locate evidence to support their thinking with question responses. This text is replete with vocabulary and we have been playing games to increase our knowledge and understanding of all of these new words!
Writing
*Students have completed their narratives and have now moved to expository writing. Students have been researching an ecosystem and using graphic organizers to classify their information. Students are then taking those plans and developing their essays focusing on organized, detailed information with transition words to help the flow of their writing. Ask your student to share information they have learned about the ecosystem they are researching and writing about! When we are completely finished next week, students will share them at home as well!
Math
*We are nearing the end of our second unit in math which focuses on fractions. The unit 2 targets includes addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators and solving fraction story problems. Students have completed two checkpoints on these targets, and are receiving instruction based on needs identified in those assessments. The end of unit assessment for these targets will be given next week, most likely on Tuesday. In number corner we've been weighing two carrots regularly in order to track the information on a double line graph. Our smaller carrot has lost a considerable amount of mass! Ask your student to describe its appearance! Yuck!
Science
*We are continuing our focus on understanding the characteristics of various ecosystems around the world. We have been creating our own food chains and food webs, and learning about the flow of matter in an ecosystem. Ask your student about how carbon dioxide, carbon, and oxygen flow through an ecosystem.
Social Studies
*We have started learning about indentured servitude and its effect on the colonial economy. We began by discussing colonization and the reasons people would choose to leave their homes in Europe to come to the “New World”. This lead to discussing the system of indentured servitude as a means of coming to the “New World” for those who could not afford passage on a ship. Students learned the effects of this system on the colonial economy and will begin to learn how this system lead to slavery in the colonies.
Word Their Way
*We have begun our work with our spelling/word study program called Words Their Way. District 96 utilizes this curriculum to implement spelling/word study. All students have access to a Spelling City account which has games tailored to your student's individual list. These games can be played at home too!
Family Educator Conference:
Please remember to sign up for a family educator conference using the link below. Conferences will be held November 19th and 20th.
Upcoming Events
October 23 (Tuesday): EARLY RELEASE DAY (Dismissal @ 2PM)
October 26 (Friday): PTO Movie Night, Grades 3-5 (6:30PM-8:00PM)
October 31 (Wednesday): Halloween - Parade @1:30PM/Party @2-2:45PM (Please see the principal’s message for more details)
November 1 (Thursday): Orchestra Demonstration Concert 7PM @ Twin Groves
November 6 (Tuesday): No School
November 9 (Friday): HALF DAY (Dismissal @ 11:45AM)
November 15 (Thursday): Family Reading Night (6:30PM-7:45PM)
Friendly Reminders
**Please remember to send your child with a healthy snack. Nothing feeds the brain like a healthy snack!
**Please continue to have your child practice their multiplication facts up to 12.
**As the months get chilly, it may be a good idea to have your child bring a sweater/light jacket to keep within the room.
**Please remember that students should be reading nightly and filling out their reading logs.
