There is Math homework tonight. It may prove challenging to 1st graders. Today we practiced with equivalent and non-equivalent expressions today. Tomorrow our Math workshop will reflect this concept.
In our content knowledge unit, we discussed the skeletal system. Key concepts:
In Writing today, we shared their editing and spelling strategies. Then some writers read their stories aloud to the class.
Math application problem:
There are 10 swings on the playground, and 7 students are using them. How many swings are empty?
So far, all of the application problems which have been turned in as homework have all been completed to the level of a score of 4.
Score for this application problem have been recorded to Schoology.
For our content knowledge unit, we discussed how the body is make up of organs which work together to complete a task, such as digestion, as part of a system. In the body, systems network togther. These are key concepts for the unit as well as key vocabulary.
For Visual Art, we practiced whole figure gesture sketching to show bodies in action. This will come in handy for future planning as part of the writing process.
Today in Writing, many students were ready to move on to the editing process with red pens. The first step was to make sure proper nouns and personal pronoun 'I' were capitalized. The next step was to circle any words which look like they may be misspelled. The third step was to apply spelling strategies to see if it was possible to come closer to the standard spelling of the misspelled words. Our spelling strategies are:
In Writing today, we revide the plot of our narrative. Our revision process was as follows:
In Writing today, we revised our settings. When revising in Room 11, we swith from using a black ink pen, to a blue one. Our revising process for today was simply to re-read and add any missing information that would help our reader to better undertand our setting.
Math Workshop application problem:
There were 10 bowling pins standing. Raquel knocked down some over; 7 were left standing. How many pins did she knock down?
Note about homework: hopefully parents are finding a few minutes each to follow our writing unit while their child watches their own writing processes. Homework in Math will become more regular as we make our way out of this first unit.
In Writing today, we added a closing to our narrative. A closing might express an overall impression of the memorable event (It was the best day ever!), or pose a question (What did YOU do on your 5th birthday?). A closing is NOT a change of scenery (Then, we went home.). A closing should not need a transition. Tomorrow the narratives will be collected and scored for completeness.
We completed the 3rd lesson in our violence prevention curriculum which explored the idea of perseverance.
In Social Science, we continued our study of past and present exploring a bit further differences in transportation and entertainment.
Today, in Writing, we added transitions between the sections (pages) of our narrative writing.
Today we had our 2nd lesson of our violence prevention/SEL studies. Today we learned about strategies to help ourselves stay focused.
Homework note: if homework is returned for any reason, if can be corrected and returned for credit.
In Writing today, we drafted the plot to our narratives. On page 2, we write a sentence which tells what happened. On page 3, we write one sentence telling what happened next.
We took some time to select a SMART goal per our school plan and hence WASC accreditation. Each child made a fluency goal selecting either math or reading.
In Writing today, we attempted our first drafting activity which was to draft the setting (page 1) of our narrative. The 1st page includes the information answering when, who, and where. For example: Last week, my dad and I went for a walk in the park.
Also for the first time today, we had our first written response to text activity.
In Writing on Friday, we carefully gave voice to our selected story through the process of touch-and-talk. We touch the planning area of the first page with our finger and tell the setting and characters in one sentence (when, where, and who: Last Friday, my family and I went to Target.). On the next page, we touch the planning area and tell what happened first (generally only one sentence). On the last page, we tell what happened next (generally only one sentence.)
Today in Writing, we planned our writing through the process of quick-sketching and labeling. It is emphasized that this is in no way an illustration to the story. We are simply making notes in the box as to what will be written on the page. We might use symbols or icons to outline our ideas. We do this for each of the 3 pages.
The rubric scores for our Math fluency quiz on Friday has been posted to Schoology. There is Math homework tonight.
In Social Science, we began our examination of the changes of things over time by comparing old photos to the present while listening to descriptions. We then made notes of differences we noticed.
For discussion at home:
In Writing today, we selected our memorable moment which will be the focus of our first story.
Parents should find their child's first Math fluency test in their homework folder. The number at the top will be the number correctly answered in 90 seconds. Our high score was a tie at 24.
In Science we began to explore how animals survive in their environment and continued to ask questions.
For drama, we are using our whole body to tell a patterned story.
In Writing today, we brainstormed people with whom and things with which we may have had memorable moments.
In Math, we practiced using all 5 models learned so far (Acting it Out, Model with 5, Number Bond, Ten Frame, and Equation). We also took our first Math fluency quiz today. Scores for this quiz will not be posted. We will go over the quiz tomorrow and it will be sent home with the number completed correctly in 90 seconds.There is Math homework today.
For music, we are reproducing simple rhythms using rhythms sticks.
In Writing today, we began the writing process by brainstorming. Our first brainstorming activity was to list settings (places) where we may have experienced one or more memorable events/moments. At home, continue to have your child tell stories orally from their memorable moments list. Today, parents can also brainstorm their own list of memorable morment settings.
In Language Arts, we discussed the difference between a phrase (2 or more words together forming an idea or concept but not a sentence) and a sentence. We practiced turning phrases into sentences, for example, the big blue bike.
For discussion:
