New FCAT Information: Success Measures

This new resource, called Success Measures will provide parents and students with information on what is being taught and tested in our classrooms.

Log on today to learn more about:

•       The materials students will be learning.

•     When and how students will be tested.

•     Why our assessment program is changing.

 

Try these three easy steps to learn more:

STEP # 1 Go to www.fldoe.org/successmeasures.

STEP # 2 Select a grade level and school year

STEP # 3 Submit the course(s) in Reading/Language

Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,

Health or Physical Education

Holiday Celebration

Our class will celebrate the winter holidays by having a Holiday Extraganza on Friday, December 17, 2010. I'm asking that parents send in items such as chips, cookies, Capri Suns, candy canes, hot dogs, hot dog buns, pizza, chicken wings, debbie snacks, marshmillows, and hot chocolate. Please send in the uncooked items prior to December 15, 2010. All parents are more than welcome to attend. Thank you for all that you do to assist in making your child's educational experience a fantastic one.

Lessons Learned December 6-10

Reading:
Our reading focus skill is Author's Purpose. Author's write for various reasons. The four main reasons that author's write text is to Persuade, Inform, Entertain, or to Describe.

Persuade: Trying to get readers to do something, buy something, or believe something
Inform: Tells how to do something, gives important information and facts about a person, place or thing
Entertain: Tells a personal story, tells something funny or sad, or used to teach a lesson
Describe: Provides several descriptive details about a person, place or thing

We are also Reading the story, The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg. Chris Van Allsburg is our fourth grade author study. Therefore, we will be reading and studying many of his books.

Writing:
In writing we continue to work with narrative prompts. We finished our study on dialogue so we can now properly include conversations in our stories. We have now begun to focus on formatting our writing into 5 paragraph essays, expository writing.

5 Paragraph Expository Format:
P1: Engaging beginning - Restate the topic in your own way and state three reasons why ______ ...
P2: Transition word, explain your first reason providing vivid details
P3: Transition word, explain your second reason providing vivid details
P4: Transition word, explain your third reason providing vivid details
P5: Transition word, engaging ending, restate the topic, add feelings and connections
Along with expository writing, we've also began working with report writing. We practiced our skills on writing reports by completing short reports on animals. We used geographic magazines to research inofrmation on various animals. Additionally, each student chose a famous African American Poet to research for their report writing published piece.

Math: 
In math we have continued to work in chapter 13 with fractions. However, we have also been reviewing concepts discussed in previous chapters. We reviewed place value,  rounding, double digit subtraction and addition with regrouping, and our multiplication tables.
We have also learned two different strategies (standard algorithm and the box method) on how to multiply double, triple, and quadruple digit numbers.
***Parents please help your children practice their basic math facts: addition, subtraction, mulitplication and division.***

Real Men Read - Polar Express

TOMORROW, Wednesday, December 1, 2010 parents are invited to join our class for our Polar Express pajama event at 10:00 am. We will be having a guest reader come read The Polar Express for Biltmore's second real men read event.

Students are allowed to wear a two piece (flannel or cotton pant and shirt) pajama set with tennis shoes to school. 

Hope to see you there! 

Lessons Learned Nov 15 - 23

We are back after a nice long Thanksgiving break. We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

The last two weeks we have been working on...

Reading:
We finished up our story A Very Important Day and moved into our current theme's genre focus plays. During our center rotations we work with reader's theater short script plays frequently. Also, in our textbook we have been reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. In addition to working with plays, we have also been studying the focus skill compare and contrast.

Writing:
To go along with our study of plays, in writing we have been focussing on adding dialogue into our narrative stories. We have spent a lot of time working with mature vocabulary to replace said, because "said is dead" and is no longer welcome in our writing. We have also spent a lot of time practicing the correct format for writing the dialogue we want to include.

Dialogue Format:

( .) Imperative or declarative sentences:
" Put what the person is saying in the quotation marks - don't forget a capital letter," said word person who said the quote add some detail .
Example:
"Push in your chair when you get up," stated Ms. Cribb with a soft but serious tone.

(?) Interrogative Sentences:
"Put what the person is asking in the quotation marks - don't forget a capital letter?"  said word person who asked the question add some detail.
Example:
"Did you enjoy the field trip to the Cummer Museum?" questioned Jayla as she stepped off the bus.

(!) Exclamatory Sentences:
"Put what the the person is saying in quotation marks - don't forget a capital letter!" said word person who said the quote add some detail .
Example:
"Help!" screamed the little girl as the dog chased her down the street.

During the time we spent working on dialogue Mrs. Bridges also took us to the computer lab and we learned how to make PowerPoint slideshows. We used PowerPoint to create dialogue story slideshows.

Math:
We have been working on equivalent fractions the last two weeks in math.

Science:

We just completed a mini unit working with magnets.

Social Studies:

Recently Ms. Cribb taught a wonderful lesson on the first people of Florida. The lesson followed along with Chapter 2 in our social studies textbook. As a class we created a Florida Flipbook. Working in small groups, each group designed a book page about a particular tribe of Native Americans in Florida.

In social studies we have also started working in Chapter 3 of our textbook, studying European settlers coming to Florida.

Spelling Words Week of Nov 15-19

1. wait
2. until
3. party
4. where
5. ever
6. birthday
7. tomorrow
8. later
9. together
10. whispered
11. asked
12. stated
13. muttered
14. screamed
15. yelled
16. scolded
17. shouted
18. replied
19. questioned
20. every
21. babbled
22. called
23. mumbled
24. added
25. called
26. answered

Story of the Week Nov 8-12

The story of the week this week is A Very Important Day by Maggie Rugg Herold.

Story Summary: November 25th is the day that 219 people will take the oath of allegiance to the United States and become citizens. The focus of this multicultural narrative is the naturalization ceremony, which brings the 12 families introduced in the previous pages together in celebration of this momentous event.

The target skill for the week is categorize and classify. This story introduces many different characters from many different places. If students categorize and classify the many characters and countries named in the story it will help them understand the plot.

The strategy focus of the week is questioning. It is important to ask yourself questions while reading to make sure you understand the full extent of the story.

The focus skill of the week is compare and contrast. It is important that students understand how to relate and differentiate between multiple stories. Author's tend to make connections with other existing stories both intentionally and unintentionally.

First Nine Weeks Awards

Congratulations to the following students for excelling during the first nine weeks of school!

A-B Honor Roll: 

Mya Harris-Lee

Caleb Smith

Perfect Attendance:

Jayla Davis

Stevie Lee

Traci Newton

Caleb Smith

Conduct:

Pricess Benton

Mikaya Collins

Jayla Davis

Nahjibah Finney

Mya Lee-Harris

Tamerick Johnson

Stevie Lee

Ca'Sharah Mills

Charlea Mills

Argentina Newman

Traci Newton

Johntez Sims

Caleb Smith

Most Improved:

Jayla Davis

Pricess Benton

Tamerick Johnson

Also, GREAT JOB to all our previous Students of the Month:

September: Jayla Davis

October: Tamerick Johnson

November: Charlea Mills

Lessons Learned Nov 1-5

Reading:

This week we have been reading the story The Boss of the Plains by Laurie Carlson. This story is about how John Stetson became famous for creating the western hat, the boss of plains; today we know this hat as the cowboy hat. The story describes Stetson's journey through life including his shining moments and challenges faced on his road to becoming a famous hat maker. The target skill of the week was making generalizations. By making generalizations during reading we are analyzing the text which help with connection and comprehension. The strategy focus of the week was summarizing key events. If students can summarize a story in their own words, it shows clear understanding of the story. Finally, the focus skill of the week was cause and effect relationships. We have been working for two weeks on mastering this skill.

Writing:

During writing this week we continued to focus on engaging beginnings and great attention grabbers to pull the reader in. We completed activities both on how to identify the attention grabbers author's use in story beginnings as well as how to write our own. We also focused on editing strategies and what to look for when reviewing a writing piece. On Wednesday students completed an "on demand" writing prompt about a magic carpet ride; on Thursday they went back and self evaluated their writing before it was officially scored.

Mathematics:

In calendar math this week we wrapped up the skills discussed during the month of October. We reviewed the different types of triangles and their characteristics.  We discussed fractions, including how to convert from improper fractions to mixed numbers, as well as concepts of measurement, and how they relate. Students completed multiple fraction worksheets both in class and for homework to help in mastering this skill. Also, we continued to discuss decimals through concepts and characteristics relating to money. The Publix Activity homework assignments students completed helped build on this skill.

In math, we also continued to review our basic facts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Successful mathematicians are quick calculators. 

Homework Week of Nov 1-5

Monday: Complete Publix "Sorting Groceries" activity. Complete "Cause and Effect" FCAT worksheet. Complete math fractions worksheet.

Tuesday: Complete Publix "Grocery Mathematics" activity. Complete the poetry worksheet "Nest Eggs."

Wednesday: Complete Publix "Sorting Groceries" activity (part 2). Writing prompt. Study spelling words.

Reading:
1) determined
2) opportunity
3) frontier
4) wranglers
5) adventurers

Writing:
1) believe
2) favorite
3) teacher
4) principal
5) subject
6) recess
7) cafeteria
8) library
9) office
10) champion

Thursday: Complete Publix "Buying Groceries" activity. Complete Scholastic worksheet "American Indians in the U.S."

Friday: Complete Publix "Making Dinner" activity. Complete FCAT practice packet.

Lessons Learned Oct 18-29

We have recently completed a lot of testing. Last week we had our second district writing prompt, reading PMA's, and math PMA's (progress monitoring assessment).

Hats off to Lender Processing Services Inc. (our classroom sponsor), they hosted a wonderful Halloween party for the entire fourth grade on October 29, 2010.  Thank you so much! We enjoyed everything!

Reading:
In reading we finished working with the story Tomas and the Library Lady, as well as read Tanya's Reunion. We completed a variety of activities that accompanied both stories in our center rotations. During our reading time we also focused on the standard of main idea, noting details, sequencing and making inferences. It is important we master this standard because these are key skills for every subject.

On Wednesday, October 27, Biltmore Elementary held its annual Vocabulary Parade. Pre-K - 2nd grade held their parade at 9:30 am, and 3rd- 5th grade held their parade at 1:30 pm. During this event students and faculty dressed up as their favorite book characters and created unique vocabulary posters to celebrate literacy and students wealth of knowledge.


Writing:
In writing we focussed on including great attention grabbers into our papers. We also spent time reviewing punctuation and onomatopoeia.

We continued working on our personal books (the writing piece we will be getting published). Over the last two weeks we have worked to finish our rought draft, and begin the editing process.

Math:
In Math we continued working in chapter three. We continued at perfecting our multiplication tables, as well as work with division, and basic fractions.

Social Studies/Science:
On October 21, we took a field trip to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. During our visit we viewed famous works of art about Florida, roamed the gardens to discover and discuss different types of plants and pollinators, explored the hands-on interactive area, and painted our own landscape art.

(One of the pictures we viewed on our trip)

Story of the Week Oct 11 -15

This weeks story of the week is Tomas and the Library Lady. This weeks comprehension skill is sequence of events; the stratey focus is predicting. We will also continue working with determining the main idea and supporting details.

Literacy Lessons Learned Oct 4 - 8

Reading:

In reading this week we studied our genre focus on mysteries. We read two stories from the reading textbook, The Case of the Earthenware Pig, and The Sticks of Truth.  We used these stories to complete a mini unit on the ingredients of a mystery.  We discussed the elements that all mystery stories have in common, and completed a reader's theater where the student's got to "play" detective. Friday we completed our mysteries genre test, relating to the stories and concepts we covered.

Also, in reading this week we worked with the standard of main idea. We all want to become stronger readers, so practicing decoding the main idea or central theme of the story will help us master that skill.  

We also, began our Book-it reading challenge "Race to Save the Words." Book-it is a reading program that rewards students for meeting their reading goals. Each month there is a 25 book challenge. For every student that meets their 25 book goal, they receive a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. "The Race to Save the Words" challenge is a separate activity the Book-it program created to get students excited about reading. Each week there is a new challenge that students must complete in order to get from Planet A to Planet Z on their classroom game board.
This weeks challenge was to load our rocket. We had to proceed around the class and have each student name an object they could bring on the rocket, starting with letter A continuing through until Z. 

Writing: 

In writing this week we kept with the mystery theme and planned and wrote our own narrative, mystery stories.

We also worked on our writing skills, and ways to enhance our writing papers. We discussed juicy color words and completed multiple in class activities for practice.

Homework Oct 4 - 8

Monday: Complete "Planning Your Mystery" work sheet.
Tuesday: Complete the poetry worksheet "How to Eat a Poem."
Wednesday: Writing prompt: write your own mystery, (based on your planning sheet completed on Monday). Study your spelling words.

Reading spelling words:
1). criminal
2). detective
3). evidence
4). suspense
5). solution

Thursday: Complete the scholastic worksheet "A Look at Waste"
Friday: TBA

Story of the Week Oct 4 - 8

In Reading this week we are studying our genre focus on mysteries. The genre focus consists of two reading selections in the reading textbook: The Case of the Earthenware Pig, and The Sticks of Truth. These stories can be found on pages 138-146 in the textbook. We will continue to focus on all the strategies we have discussed, predicting, questioning, and monitor/clarify, while also building background on the concepts/elements of mystery stories.

Lessons Learned Sep 27 - Oct 1

Reading:

In Reading this week we were working with the story By the Shores of Silver Lakes by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We completed different reading activities within our centers that helped with the strategy focus of questioning, as well as continued practice on text features and organization.

On Thursday we celebrated "Real Men Read," and had a guest reader, Mr. Denson, read to our class.

Social Studies:

In Social Studies this week we continued studying the geography of Florida. We finished working in chapter one lesson one and completed the accompanying workbook pages. We also, reviewed our map skills studied in previous weeks.

Writing:

In Writing this week we continued working with narrative stories.

Every student is going to recieve the opportunity to publish their own book. The students will work through the process of writing a book, visiting all stages of writing: planning, writing, reviewing/editing, re-writing, re-editting, final drafting, and illustrating their stories. The books the students are writing can be on any topic and in any format. We began planning for the book writing this week. The students created writing folders with pages similar to that of the final draft. Each student recieved a planning page and began working with their story.

Math:

In Math we have been working on perfecting our multiplication facts. We have been discussing the different properties of multiplication: distributive property of multiplication, identity property of multiplication, commutative property of multiplication, and zero property of multiplication.

Zero Property of Multiplication: the product of any number and zero is zero.  Example: 2 x 0 = 0

Commutative Property of Multiplication: [Also known as order property] two numbers can be multiplied in any order and the product will be the same. Example: 2 x 3 = 6  and 3 x 2 = 6.

Identity Property of Multiplication: [ Also known as property of one] the product of any number and one is that number.

Example: 1 x 7 = 7,  1 x 3 = 3, 1 x 6 = 6

Distributive Property of Multiplication: [Also known as grouping property] breaking apart facts into simpler problems to find the product.
Example: 4 x 6 = (4x 3) + (4 x 3) = 24 ; You break apart the 6 into smaller numbers (3 + 3) to make the multiplication easier.

Homework Sep 27 - Oct 1

Monday: Come see Chris K. Soentpiet at Biltmore for our literacy night.
Tuesday: Complete the poetry worksheet "Elf and Dormouse"
Wednesday: Complete the writing prompt. Study your spelling words.
     Spelling words:                         
          1. conductor                        
          2. depot                               
          3. jolting                               
          4. lurching
          5. satchels
    
     Writing words:
          1. pretty
          2. friend
          3. morning
          4. evening
          5. beginning
          6. went
          7. tomorrow
          8. afternoon
          9. mother
          10. father
          11. sister
          12. brother
          13. aunt
          14. uncle
          15. cousin
          16. teacher
          17. school
          18. student
          19. principal
          20. classroom

Thursday: Complete the Scholastic worksheet "American Indians in the U.S."
Friday: FCAT Reading packet

Story of the Week Sep 27- Oct 1

The story of the week is By the Shores of Silver Lake. This story is on pages 110-126 in the reading textbook. The strategy focus of the week is questions. As students read, they should ask questions about what they see and think to help them better understand the story. The comprehension skill for the week is noting details. Understanding the major and minor details of a story allows the reader to better understand the theme or main idea of a story or selection.

Lessons Learned Sep 20- 24

Reading:
In Reading this week we worked with the story Finding the Titanic. We completed an outline following the story structure listing the main idea and supporting details of each section. We also, practiced with the strategy of the week monitor/clarify during our reading.

We continued to work with the standard relating to understanding text features. Text features are pieces of information included throughout the pages of reading selection or story. Text features help the reader to better understand the story. Examples of text features include: pictures, bold print words, highlighted words, italicized words, sub-headings, captions, footnotes, maps, etc...

Writing:
In writing this week we continued to work on narrative writing. We discussed the topic of self motivation and completed an "on demand" writing. This week in writing we also took our first official writing words spelling test on fifteen commonly mispelled words during prompt writing.

Social Studies:
In Social Studies this week we began chapter one from the textbook beginning studies on the geography of Florida.

New Class Schedule

Due to some recent changes involving the Fourth Grade team we now have a new class schedule.

Mrs. Bridges/Ms. Cribb's Classroom Schedule

8:30 - 9:00 RTI

9:00 - 9:15 Announcements

9:15 - 10:15 Reader's Workshop

10:15 - 11:15 Writing A (our homeroom)

11:15 - 12:20 Writing B

(classes switch - homeroom students go to math)

12:25 - 12:55 Lunch

1:00 - 1:40 Science

1:45 - 2:15 Successmaker/Social Studies (alternating days)

2:15 - 2:45 Reading skills block/ Accelerated Reader

Homework Week of Sep 20-24

Homework for Monday-Thursday of this week. Friday will be added at a later date.

Monday: Complete the worksheet "Frequently Mispelled Words"
Tuesday: Complete the poetry worksheet "The Elephant's Child"
Wednesday: Respond to the writing prompt. STUDY STUDY STUDY for spelling test.
     1) plaques
     2) voyage
     3) wreckage
     4) unsinkable
     5) survivors
Thursday: Complete the Scholastic worksheet "Let's Get Moving"
Friday: TBA

Lessons Learned Sep 13-18

Reading:
In Reading this week we have been working with the story Grandfather's Journey. The strategy focus of the week was predicting and the comprehension skill of the week was author's viewpoint. We also worked with the concept of story structure and mapping out the events and details in the story. Students will be completing the Grandfather's Journey test the beginning of the upcoming week.  

Also, in Reading, students have been learning how to respond to the read, think, explain test questions in an essay format, which they will have to apply on the Reading FCAT. There are two types of extended response questions, 2 point questions and 4 point questions. Our goal is to answer the 2 point questions in approximately five minutes and the 4 point question in approximately 10. Students are to use the key words from the question and restate the question in a topic sentence. They are to answer the question and support it with details from the text.



This is the official FCAT symbol for the short response 2 point question.



This is the official FCAT symbol for the extended response 4 point question.


Social Studies:
In Social Studies this week we have been working with the fourth grade standard: SS.4.G.1.4: Interpret political and physical maps using map elements (title, compass rose, cardinal directions, intermediate directions, symbols, legend, scale, latitude, and longitude). We have read multiple map books, discussed new vocabulary based on the parts of a map, and the students created their own maps.  

Writing:
In Writing this week we have been working on our "On demand" writing prompts. "On demand" prompts require students to respond to a prompt through writing a standard five paragraph essay with a solid beginning, middle, and end within a 45 minute time period. Fourth grade is an FCAT Writing test grade and these writes will help prepare students to make higher test scores.  

Math:
In Math this week we have been finishing up chapter one in our textbook. Chapter one covered numeration and number patterns. We have been working with and reviewing our multiplication facts 0-12, place value, standard form, expanded form, word form, factors, multiples, and arrays.



Place Value Example



Examples of Arrays



             

Science:
In Science class this week we have been completing our chapter on sound and pitch. We have spent time doing hands-on experiments as well as working in the book to review and master the subject. At the end of the week we had our first science test.

Reading Homework Week of Sep 13 - Sep 17

Monday 9-13-10: Complete a story map of Grandfather's Journey.
Tuesday 9-14-10: Complete the poetry worksheet Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.
Wednesday 9-15-10: Study spelling words/FCAT practice Story Structure.
                                       1) bewildered
                                       2) homeland
                                       3) longed
                                       4) marveled
                                       5) surrounded
* The spelling words are vocabulary words from Grandfather's Journey.
Thursday 9-16-10: Grandfather's Journey comprehension check.
Friday 9-17-10: Saying Goodbye, Saying Hello comprehension check.

Lessons Learned Sep 6-11

Reading:

We just finished working with the story Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod. The story describes Akiak's, (the lead sled dog) journey along the Iditarod trail; it is his last year running the race. Along with reading the story, we completed a graphic organizer timeline describing the checkpoints and weather conditions, as well as homework worksheets to help enhance our vocabulary.

During the reading of this story, we focussed on the concept of story structure. The story structure is defined as how the story is put together, the beginning, middle, and end, including the basic elements of a story such as setting, main idea, characters, and plot.  Next week, we will continue working with the concept of story structure as we transition to the new story Grandfather's Journey.    

Social Studies:

Last week in Social Studies we started working with map skills. Our reading story Akiak used text features, such as maps to help enhance the text. In class we read the book Follow That Map to help us learn exactly what maps are, their basic parts including the compass rose, scale, symbols, key/legend, and route, as well as, how they can help us with our reading.

Homework Fri. 9/10/10

Create a map of the school.

Homework Thurs. 9/9/10

Complete Reference & Research worksheet and Burning Calories Scholastic worksheet.

Homework Wed. 9/8/10

Complete the grammar skill/writing skills with newspaper worksheet. Study for spelling test on Thursday.

Spelling Words:
1) musher
2) experienced
3) checkpoint
4) blizzard
5) courageous

Homework 9/7/10

Complete the poetry worksheet "My Shadow." Complete the two page Akiak worksheet (19 &20).

Lessons Learned: Aug. 30 - Sep. 3

In reading we have been working on...

In reading this week we reviewed shared, independent, and partner reading strategies. During our mini lessons we discussed the importance of utilizing our reader's response journals, reviewed how and why reading conferences occur, and practiced our literacy center rotations.
Also, after reading our book of the month, No Excuses by Dwayne W. Dyer, we used text-to-self connections to write a meaningful response to literature.

Check out our hallway bulletin board to view the responses.

In math we have been working on...

Factors, Multiples, Arrays

Factors are numbers that are multiplied together to get a product. (3 x 4)

For extra practice with factors follow this link to play the factor game. http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=12

Multiples are the product of two factors being multiplied together (12). Multiples are synonymous with skip-counting. (ex. Multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12... Multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12...)

Arrays are a model used to see the relationship between factors and multiples. In the array below, a 3 x 4 array has a total of 12 square units.

Multiplication and Division Word Problems

To distinguish between multiplication and division word problems, our focus is to visualize the problem. All problems involving multiplication and division involve "groups" of items. We also ask ourselves if we know the total number of items. If we know the total, we will divide. If we do not know the total, we will multiply the number of groups by the size of each group to find that total.

Patterns

All of the patterns we are studying right now involve whole numbers. If they are ascending (numbers getting larger), we need to determine if the "rule" is addition or multiplication. If the numbers are descending (numbers getting smaller), we need to determine if the "rule" is subtraction or division.

Perimeter and Area

Perimeter is a measure of the distance around a figure.

Real-World Examples: fence around a backyard, frame around a picture

Area is a measure of the number of square units within a figure.

Real-World Examples: grass covering a back yard, tile covering a kitchen fl

Our new math standards have adjusted the formula we use for finding area from "length x width" to "base x height". The approach is the same. If we know both dimensions (of a square or rectangle), we simply multiply the two dimensions together to find the total area (number of square units in the region).

In science we have been working on...

Observations using our Senses

We spent time outside observing the various sounds, sights, and smells located in our school environment.

We also spent time reviewing sound and energy to help us prepare for an upcoming science test.
For extra review on sound and energy, visit our science links section at the bottom of the page.

Homework 9/02/10

Read your Scholastic Reader with a partner, and complete ALL questions.

Homework 9/01/10

Read the weekly story "Akiak" and answer questions on p.52. Answer questions #1 - 6./Study for the spelling test tomorrow.

Homework 8/31/10

Today we learned about partner reading. Read the poem, "The Windmill" with a partner at home. Dicuss and answer the comprehension questions at the end of the poem. ENJOY!!

Homework - Book Report

Read a book. Monitor your reading. Complete a book report (summary) about your story.

In Reading last week, we learned about the three parts of Readers Workshop: Opening, Work Time and Closing. The students learned their responsibilities and expectations as well as what's expected of the teacher during each phase. In addition, the class was taught about shared reading, how to choose "just right" books and the characteristics of a good listener.

Last week our class had fun making straw kazoos in science class. The class had a blast trying to make sounds from a homemade instrument. We took drinking straws and cut out flaps which would vibrate as children blew through the straw. The class discovered that the pitch of the sound could be changed by changing the length of the kazoo. The longer the straw the lower the pitch. Ask Mrs. Bridges and Ms. Cribb how their kazoos turned out.
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.howmove.zkazoo/

In mathematics, we worked in a short unit called "Numeration". Focuses are to represent numbers in various forms up to the millions place (7-digit numbers). Below is a basic 4-digit number example:

Standard Form: 1,345

Word Form: One thousand, three hundred forty-five

Expanded Form: 1,000 + 300 + 40 +5

Place Value: The 1 is in the thousands place

We are also rearranging digits to make numbers to fit rules:

Example:

digits: 6 5 0 1

Largest number you can make with these digits: 6,510
Second largest number you can make with these digits: 6,501

Smallest number you can make with these digits: 0156

Third smallest number you can make with these digits: ___???____

(If you are a student wanting to earn Biltmore Bucks, figure this problem out and leave the correct answer as a COMMENT with your first name and last initial!-NO last names please!) Click the "Comment" link at the end of this blog post to leave your comment.

The link below offers extra support (worksheets) for students to use in practicing and developing these skills to build a deeper conceptual understanding of "place value".  superteacher.com!

Check it out! Here is the link to take you straight to the place value practice sheets:

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/place-value.html

Book Talk

Let's talk about a book that you read today. What did you enjoy the most about your story AND how would you change the ending to make it more interesting?

Readers Workshop

1. What did you learn this week in Readers Workshop? Give full details. 2. Do you have any questions about what you learned in Readers Workshop?

Class Instruction

I truly value the insight of others. I consider myself an educator that strives to do her best daily and I'm always trying to find new ways to enhance my instructional delivery.

How do you think my class instruction can be enhanced?