November 5- 9

I hope that all of you enjoyed earning a much needed extra hour this weekend!  It is hard to believe that November is already here. 

This week in Math, we will begin taking multiplication to a new level.  We will start with 2 digit by 1 digit multiplying, and move on to estimating products.  We will also look into the associative property of multiplication.  By Friday, we will start preparing for the next test, which will be next week.  As you can tell, multiplication is still a large part of our studies, and additional work is still needed for some students.  check out the websites on the sidebar to help your child practice math facts in a fun way at home!

In Science this week, we will begin our unit in Conservation.  So far, the students seem to be very excited about this hands-on approach to learning about nature in Missouri.  Our Spelling list actually comes from our first lesson in the conservation unit!

In Reading, we will work on locating the difference between fact and opinion in statements given.  Our goal this week is also to help students to learn summarizing techniques.  For example, we will introduce the Fab 5 to assist with summary writing.  This strategy asks students to retell what they have read, but they must, and can only use 5 sentences.  This encourages deeper thinking for those who choose to state only the bare minimum, as well as curbs some of our wordier writers!  We will then move on to the 5 questions every summary must answer.  Who? Wants what? But? (What happened, or gets in the way?  Aka- The problem)  So? (What does the character do to solve the problem?)  Then? (How does it end?  How is the problem solved?)  Every summary will need to answer these important questions to be considered complete.  We will use shorter stories that we have read earlier in the year, or that may be new to practice these strategies for summarizing.

English Language Arts piggy backs Reading.  We will be working on Opinion Writing pieces.  We will discuss what is important to students as individuals, to promote their feelings to show through in their writing.  If it is not important to them, how can they persuade others to agree or disagree?  We will be using the election, and TV commercials to help introduce the theory of persuasion.  Students will be asked to write using three reasons, why they might make a good class president after reading the story Grace for President.  We will also have a prompt at the end of the week that should promote strong opinion!  Look for a note later in the week about this prompt!  Opinion writing can be a tough task for students at this age, even if they are very argumentative by nature!  The catch for most writer's is the usage of evidence or facts to back up their writing.  Encourage your child to argue, but only if they can back it up with three strong facts!  :) 

As always, have a great week.  Contact me with any questions or concerns.