Math: We visited the computer lab and explored a website that taught us about mean, median, mode, and range. At the site, we also had an opportunity to practice each of the concepts to help us prepare for tomorrow's quiz. These are 4th grade items but I expect everyone to do well on them. Tonight for homework, there are two different assignments coming home: line plot worksheet or a review packet. In addition, I asked all the students to visit the web site at home and complete the activity in the math journal that we began in class.

Language Arts: We generated and selected this cycle's spelling words based on the /ee/ using "ea." The list was generated with my help and through their small group instructional text. Remember, at least 5 tasks are to be completed by Friday, October 12th.

JGB: Discussed the interpretive question for tomorrow's group. They also provided their answer to the question prior to group tomorrow so they can reflect on their thinking after the group's discussion.

Roller Coaster Ride: Discussed the plot of the story and they need to describe the parts of the plot in their RRJs for tonight's homework.

Giraffe: We discussed the importance vocabulary words found in non fiction text. Tonight, they are to finish this task in their RRJs.

Overall, the focus of most my discussions revolves around putting "thoughts to paper." Too many times students are either answering questions using broad information or they are not including specific text support in their written responses. We will continue to work on this...

Social Studies: We blended some reading content with our economics unit using highlighters to signify important vocabulary terms. We practiced distinguishing between the definitions and the examples given in the text. For the purposes of our task, I wanted them to determine where the vocabulary was defined, rather than examples of the specific term.

Math: We took a formative assessment on analyzing data from a table and converting it into a bar graph. They need to review this tonight for homework because it will be on the quiz this Friday. Tomorrow we will actually begin our lesson in the computer lab using a web resource that provides explanation and practice of 4th grade data content: mode, range, mean... The web site is at http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/mathlabtutstat1.htm. Check it out if you get a chance!

Language Arts: We continued discussing the cause and effect structure of text using a book that explores the impact of our actions on the environment.

JGB: Everyone has now listened to the story on tape, taken directed notes, and we had small group conferences regarding the importance of using text support in our writing. We examined their work for the last story we read and clarified how we can make improvements with our written explanations. The packet with my feedback is in their binders. The theme of the feedback is "Thoughts to Print." Tonight they are to complete the interpreting words portion of their packet.

The School Fair: We read the story independently before meeting in small group. During small group we read it aloud and listened/recorded events in sequence as we made our way through the story. They should complete the events list in their RRJ for homework tonight.

Race to the South Pole: They should be close to finishing their Cause and Effect T-Charts in their RRJs. They are expected to complete this for homework tonight (at least 5 examples). We have been working with this text in class since Monday, as well as the specific text structure. I am meeting with them first thing tomorrow during our reading block to review the numerous examples of cause and effect.

We will have spelling lists coming home tomorrow using the /ee/ with the "ea" pattern.

Tuesday, October 2nd

Thank you to those families who took last week's math quiz as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of carefully completing work regardless of the task. I only received about half of the quizzes back today so if you haven't seen it yet, ask your child!

Math: True to yesterday's post and the quiz cover letter, I did a whole group lesson on 4th grade content: mean, median, mode, and range. During group work I had some students working on a content review that included estimation, subtraction (add to check), and numeric patterns. In another group we worked with line graphs. Specifically, we discussed the x and y axis in addition to why someone would choose a line graph to organize/illustrate some data (line graphs are perfect at illustrating data over time...).

Homework:
Review Packet or Line Graphs on pages 264-65 #1-10

Reading: We read The Lorax, and discussed the text structure of cause and effect. In their binders they will receive a notes page on signal words/phrases that signify a cause and effect structure.

Small Groups:

• Vocabulary exploration using Trucks on the Road
• Locate and describe at least 5 instances of Cause and Effect using Race to the South Pole
• JGB - Listened to the story on tape and/or took Directed Notes

Homework:

JGB is to complete the Directed Notes in preparation for tomorrow's discussion.

The other groups are to read for 20 minutes.

Computer Lab: We explored Microsoft Word and began work on a picture and caption to blend technology with our text feature lessons.

Social Studies: We read The Big Green Pocketbook and discussed goods, services, and the workers who provide them.

Long time since the last post...

My apologies for the brief interruption. With math night, grading and interim preparation last week I got a bit behind...

Math: Last week's quiz is coming home today with a cover letter attached. In it, I describe how I am making some changes to my math instruction. So far we have covered a significant amount of curriculum (3rd grade and challenge content) with mixed results. The first area I look to make changes to is in my instruction. Based on student performance, I have essentially developed two groups in my class:

• Those that need more time to strengthen their conceptual knowledge so they can apply it to 4th grade content.
• Those who continue to demonstrate solid understanding of all the challenge content instructed so far.

This is perfectly fine if this meets the needs of all the children in my class. However, as some of you will see, the sheer number of careless errors on last week's quiz is proving to be quite frustrating. I would love to have all my students follow directions and check over their thinking/work but for whatever reason, some seem reluctant to step up their efforts and pay attention to detail. Today, each student highlighted areas on their quiz they felt demonstrated "silly mistakes." Please take some time to go over their quiz tonight so you can reinforce the importance of taking your time and following directions. Also, they have a brief assignment on line plots in their textbook. If the quiz takes up a chunk of time, jot me a note and I'll give another night for the line plot task.

Reading: We continued our work with text features by discussing how previewing a text activates our background knowledge. Each student has a book to reread tonight for homework. RRJs or JGB packets will be assigned later this week.

Social Studies: We discussed the difference between goods and services while introducing the idea of workers in society. Tomorrow we will read a book that includes all three of these concepts.