This will be quick - we had a death in the family so I won't be in school tomorrow...

Math: Please review the formative assessment with your child tonight. As you will see, the concepts are presented in a variety of ways so the application of their new skills indicates their actual understanding of measurement, area, and perimeter...Cumulative quiz tomorrow!

Language Arts: Each group began a new book today.

Clues in the Past - We viewed a short video clip on the Great Wall and Machu Picchu to activate their thinking prior to reading it. In addition, they used dictionaries to define a list of words in their RRJs.

Stone Dragon - We viewed a short video clip about the Great Wall because their story is all about how the Great Wall was built and why it was necessary. We also read the story aloud while discussing why they constructed a series of shorter walls before the Great Wall was created.

Venomous Snakes - No video clip today but they had a list of vocabulary words to define using dictionaries. Most got this task finished but some decided that using a dictionary wasn't necessary for all the words...those students have homework tonight.

All groups are to reread their books tonight.

That's all for now - I gotta get back to the family!

Math: We took a comprehensive formative assessment just to make sure we've effectively covered perimeter, area, and measurement so far...These concepts will be on the quiz Friday and the Unit Assessment next week. I haven't finished looking over them yet but we will spend the bulk of class tomorrow clarifying concepts and spending some additional time where we need it the most. It will come home tomorrow.

Language Arts: We continued working on summaries as a whole group - specifically, how can you use text features like titles and chapter titles/headings to determine what the author is trying to communicate to the audience?

In the Deep - We reviewed the individual feedback on their summaries and a cause and effect organizer. In addition, they worked on applying their knowledge of the ocean depths by creating a new sea creature that has the adaptations necessary for the dark zone...different, but certainly a fun challenge!

Babe - We reread chapter 10 aloud and identified details from the chapter that were essential to the main idea. Following a group discussion, I conferenced with each student about their own summaries and clarified/explained what they did well on and how they could improve. They also read chapters 11+12 on their own.

The Family Tree - We identified a number of events from the story, distinguished the important from the interesting, and placed them in chronological order. Using this information they began work on a storyboard that depicts the four, main events along with a caption for each.

Homework: Babe and In the Deep groups are to share their summary feedback with an adult. These are located in the Language Arts section of their binders.

Math: A visit to the computer lab today to practice measurement and area concepts. Tonight for homework they are to complete two more conversion problems using one of the two methods posted yesterday on the blog (and of course, instructed in class).

Language Arts: We did quite a bit of summary work after I reviewed the ones from last night's homework. In a nutshell, we discussed how a paragraph is very different than a collection of independent sentences - those that don't work well with the other sentences... Furthermore, a strategy I encourage them to begin using is to quietly read their work to themselves. By doing this, they bring in an additional sense to help them determine if in fact it looks right AND sounds right...

Math: We spent our entire class exploring measurement conversion in a variety of situations. Specifically, we examined two different methods of explaining their thinking when solving a story problem: explain in words and through building a key.

I need 17 feet of string for my tent set-up. Sports Authority only sells packs of string in yards. How many packs of string do I need to buy for my tent?

Option #1: Explaining in words

There are 3 feet in 1 yard. I would add up groups of 3 feet until I reached at least 17 total feet.
3+3=6 ft.
6+3=9 ft.
9+3=12 ft.
12+3=15 ft.
15+3=18 ft.

I would need 6 packs of string to have enough for my tent set-up.

Option #2: Build a Key

3 feet = 1 yard
To buy 17 feet I need to skip count by 3s...
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
I would need 6 packs of string to have enough for my tent set-up.

Homework: Everyone has a two story problems to practice converting measurements and explaining their thinking.

Language Arts: We began discussing the purpose of summaries and how to effectively communicate essential information through summaries today. Below is a list of elements that are essential to a quality summary:

· Identifies the main idea
· Provides necessary text support of the main idea
· Brief and to the point (concise)
· Reflects only what is in the text (no speculation – just details directly from the text)
· Includes vocabulary specific to the topic (science terms, character names…)
· Written in a logical sequence/chronological order
· Written in your own words

In the Deep - Reread the book and complete the summary with organizer

The Family Tree - Reread the book to an adult and listen for the main details

Babe - Reread chapter 10 and complete the summary with organizer