Math: We have our unit two assessment a week from tomorrow so we are officially in crunch time! Today we unexpectedly focused exclusively on hands-on equations after a brief formative on function tables and word problems. As I continue to tell the students, understanding how to balance equations is not the type of thing that instantly makes sense - it takes time to process, practice, and discuss. With that said, over the next week we will be working in small groups on some 5th grade content (prime factorization/composite numbers) and/or reviewing the 4th grade content (refining our understanding of variables/unknowns in equations). There will be a study guide coming home on Monday along with their quiz from this coming Friday.

Language Arts: We are finishing up some informational comprehension in whole group over the next couple of days. We will still dabble in it depending on the instructional needs of their group, in addition to our collaboration with Mrs. Rose in the media center. Along that line, we have been working on how we focus a written piece from a broad idea down to a specific aspect. I have conferenced with each student and helped them determine a specific focus for a brief research piece.

All three groups were introduced to new books today and investigated new vocabulary terms using a variety of strategies.

Word study is due Friday!