Word Study
We continued our cursive this week. We devote out attention to lower case letters based on a common shape. We concluded the first "family" of letters: c, a, d, g, and q. We also continued with our spelling patterns by group.
Reading
Students are creating plays based on favorite scenes from books they've read this year. I love this project as students have to read, interpret, write and present all in an authentic process with an audience. They are excited to do this. The challenge is to get them to slow down and understand it is not about props or acting, but about reading aloud to convey a mental movie. I am modeling this process using a favorite scene from Charlotte's Web.
Writing
Students continued their daily letters to classmates, focusing on attributes and examples of when they demonstrated admirable qualities.
We have also added a daily short write where students have to reflect on something they are grateful for that is specific to today. I will send these home at the end of the year. They are really heartwarming and you will see just how much they appreciate you, their parents :)
We are also writing poetry, describing organic objects in figurative ways. We started with antlers and students were very creative in describing them as a throne, a crown, bony white fingers, etc. They are naturals!
Math
I introduced dominoes with the intent of developing math fact fluency strategies. Scoring is based on multiples of five. As our number system is based on tens, recognizing fives and tens is an incredibly important skill in developing automaticity. I am also explicitly demonstrating strategies for adding and subtracting efficiently, rather than slowly counting each dot on the domino one at a time. Students are also revisiting subitizing (the ability to recognize dot array patterns as a value).
Science
We were lucky this year in terms of weather and blooms for our final Thompson Park Tree Trek. Students were able to revisit their trees and will use their photos to create iBooks that compare their trees over time. Thank you again to all of our wonderful volunteers! We couldn't do this project without you. I believe this project also builds stewardship of our community as we recognize the value of our parks.
We began an end of year science project with our fifth grade buddies in Mrs. McCormick's class. Students will work in mixed grade groups to create table marble runs using Keva planks, marbles, steel ball bearings and magnets. We will introduce a few mystery items as we progress. The challenge is to see which group can build the slowest marble run using all of their materials. The motivation is high as the team that wins gets to dump a bucket of ice water on the teachers.
Important Dates & Reminders
Please make sure iPads are charged and ready each day.
I will highlight changes and new dates in red.
A Days: No specials (Science, Social Studies, Technology rotation)
B Days: Music and PE
C Days: Art
D Days: Library
E Days: Music and PE
April 24 - 28 Scholastic Book Fair
Come visit Mrs. Hemmelgarn during our Book Fair!
April 28 - KID FEST 5 - 8pm Please click on the following link to view the KID FEST raffle basket items: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa9af2da31-star1
We have the Outreach Fund to help those who are currently going through financial challenges. If you are in need of help purchasing Kid Fest tickets or the Dabbing Hawk t-shirts, please email our school counselor, Katie O'Keefe at kokeefe@uaschools.org by April 21st. Please let her know how many family members need tickets to Kid Fest and sizes of t-shirts, if needed.
Mr. Kerstetter and I will be joined by some wonderful acoustic musicians this evening. We hope to see you there!
We have the Outreach Fund to help those who are currently going through financial challenges. If you are in need of help purchasing Kid Fest tickets or the Dabbing Hawk t-shirts, please email our school counselor, Katie O'Keefe at kokeefe@uaschools.org by April 21st. Please let her know how many family members need tickets to Kid Fest and sizes of t-shirts, if needed.
Mr. Kerstetter and I will be joined by some wonderful acoustic musicians this evening. We hope to see you there!
May 2 - Primary Elections, Students will eat in the classroom
May 8 - 19 Terra Nova & Inview Gifted Screener
May 15 - 19 Diagnostic Writing Assessment
May 19 - Device collection
May 22 - Field Day, Please apply sunscreen before your student arrives at school and feel free to send students with water bottles, old athletic shoes that can get wet, and swimsuits under their clothing. This will be a fun, but hot day.
May 8 - 19 Terra Nova & Inview Gifted Screener
May 15 - 19 Diagnostic Writing Assessment
May 19 - Device collection
May 22 - Field Day, Please apply sunscreen before your student arrives at school and feel free to send students with water bottles, old athletic shoes that can get wet, and swimsuits under their clothing. This will be a fun, but hot day.
May 26 - Town Hall Meeting 8:25am
May 26 - Last Day for Students; End of third trimester
May 26 - Early Dismissal 1pm
May 26 - Early Dismissal 1pm
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