April Family Focus
Reader's Workshop - In honor of National Poetry Month, students are exploring many different forms of poetry. We will learn about the elements of poetry, read many different mentor text poems, and discover the craft and structure of poetry. Be on the lookout for a special demonstration of learning that will be coming home in early May. The students' creativity and enthusiasm is shining through in the many examples of each form of poetry they are exploring.
Writer's Workshop - Having finished our exploration of biographies in reading which included their non-fiction text elements, students are writing a report on a biography of their choice. The authors are presenting their information on Google Slides. In addition to researching and preparing their information, students will have an opportunity to present their information in theater or museum style. We are also enjoying integrating technology as we learn about the many features of Google Slides as we add text boxes, change the font, colors, and build timelines on our slides.
Math - In Chapter 6, our mathematicians will work with trade-first subtraction (borrowing), geometric concepts (measurement, polygons), multiplication and division diagrams that support using a letter (variable) in writing equations for number stories, solving multiplication with larger factors, number sentences with parenthesis - "Order of Operations", Writing Number Stories, and Number Models for Two-Step Number Stories. Throughout this chapter, students will focus on understanding what is being asked of them in a problem. Students will be assessed on their 3 times tables this month. The 6 and 7 times tables will be assessed towards the end of the month or early May. Students should continue to practice all times tables assessed to this point to develop fluency and automaticity. Times tables are presented in the order presented in our curriculum and a mathematically reasoned sequence developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
Science - We continue our work with forces and magnetism.
