Newsletter: October 2-15

Literacy

Reading Workshop: Nonfiction Unit of Study
We continue to examine the different text structures authors use to present information. The five text structures we are focusing on are description (main idea/supporting detail), chronological order, problem-solution, cause and effect, and compare and contrast. Understanding these text structures helps readers sort through information and determine what is important.

October Genre of the Month: Literary Nonfiction
This month, students will be expected to read and summarize at least one literary nonfiction book as part of our Forty Book Challenge. During the month of October, they are asked to read their selected book and complete a brief summary/reader's response in their Reader's Notebook. All entries should be completed in their Reader's Notebook and turned in to Mrs. Cioni no later than October 31. Be sure to take a moment and ask your child how this style of writing differs from September's Genre of the Month, reference nonfiction.

Writer's Workshop: The Writing Process
We continue to work through our second unit, The Writing Process. In this unit, students have selected a piece of writing they wrote in our first unit, and are learning about the process of editing and revising their work for publication. All stories are expected to be published by October 10, and we will be have a writing celebration in class on October 11.

Word Study: Words Their Way
With the initial spelling placement inventory complete, we are ready to begin Word Study. Word Study practice will take place in class on a two-week rotating schedule. Students will spend two weeks practicing their words through various word sort and word meaning activities. There is no required weekly homework for Word Study, unless a student does not finish the day's activity in class. A copy of the words will be sent home in case you choose to do additional practice with the words at home. Each day of the week, I will be working with a different group assessing what they've learned and modeling new sorts. Each group will have their word study test on their assigned day with me. Tests will occur every other week, which will be indicated to you on the home copy of their word list. For the assessment, students will not only be asked to spell the word correctly, but will be expected to sort the words correctly by sound, spelling pattern, or word meaning depending on the sort. We will be modeling this routine in class this week, and expect to start groups next week.

Math

Unit 3: Whole Number Multiplication and Division
In this unit, students will be learning to multiply by a 2-digit number. They will also be learning to divide by a 1-digit number. Students are asked to practice their basic facts every night for 5-10 minutes.

Advanced Math

Unit 2: Whole Number Multiplication and Division
In this unit, students will be learning to use rules and strategies to multiply and divide multi-digit numbers. Students will also learn to use order of operations to evaluate numeric expressions. Students should be practicing their basic facts every night for 5-10 minutes. There is a test scheduled on Unit 2 on Thursday, October 10.

Unit 3: Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers
In this unit, students will be learning to make equivalent fractions, and how to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.

Science: Our Geosphere

Students have been busy learning about plate tectonics and what happens at convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries. We have learned how mountains form, as well as analyzed data to look for any patterns in volcanic and earthquake activity related to plate movement. We will finish the unit this week by exploring fossil formation. There will be a quiz on these concepts on Friday, October 4.

Our unit will culminate with our National Park project in the LMC. This project will have students researching national parks in the US, the processes that formed them, and the landforms that can be enjoyed there today. They will share what they learn by creating a broadcast (with green screen technology) from their national park. This project will conclude with a Mystery Skype with a park ranger from one of the national parks we study.

Social Studies: Diversity in the United States

Next week, we will begin our first social studies unit, exploring diversity in the United States. The remainder of the year we will be going on a tour of the US by region starting with the Northeast, moving onto the Southeast, then to the Midwest, and finishing the year with the Southwest and West. The focus of our lessons will be to learn about how climate, geography, and natural resources influence the way people live from the different life styles and recreation to the varying economy and jobs of a region. As we go on this tour of the US, we will be taking some time to explore our own way of life right here in Illinois.

Upcoming Events...

October 8 VIP/Book Talk: Ally
October 10 Happy Birthday, Ally!
October 14 No School: Columbus Day/SIP Day
October 15 Monday Schedule
October 15 VIP/Book Talk: No VIP scheduled
October 18 Pumpkin Patch