October 2nd through 6th

Keenoy’s Pups News                                                       October 6, 2017

Dear Families,

I hope that everyone had a wonderful week.  As always, ours was jam packed with after school kiddo activities.  Thank you again for everyone who donated time or items for the Comet Carnival. This is such an enjoyable event for children and could not take place without volunteers!  Have a wonderful week and thank you for everything that you do.

Vocabulary Hat Day
I reviewed each vocabulary word that was submitted on Thursday and was very impressed.  I think that we will have a wonderful collection of hats to show off next Friday, October 13th.  Again, please do not feel the need to go out and buy any supplies.  I have told students that they are welcome to all of the supplies that I have in the classroom. I also have a lot of art supplies at home, since that is one of Natalie and Gabby’s favorite things to do.  

Math
Our week’s focus has been on using two different strategies for multiplying numbers. Students have practiced using the partial products strategy as well as the traditional algorithm.

Students also used unit conversions within the U.S. customary system to solve multistep problems.

Writing
This week we continued reading other author’s narratives.  Our purpose is to look for tricks that these authors use to help us raise the quality of our own story.  We call these texts mentor texts.  Students wrote a first draft this week.  I plan to conference with each student next week to set goals for improvement. 

Reading
Students took an assessment today to assess their progress with the comprehension strategies that we have been focusing on.  Students read a short story called “Slower Than the Rest,” by Cynthia Rylant.  After reading this short story, students answered questions that were developed to match each of the story element skills taught.  The results of this assessment will help guide my small group instruction.  Students who could use the extra help will be supportedJ



In our next reading unit we will be focusing on:
Context Clues
*Determining the meaning of words and or phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language (simile and metaphor).
*Using context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary. 
Inferring
*explaining the interactions between individuals, events, ideas, or concepts.
*Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says when drawing inferences from the text)
*Determine the meaning of phrases as they are used in the text
Theme
*Compare and contrast stories in the same genre on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Social Studies
I enjoy pulling out the important ideas in a chapter and trying to bring them to life for the kids. Students seemed EXTREMELY engaged during our chapter 3 European explorer discussions. Next week, students will learn more about the first English, French, and Dutch Colonies on/near the eastern coast.  

Science
We will start our Earth and Space Systems Unit next week.  Students will learn about gravity and how the moon, sun, and earth interact.  I plan to model how these interactions (combined with the earth’s tilt) affect the seasons.  During our discussions of tilt/seasons I will share this terrific site that I found.  http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php
When we type in Barrow, Alaska students will be able to see that a city in the United States has over 2 months of complete darkness, and in the summer 2 months of 24/7 light.  VERY COOL!

Reminders
Oct. 13 Vocabulary Hat Parade
Oct. 17 Early Dismissal at 12:50
Oct. 23 Student Flu Shots (parents had to send in permission form ahead of time)
Oct. 27 Fall Party 2:15-3:00
Oct. 30 No School
                                                                                   
Sincerely,

                                                                                    Dan Keenoy

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