We have lots of hard working
students in our class! The kids were
working hard to get their first “seed story” completed in writing. It is amazing to see that the writers are
taking what they are learning and trying it out in their stories!
In
reading, we are asking question, after question, after question! The kids have gotten a lot of practice asking
thick or talk-worthy questions while reading.
Asking these types of questions will help to get students to go back
into a story to support their thinking with “evidence” from the text. Earlier in the week we
read The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg.
The kids had some different thoughts about exactly who the stranger
was. They had to use many clues in the story
to help them figure it out.
In
social studies we learned about Ellis Island in New York as we take our journey across the
Northeast Region of the United States. The kids were shocked at
how people were treated when they arrived in America. We created a “Word Splash” as a class about
words that came to our minds after learning about Ellis Island. Then they started to write a journal entry
about what it was like immigrating to America.
At the end of the day on Friday we continued to work on our Genius Hour Project. This is a project that the students are very
excited about. Each Friday, students who
have turned in their homework completed and on time, get to work on a project
where they get to learn about whatever topic is of interest to them. It is really a privilege to work on this project. They will end up finding out information
about their topic of choice. Then they
will think of a way to “teach” their information to their classmates. We have a wide range of interests ranging
from studying the country of Brazil to learning about outer space. The classroom was buzzing at the end of the
day with excitement about the Genius Hour Projects!
I
introduce the Character Costume Book Report to the class today. The packet of information should have come
home with your child today. At the back
of the packet there is a calendar to help you and your child “plan out” the project. Many of the kids couldn’t wait to get started
on this! J
Please
don’t forget to sign up for conferences! I look forward to talking with you at your
child’s conference next week.
Have a great weekend!
~Mrs. Lewis
