Week of March 7, 2016

Working on their word scales last month.

Highlights from Last Week:

​Students did a wonderful job on Part 1 of their Global Citizenship projects. They thought deeply about what it means to serve others, they created some shocking artwork to raise awareness about the need to help others, and they researched some amazing organizations. Sadly, I didn't take pictures of it all yet! The next phase of the project will develop this week and begin next week. Students will soon reach out to their organization and express their desire to help.
 
Students did very well on their Fraction Addition & Subtraction assessment. All students scored above an 85%!
 
Our exploration of the causes of the American Revolution is riveting. Students are enjoying the PBS “Liberty” documentary. We’ve been learning a lot of vocabulary along with it. Words such as oppose, consent, repeal, boycott, deprive, tyrannical, and much more.
 
A couple of book groups are nearing the end of their shared books. The group reading, The Watsons Go to Birmingham and the group reading Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key are both wrapping up this week. The group reading Rules and the group reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will hopefully finish up next week. Through these groups, students have raised the level of their discussions and have learned to find explicit evidence in the text to support their thinking. It pretty impressive!

 
What we didn't get to:

• Some students need to finish their fraction open response.
• Students need some time to develop their sections in their informational writing projects.
• We only introduced the Boston Massacre in Social Studies.

This Week's Plan
 
Special:

• Parent Teacher Conferences –this week and next. See the Sign Up Page:
• Wednesday: Early Release for Conferences

 
Some other special things we’re working on:

• Class Dojo –I am going to launch a fun behavior management application in the classroom this week to reward students for good behavior and hard work. Students earn points for things like participation, coming to class prepared, cleaning up, helping others, finishing assignments on time, working hard, getting to work quickly, and much more. Parents can sign up to monitor their child’s behavior data, as well.
• Global Citizenship Project –While we haven’t started part 2 of the project yet, I will have students researching, thinking, and writing about their chosen organization and how they can potentially help.
  
  

Math: 
Multiplication of Fractions.

• Fraction Open Response –We will look at some fraction multi-step word problems and practice explaining how we solve problems with fractions.
• Fractions of Whole Numbers –We will relate multiplication to the word “of” and find fractions of whole numbers using number lines and array models.
• Fractions Times Whole Numbers –We will use repeated addition and fraction models to multiply fractions times wholes.
• Fractions times Fractions –Students will explore models of fractions of fractions and relate it to multiplication.
• Standard Algorithm for Fraction Multiplication –Once students understand the concept of fraction multiplication, we will practice the standard algorithm and simplifying fractions.

 
Writing:  
Informational Writing Project.

• Developing a Topic –Students will continue to elaborate each section of their writing by including facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
• Writing an Introduction and Conclusion –We will study great introductions and conclusions and write ones that highlights central ideas and key information.
• Thinking Words and Phrases –Students will practice linking their ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially). 
• Text Features –I will teach students some techniques on Google Docs that will allow them to format their writing in helpful ways.
  
  

Reading:
Book Groups. Informational Texts and Determining Importance.

• Key Ideas and Details in Informational Texts –We will look at informational texts from previous MCASes to analyze key ideas and how they are supported with details.
• Craft and Structure in Informational Texts –Again using previous MCAS texts, we will analyze the author’s craft and the text structure.
• Book Groups –Groups continue to meet using Reading Reports to prepare for insightful discussions.
• Read Aloud –The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo. A moving short novel about a 12-year old boy in the painful grip of grief and how an audacious girl and a caged tiger help him find release.

 
Social Studies:
The Causes of the American Revolution.
We watch segments from the engaging “Liberty” series from PBS to learn about the major causes of the American Revolution. We learn a lot of sophisticated vocabulary along the way.
 
This week, we will focus on:

• The Boston Massacre and how propaganda is used to sway public opinion.
• The Boston Tea Party and The Sons of Liberty

 
Homework:
Please visit the Homework Page for more details.

• Homework Project: None.
• Math: There will be a page or two of math practice each night.
• Reading: 25 minutes of daily independent reading is expected. Students should log it in their Planners. 
• Reading Response Blog:  There is a new blog #13 due by Friday.
• MCAS Practice –Students will have two MCAS practice packets to work on this week. One is due on Wednesday, the other is due on Friday.

Thanks for Reading!
So that's the plan for the week. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or feedback.