This week in 3/4L...

Our vocabulary journals are off to a great start!  We started our journals by finding words together as a class.  We chose our words from our current read-aloud book.  Right now we are reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg.  As I read aloud to the students, they wrote down words that they didn't know.  After coming back together as a class, we decided that we wanted to learn more about the words accumulation and inconspicuous.  Students then defined the words, found the part/s of speech, wrote their own sentences, and drew pictures.  I must admit that the pictures are my favorite part!  We saw pictures of an accumulation of dust in the corner of a room and of a spy being inconspicuous.  I can't wait to see what we come up with when we find words from our individual reading!  After we discussed our words, we then put them up on our vocabulary word wall.  Soon our wall will be completely full.

We continued drafting original stories this week.  During our author shares we are able to hear our classmates' ideas and writing pieces.  We've had some spooky tales, funny stories, and many pieces involving entire towns that are made out of food!  Next week we will review the writing process and begin revising our pieces.

Our class, as well as the other 3/4 classes, have begun learning more about recycling.  This year, the 3/4 classes have decided to take over the recycling program for the elementary school.  We are planning to make presentations to the other classes about the importance of recycling, and what it really means to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  To prepare for our presentations, students are researching important facts about recycling, such as what happens to plastic and aluminum after we take it to the recycling plant, and what are the different ways we can reduce, reuse, and recycle paper in our classroom. 

In fourth grade math we have been concentrating on multiplication facts.  Right now we are working on becoming fluent with multiplication combinations from 1 x 1 to 12 x 12, or otherwise known as mastering our basic multiplication facts.  Please see the letter in this week's envelope that provides a more detailed explanation what we are doing in class.

Please remember that the math curriculum, along with the entire curriculum for this year, will be discussed at Open House.  Open House takes place next Wednesday, September 5, from 6:00 to 8:00.  We hope to see you there!

Here is this week's newsletter as reported by our class reporters:
3_4 News CS & NL 8_30.pdf 

Posted on August 30, 2007 11:01 AM | Permalink