Happy November!!
What’s happening in class this month?
Reading: Students are moving onto our sixth text set on expository nonfiction. The goal is for students to recognize that the authors of these texts give facts about a topic, to notice the different ways the author organizes the information, and to notice some of the text features that authors use to enhance their books. Afterward, we will do an author study on Janell Cannon, where students will be noticing similarities in her writing and illustrations, as well as getting to know some interesting characters. We will work on some characterization skills as well.
Guided Reading has officially started! Students are meeting in small reading groups to read stories/texts, discuss opinions and work on specific reading skills.
Our November book report will be on a nonfiction book at students’ personal reading levels. It will be due Monday, December 2nd.
Language/Writing:
We are beginning the month by revising and finalizing our narratives! Students will be spending time trying to fix up their stories to include powerful hooks, strong endings, sentences that show-don’t-tell, and include many details and dialogue. Editing and revising will occur with writing partners, too. I am excited to see their final products. Afterward, we will begin our nonfiction writing unit, which begins by reading mentor texts & noticing what nonfiction authors do to engage and inform readers.
Students will also be practicing language/grammar skills including: sorting words based on different vowel sounds, contractions, and common nouns. Spelling lists & tests will also continue. :)
Math: Students will complete Module 3 on Multiplication & Division Facts in the first week of November. Please continue to practice these facts at home. We will then go back to Module 2, on time and measurement. The first 5 lessons involve telling time and finding elapsed time using a number line. The following six lessons will have students measuring weight with grams & kilograms, and measuring liquid volume with milliliters & liters. After that we will take the mid-module assessment before moving on to rounding to the nearest ten & hundred, and using the standard algorithm to add and subtract two- and three- digit numbers.
Science/STEM:
Science has begun! As you may know, we have adopted a new science program, Amplify Science. Our first unit is called Balancing Forces. In this unit, students will be learning about the visible and invisible forces that are around them every day, and using this knowledge to understand and explain how a floating train works.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is on November 11. After learning about the holiday, we will honor veterans by writing letters to thank them for their service to our country.
