Weekly Crandall Chronicle

What's Happening This Week

Spelling: Our spelling pattern this week includes words with the /ou/ sound.
Reading: This week we are focusing on drawing conclusions and identifying the moral of a story using fables. For vocabulary we are practicing using context clues to determine the meaning of words with multiple meanings. 
Writing: We recently finished reading the book My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada. The students have been summarizing key parts of the chapters and identifying character traits that the main character possesses. We will begin working on writing our responses to literature, in which students will make a claim about the main character, Maria Isabel, and use evidence to support their claims. 
Grammar: Our focus is identifying and correctly using linking verbs in sentences.
Math: This week students will be learning about a variety of concepts through short mini-lessons. These topics include congruent shapes, volume, and fractions. They will also be introduced to math extended response questions, which require them to use more critical thinking and for students to explain not only how they solved the problem, but also why they did each step that they did.   
Science: We will be having our second light test on Friday, February 14th. A review guide will be completed today in class and will be sent home with your child. Concepts on this test will include identifying objects as opaque, translucent, and transparent; modeling how light travels, and using key vocabulary from this unit. These vocabulary words can be found on the tab above called "Science."
Social Studies: The NE states and capitals test will beThursday, February 13th.

Weekly Reminders

* The January Student Challenge involved observing spinning circles called Benham spinners. If your child has not yet turned in his/her observations and would still like to participate in the challenge, please make sure they are turned in by Friday. I will be doing a demonstration with these spinners in class, so if your child does not have the opportunity to view them at home, he/she will be able to experience this neat activity in class. 

* The February Student Challenge was sent home last week. To complete this challenge, students will select 8 countries they would like to "follow" throughout the Winter Olympics. They will predict which of the countries will win the most medals and then tally the number of medals that each country is awarded. This will be due after the closing ceremony. 

Study Tip

The students are working in class on extended response questions in the areas of both reading and math. We are practicing the process of answering these questions with a specific formula or steps. In class we are highlighting the various steps in different colors to help the students visualize their answer and check that they have included each necessary part. Please review these problems with your child once the papers are sent home. This will help them to remember and better understand the process.

Here are the meanings of the different colors:

Reading

pink = beginning and closing sentences (use words from the question in a statement)

blue = book / a specific example from the passage

yellow = you / an explanation of how this example supports the answer 

*** The sequence should usually be as follows for most responses: P, B, Y, B, Y, B, Y, P

Math

purple = beginning sentences (states what the child is trying to solve) and answer (with a unit)

green = what steps were taken to solve the problem

orange = why those steps were taken

*** The sequence should begin and end with P. G and O should alternate multiple times.