Fresh Start

After our unexpected four day weekend we started trimester 3 with freshly organized desks and cubbies.

The kids were great about helping each other!

We will be spending a great deal of time during reading looking at character traits and motivation,

and retelling a fiction story.

As an introduction we read a short passage called What Will Susie Choose?.

After we read it twice, we highlighted things that Emily (the main character) did, said, or thought that gave us insight into her character.

Then we read Wolf's Chicken Stew together, then the class worked in small groups to determine character traits and support their ideas with the text.  Next they filled out a story map, and finally wrote a retell of the story.

In order to help give us more practice, the students brought home a book retell assignment yesterday.

This can be on any book of their choice, as long as it is an appropriate book for their reading level.

Please remember this is not a book report.  The students should not tell everything that happens in the story.

Please see the blog titled Retelling, Science, and Problem Solving

for a review of a retell we did together on Beatrice Doesn't Want To.

**Correction**

The due date on the assignment should read March 22, 2013.

I apologize for the error!

Here are some pictures of the work in action.

 Last Friday, one of our math centers involved measuring our arm spans.

On Thursday we used the data to determine the mode and median arm span measurement in the class.

We learned the mode is the number that occurs most often in a list of numbers, and the median is the middle value.

We also discussed the terms maximum and minimum.

 This trimester allows us to continue to work on opinion writing.

Together we wrote descriptive sentences about Oreos.

Then each student selected from a shortened version of the safe snack list and

wrote 5 descriptive sentences about their chosen snack.

Today we shared our writing with the class and brainstormed why each snack would be a good snack to have at a class party.

In the pictures below, the text in blue are the descriptions and the text in pink are the reasons.

Next week, we will write an opinion essay about which of the snacks we think would be best.

We will include a topic sentence that states our opinion, 3 reasons, 3 supporting details, and a closing sentence.

 We ended our Friday with time to read and share books with a partner.

 Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday!

Have a wonderful weekend!