Math: As we wrap up unit two, we all have a solid base with which to move forward. Our understanding of place value has helped us be successful with addition and subtraction. We will use that foundation to help us with number stories, understanding whether or not number sentences are true or false, and determining "What's my rule?" problems. Unit three will also allow students to practice multiplication and division facts, introducing "factors" and "fact families." Please help your child practice multiplication/division facts. Fact triangles will be coming home for practice. Knowing these facts are crucial to the math we will come across soon!
Literacy: Readers constantly ask questions in their minds as they read. Sometimes the questions come out of curiosity for what will come next in a text. Sometimes the questions are to clarify understanding. Students have also been thinking about how we anwer questions. At times we can find answers directly in the text. Other times we must infer (use text clues and our background knowledge). Sometimes we have to go to an outside source. Even with all of those options, our questions are not always answered.
We are also thinking about questioning the meaning of words. If we are in a good fit book, we often come across a couple of words that we are unfamiliar with. We have been reviewing and practicing what readers do when they try to determine the meaning of a new word. Readers read-on to find more context clues, they substitute other words that would make sense in the sentence, they look for familiar words within the word, and they use picture clues. Ask your child to find a new word while he or she is reading. Together, discuss what the word might mean.
Students are responsible for adding 2 to 3 new words per week to their vocabulary section of their reading notebooks, then attempting to use those words in their writing.
As you have noticed, spelling words have been coming home as homework. Students are practicing words that are developmentally appropriate. Starting this week students will be getting new words on Fridays, and testing on the following Thursday. Tests will only consist of approximately six words from the list, then "mystery" words that are not on the list but follow the same patterns. This is to get to students to realize that spelling is not just about memorizing words, but understanding spelling patterns. I will also look for evidence of their patterns in their writing, which is the ultimate goal of word study. Students should practice spelling each night, at home, using the "Tic-Tac-Toe" sheet. Spelling City and Wordle are fun ways to practice too, but do not help with understanding patterns.
Next week we will dig deeper into personal narrative writing. We've taken a break from writing to look closely at what makes a sentence a sentence. Ask your child what a sentence is. Ask about subjects and predicates, and nouns and verbs.
Social Studies: Where in the world is Wisconsin? Students are working to understand where Wisconsin is compared to the rest of the world, and what surrounds our great state. We are looking at physical borders (natural) like the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, etc. We are also looking at political borders (imaginary lines), like our southern border shared with Illinois. Next week students will be zooming into Wisconsin's five physical regions, and understanding the differences in those regions. This basis will give us an understanding of the resources early people of Wisconsin had, and then why non-native people settled in certain locations.
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