Week of September 25

Dear Parents –

I hope you’re enjoying your weekend.  We have a busy and full week ahead.  Thank you to the parents who have signed up to lead a Mini Academy on Tuesday.  This is our first Mini Academy of the year, so if you weren’t able to sign up for this month, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so throughout the year.    

Here’s a peek at our week ahead

Monday (Day 1) – Art and World Language

Tuesday (Day 2) – Music and P.E.

Wednesday (Day 3) – World Language

Thursday (Day 4) – Art and P.E. (Swimming)

Friday (Day 5) – Library and World Language

Reader’s Workshop

The work in our Reader’s Workshop will focus on the author’s intent.  We’ll examine the craft moves authors make to readers feel happy, sad, excited, etc.  We will also take a look at all the different components authors use to make their books “click,” including the language and illustrations in the book.  We’ll end our week reviewing the skill of retelling stories.  This is an excellent strategy to practice at home as well. 

Writer’s Workshop

Our focus this week will be on editing and revising our stories.  Through our lessons, we will discuss the difference between revising and editing and where they fit into the writing process.  Students will revise their stories to add new information and stretch out their small moment by adding dialogue, action, or details.  During the editing phase, students will focus on capitalization, spelling and punctuation.  We’ll use our resources to help with spelling patterns and sight words. 

Social Studies

Our communities continue to grow and develop.  We’ll build upon the work we did last week and focus on leaders and the qualities of an effective leader.  We’ll look at the different leadership roles within the community and learn about a leader’s role in making rules and laws. 

Math

We’ll spend much of this week reviewing skills that have been taught during this unit and extending students in their understanding of the concepts that we have focused on over the past few weeks.  Through partner and independent practice, students will learn how to prove their thinking using pictures, words, and number models. 

Dinner Questions

What can you do to make your writing more interesting?

Why is it important to be a good citizen?

Do you think you could be a good leader?  Why?

Show me how to solve a math problem that you worked on.