Our Reading Street test was a bit of a struggle. We will be focusing on some test taking strategies in the weeks to come to help improve our scores. Please make sure to work on our weekly vocabulary words with your superstar. They can be found on the website. Students need to know multiple ways for explaining what each word means (just memorizing the definition won't be enough). They need to be able to use them correctly in a variety of sentences and contexts. Listing synonyms (words that mean the same) would be another great way to study!
We had our first homework club celebration on Friday! 19 of the 24 Superstars stayed in the club for all of September. We had a picnic in the classroom, listened to music and enjoyed doughnut holes from Ms. Davidson. What a great time!! :) Everyone rejoined the club for Oct. So far 21 out of 24 kids are still in the club.
This week, the superstars had their first experience with a sub. It was not a perfect day, but they definitely got some quality work done. When I am out, please keep in mind that I explain the clip system to the sub in my plans, but they most likely will not implement it in the same way that I do. Some may choose not to use it at all. Just keep that in mind when looking at their behavior chart for days that I am out.
We had to cancel Sports Day due to rainy weather so we are really looking forward to next week.
In math, we focused on learning new addition strategies to add to our math tool belts. I love to arm students with as many ways to attack a problem as possible. Some of these ways may seem unusual or different from what you and I learned in school. However, I have seen the powerful impact they can have on a child's number sense. We are trying to create flexible and creative mathematical minds. :)
In reading, we focused on comparing and contrasting. We practiced using sentences to prove our thinking:
____ and ____ are alike because they both _____
____ and ____ are different because ____ is ___ and ____ is ____.
Here is an example the kids came up with using characters from James and the Giant Peach:
The earthworm and the centipede are alike because they both love James.
The earthworm and the centipede are different because the earthworm has no legs and the centipede has 42 legs.