I sit down to my computer and my blog I write!
Weebly Website for Students:
For those who are looking to keep their children entertained while we still have power, check out the NEW Student Website Login Page! Students, whose parents signed and returned the permission slip, now have a username and password to access the Weebly website and create one of their very own. I will email each parent the username and password to keep on file. The student websites are PRIVATE and will not be made public.
Scholastic Skills Practice Reading Packets (weekly homework):
Learning from mistakes is a common phrase repeated often in our class. Even the simplist of mistakes is valuable if we can learn from it. I have seen significant growth in the way students attack the multiple choice questions in hte weekly reading packets. Clearly they are learning and using the test taking strategies taught in class. Every Wednesday and Friday we spend a good deal of time analyzing the types of test questions being asked and the strategies they are using to answer these questions.
Many students have indicated that their parents check over their answers prior to returning them back to school. Thank you for taking the time to go over their homework and helping them to think twice about their choices. As you can see from the types of questions being asked, the answer isn't always "right there".
Speaking of "Right There"... This year at two of our Professional Development days the MURSD Elementary staff learned of a technique, developed by Taffy Raphael, to teach students how to answer open response questions. Read below to find out more about this approach to questions and answer relationships and the language that we are using when discussing questions on our reading skills packets.
QAR:
Question & Answer Relationships
QAR basically defines itself. It is the relationship between questions and their answers. There are four basic types of question and answer relationships. We have been spending a great deal of time looking closely at each one while reading and comprehending both fiction and non fiction text. Learning how to identify the four types of questions is only half of it. The real work comes when students learn how to ANSWER each of the four types of questions. Our class is becoming experts on "Right There" and "Think and Search" and we are getting closer at becoming experts on "Author and Me". Inferencing, predicting outcomes, and using context clues are skills we work on every day while reading and writing so that we can become masterful at answering "Author and Me" questions.
QAR basically defines itself. It is the relationship between questions and their answers. There are four basic types of question and answer relationships.
- Right There -- In this type of QAR, the answer is found in the text. Also, the words in the question and the words in the answer are usually in the same sentence. The reader can point to the answer.
- Think and Search -- In this type of QAR, the answer is found in the text. However, the words in the question and the words in the answer are not found in the same sentence. The reader must put together different parts of the text to get the answer.
- Author and Me (or Author and You) -- The answer is not found in the text. The reader has to put together the information the author provides with information the reader already knows to come up with the answer. (Inferencing)
- On My Own (or On Your Own) -- The reader does not use the text at all to answer the question. The answer is based on the reader's opinions and experiences.
Learning multiplication combinations has become a natural routine in our classroom. Students are expected to take a 3 minute timed test every Tuesday and Friday as they progress and move on at their own pace. This week we began to look more closely at the relationship between multiplication and division.
(Multiplication as repeated addition vs Division as repeated subtraction)
As students continue to learn their multiplication combinations they will now add division to the mix. Your child may have come home on Thursday with a small plastic bag carrying division flash cards on a ring. Students are encouraged to use these cards until they have fluency. Once ready, they will return the set they have and get the next set to practice with.
Once students have completed up to the 12's combinations, they will be given a MIXED Test with 30-50 problems in multiplication to solve, with Division combinations following this skill set. Students can expect to have weekly timed tests on multiplication and division combinations until the end of the year.
After Vacation, we will be moving on to Area and Perimeter and it's relationship with multiplication. We have already done some work in class with both area and perimeter, but will reinforce these concepts in greater depth.
Science:
Phases of the moon and the Planets in our solar system have been the focus in science class with Mrs Henderson. Check out this Moon Phases Calendar with your child and see if you can see the real deal outside at night, starting during February Vacation. Looking for a fun, family activity? Try this: Moon Phases with Oreo Cookies! If you try it...Take a photograph and send it in for us to see!
Is your child lost in space? Check out this website by NASA for enrichment! Or another one to try...Solar System and the Planets
Below is a catchy song for you to enjoyfound and shared by Mrs. Cote, a fabulous Third Grade teacher at Clough school.
On That NOTE...I will sign off for tonight and wish you all good luck as we hunker down and prepare for Nemo!