Classroom Summary November 21 - December 2

Gwyneth's Go Noodle Turkey Character

Morgan's Go Noodle Turkey Character

Here's what we've been up to...

In math we have been working very hard learning different strategies for adding two digit numbers. We have learned to break apart addends into tens and ones and then add those tens and ones separately before putting them back together again. We also learned how to keep one addend whole and break apart only one of the addends. We used cubes, place value blocks (a.k.a. base ten blocks) and open number lines too. We even learned a strategy called compensation (Miss Varrell calls it the Robin Hood strategy) where we subtract a small amount from one addend and immediately add it onto the other addend to make the two numbers easier to add.

This week we learned some new math vocabulary words: compatible numbers,  partial sum and regrouping.  We know that two addends that are easier to add are called compatible numbers. For instance, would you rather add these ---->     28 + 49  or these ---->     27 + 50?    If you would rather add the second equation, that's probably because those numbers are more compatible. It's much easier to add two addends when one of them is just a group of tens! We also learned that the word partial means 'part of' so we were pretty excited to find out that we have been doing partial sums when we broke apart numbers into tens and ones to add them! We will learn about regrouping next week.

In Fundations this week we learned some new suffixes. Our list has now grown from six to thirteen! Here are the suffixes that we are now responsible for spelling in our writing and decoding in our reading: -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est, -less, -ness, -ment, -ful, -able, -en, and -ish. Here is a group playing a suffix game to help us differentiate the sounds of the suffix -ed:

In Miss Varrell's reading group students have been working on learning how to retell, or summarize, a fiction story. Students used a graphic organizer to collect story notes about an independent text and used them to create a short summary 'paragraph' [N.B. formal paragraph writing will not be taught until the new year]. We spent a lot of time discussing the elements of a story (characters, setting, problem, solution, ending, and sometimes a moral or author's message) and how details included in a summary are usually the important events that move the story forward to its conclusion. We will practice more written retells/summaries in the future. Next week teachers will be assessing children on their reading progress to date to provide data for administration and to inform teachers for instructional purposes.

In social studies we have begun working on our unit about continents, oceans and cultures. We will be studying about maps, globes, landforms and bodies of water while learning about various cultures around the world. Next week please be on the look out for a cultural survey that will be coming home as part of a homework assignment. We will use the information brought back to school to help us understand about our own family traditions and cultures and how to appreciate our unique differences and worldwide similarities.

Parent F.Y.I.

• Thank you to all of my fabulous Room 211 parents for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend Parent-Teacher Conference Day today. We are partners in education and I appreciate all you do at home to support learning every day. Thank you for time and your undivided attention. :)
• Please remember to send in your child's field trip permission slip and money as soon as possible. Can you believe it is December already?! If you are  unsure whether or not you sent in the slip, just drop me a line and I will either send you another permission slip to be filled out let you know that you are all set!
• The first term report cards are yours to keep, but if you could please return the green folders to school I would be very grateful (I will reuse them in March when the second term report cards are sent home).
• Have a fabulous weekend and enjoy these unusual warm temperatures for December!
• Our next book order form will be going home next week. Order forms and payment will be due Friday, December 9. If you would like me to hold any books ordered for you (as a secret gift) just send me a note with your order next week. :)