Classroom Snap Shot

We're back! My sincere apologies for not keeping up with this blog and popular demand :) we are back in action! Although, we have been away for some time we have still been very hard at work. Learning about 3D shapes, 2D shapes, measurement, graphing, research writing, expository writing, taking notes on fiction and non fiction text, cursive, presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, Martin Luther King, Black History Heroes, celebrating Dr. Suess' Birthday, learning all about contractions, and so much more! I am so happy to be back to keep you all informed of our happenings here in room 005!

Today We:

• Continued our discussion on telling time to the nearest five minutes. Sudents have been very successful with telling time so far! For the last couple weeks we have taken a new approach to our math lessons and it has proven to be very succesful in cementing learning of new and old mathematical concepts. As apart of the Common Core Math Committee in the district I have received a lot of training on Common Core and its rigourous expectations. Therefore, I have began implementing the standards of Mathematical Practice. The standards of Mathematical Practice supports the why or how of math. We've always learned the what, but have often forgotten that students also need to understand the why behind math and how it works, instead of just memorization of math practices. Each Week or the remainder of the year I will introduce to you one of the matematical practices and how we used it in our classroom for math that week or day.
• This Weeks' Mathematical Practice:
• Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
• Throughout our math lesson I ask the question  how. How do you know that? How can you convince me? Convince your partner that your logic and thinking is valid. Did you convince me? How do you know? The use of these questions alone have sparked so many ah!ha! moments in our classroom. It has truly given me goose bumps to watch students debate back and forth with classmates and teams on their reasoning of how mathematic concepts work. A quote from a student today, " At first I thought that it was a correct display of time; however, after speaking with my partner I am convinced that it is not a correct way of showing 1:50 beause...." the student went on to elaborate their NEW thinking successfully. I love this and students enjoy it too... getting an opportunity to debate with one another and proving their thinking using a variety of arguments including modeling. It is amazing!
• Learned the lower case letter f in cursive. So far we have learned all the lower case letters of the alphabet except the letter b, which is our lesson tomorrow. Please continue to practice students cursive writing at home, as they will be assessed on cursive handwriting in the fourth quarter.
• Have just completed our unit of Expository Writing and our writing piece, How Mrs. Szurek Helps Our Shool. Up next is our unit on Directional or How To Writing, which is one of mt favorites.
• Continued our discussion of plants in our Living and non living unit.

Reminders:

• If you have not scheduled a parent teacher conference please do so as soon as possible! Scheduled times will be sent home today if scheduled.
• Report Cards will be sent home this Thursday.
• Spring Picture Day is scheduled for this Thursday.
• We are in need of Guest Readers, remember this can be a family member, family friend, parent, older brother or sister, etc. We'd greatly appreciate it! Just click the guest reader link up top to schedule.
• Continue practicing math facts!
• Practice Cursive writing (lower case letters only)!