Curriculum Update for the Week of February 9th
Language Arts
This week I used the book "Night in the Country" by Cynthia Rylant to teach the comprehension strategy - visualization. Visualizing refers to our ability to create pictures in our heads based on text we read or words we hear. It is one of many skills that makes reading comprehension possible.Language Arts
Why Is It Important?
Visualizing strengthens reading comprehension skills as students gain a more thorough understanding of the text they are reading by consciously using the words to create mental images. As students gain more deliberate practice with this skill, the act of visualizing text becomes automatic. Students who visualize as they read not only have a richer reading experience but can recall what they have read for longer periods of time.
To teach this strategy I read the book "Night in the Country" to the students without showing them the pictures. I asked them to make a mental picture, like a movie, as I read. Then I had the students illustrate a page from the book without seeing the picture. The students couldn't wait to see if their mental picture was similar to the actual illustration in the book!
During writer's workshop we focused on writing paragraphs using our varied sentence starters. The students are very excited to apply their new writing skills to story writing.
Over the last few weeks we have been working on different strategies for addition of multi-digit numbers. Many of us learned the standard algorithm method (stack numbers and add, regroup 10 ones for 1 ten when needed) when we were in school. Your child will be taught this method as well. However, I feel that it is beneficial to expose the students to many different strategies. Not all students learn the same way, therefore each student will be given the opportunity to use the strategy that “works” best for them. This week we focused on the “open number line” and the “break apart” strategies. For many of the students, the open number line is a new strategy. If you are interested in having a look at how I have explained the open number line to my students, please click on the link to have a look.
http://youtu.be/G9dHMtGAv5g
The other strategy that we worked on this week was the break apart method. Please click on the following video if you’d like to have a look at how to use this strategy.
http://youtu.be/8N4N2EE1uYg
The students enjoyed using Stratedice to "explode" their multi-digit numbers in preparation of the "break apart" stategy.
Math
Over the last few weeks we have been working on different strategies for addition of multi-digit numbers. Many of us learned the standard algorithm method (stack numbers and add, regroup 10 ones for 1 ten when needed) when we were in school. Your child will be taught this method as well. However, I feel that it is beneficial to expose the students to many different strategies. Not all students learn the same way, therefore each student will be given the opportunity to use the strategy that “works” best for them. This week we focused on the “open number line” and the “break apart” strategies. For many of the students, the open number line is a new strategy. If you are interested in having a look at how I have explained the open number line to my students, please click on the link to have a look.
http://youtu.be/G9dHMtGAv5g
The other strategy that we worked on this week was the break apart method. Please click on the following video if you’d like to have a look at how to use this strategy.
http://youtu.be/8N4N2EE1uYg
The students enjoyed using Stratedice to "explode" their multi-digit numbers in preparation of the "break apart" stategy.
Social Studies
This week we started putting together our Tunisa Lapbook.
Congratulations to Mr. S for being chosen as our VIP for the week. He is a kind, friendly student who always works to the best of his ability. The students enjoyed a visit from Mr. S's favourite furry friend!
Thank you to all of the students, family and friends for donating to "Jump Rope for Heart" in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
These four students were so excited to win prizes for participating in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday.
Thank you to Mr. E for bringing each of the students a souvenir rock from your recent trip. It was very thoughtful!
One of our students cashed in their DOJO points to bring in a stuffy for the day!
Thank you to all of the students, family and friends for donating to "Jump Rope for Heart" in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
These four students were so excited to win prizes for participating in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday.
We had a great Valentine's Day Party on Friday. The students enjoyed exchanging Valentine's Day cards with their classmates and playing some fun games. Thank you to those students that contributed food for our party.
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