Taking a Look at the Week of October 15 - 19

     Last week in reading we discussed the essential question "How do families work together?" We read two stories about families who work on farms and how they make a living by selling their goods to the markets in the city. We also discussed what it means to be a consumer and a producer. For example, consumers are people who buy things at Shaws,Walmart, or Target. Producers are the people who make the goods. Students compared and contrasted two different families, and learned how to take notes using a Venn diagram.
     In math we learned about compensation, which is an easier way to add numbers that are easy to add. For example, if given the problem 28 + 16, it might be easier to say 30 + 14. Add two to 28 to get 30, and take two from 16 to get 14. Then you can easily add 30 + 14 in your head.  We also learned about what a hidden question is in problem solving, and reviewed how to break apart numbers when adding two digit numbers within 100.
     In writing, we are continuing to write narrative essays. Students wrote ways that they are helpful, and I will share this with you at Parent Teacher Conferences in November.  They also learned how to write an effective lead and an interesting closing.  This year we will be working on adding detail to our writing, and this coming week we will be learning about nouns in grammar.
     Please let me know if you would like to be a reader in our Mystery Reader program! It's going strong and the kids would love it! If you can't be available to read, perhaps a grandparent can read to the class!