October 13-17 Update

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog!  Here is the information from the week:

Math:
During this week in math, students in third grade focused on growing their multiplication and division facts.  Fourth grade students continued to work with multiplication models to multiply two digit by one digit numbers.  Fifth graders had some fun with decimals, making sure to line up the decimal before adding or subtracting. Next week we are going to change our independent stations a bit. When students are finished working independently on their workbook pages or activities, they will have online games to play that correlate with the lesson of that day.  Thank you to Mrs. Maas, Mrs. Oelhafen, Mrs. Kreuser for volunteering their time in our room!

Guided Reading:
Summarizing continued to be our focus during our mini lessons and small groups this week.  Some students continued to work with a graphic organizers while others moved onto writing paragraphs using the information they would typically include in the graphic organizer.  Next week we will begin talking about finding the theme in literature.

A book club group discussing their book, before writing about it!

Writing:
We continued to work on personal narratives during our writing sessions.  Something new that we began this week is starting our writing period off with a brainstorm session!  If a student is stuck on how to resolve their conflict or what characters to add or how they might begin their piece, their peers give suggestions.  It is so neat to hear all of the unique ideas that they share together.

Our anchor chart for personal narratives continues to grow!  Every mini-lesson we have is added to our list of must-haves.

Social Studies:
Exploration was the name of the game this week in social studies.  Columbus, Magellan, Cabot, Balboa and Vespucci were the topics of lessons this week.  On Thursday and Friday, students took time to create an artifact having to do with exploration.  Some students selected decorating a trunk for travel and creating a list of 25 items they would take with them on a voyage, other students selected reading a choose-your-own-adventure book and writing a short summary of their experience and others decided to create a picture of a shoal complete with a ship, animals and underwater plants.

Students in the 3-5 Cohort working on their social study activities!

Reminders:

• Don't forget to RSVP for the PTO's Halloween Bash that will be held next Thursday, the 23rd from 6:00-7:30.
• No school for kids on Friday, the 24th.  KSD Staff has an inservice day.
• We will be holding a cake walk at the Halloween Bash-5th grade students took home more information on Friday.
• Red Ribbon Week begins next week. 
• Monday is Wear Red Day! You will be given a pencil and bookmark purchased by our PTO
• Tuesday is Hats Off To Being Drug Free-wear a hat (the crazier, the better)
• Wednesday is I "Mustache" You Not To Do Drugs-wear a mustache or disguise
• Thursday is-Being Drug Free is Healthy For Me-wear clothes for exercising and bring a healthy snack