VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Week of February 1st
Reading/Language/Word Work/Writing
As we have shared the past couple weeks, students have been placed in small groups when receiving instruction during workshop time. In order to learn more about what your child is learning, you might ask them the following questions…
What have you been learning about how words work?
What patterns and rules have you learned about spelling words?
Teach me your new knowledge around language?
Show me a reading strategy that you have been practicing? Does this strategy help you read words efficiently, or help you understand your book better?
Team Hartwig Math
First grade mathematicians worked to continue their learning around 2D shapes. They have worked to sort shapes by different features; sides and corners. After understanding how to sort shapes, students used clues to create their own shapes. They also worked to join 2D shapes together and worked to talk about the characteristics of these newly created shapes.
Students also have been going back to strategy practice. All students were assessed on the strategies that they were taught (strategies on red sorting map). The strategies that they need more practice on have been reinforced during workshop time. Please continue to support your child with their facts. Please note: the speed right now is not what is important. The focus should be on the strategy. If your child uses counting on to solve helping doubles and make a ten, please prompt and support them to use the actual strategy. This will help the computations of larger math problems in the future.
Social Studies
Team HK has created a vocabulary trunk in social studies class. This trunk holds all of the new vocabulary words that students will be introduced to during this unit of study. Some words already in the trunk are; history, past, present, future, historian, evidence & artifacts. Students have begun to also learn about primary and secondary sources
Reading/Language/Word Work/Writing
As we have shared the past couple weeks, students have been placed in small groups when receiving instruction during workshop time. In order to learn more about what your child is learning, you might ask them the following questions…
What have you been learning about how words work?
What patterns and rules have you learned about spelling words?
Teach me your new knowledge around language?
Show me a reading strategy that you have been practicing? Does this strategy help you read words efficiently, or help you understand your book better?
Team Hartwig Math
First grade mathematicians worked to continue their learning around 2D shapes. They have worked to sort shapes by different features; sides and corners. After understanding how to sort shapes, students used clues to create their own shapes. They also worked to join 2D shapes together and worked to talk about the characteristics of these newly created shapes.
Students also have been going back to strategy practice. All students were assessed on the strategies that they were taught (strategies on red sorting map). The strategies that they need more practice on have been reinforced during workshop time. Please continue to support your child with their facts. Please note: the speed right now is not what is important. The focus should be on the strategy. If your child uses counting on to solve helping doubles and make a ten, please prompt and support them to use the actual strategy. This will help the computations of larger math problems in the future.
Social Studies
Team HK has created a vocabulary trunk in social studies class. This trunk holds all of the new vocabulary words that students will be introduced to during this unit of study. Some words already in the trunk are; history, past, present, future, historian, evidence & artifacts. Students have begun to also learn about primary and secondary sources
Week of January 25th
Reading / Language
This week in reader’s workshop, reading clubs continued to meet in small groups to read their guided books and work on talking about their story to build comprehension. The mini lessons have continued to be focused on language and word work standards. Your child has been learning about vowels and/or vowel teams in order to read and write larger words and be successful. Talk with your child about what word chunks they have been working on in order to ensure they are transferring into their night time reading!
Team Hartwig Math
In math this week students have begun to investigate turns, directions, and 2D shapes. Students worked to master the directions of right and left, as well as applying these terms to rotate objects correctly. They also began to study 2D shapes and worked to understand the terms sides, corners, and points. Please discuss these vocabulary items with your mathematician!
Team Keating Math
Team Keating mathematicians have been working on place value and number lines this week! We have a strong understanding of numbers and their positions in the ones, tens, and hundreds place. We have come up with three steps when we are looking at and working with number lines. First, we look at what the number line and starts and ends with. Second, we we look at how many tick marks or markers there are in between. Finally, we make sure it makes sense!! Ask your mathematician to show you the process!!
Writer’s Workshop
In writer’s workshop this week your child has been part of small, targeted learning groups. Some groups have begun to learn about opinion and persuasive writing. They are using mentor articles and texts to determine the structure and craft for this genre. Other groups are working on fiction writing to ensure that a strong plot is included when writing a story. They have also been working to ensure clarify and thoughtful writing that includes: appropriate upper and lowercase letters, finger spaces, punctuation and spelling, complete sentences and thoughts. Please talk with your child about their focus for the week!!
Social Studies
In social studies this week students talked about how one might be able to learn about the past. Newspapers, books, magazines, talking to others, internet, and photographs are just a few ways that could be used to learn more about long ago! They also worked to create a vocabulary trunk that will house new social studies words learned throughout the unit.
Reading / Language
This week in reader’s workshop, reading clubs continued to meet in small groups to read their guided books and work on talking about their story to build comprehension. The mini lessons have continued to be focused on language and word work standards. Your child has been learning about vowels and/or vowel teams in order to read and write larger words and be successful. Talk with your child about what word chunks they have been working on in order to ensure they are transferring into their night time reading!
Team Hartwig Math
In math this week students have begun to investigate turns, directions, and 2D shapes. Students worked to master the directions of right and left, as well as applying these terms to rotate objects correctly. They also began to study 2D shapes and worked to understand the terms sides, corners, and points. Please discuss these vocabulary items with your mathematician!
Team Keating Math
Team Keating mathematicians have been working on place value and number lines this week! We have a strong understanding of numbers and their positions in the ones, tens, and hundreds place. We have come up with three steps when we are looking at and working with number lines. First, we look at what the number line and starts and ends with. Second, we we look at how many tick marks or markers there are in between. Finally, we make sure it makes sense!! Ask your mathematician to show you the process!!
Writer’s Workshop
In writer’s workshop this week your child has been part of small, targeted learning groups. Some groups have begun to learn about opinion and persuasive writing. They are using mentor articles and texts to determine the structure and craft for this genre. Other groups are working on fiction writing to ensure that a strong plot is included when writing a story. They have also been working to ensure clarify and thoughtful writing that includes: appropriate upper and lowercase letters, finger spaces, punctuation and spelling, complete sentences and thoughts. Please talk with your child about their focus for the week!!
Social Studies
In social studies this week students talked about how one might be able to learn about the past. Newspapers, books, magazines, talking to others, internet, and photographs are just a few ways that could be used to learn more about long ago! They also worked to create a vocabulary trunk that will house new social studies words learned throughout the unit.
Week of January 11th and January 18th
Reading / Language
In reading the past couple weeks your child has been working on a study around vowels, blends and digraphs and how words work!
*cvc words make a short vowel sound
*cvce words make a long vowel sound
*how the use of digraphs change the vowel sound
*consonant blends
As your child is reading and writing at home, please encourage them to use these vowel patterns to decode or write the words while accurately using the correct vowel sound.
**Please ensure that your child is filling out their reading log EACH DAY that they read. All minutes should be totaled at the end of each week and written on the line.
Team Hartwig Math
In first grade math the last week your child has been learning about capacity. They have discovered that containers can all have different capacities; some containers able to hold more than others. They have also investigated why some containers look so different but can have the same capacity.
Please continue to work on addition flashcards! Your child has a sorting map in their blue math folder that they can use to support them with their strategies. As you have noticed, some cards are rubber banded. These are the facts that your child knows fluently; within 3 seconds without having to count on or use a strategy. This fluency goal with facts is for the end of second grade.
Team Keating Math
Team Keating Mathematicians have been revisiting our addition and subtraction strategies in order to help us with double digit addition and subtraction. We have also been revisiting our flash cards and reminding ourselves which strategies are the most efficient to use when we don’t automatically know a math fact. Please continue to work on flashcards nightly for 5-10 minutes!
Social Studies
We have begun a new Social Studies unit of study; Thinking Like A Historian. Students have just begun to think about what history is and why learning about history is important! You might use this as a conversation starter
about school :)
Reading / Language
In reading the past couple weeks your child has been working on a study around vowels, blends and digraphs and how words work!
*cvc words make a short vowel sound
*cvce words make a long vowel sound
*how the use of digraphs change the vowel sound
*consonant blends
As your child is reading and writing at home, please encourage them to use these vowel patterns to decode or write the words while accurately using the correct vowel sound.
**Please ensure that your child is filling out their reading log EACH DAY that they read. All minutes should be totaled at the end of each week and written on the line.
Team Hartwig Math
In first grade math the last week your child has been learning about capacity. They have discovered that containers can all have different capacities; some containers able to hold more than others. They have also investigated why some containers look so different but can have the same capacity.
Please continue to work on addition flashcards! Your child has a sorting map in their blue math folder that they can use to support them with their strategies. As you have noticed, some cards are rubber banded. These are the facts that your child knows fluently; within 3 seconds without having to count on or use a strategy. This fluency goal with facts is for the end of second grade.
Team Keating Math
Team Keating Mathematicians have been revisiting our addition and subtraction strategies in order to help us with double digit addition and subtraction. We have also been revisiting our flash cards and reminding ourselves which strategies are the most efficient to use when we don’t automatically know a math fact. Please continue to work on flashcards nightly for 5-10 minutes!
Social Studies
We have begun a new Social Studies unit of study; Thinking Like A Historian. Students have just begun to think about what history is and why learning about history is important! You might use this as a conversation starter
about school :)
Week of September 28th
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop we have been discussing before, during, and after reading strategies! Reader's know that before they read they need to activate their schema by looking closely at the title, author, and illustrator. They also do a picture walk to anticipate vocabulary and activate their schema.
Writer's Workshop
We have started studying personal narrative in writer's workshop. We know that personal narrative is writing that shares a moment from our life. Writer's are looking at the structure of personal narrative and the craft that author's bring to personal narrative!
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop we have been discussing before, during, and after reading strategies! Reader's know that before they read they need to activate their schema by looking closely at the title, author, and illustrator. They also do a picture walk to anticipate vocabulary and activate their schema.
Writer's Workshop
We have started studying personal narrative in writer's workshop. We know that personal narrative is writing that shares a moment from our life. Writer's are looking at the structure of personal narrative and the craft that author's bring to personal narrative!
Team Keating Math
Math workshop has been all about graphing! Students have learned about a bar graph and a picture graph. The collected data, then graphed their data and finally analyzed their data by asking and answering questions!
Team Hartwig Math
Team Hartwig mathematicians practiced the counting on strategy by adding 1 or 2 more to numbers less than 15.
Science
Students continued to explore properties of solids and liquids. We discovered that liquids take the shape of the container they are in!
Math workshop has been all about graphing! Students have learned about a bar graph and a picture graph. The collected data, then graphed their data and finally analyzed their data by asking and answering questions!
Team Hartwig Math
Team Hartwig mathematicians practiced the counting on strategy by adding 1 or 2 more to numbers less than 15.
Science
Students continued to explore properties of solids and liquids. We discovered that liquids take the shape of the container they are in!
Week of September 14th!
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop we have been discussing stamina! Stamina is how long we can do something really well! We have created a line graph to keep track of our reading stamina. See the picture below!
Writer's Workshop
Author's purpose has been the topic this week in writer's workshop! We know that all authors write their books for a reason! Ask your author what the title of their book is, what it is about, and what their purpose is for writing the book. We have learned about writing to remember, teach or inform, entertain, persuade, and because we really like a topic or know a lot about it.
Team Keating Math
Math workshop has been discussing place value and where and how we know where numbers go. Students were involved in an investigation with the numbers 3, 5, and 7! Ask your mathematician what the challenge was!!!!
Team Hartwig Math
Team Hartwig mathematicians worked on understanding teen numbers this week. They understand that a teen number means a ten and some more!
Science
Students are investigating solids and their properties this week in science! They are learning new vocabulary like flexible, rigid, smooth, rough, soft, hard, etc. Ask your scientist about solids around the house!!
Week of September 1st!
Wow! Our first week of school is already done!! We have accomplished so much this week already!! Please see the pictures below of our first week!!
We are readers!!!
Sharing our favorite books with a partner!
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop we have been discussing stamina! Stamina is how long we can do something really well! We have created a line graph to keep track of our reading stamina. See the picture below!
Writer's Workshop
Author's purpose has been the topic this week in writer's workshop! We know that all authors write their books for a reason! Ask your author what the title of their book is, what it is about, and what their purpose is for writing the book. We have learned about writing to remember, teach or inform, entertain, persuade, and because we really like a topic or know a lot about it.
Team Keating Math
Math workshop has been discussing place value and where and how we know where numbers go. Students were involved in an investigation with the numbers 3, 5, and 7! Ask your mathematician what the challenge was!!!!
Team Hartwig Math
Team Hartwig mathematicians worked on understanding teen numbers this week. They understand that a teen number means a ten and some more!
Science
Students are investigating solids and their properties this week in science! They are learning new vocabulary like flexible, rigid, smooth, rough, soft, hard, etc. Ask your scientist about solids around the house!!
Week of September 1st!
Wow! Our first week of school is already done!! We have accomplished so much this week already!! Please see the pictures below of our first week!!
We are readers!!!
Sharing our favorite books with a partner!
Celebrating summer reading with Bat Lady!
Mrs. Enk came in to share some books she is "Batty" about! The kids loved her costume and her read aloud!
Mrs. Enk came in to share some books she is "Batty" about! The kids loved her costume and her read aloud!
Classroom Tours for our New Friends!
Our "old friends" took our "new friends" on a tour of the classroom this week! Some areas of interest were the classroom library, portfolios, writing center, word wall, indoor recess toys, and book bins.
Our "old friends" took our "new friends" on a tour of the classroom this week! Some areas of interest were the classroom library, portfolios, writing center, word wall, indoor recess toys, and book bins.
Writer's Workshop
In writer's workshop, our new friends began to investigate what workshop is. They decided workshop is a place where we work hard, make things, fix things and work together! Next week our old friends are going to teach what the different parts of workshop are (mini-lesson, independent practice, and share circle)! The pictures below are of our old friends brainstorming each part of workshop and what the students do and what the teachers do during those times. :)
In writer's workshop, our new friends began to investigate what workshop is. They decided workshop is a place where we work hard, make things, fix things and work together! Next week our old friends are going to teach what the different parts of workshop are (mini-lesson, independent practice, and share circle)! The pictures below are of our old friends brainstorming each part of workshop and what the students do and what the teachers do during those times. :)
Our friends are getting into their new summer reads!!!
Mrs. Hartwig and Mrs. Keating over summer!
Summer News 2015!
Welcome to our Team Hartwig Keating Classroom Weebly Page! This will be our main way to communicate what is happening in rooms 23 & 24 throughout the school year. Please save this link so that you can reference it during the year. We will update this page each week (on Fridays) with news of what your child learned or participated in during the week. Visit the Notes & Reminders tab to view reminders of what is coming up for your child in the upcoming weeks!
Please join us on Friday, August 7th at 12:30 for a Team Hartwig Keating picnic lunch at Manchester Park in Muskego. Bring your family, your lunches and a blanket. We will eat lunch, chat, and play together! A great opportunity to visit with returning families and get to know our new friends! Hope you are able to attend :)
**Check out some examples below of what our page looks like with news from the 2014-15 school year!
*****************************************************
Welcome to our Team Hartwig Keating Classroom Weebly Page! This will be our main way to communicate what is happening in rooms 23 & 24 throughout the school year. Please save this link so that you can reference it during the year. We will update this page each week (on Fridays) with news of what your child learned or participated in during the week. Visit the Notes & Reminders tab to view reminders of what is coming up for your child in the upcoming weeks!
Please join us on Friday, August 7th at 12:30 for a Team Hartwig Keating picnic lunch at Manchester Park in Muskego. Bring your family, your lunches and a blanket. We will eat lunch, chat, and play together! A great opportunity to visit with returning families and get to know our new friends! Hope you are able to attend :)
**Check out some examples below of what our page looks like with news from the 2014-15 school year!
*****************************************************
Students Sharing Their Portfolio Work on Characters :)
Week of April 27th
Writer's Workshop
Both Team Hartwig and Keating writers are working on their opinion unit of study. They are learning how to structure an opinion piece using a proper introduction, middle and conclusion. Ask your child about how to write an opinion article and what makes an opinion text different from a book or story! Look for sample writing pieces to come home in the near future. Their opinion pieces will also become a part of their portfolio that you will view at the end of the year!
Reader's Workshop
Both Team Hartwig readers and Team Keating readers have wrapped up their character unit of study. We ended with a celebration of learning today after Jump Rope for Heart! The students from each team of readers shared their final performance task with one another!
Readers from Team Hartwig who completed their character unit two weeks ago, studied sentence structure for the past 2 weeks. We learned about what makes a sentence complete; both with structure (grammar) and mechanics. Students worked to identify different parts of speech in sentences while proving what made them complete, and also worked to write and label their own complete sentences! Ask your child about nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc!!!
Team Keating Math
This week in math we have wrapped up our investigation around the combinations to ten strategy, make a ten strategy, and identifying one-half of an amount! Students really enjoyed the investigation around one-half of an amount! We used pennies in the classroom to split between two equal groups! Have your mathematician show you how they would go about it at home. Please see below the difference between the combinations to ten strategy and the make a ten strategy.
Combinations to ten: 9+1=10
8+2=10
7+3=10
6+4=10
etc.
Make a ten: 9+4=? think 10+3=13
8+6=? think 10+4=14
Writer's Workshop
Both Team Hartwig and Keating writers are working on their opinion unit of study. They are learning how to structure an opinion piece using a proper introduction, middle and conclusion. Ask your child about how to write an opinion article and what makes an opinion text different from a book or story! Look for sample writing pieces to come home in the near future. Their opinion pieces will also become a part of their portfolio that you will view at the end of the year!
Reader's Workshop
Both Team Hartwig readers and Team Keating readers have wrapped up their character unit of study. We ended with a celebration of learning today after Jump Rope for Heart! The students from each team of readers shared their final performance task with one another!
Readers from Team Hartwig who completed their character unit two weeks ago, studied sentence structure for the past 2 weeks. We learned about what makes a sentence complete; both with structure (grammar) and mechanics. Students worked to identify different parts of speech in sentences while proving what made them complete, and also worked to write and label their own complete sentences! Ask your child about nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc!!!
Team Keating Math
This week in math we have wrapped up our investigation around the combinations to ten strategy, make a ten strategy, and identifying one-half of an amount! Students really enjoyed the investigation around one-half of an amount! We used pennies in the classroom to split between two equal groups! Have your mathematician show you how they would go about it at home. Please see below the difference between the combinations to ten strategy and the make a ten strategy.
Combinations to ten: 9+1=10
8+2=10
7+3=10
6+4=10
etc.
Make a ten: 9+4=? think 10+3=13
8+6=? think 10+4=14
Team Hartwig Math
This week in math students reviewed the addition strategies learned throughout second grade and worked to become more fluent with them! A picture of our classroom anchor chart is attached! Late this week we also began to review the subtraction strategies. We will attach a photo next week when complete.
This week in math students reviewed the addition strategies learned throughout second grade and worked to become more fluent with them! A picture of our classroom anchor chart is attached! Late this week we also began to review the subtraction strategies. We will attach a photo next week when complete.
Week of April 13th
Reading
This week in reading students have continued to study their book characters. We have worked to read about characters throughout a series in order to get to know them a bit better. What do they like? How do they react or respond to different situations? What type of things do they enjoy doing? When reading at home with your child, ask them to talk about their book character! They should have lots to share :)
Writing
This week students have continued to write their opinion article! They have learned the structure of an article; introduction, body that includes reasons and a conclusion. They have also been working on making sure that their reasons for supporting an issue/topic are strong. When pieces are published, they will be sent home to be shared with you!
Team Hartwig Math
This week in math, Team Hartwig has been working on fraction targets. We have been working to find one-half, one-third and one-fourth of a quantity and also a shape. Students have been working to understand that a fraction is an equal part of a whole. Please look for the math packet that is coming home today. Students can share their learning with you, and also make corrections if need be!
Reading
This week in reading students have continued to study their book characters. We have worked to read about characters throughout a series in order to get to know them a bit better. What do they like? How do they react or respond to different situations? What type of things do they enjoy doing? When reading at home with your child, ask them to talk about their book character! They should have lots to share :)
Writing
This week students have continued to write their opinion article! They have learned the structure of an article; introduction, body that includes reasons and a conclusion. They have also been working on making sure that their reasons for supporting an issue/topic are strong. When pieces are published, they will be sent home to be shared with you!
Team Hartwig Math
This week in math, Team Hartwig has been working on fraction targets. We have been working to find one-half, one-third and one-fourth of a quantity and also a shape. Students have been working to understand that a fraction is an equal part of a whole. Please look for the math packet that is coming home today. Students can share their learning with you, and also make corrections if need be!
Readers Workshop
We have continued discussing informational text and text features this week. Text features that students have investigated are: Table of Contents, Headings, Index, Big and Bold Words, Glossary, Photographs, Captions, Diagrams, Labels, Charts/Graphs/Maps. As your child brings informational texts home for night time reading, ask them to identify and define these features!!
Team Keating Math
Mathematicians have been working hard this week learning a new addition strategy! The Helping Doubles Strategy are facts that can be solved by doubling a number and adding or subtracting 1 or 2. Please note that this strategy is only useful after the students have mastered the doubles facts.
Example: 7+8=15 “I know 7+7=14 and 1 more is 15 or 9+7=16 “I know 9+9=18 and 2 less equals 16.
Math flashcards started coming home this week. A math fact parent letter was in your child's take home folder. Please take time to read the letter and have your child practice math flashcards on a regular basis.
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop this week Team Hartwig Keating students continued their learning around text features of informational books. While reading a nonfiction book with your child ask them to name the features that they know and begin to discuss the purpose of these features!
Here are some students demonstrating their understanding of text features in informational books on Follett Shelf (our library's online ebook catalog)!!
We have continued discussing informational text and text features this week. Text features that students have investigated are: Table of Contents, Headings, Index, Big and Bold Words, Glossary, Photographs, Captions, Diagrams, Labels, Charts/Graphs/Maps. As your child brings informational texts home for night time reading, ask them to identify and define these features!!
Team Keating Math
Mathematicians have been working hard this week learning a new addition strategy! The Helping Doubles Strategy are facts that can be solved by doubling a number and adding or subtracting 1 or 2. Please note that this strategy is only useful after the students have mastered the doubles facts.
Example: 7+8=15 “I know 7+7=14 and 1 more is 15 or 9+7=16 “I know 9+9=18 and 2 less equals 16.
Math flashcards started coming home this week. A math fact parent letter was in your child's take home folder. Please take time to read the letter and have your child practice math flashcards on a regular basis.
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop this week Team Hartwig Keating students continued their learning around text features of informational books. While reading a nonfiction book with your child ask them to name the features that they know and begin to discuss the purpose of these features!
Here are some students demonstrating their understanding of text features in informational books on Follett Shelf (our library's online ebook catalog)!!
Team Keating Math
We finished up our measurement study on capacity and weight early in the week. We began a more intensive investigation of doubles facts and how to solve them. Students are working toward "just knowing" their doubles facts. Strategies that students continue to work on are: the zero strategy, counting on strategy, and doubles strategy. Next week students will be working toward the doubles plus 1 strategy!!
We finished up our measurement study on capacity and weight early in the week. We began a more intensive investigation of doubles facts and how to solve them. Students are working toward "just knowing" their doubles facts. Strategies that students continue to work on are: the zero strategy, counting on strategy, and doubles strategy. Next week students will be working toward the doubles plus 1 strategy!!
Team Hartwig Math
This week in math your child continued their learning of 2D Shapes! They can sort shapes into Polygons and Non-Polygons; understanding that polygons are 2D shapes that are closed with straight lines. They then began to sort polygons into quadrilaterals, pentagons and hexagons and talk about similar and different attributes of each shape. Ask you child to draw or identify examples of these shapes!
This week in math your child continued their learning of 2D Shapes! They can sort shapes into Polygons and Non-Polygons; understanding that polygons are 2D shapes that are closed with straight lines. They then began to sort polygons into quadrilaterals, pentagons and hexagons and talk about similar and different attributes of each shape. Ask you child to draw or identify examples of these shapes!
Writing
This week our students began their research projects! All students chose a topic that they were curious to learn more about. They are learning the process that an author goes through to gather/learn enough research about a topic before writing an Informational book. Ask your child what topic they chose and what they are learning about their subject!
Spelling
Please take an extra look in your child's Take Home Folder the next few weeks for your child's weekly spelling words/routines. Each week we will be sending home about ten students with their words. A letter will be attached with the words to explain in more detail, but please practice their words throughout the week. The letter will also state which day your child's test is on.
This week our students began their research projects! All students chose a topic that they were curious to learn more about. They are learning the process that an author goes through to gather/learn enough research about a topic before writing an Informational book. Ask your child what topic they chose and what they are learning about their subject!
Spelling
Please take an extra look in your child's Take Home Folder the next few weeks for your child's weekly spelling words/routines. Each week we will be sending home about ten students with their words. A letter will be attached with the words to explain in more detail, but please practice their words throughout the week. The letter will also state which day your child's test is on.
Team Hartwig Math
This week, and continuing into next week, students were engaged in a geometry unit of study. The targets that students are working towards mastering are:
-I can describe and show a quarter, half and full turn.
-I can use vocabulary such as polygon, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and vertices to talk about 2D Shapes.
-I can create a 2D shape given criteria. I can then determine the name of this 2D shape.
Students will also be working on place value of three or four digit numbers in small groupings!
Ask your child some NUMBER RIDDLES:
*I am thinking of a number that is three digits
*There is a 3 in the hundreds place
*It has 5 tens and 7 ones
*Subtract 100 from this number
WHAT NUMBER AM I THINKING OF??!!
This week, and continuing into next week, students were engaged in a geometry unit of study. The targets that students are working towards mastering are:
-I can describe and show a quarter, half and full turn.
-I can use vocabulary such as polygon, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and vertices to talk about 2D Shapes.
-I can create a 2D shape given criteria. I can then determine the name of this 2D shape.
Students will also be working on place value of three or four digit numbers in small groupings!
Ask your child some NUMBER RIDDLES:
*I am thinking of a number that is three digits
*There is a 3 in the hundreds place
*It has 5 tens and 7 ones
*Subtract 100 from this number
WHAT NUMBER AM I THINKING OF??!!
Reader's Workshop
Welcome back reader's!! We are still continuing to read and explore informational text this week! Our focus has been on how to tell the difference between informational/non-fiction and fiction books. We have also been discussing text features, types of text features, what they are, and their purpose. Our investigation of informational text will transfer to our writer's workshop beginning next week!
Team Keating Math
Our target in math this week has been on story problems. We are working toward identifying the important information in story problems and learning how to figure out what operation is expected of us. Students have done a great job acting out word problems to check if they should add or subtract!! We will end our unit of study next week with learning about capacity!
Welcome back reader's!! We are still continuing to read and explore informational text this week! Our focus has been on how to tell the difference between informational/non-fiction and fiction books. We have also been discussing text features, types of text features, what they are, and their purpose. Our investigation of informational text will transfer to our writer's workshop beginning next week!
Team Keating Math
Our target in math this week has been on story problems. We are working toward identifying the important information in story problems and learning how to figure out what operation is expected of us. Students have done a great job acting out word problems to check if they should add or subtract!! We will end our unit of study next week with learning about capacity!
A week of COLD weather & indoor recess needs some ZUMBA!!!
The Polar Express & Hot Cocoa....the best :)
Team Hartwig Math
This week we worked on some sample Discovery Education tests, as students will be taking this assessment next week. We reviewed content that will be on the assessment. Most work students are used to doing, however like all assessments the way the question is presented can be tricky. We also looked closely at directions and how they can be tricky to read and understand. Students were often tricked when the directions said 'which is not an answer that makes sense' as they were used to finding the only answer that made sense. Please read in the Notes & Reminders tab as how to best help your child prepare!
This week we worked on some sample Discovery Education tests, as students will be taking this assessment next week. We reviewed content that will be on the assessment. Most work students are used to doing, however like all assessments the way the question is presented can be tricky. We also looked closely at directions and how they can be tricky to read and understand. Students were often tricked when the directions said 'which is not an answer that makes sense' as they were used to finding the only answer that made sense. Please read in the Notes & Reminders tab as how to best help your child prepare!
Reader's Workshop
This week we've continued to focus on Non-Fiction or Informational books during reader's workshop. Our target has been learning How to Read Like a Researcher! The targets that we worked on are listed on the anchor chart below. We also included a sample of what your child's reading log looks like. Using these photos and learning targets, have your child teach you about how to read like a researcher!!
Discovery Education practice assessments have also been a focus in reader's workshop. Students have been learning about test taking strategies and applying these strategies to the practice assessments.
This week we've continued to focus on Non-Fiction or Informational books during reader's workshop. Our target has been learning How to Read Like a Researcher! The targets that we worked on are listed on the anchor chart below. We also included a sample of what your child's reading log looks like. Using these photos and learning targets, have your child teach you about how to read like a researcher!!
Discovery Education practice assessments have also been a focus in reader's workshop. Students have been learning about test taking strategies and applying these strategies to the practice assessments.
Team Keating Math
This week in Team Keating math our target focus has been around subtraction! Students are learning that our language and vocabulary changes when we talk about subtraction. It has been a bit of a mind switch for us!!! Students are continuing to work on addition flashcards and telling time to the hour. We have also been practicing for our Discover Education assessment. Students have been logging in on their own and answering practice questions. They have done a great job all trimester getting to know the Chromebooks better and maneuvering around on them!!!
This week in Team Keating math our target focus has been around subtraction! Students are learning that our language and vocabulary changes when we talk about subtraction. It has been a bit of a mind switch for us!!! Students are continuing to work on addition flashcards and telling time to the hour. We have also been practicing for our Discover Education assessment. Students have been logging in on their own and answering practice questions. They have done a great job all trimester getting to know the Chromebooks better and maneuvering around on them!!!
Team Hartwig Math
This week in Team Hartwig math our focus has continued to be around subtraction. The target we are working towards is that students are able to subtract two digit numbers using a variety of strategies: tens and ones place value manipulatives, a 100's chart, and an open number line. You may see your son or daughter come home with homework the next couple weeks that will continue to practice these strategies. A due date for any homework assignments will be written at the top of the paper! Thank you in advance for your support with this. Please continue to practice addition & subtraction flashcards. As your child becomes fluent with these facts, they will be coming home with harder facts.
This week in Team Hartwig math our focus has continued to be around subtraction. The target we are working towards is that students are able to subtract two digit numbers using a variety of strategies: tens and ones place value manipulatives, a 100's chart, and an open number line. You may see your son or daughter come home with homework the next couple weeks that will continue to practice these strategies. A due date for any homework assignments will be written at the top of the paper! Thank you in advance for your support with this. Please continue to practice addition & subtraction flashcards. As your child becomes fluent with these facts, they will be coming home with harder facts.
Muskego Elementary Wolves!!
In our wolf packs we have begun a school-wide Kindness Study. Students will be learning about what it means to be kind to ALL people; whether they are similar to us or different. Lessons have been launched in the classroom and will continue on Wednesday afternoons during Wolf Pack time. Not only will students be learning more about kindness, but we will all become noticers. Staff and students alike will notice kind and caring actions. These actions will then be 'shout outs' and shared on multiple bulletin boards throughout the school. Check out these celebrations the next time you are at school! Students are "Taking Pride in Their Pack!!"
In our wolf packs we have begun a school-wide Kindness Study. Students will be learning about what it means to be kind to ALL people; whether they are similar to us or different. Lessons have been launched in the classroom and will continue on Wednesday afternoons during Wolf Pack time. Not only will students be learning more about kindness, but we will all become noticers. Staff and students alike will notice kind and caring actions. These actions will then be 'shout outs' and shared on multiple bulletin boards throughout the school. Check out these celebrations the next time you are at school! Students are "Taking Pride in Their Pack!!"
Reader's Workshop - This week as readers we have worked on book buddies! While still focusing on Inner Conversations we have now studied how to talk about these conversations with our buddies. This week we began with more of the procedural steps to book buddies. The targets we focused on were: how to sit eye to eye, knee to knee OR knee to knee, elbow to elbow; how to speak with a channel 2 so our buddies can hear us; how to be an attentive listener by looking at our buddies eyes while they are talking or looking at the book when they are showing us something. We also began how to be an attentive listener by responding and talking with our buddies. At the end of this week we worked on commenting. Next week we will get into what types of comments, how to piggyback off each other's thinking, and agree or disagree with our buddies.
Each day during book buddy time we find role model book buddy groups to videotape. These videos are then shown during our mini lesson for students to watch and reflection on! We notice what went well, what targets the group members have mastered, and also next steps that could make their conversation even more productive! Ask your child if they have become FAMOUS at all this week. :)
Each day during book buddy time we find role model book buddy groups to videotape. These videos are then shown during our mini lesson for students to watch and reflection on! We notice what went well, what targets the group members have mastered, and also next steps that could make their conversation even more productive! Ask your child if they have become FAMOUS at all this week. :)
Word Work
In a small group word study this week, we were noticing all of the fun ways to look at words. One thing we noticed after reading Word Wizard by Catheryn Falwell is that some letters in words can be rearranged to make a new word! OWN = NOW = WON; LOOP = POOL; TON = NOT.
We also worked on finding smaller words in larger words. For example in HALLOWEEN we can find all of these smaller words: HALL, ALL, HE, ME, HOWL, OWE, WELL, WE, OWEN, WON, WALL!!
You and your child might have fun with words to see what you can think of together :)
In a small group word study this week, we were noticing all of the fun ways to look at words. One thing we noticed after reading Word Wizard by Catheryn Falwell is that some letters in words can be rearranged to make a new word! OWN = NOW = WON; LOOP = POOL; TON = NOT.
We also worked on finding smaller words in larger words. For example in HALLOWEEN we can find all of these smaller words: HALL, ALL, HE, ME, HOWL, OWE, WELL, WE, OWEN, WON, WALL!!
You and your child might have fun with words to see what you can think of together :)
Writer's Workshop - This week as writers we officially began our Slice of Life books!! Students thought of many ideas and picked one that they wanted to share with their readers most. We then worked on completing a story map that included basic story structure elements: characters, setting and beginning, middle and ending events! We already have many experts in our classroom who are mentoring other author's on how to thoughtfully think through their books to make them the best that they can!
Questions! Questions! Questions!
This week readers have been focusing their inner conversations on questioning. What kinds of questions can we ask while we are reading that will help us to understand our book better as we read? We also began to focus on answering our questions! We can reread the book to find text evidence OR make inferences (our best guesses) using all that we know from the book and our lives (schema and background knowledge, author's words and illustrations, thinking about a character's perspective, or just thinking about your own life)!
Questions! Questions! Questions!
This week readers have been focusing their inner conversations on questioning. What kinds of questions can we ask while we are reading that will help us to understand our book better as we read? We also began to focus on answering our questions! We can reread the book to find text evidence OR make inferences (our best guesses) using all that we know from the book and our lives (schema and background knowledge, author's words and illustrations, thinking about a character's perspective, or just thinking about your own life)!
Writer's Workshop
Continuing our focus on the structure and craft of books, students have been working with writing buddies. These partnerships offer students the opportunity to be mentors to each other and give others feedback on their writing pieces. Students suggested craft and structure moves that their partner could try out to make their book even better!
Continuing our focus on the structure and craft of books, students have been working with writing buddies. These partnerships offer students the opportunity to be mentors to each other and give others feedback on their writing pieces. Students suggested craft and structure moves that their partner could try out to make their book even better!