In math we have been learning all about 3 digit numbers and can identify the value of each place in these 3 digit numbers. Your child can not only determine the value of each digit, but can also work to create the greatest (largest) and smallest number possible when given a set of digits. We also have been working on ways to prove our thinking or justify our reasoning of why we would place a certain digit in the hundreds place and not the ones. A couple examples of strategies the kids have been using to prove their thinking is by using base 10 and expanded notation. Today was fun because we played a game of chance called "High Roller", in which one of your group mates rolled a die 3-4 times (dependent upon if you were creating 3 or 4 digit numbers) each time the die was rolled you had to logically decide where to put the digit based upon if your group was aiming to make the smallest or largest number. You were not allowed to change your digits as the leader rolled the die to reveal more digits. At the end of all the rolls each group mate shared out their 3 or 4 digit number and then collaboratively discussed whose was the largest or smallest and how they knew. The kids had a blast using their mathematical thinking and reasoning to justify where they placed their digits and explaining this to their peers.
We have begun our new unit in reading and have been learning important strategies to help us become more fluent readers. We learned that scientist actually studied 2nd grade readers and discovered that in 2nd grade children actually make the largest reading growth. Students have learned that fluency is one of the most important skills to have that will help in our understanding of a text. The two strategies we have learned so far is to reread aloud and in your head to help change your reading voice and to scoop words into longer phrases and notice punctuation, so that their reading makes sense and sounds right. Tonight when your child is reading encourage them to reread each page aloud to you and scoop up bigger phrases noticing the punctuation.
We had such an exciting morning as we opened our Museum of Knowledge! This was in celebration of all of our work during our nonfiction reading unit. Each child picked a topic of interest to read lots of books on, learn keywords, ask and answer questions, and work on retelling the text using all of this knowledge. We then learned all about being a tour guide and the expectations that are held with this special position. The kids then each prepared a special exhibit by rereading the text, using stop and jot notes, and sentence starters. Today we opened our museum for business and had many visitors! We were extremely proud of all the new learning we have done during this unit and showing off our expertise on a topic! Today was such an exciting day because we had a special volunteer come in and read a book to our class. This was in celebration of Northwest Read Aloud. We absolutely LOVED listening to the wonderful text Mother Bruce, which is a spin on the original Mother Goose. This was a silly story about a grumpy bear who learns to love a few geese chicks. Ask me to share my favorite part of this text tonight and what a sequel to this story could be.
Today we had the opportunity to practice being a tour guide. We first watched as Mrs. Lafferty brought us to her tiger exhibit and how she used examples, pictures, and voices to make her tour exciting. Then we learned all about a professional museum curator, which was very interesting. Then we started preparing for our exhibit by choosing the order, important facts/details, pictures, and voices we will use.
Today we dazzled our reading partners with all of the knowledge we have been growing through this unit on a specific topic. We learned that nonfiction readers don't just retell a book, they retell a TOPIC. Each student shined like an expert today, using keywords and owning the information they had gathered on their topic. We are so excited to celebrate all of our learning by "hosting" a museum of knowledge next Tuesday to teach schoolmates all about our nonfiction topic. Over the next few days we will learn how to be a museum tour guide and prepare our "exhibit" to precisely share our knowledge with others. |
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March 2016
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