Ocotober

ELA

• We have finished reading two whole class books together this past month. The first was a realistic fiction/mystery story called Porpoises in Peril. The other book we read was a historical fiction called Mary Anning: The Girl who Cracked Open the World. We have just begun a nonfiction book called Skeletons. In addition to reading these books to practice reading concepts such as main idea, key details, ad sequence of events, we have taken a look at how all three of these genres are the same and how they are different from one another. 
• We also started book clubs this month. The students are reading one of the following novels in a small group: Holes, Walk Two Moons, My Side of the Mountain, or Hatchet. Ask your child which group they are in, and what is happening in their book!
• In our writing this month we have focused on informative writing. The students have researched an endangered marine animal and have written a piece with an introduction, 2-3 paragraphs for a body and a conclusion. During this writing assignment we have worked through the writing process to produce a polished piece to share with others.

Math

• We just finished our first unit in Math. We covered a lot of important conceps such as place value, comparing numbers, rounding, and addtion and subtraction with regrouping.
• We have started our second unit based on Multiplication and Division. Any help  you could give your student at home with their multiplication facts would be greatly appreciated as a foundation in these is crucial to the more complicated skills we will be working on. 

Social Studies

• We finished our unit on citizenship and the United States Government. We have also begun a unit on map skills, which will come into play later this year when we focus on the regions of the United States and our great state, Montana.

Science

• We are currently learning about the purpose and structure of our skeletal system.
• We spent time at Pineview Park and on the Tom Green Trail learning about animal adaptations, the flora and fauna of a riparian habitat, and how to use binoculars, spotting scopes and field guides to look for signs of wildlife. 

September

ELA (English Language Arts)

• Reading--We have been working on edtablishing our Daily 5 Routines and building up our reading stamina. Lessons have included information on chosing "just right books," how to monitor our comprehension and what to do when we don't understand what we are reading. In addition to books of their choice we will be starting a class text called, Porpoises in Peril.
• Writing--We have been working on our writer's notebook and adding seed ideas that we can come back to later in the year to develop. We have also been working on a written response to the book called, The Best Part of Me, by Wendy Ewald. 

Math

• We have reviewed the steps involved in the new math program we adopted last year called iReady. These steps include Try It, Discuss It, Model It, Connect It, and Apply It. 
• We completed our iReady Diagnostic which helps determine each child's individual learning path which they are able to access on the computer through Clever.
• We have started our first unit on place value and will learn standard, word, and expanded form. We will also learn how to compare large numbers and will work on addition and subtraction with numbers into the hundred thousands place. 

Social Studies (We will alternate between Social Studies and Science throughout the year.)

• We have been learning about our government and the 3 branches--judicial. legislative and executive--as well as about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

Week 1: P.E.

Week 2: Music

Week 3: Library and Counselor

Week 4: Art

Good evening,

I am not sure if you received a school supply list at the end of the school year in June, or if you have found them in the stores, but I was asked to share what the kids would need. Whatever you have is great, but the most important things to pick up if you have not done your shopping yet are listed below. Just know we can make it all work!

• 1 pack of crayons
• 1 pack of pencils
• 1 pack of colored pencils
• 1 eraser
• 1 pack of water based markers (10)
• 1 pack of glue sticks
• 1 pair of Fiskar scissors
• hard plastic pencil box
• 1 single-subject spiral bound notebook
• 2 sturdy 2 pocket folders of different colors
• 1 pair of headphones
• 2 composition notebooks
• 1 reusable water bottle with closing lid
• 1 pair gym/running shoes
• 1 pkg. of Clorox wipes

If you could have a couple of pencils sharpened with your child's name on them that would be absolutely wonderful! Thanks so much for your help!