Last week was a busy, full week!

In writing workshop we  have been working on coming up with a topic for our essay.  The structure that we are using to draft our essays is called "Boxes and Bullets."  The box being the main idea that you really want people to know, and the bullets being the reasons to help support the idea.  We worked on generating a boxes and bullets to help us come up with the topic we want to write an essay on.  As you are aware, your child brought home their writers notebook last week to "freewrite" about their topic.  Asking them about their writing may even help them come up with new ideas!

In reading workshop we are reading non-fiction books.  We are not only learning about boxes and bullets in writing workshop, but are carrying this learning over to reading workshop.  In our non-fiction reading we are working on determining the main idea (box), and three details (bullets).  Not only have we been doing this work in our selected books, but we have also been working on this in book groups.  Some of the book groups have been reading books on Native Americans, which they really enjoy.

In social studies we worked in groups last week to compare the Iroquois and Algonquin tribes.  Each group completed a Venn Diagram.  We came together, discussed these differences,  and did an interactive venn diagram on the smartboard which was a lot of fun.  This week we are starting to learn about the explorers.

In math we began topic 6, which the students will be tested on this week.  We are learning all about the expanded and standard algorithms, and using the standard algorithm to multiply, 2-, 3-, and 4-digit by 1-digit numbers.  Keep practicing those math facts!

I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to get outdoors to enjoy this beautiful December weather!