Can you believe it is November already? Our year seems to be going by very quickly!
Conferences are just around the corner; the schedule for conferences will be sent home in the next week or so. Please
be sure to return those promptly so that any needed changes can be made. I am looking forward to speaking will all of
you to share the progress your students have been making in.
Have you heard about our special
guest? Last week Miss Amy Gustafson, a student from the University of Northern Iowa, became the newest member or our
class. Miss Gustafson is studying to be an elementary teacher and will be completing her student teaching in our classroom.
She will be with us through the middle of December. We are thrilled to have her join us.
Attached you will find the newest book order. If you would like to order, please have those orders turned in by next
Tuesday, November 10th. Knowing that Christmas is just around the corner, remember that I will be happy to
hold back books you would like to order for a surprise gift for the holidays or a birthday.
The class was very excited about sending off our first package for our pen pals in both California. We sent along the
postcards, several facts about Iowa, a large student made map of our state along with the first of hopefully many friendly
letters. We look forward to hearing from our new friends in the near future.
We started
our look at the Northeast region. Be on the look out for states and capitals flashcards. Students will need to know
the capitals and postal abbreviations of the states, as well as where each state is located on the map. We will be learning
more about the birth of our nation. To culminate this unit we will be taking our first virtual "field trip".
The class will visit some of the major sites of the Northeast through various sites and slides on the computer.
As we look at the regions of the U.S. we also talk a little about economies. To help make this concept easier
to understand we have begun our own classroom economy. Together we put brainstormed a list of ways students can earn
Mustang Money along with ways a student may be "fined." Students are keeping track of their credits and debits for
the week and will be paid at the end of a two week period. At the end of the month students will "pay rent"
for their seat and will have the opportunity to purchase items from the classroom store like school supplies, stickers etc.
We voted to do the economy on a trial basis for the next few weeks. If it is successful and we can maintain it, we will
continue it for the rest of the year.
In science we have finished our first unit on
animals. The class did an awesome job on the final test. I was very pleased with how well they did. We are
currently studying animal behavior and the different types of adaptations that animals have to help them survive. Students
are doing research over an animal of their choice to apply what they have been learning. We will be writing a research
report which will also tie into our language arts.
In math we have been working with different types of graphs
and will be wrapping up that unit later this week. Students have also been practicing their multiplication facts. Students
are working to improve their speed and accuracy with their basic facts. It is important that students practice their
facts each night to help them with the accuracy. Being fluent and accurate with the facts is essential so that students
can be successful when it comes to multiplying larger numbers and even later when we work on division.
In reading we have been working on crime solving skills as we've read a variety of mystery stories. Students are
currently in the middle of our first novel unit enjoying such mysteries as The Skeleton in the Smithsonian, The
Haunting of Cabin 13 and Wait ‘Till Helen Comes. Students have done a fantastic job choosing other
great mysteries for their independent reading. Most have completed their skeleton projects which was our first book project.
We will be sharing these projects this week. Our next reading unit will be taking a closer look at realistic fiction.
We are also starting a new project which will tie our reading and writing together.
Students will be posting a book review each month to our classroom blog. We hope by sharing our excitement for the great
books we are reading that others will find a book they may enjoy which will help all of us become better readers. Check
the link for Grover's Gazette on our class site to see our reviews. (The students have all chosen "code names"
on the blog so you will need to ask your student which page is theirs.
Homework has continued
to go well. Please keep checking the MUSTANGS each night for notes and assignments. Remember, students are expected
to read for 20 minutes each night and should be averaging at least 10 pages during that time. Thank you for signing
the reading calendars each week.
As always if you have questions or concerns please contact
me.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Grover
