Hmmmmm....

Today is one of those days that makes you go "Hmmmmmm...."  Can you blame it on the weather?  Can you blame it on the weekend?  Can you blame it on the loss of an hour of sleep?  I don't know, but for sure the students were not "HERE" for class today.  We had many students not show up at all, and the ones who did were having a very difficult time getting back in the swing of things.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better, especially considering we only have 3 weeks before the state tests are upon us!

• 1st / 2nd - Math Block
• After breakfast, we went over the two homework test prep questions.  Then we did our discovery and model of today's question on area.  We talked about different methods on finding area (using the array model to multiply or adding each square unit).  Then students worked a problem on their own.  They have one question with multiple steps tonight for test prep.  We did a quick round of Number Talks and Problem of the Day before moving on to GoMath lesson 9.5.
• We looked at the On Demand video for GoMath Lesson 9.5 today.  The focus was comparing and ordering fractions.  Example Here!  We went over different ways to solved these problems.  Using a number line was one way, or make a drawing was another.  Many realized that if the denominators were the same, you used the numerator to order the numbers.  If the Numerators were the same, you used the denominator unit size to order them.  We used the interactive lesson to unlock the problems.  Then students came to the board to do the show what you know problems.  Finally the worked independently to do the on your own problems.  We ended by checking the daily work and making sure that everyone was good before assigning homework.
• 3rd/4th - Literacy Block
• We started by collecting the ELA writing response they had all weekend to complete.  Sadly, many students said they "lost" it, which is another way of saying just didn't do it.  The State Test is in 3 weeks!  We are practicing now so the test will seem easy, but if they don't practice, well...  After we finished collecting, we read the next text about growing up in Canada 50 years ago.  We read the text together and then went over how to answer the question.  We have been using the RACE format to answer short responses.  Some students are doing it, others are not.  Again, three weeks until the state test!

• Today we started Unit 3, Module A in ReadyGen.  We started by previewing the entire unit and the expectations for learning by the end of the 18 lessons.  This unit will focus on Opinion Writing and Point of View.  We will be using Folktales and fables for the reading portion.  The focus in using them is to look at how generations pass down stories and WHY.
• We read pages 6-11 of our first text "Knots on a Counting Rope".  Then we focused on key ideas and details of our reading.  Finally they used a T-Chart to be able to explain what the illustrations were, and how they contributed to the understanding of the story.  We also talked about the function of NOUNS (person, place, or thing). And ended by discussing the difference between facts (can be proven) and opinions (point of view).  
• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Dance
• 7th - Wrap Up - Class Novel "Cricket in Times Square"
• We started by copying our homework and discussing the answers to their take home quiz for chapter 1-8.  We have to make sure we understand this text because the AR test is worth 4 points and we really need to get as many points as possible over the next 2 weeks if we hope to win the $1000 prize from Renaissance Reading for being a Master Class.  We are about 125 points away and we have to get our percent passed up, but I think we can do it!!!  Then we read Chapter 10 of our class novel.

Homework

• Math
• Test Prep (3/14/16)
• GoMath 9.5 Practice Homework pp 537-538
• Literacy
• Test Prep - Question # 43 using RACE
• Knots on a Counting Rope 5 Review Question Handout
• Knots on a Counting Rope Opinion Handout
• Spelling 2X each Handout
• Reading Log