Monday Morning Blues

It seems that when we come back after a weekend, it is like starting from scratch with many of the students.  I am very upset that about half of the students didn't do their writing homework.  If they do not have their paper ready by Wednesday, I will be calling parents to come in and conference.

• 1st/2nd - Math Block
• After breakfast was complete, we moved into Test Prep review.  We went over the three questions from homework and then did today's problem of the day.  After that, students worked on the problem that was similar to the problem of the day. After completing that, Ms. Avalos went over Number Talks and the Daily Number Review.  After doing the Interactive Lesson on the smartboard, students broke into table groups to complete their assignment.
• Today's focus was understanding how to use the strategy act it out to solve comparison problems.  We modeled using fraction tiles and number lines to act it out. After working in pairs, we came back together and checked each problem before finishing the lesson and discussing homework.

• 3rd/4th - Literacy Block
• We started class by going over the homework test prep problems.  We had to go back and re-read the text, so it took a bit longer than normal.  Then we read today's text together since it was a play.  We assigned parts and then read.  After reading, we went over the two questions to check for understanding and then assigned the one test prep problem.  
• Today's focus in literacy was on comparing and contrasting.  We used an "alike and different" graphic organizer and I went over how to fill it out to compare and contrast.  I used "Mars" as my model to compare and contrast with Earth.   We went line by line from the research and then students said if the fact went in the alike or different stack.  Then we picked 2 facts from alike and 2 from different and then we co-wrote a compare and contrast paragraph.   Their classwork was to do what we modeled in class and find facts that were alike and different between their planets.  A good number of students were not able to do this because they didn't do their own planet like they were supposed to.  We had over 2 periods on Friday to write notes on their planet and all weekend to take those notes and make a paragraph.  Lots of excuses as to why it wasn't done, but honestly, with over 100 minutes of class-time to take notes.. .and two days to write a paragraph, I don't think there was any valid excuse.

• 5th - Lunch
• 6th - Dance
• 7th - Wrap Up / Class Novel.

Homework:

• Math
• GoMath 9.1 Homework (pp 511-512)
• Test Prep - 3 questions in Packet
• Literacy
• Compare / Contrast Paragraph
• Should have  the following by tomorrow
• Earth Paragraph
• Your Planet Paragraph
• Compare Contrast Paragraph
• Test Prep - One Question in Packet