Many of you have already signed up for conferences. I will be keeping the conference days/times the same as I think that is easiest right now. If you have not signed up for conferences, please click the link here and sign up.
There are also available times for Mystery Reader this spring. Please sign up if you have not been in the classroom yet! You can sign up here.
Have a wonderful week-end,
Leslie
Reading: This week we worked on two novels! Students worked to complete their Frozen Stiff iMovie and summary. We also started our new class novel of Number the Stars. The book started off with Ellen and Annemarie running home from school and encountering soldiers along the way. We had a wonderful discussion about what happened to them. On Thursday the class read chapter 2 and learned more about Annemarie's family and the town of Copenhagen. Ask your child if they have finished their iMovie and if you can see it (it may be on a friend's iPad right now).
Writing: Everyone has turned in their biography permission slip, thank you! This week we worked on how to take notes when reading our biography books. Students taped a note taking sheet in their reading notebook and we discussed it together. We read a short biography on Louis Armstrong (we listened to It's A Wonderful Life too) together. Using our note taking sheet the class wrote notes on the first three paragraphs together. Then the students worked in groups to write notes for the end of the biography. They shared their notes today. Ask your child what they learned about taking notes for their project. Please make sure they are reading too!
Math: This week we finished our multiplication and division unit. We learned double digit multiplication by using the area model. Students will learn the traditional model of double digit multiplication in 5th grade. Everyone seemed to find the area model that worked for them and they did great on our study guide. We started our unit test today and will finish it on Monday. Our next unit will focus on fractions. Ask your child if they know how to watch our educreations lessons when doing their homework.
Social Studies: This week we had only one Social Studies class due to many scheduling issues. We talked about the storm approaching the Northeast/Southeast. I asked students to keep a watch on the weather this week-end! We then began our study on the Southeast. Students are working with new partners and learning about the Southeast. Students are invited to bring pictures of them or landmarks of the Southeast that they have visited to class. We would love to hang them in the room. On Friday our iPads were collected so we were unable to work on the Southeast. We learned about fixed and growth mindset instead. We had a great conversation and took a survey. Ask your student what they know about growth and fixed mindset.
Science: Our students are now learning about magnetism from Mrs. Darley. Ask your child what they learned this week!
Science Miscellaneous Information
- Japanese Festival at OPRF on 1/30 from 12:00 - 4:00 pm
- Oak Park Education Foundation: Battle of the Bots (a FREE fun outing for elementary families) is on Feb 6 at Julian Middle School
- Oak Park Education Foundation: OPEF's Open House will be on Feb 27 at Beye (new location); it's a great way to introduce families to OPEF, with a morning of FREE hands-on projects for K-6 kids; plus folks can learn more about and register for Summer BASE Camp
- Oak Park Education Foundation: Staszak Annual Gala on 4/16; Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" newsquiz, will be our host! Always looking for volunteers to help with this important event, if you or someone you know loves to plan a party -- or if you have an angle on potentially awesome auction donors -- please email opefgala@gmail.com (which will reach Gala co-chairs Kandy Shapiro and Carrie Cotter)
