Thursday's Thoughts :)

We have had a great week so far! :)

Our Learning This Week:

• In Math: We have talked about place value and understanding that the worth of a number is determined by what place it is in (hundreds, tens, ones).  We have practiced expanded form (stretching out a number to show the worth of each number.  Example: 364 in expanded form is 300+60+4=364.  We also practiced representing numbers by efficiently drawing place value blocks.  Knowing how to represent a number with place value blocks is important when we start having to carry and borrow in 2 & 3 digit addition & subtraction problems.

• In Reading: Started talking this week about the problem and solution in a story.  We have discovered that there might be multiple problems within one story, which maybe solved by one solution or different solutions are needed.  The fiction bookmark that the kiddos fill out when they finish a story has problem & solution on it & they are doing a great job with it!  As a student finishes a book, they are completing a bookmark, we discuss their book, and then I am sending home the bookmarks in Friday Folders.
• In Writing: This week, we worked with a partner to develop the setting of story so the picture in the author's head as s/he writes is the same pictures that is formed in the reader's head.  Our readers asked great questions that lead our writers to add some additional details to their writing.  Also, we started developing our characters.  Not only providing physical characteristics, but also character traits.  We discussed that authors typically do not say that a character is brave or encouraging, but these traits are shown through the character's actions.  Our authors came up with ways to show their readers the character traits that they wanted to show.  

Tomorrow, we will celebrate Constitution Day!  Constitution Day is actually September 17, but since that was on a Saturday we will do it tomorrow!! :)  We will learn what the constitution is, what rights/freedoms do we have because of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we will complete a sort on "What's the Truth?" and an art project that shows our freedoms and some of the symbols of the United States.  

As a reminder, we have our spelling test tomorrow.  The words this week are: word, work, here, how, try, over, month, as, does, and able.  Next week, we will be starting looking at vowel patterns of short and long vowels.  Our words for the next four weeks will be focusing on adding the "Magic e" to the end of words to turn the vowel from a short vowel to a long vowel.

Have a wonderful evening!