Cinco de Mayo, 2014

WRITING
We are continuing to work on our poetry unit this week.  Today we talked about how writers think about the mood they want their poem to have, and then use the "exact right" words and phrases to match the mood.  The kiddos did a great job determining a mood for their writing and sticking to it.  Since today is Cinco de Mayo, our friend Carlos decided to write his poem in Spanish, since he speaks both Spanish and English!  It was a special treat to listen to poetry in a different language!  Before we had him translate his poem, we determined the mood of his poem by his voice and expression while reading it aloud (which is so important in poetry)!  Thanks for that special, unexpected treat, Carlos!

Poetry has inspired many of the kiddos to do some writing at home too!  Here are a few helpful anchor charts to help with writing at home if they need it:

READING
For the rest of the month, we will focus our reading lessons on incorporating all the strategies we have learned (we call this "reading like a superhero", since superheros are awesome and can do most anything). When we start using multiple strategies at once, we are becoming deeper thinkers and really wrapping our whole brain around a book. We want to be aware of what we are thinking about during reading :o)

MATH
On Friday, we had a little challenge in our room.  Pairs of students each received a piece of colored construction paper.  Their goal was to create the longest chain in the classroom by cutting their paper into strips and linking them together.  They were only allowed to change their strategy one time.  We learned that long, skinny strips (units) gave us the longest chain because it made a lot of long links.  It was interesting to see several groups change their strategy in the middle of the challenge. 

SCIENCE
We are just about finished with our unit about growing and changing and will take our test tomorrow.  We will have a fun review game before taking the test.
      Our caterpillars, which are now pupas inside their chrysalides, should be hatching anytime and emerging as butterflies!  We will certainly update you once that happens :o)

REMINDERS
This Thursday is our field trip to the butterfly house.  If you have not yet sent in your child's permission slip and money, please do so by Wednesday.

This is my last week here at Sappington :o(  I'm going to miss all these great kiddos like crazy!  Mrs. Hammock will return on Monday, and we will work together in the classroom that day to transition.  I'm hoping to have some sort of little celebration on Monday to say bye to everyone- I'll update you on that as I figure it out.