Weekly Update

Please save the following dates on your calendar:

Wednesday, August 28th, Early Release, 12:30 pm

Thursday, August 29th, 7:15-7:45 am, Grandparents Breakfast for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

Thursday, August 29th, 5-8 pm, Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night

Friday, August 30th, 7:15-7:45 am, Grandparents Breakfast for K, 1st, and 2nd grades

Monday, Sept. 2nd,  NO SCHOOL

Sept. 4th-6th COGAT Testing (1st & 3rd grade)

Sept. 9th-12th IOWA Testing (3rd & 5th grade)

ELA Update:

This week in reading we will finish our unit on character traits. We will have an assessment on Tuesday. (ALP students will complete the assessment on Wednesday.) Students should know the difference between a physical and character trait.

In writing, we will choose a personal narrative topic to focus on for the next several days. We will complete a graphic organizer to help us get our story in order and then write a rough draft. Eventually, we will type a final draft. As we write our narratives, we will focus on adding descriptive details, using transition words, and including dialogue.

Later in the week, we will learn about abstract nouns. Here's a fun video to help with understanding this concept.

Abstract Noun Video

This Wednesday is STEM Day! Our day will be devoted to a STEM project based on our Rocks & Soils standards. I can't wait to see how these turn out!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about anything. 

email: laura.kloos@cobbk12.org

Thank you!

Laura Kloos

What's Happening in Math, Science, and STEM???

Math Update: 

Standard:  MGSE3.NBT.2. Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.  

There has been a lot going on in math over the past couple of weeks, as we have introduced our new standard and we have been reviewing our initial standard.  The students have created an Anchor Chart of addition strategies (Partial Sums, Adding Up in Chunks, and Compensation) to use as a toolbox to increase their fluency when adding numbers, and I am excited to see how quickly they have grasped how to use those strategies!  

However, I have noticed that many students may have mastered the use of a strategy of their choice, but they still have difficulty with the computation piece.  It is very important that they take their time to double check their addition (and subtraction this week)! 

This week we will be moving on to subtraction strategies!! 😊 

Science/STEM Update: 

The students have wrapped up the rocks and minerals portion of our unit by rotating through Inquiry-Based Learning Stations where they used websites to determine where and how we use minerals in our everyday lives, similarities and differences between the three types of rocks, as well as model text to read to locate information.  They even wrote adorable stories about A Day in the Life of a Rock!! 😊 

This week, we will move on to our unit on the different types of soils (Clay, Loam, and Sand), and the students will complete the following activities as we move through the unit: 

A. Types of Soil Cut and Paste:  The students use the iPads and will visit www.soils4kids.org where they will read the information to describe the three different types of soil.  Using that information, the students will then cut and paste each characteristic into their journal in the correct column, depending on if it describes sand, clay, or loam.    B.  Pebble Go Task Sheet- The students will use Pebble Go to read the information about soil.  As they are reading, the students will fill in the blanks with information from the text about soil.   C.  All About Soil Book-The students will read All About Soil and will answer the questions that follow it. 

D.  My First Garden- The students will use the TV and http://web.extension.illinois.edu to read about, and plan for, how to grow their first garden.  Each student will have an outline mapping out each step of the process, and will read and record what to do for each step of the process (1. My Garden Spot, How's My Dirt?, I'm Thirsty, and 4. Feed Me). 

STEM Update: 

We are very excited about our first STEM Day which will be on Wednesday, August 28!!  The students will be introduced to the Engineering Design Plan and will work in STEM teams to design a mineral display case!  We can’t WAIT to see what they kids come up with!  They will get to showcase their knowledge of rocks and minerals, and the attributes that define them (color, size, hardness, luster, shape).   

We need YOU!!  If there is anything on this list that you can donate by this Wednesday morning that would be AWESOME!!!  

• Various types of candy 
• Cardboard boxes/cereal boxes 
• Plastic wrap 
• Glue and tape 
• Markers 
• Popsicle sticks 
• Rules 
• Clay and/or playdough 

I am looking forward to another excellent week of watching students reach those Learning Targets!!   

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! 

Mrs. Westbrook 

Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,

Please save the following dates on your calendar:

Friday, August 23rd, 7:00-7:45 am,

 FBI (Fathers Being Involved) Breakfast

Wednesday, August 28th, Early Release, 12:30 pm

Thursday, Augusts 29th, 7:15-7:45 am, Grandparents Breakfast for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

Thursday, August 29th, 5-8 pm, Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night

Friday, August 30th, 7:15-7:45 am, Grandparents Breakfast for K, 1st, and 2nd grades

Here's a look at our learning this week:

In reading, we are diving into understanding character traits. We will be using the book The One and Only Ivan to help us with this skill. When identifying character traits, we will focus on the inside on a character rather than his or her outer appearance. As your child reads at home, ask about character traits.

In writing, we will continue our small moment writings. The students have been doing a great job of picking story ideas. This week, we will work on adding descriptive details as well tell our stories.

Our grammar focus this week will be about pronouns. 

As always, please let me or Mrs. Westbrook know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a GREAT week!