Team 22 Highlights 2/6/18

2/6/18

Dear Team 22 families,

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know your children over the past couple of weeks. I want to take a moment and provide you with some recent highlights from class. 

Reading 

In Reading, we have spent the past couple weeks focusing on traditional literature. Last week, we reviewed fables and fairy tales. We listened to audio recordings of both and then read books of each sub genre. The class then had a chance to partner read fables and fairy tales of their choosing. We took a look at important elements that both fables and fairy tales include. To wrap up our study of fairy tales, the students participated in a Reader's Theater performance where they had a chance to act out some silly fairy tales like "Spiderella" and "Refunzal". The students loved having the opportunity to act. They worked beautifully together and selected parts as a group. Several days ago, we began our study of Native American myths. The students participated in interactive read-alouds and partner reading. Students put much effort into their reading and understanding of which natural phenomenon was explained through the text. Yesterday, students had a chance to rehearse and perform a number of Native American myths through Reader's Theater. The students embraced this additional opportunity to act and dug deep, thinking about the underlying lessons taught through the myths they performed. 

Math

In Math, we wrapped up our unit on area and began a new unit focusing on fractions! The students have been doing a fantastic job on this new unit so far. I am very impressed with their work.

Science

In Science, we recently completed an investigation of magnets. In this work, students explored the forces that attract as well as forces that oppose. Students tested to see if magnets can attract each other through hands, paper, cardboard, copper, and more.

Social Studies

In Social Studies, we have begun learning about the Puritans. As a class, and then in partners, students learned about the Puritan's strict rules. Students worked together to put these rules (written long ago in old English) into our modern day language to make the words easier to understand. The students were shocked to hear some of the laws the Puritans had lived by long ago. As a class, we discussed both similarities and differences the Puritans shared with the Pilgrims. The students also worked in partners to complete a reading about the history of the Puritans. The students then worked on a project, answering questions about their reading. This project was then hung up in the hall.

Writing

In Writing, students recently completed their persuasive speeches (which are currently hung out in our hallway for passer-by to enjoy). The students worked very hard on these pieces and were thrilled to be able to share them with their classmates over the past several days. After each person shared their speech with their group members, the students took a moment to write meaningful compliments to the person who shared. The students did a fantastic job with this and truly helped their classmates develop a positive identity as writers.

Make sure to congratulate your children on all their hard work in school!! 

Thank you,

Miss Weinstein