Flying through February

January has flown by and I realized that I am overdue for an update. So here goes:

Language Arts
We have started book clubs a few weeks ago. Students are learning to identify elements of a story (plot, character, conflict, theme, setting). To demonstrate comprehension of the story, students are participating in discussion groups once a week and completing a double entry journal response. In writing, we have been working on having sentence variety (long and short sentences, beginning sentences in different ways), end punctuation, and organizing writing into paragraphs. We are also really enjoying our class read aloud, a clever version of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin.

Math
We are currently working on multiplication. Grade four students are learning to multiply 2- or 3-digit numbers by 1-digit (eg. 69 x 3, 271 x 4) with regrouping. Grade five students will be learning to do 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication with regrouping (26 x 32). Students need to have a good understanding of both place value and basic multiplication facts so we are doing a lot of work in that area as well. Keep up the practice with Reflex math at home at least three times a week. Many students are close to 100% fluency in addition and subtraction. Once they achieve that goal, I will be moving them into multiplication and division.

Science
We are beginning to look at simple machines this week.

Social Studies
Grade four students are learning about First Nations groups in Canada. Grade five students are learning about Canadian government and citizenship.

Physical Education
We just finished a fun unit with basketball.

FYI: We will be having a Valentine's Day party on Friday afternoon. Students should create a mailbox for our party.