Typical

Today was a typical day this week-one of only two we'll have! We began by working on some problem solving math work. Then, we read Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and discussed the character traits of Grace. Then, students had a chance to read other books and describe the main character using a list of character traits. Finally, they added to their descriptions of LEGO characters they made yesterday by adding some character traits. After music, we finished the historical fiction chapter in Nightmare at the Book Fair and read the Intermission 2--Easy Reader about Reed McReedy and began the animal fiction chapter. Trip is a cat in this chapter and not happy! Then, we read independently, some blogged and we worked with the "Beast of Loch Ness" informational text story in our Story Works magazines. Some students are in book clubs and are reading chapter books and meeting periodically to discuss the books. Ask your kiddo what they are reading. Unfortunately, we had indoor recess and students informed me that there was some pillow fighting happening...hopefully, your child was not involved. Anyway, we did not earn our final potato head piece--maybe tomorrow. In Math, we started with a 100 multiplication fact 5 minute timed test. I think the highest score was a 43... yikes! We need to get these mastered in order to make multi-digit multiplication and division less challenging. We then noticed multiplication in quite a few books and read Amanda Beans' Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander about how multiplication is nothing more than counting in a more efficient way. We worked along with Amanda to count sheep's legs, balls of yarn, cookies in the bakery window, etc. Then, we practiced our basic facts with a color by number as well as our extended facts and other practice problems. (How many legs would 7 beetles have?) We finished our day with discussing Mystery Skype job descriptions and then practicing using the technology we will use during Mystery Skype. We can't wait but decided it is better to take our time to learn everything correctly than to look like fools during our first skype because we don't know what we're doing! :)

Tomorrow will be crazy!! Rehearsal is from 9:20-11:45 and then I'm at a meeting, here at school, from 12:00 to the end of the day. There will be a substitute in the class. They will be working oodles more with basic multiplication facts and then Mrs. Vidic will be in for Guidance.