Week 10

 This week is full of lots of learning, and some fun changes, as well!  We'll start off the week in groups for the first time.  I'm excited to see how this changes how they can work together and positively impact each other's learning in this new arrangement!  We also have our harvest party at the end of the week!

Christian Studies: 
This week in Christian Studies, we'll learn about Moses striking the rock to get water.  While we oftentimes see this only as a reminder that God will provide for His people, we often miss the fact that Moses was disobedient, striking the rock, rather than speaking to the rock, as God had instructed him.  We'll discuss God's faithfulness, despite our disobedience.  We'll also talk about the fall of Jericho and discuss how God defeats our enemies and fears.

Math:
This week in math we'll finish off our module on different ways to show numbers.  We'll practice showing numbers in hundreds, tens, and ones, and then we'll show the same numbers with just tens and ones.  We'll practice reading and writing numbers, focusing on place value.  On Friday we'll start our new module on using place value by counting within 1,000.

Language Arts:
This week's phonics concept is the sound |oy|, spelled "oi" and "oy."  We'll discuss the word "diphthong" and practice spelling words with these diphthongs.

We'll also be looking at poetry, focusing on not only the topic of the poetry, but also the word choices the poet made.  We'll check for understanding and formulate complete sentences to answer questions about our text.  We'll also explain patterns and structures found in poetry.

Social Studies:
Now that our first science unit is finished, we'll dive into Social Studies!  This first unit is on geography, and we'll start by defining "community" and identifying different purposes of places and people in a community.  We'll create a pictoword for "community" and the students will identify different types of communities.

Week 9

We’re back to a normal, full week of school!  With the fall weather rolling in, I’m encouraging the students to dress in layers.  It’ll be important for them to bring a jacket each day (I suggest a waterproof jacket).  If they have gloves or hats, I recommend labeling them with their last name, as those are easy to lose.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll keep moving through the Old Testament, this time looking at the Israelites disobeying God and making a golden calf to worship (while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the 10 commandments)!  We’ll discuss God’s forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve it.  We’ll also talk about God’s instructions for building the tabernacle.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our module on place value and start our next module, which focuses on different ways to show numbers, including expanded form, spelling out the name, and hundreds, tens, and ones.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll review our prior phonics concepts: 3-letter blends, schwa, and Bossy R combinations (-er, -ir, -ur).  We’ll be practicing words from these concepts throughout the week, and the spelling words for the week will come directly from our practices.

In reading we get a chance to look at a different genre: poetry.  We’ll talk about rhythm and word choice, and we’ll check our reading for understanding.

Science:
We’ll be finishing up our science unit on land and water on Earth this week.  We’ll be making a map of our models, then checking the maps of others to help the improve their map.  Then we’ll show what we have learned about land and water on Earth.

Week 8

We have a short week this week, but it’ll be full!  We have a full day of school on Monday and Tuesday.  No school Wednesday through Friday.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll learn about the 10 commandments that God gave the Israelites.  We’ll learn the order of the commandments and what they mean, as well as how to apply them in our lives.

Math:
This week in math we’ll represent numbers with hundreds, tens, and ones, and we’ll practice place value to 1,000.  This module is designed to give the students a solid mastery of place value.

Language Arts:
We’ll have no phonics concept this week.  Next week we’ll review the phonics concepts we’ve had so far this year.

Science:
This week in science we’ll study some maps from around the world and from history.  We’ll look at the symbols that were used in those maps, and then the students will create their own legend to make their own maps of their models.  They’ll make their maps next week.

Week 7

We are so excited that we are starting chapel families this week!  These chapel families are a team of students comprised of K-8 students that will sit together at chapel.  K-2 students will be on a chapel family with their buddies.  These chapel families will also serve as the Indoor Olympic teams in January!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll continue going through the Old Testament.  This week we’ll be connecting Passover to the Lord’s Supper.  We’ll discuss the exodus and Moses’ and Miriam’s songs to praise God after He delivers them from Egypt (this is where our memory work comes from this week).

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish off our module on collecting and showing data.  The students will use tally marks to show data, and will use tally charts to show information in both picture and bar graphs.  Then we’ll start the next module, which will dive into place value and will help us master hundreds, tens, and ones.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is the last of the Bossy R combinations that says “er”—ur.  This is the least common spelling of that sound, but there are quite a few words that the students will be able to read and spell once they learn this concept.

We’ll also continue looking at the genre of informational text.  We’ll identify the main idea of a text and use text evidence to answer questions.  We’ll also learn new vocabulary through the context of the text.

Science:
We’ll continue looking at land and water on Earth, focusing on patterns.  We’ll use what we learn to add patterns to our models.  We’ll also discuss maps from around the world and throughout history.  This will get us prepared to create our own maps of our models.

Week 6

It’s definitely feeling like fall these days!  I’ll be reminding the kids to bring jackets and to dress in layers, since it’s colder in the morning and warmer in the afternoons most days.

Pumpkin Day:
We have a fun day ahead this week!  On Wednesday, October 1 we have Pumpkin Day!  After chapel, the kids will get to go pick out a pumpkin, have a pumpkin donut for a snack, and play some pumpkin games.  We’ll end the morning with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”  We’ll get to spend most of the morning with our 6^th grade buddies, so we’ll also get some great bonding time with them.

Christian Studies:
This week, as we continue to work our way through the Old Testament, we’ll learn more about Joseph and how he forgave his brothers, and how God provides.  We’ll also learn about God calling Moses through a burning bush.

Math:
This week we’ll start a new module in math about gathering and showing data.  First, we’ll record data with tally marks.  Then we’ll learn how to interpret and draw picture graphs.  We’ll end the week by learning to interpret and draw bar graphs.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is Bossy R-ir.  This is the second most common way to spell the “er” sound.  We’ll also work on the red words “water” and “watch.”

This week we’ll be looking at a new genre of text: informational text.  The students will learn about some characteristics of informational text, and we’ll discuss the main idea and supporting details of the text.

Science:
In science this week we’ll learn about patterns of solid water on Earth and where to find it.  We’ll also learn about other patterns on earth involving land and water (i.e., mountains are often found side-by-side, islands are often found in groups, etc.).  Then the students will plan on how they’re going to add two patterns to their models.

Week 5

It’s starting to feel like fall!  This is a great time of year for your child to dress in layers and to encourage them to bring a jacket to school, since the mornings are cool and the afternoons can be warm.

No School Friday:
We have no school Friday for a professional day!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’re going to look at some different family dynamics.  First, we’ll briefly learn about Jacob and how he tricked his brother, then our lesson will focus on Jacob returning home and Esau greeting him with forgiveness.  Then we’ll talk about Joseph in Potiphar’s house and we’ll talk about how God works all things for good.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our module on repeat addition and arrays, and we’ll take our test on Thursday.

Language Arts:
Our phonics concept this week is Bossy R: -er.  We’ll spell words with -er and will discuss the new syllable type, Bossy R.

We’ll also finish looking at our text from last week and we’ll practice some writing.

Science:
This week we’ll learn about five different kinds of water.  Then the students will use blue clay to add two kinds of water to their models.

Week 4

The weather is changing, but it looks like we have a pretty sunny week ahead of us.  I talked with the 2^nd graders last week about starting to bring a jacket to school, as the weather can be unpredictable.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll talk about Abraham’s faithfulness to God and obedience, even when he didn’t understand.  We’ll also learn about Isaac and Rebekah.  We’ll focus on God’s faithfulness in the midst of His people’s unfaithfulness, and we’ll talk about how God can use us, even when we don’t always make the best choices.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish off our first module about adding and subtracting fluently.  We’ll then start our next module.  We’ll identify even and odd numbers, write equations to represent even numbers, and represent equal groups.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is a tricky one: schwa.  I like to call this a “lazy vowel,” and it’s found in a lot of English words.  We’ll practice identifying the syllable in which we’ll find the schwa (it’s always on an unstressed syllable), and we’ll practice spelling some words with schwa.  This week, our practice test will have the same words on it as the spelling test, since it’s such a tricky concept.

In reading, we’ll read a different realistic fiction text.  We’ll focus on understanding and describing the characters in our story as we practice comprehension strategies.

Science:
This week in science we’ll learn about different types of land on Earth.  We’ll discuss five different types of land, with examples.  Then the students will choose two of those types of land to show on a model made out of clay.  We’ll be adding to our models as we learn more in science.