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.