Week 11

This week is a weird week.  Here’s a preview of some of what’s coming up, along with what we’re learning this week:

• Veterans’ Day Assembly at 2 PM on Tuesday
• No school Wednesday for Veterans’ Day
• Early dismissal on Friday for a teacher professional day
• Conferences start next week!  Sign ups went out to families with multiple students at BL on Monday, and the rest of the families will get the link this afternoon.

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we get to see God work in some pretty amazing ways.  First, we learned about Othniel, someone God called to deliver His people.  We talked again about the cycle the Israelites find themselves falling into time and time again—they praise God and follow Him, then they fall away and worship other gods; they are oppressed and call out to God to save them; He is faithful and sends someone to deliver them from their troubles, and they follow God again for a time…until they don’t again.  We’ll then talk about how God used the most unlikely of people for His plan, like Ruth, who wasn’t even an Israelite, but would become an ancestor of Jesus.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish up our module on place value and reading, writing, and showing numbers different ways.  Then we’ll start our next module, which will use that solid foundation of place value to count by different numbers and add and subtract 10 and 100.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is another diphthong: ou and ow.  We learned that “ou” is used at the beginning or middle of a word of syllable.  “Ow” is used at the end of a word or syllable or when the “ow” sound is followed by a single L or N (such as growl, down).

Science:
We’re coming to the end of our science unit on land and water on Earth.  The students have made a map of their model and have checked it against three main criteria: that they have all the land and water displayed, that the locations match on the map and the model, and their two patterns are displayed.  They’ve had a chance to check someone else’s map and, in turn, have someone check their map.  We’ll finish up by reviewing what we have learned in this unit.

Week 10

This week started with me being gone unexpectedly, and updating the blog was lower on my list of priorities as I spent the last couple of days catching up.  My apologies for this being so late this week!

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll keep learning about the Israelites and we’ll learn about them whining in the wilderness and Moses striking the rock for water (rather than speaking to it, as God had instructed).  We’ll then see a bright spot for them as they follow God’s directions and God gives them the victory over Jericho!

Math:
This week’s math is lots of working with hundreds, tens, and ones.  We used expanded form, which helps students solidify their mastery of place value.  Then we’ll use number names and learn how to write the numbers in words.  We’ll use different ways to write numbers (digits, as hundreds, tens, and ones, in words, and in expanded form).  We’ll also write numbers as hundreds, tens, and ones, and also as just tens and ones.  We’ll finish the week practicing reading, writing, and showing numbers in different ways.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is a special kind of vowel team called a diphthong.  A diphthong is a sound made up of two sounds that change from one to another. This week we’re spelling /oy/ with oi and oy.  Oi is used when the sound is at the beginning or middle of a word or syllable, and oy is used at the end of a word or syllable.

We’ll also be looking at our informational text Places We Go.  We’ll answer questions about the text and its features, such as headings and what makes it informational text.

Science:
This week the students used the legend they made last week to create a map of their model.  Next week we’ll check our maps and analyze the maps of others.

Week 9

We’re back to a full week of school after a long break, and I hope everyone had a restful, rejuvenating long weekend!

Vision Testing:
We’ll have vision testing this week.  You’ll get those results in a week or two.

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll look at the Israelites’ tendency to go through a cycle of following God, then turning away from God, leading to oppression.  Then they call out to God and ask for Him to save them.  He delivers them and, for a time, they’re grateful and praise God again, just to turn away from God again…and again…and again.  We’ll talk a lot about how we fall into the same cycle, and we’ll rejoice in God’s gift of His Son to give us salvation.  The two stories we’ll be looking at in depth this week are the golden calf and God’s instructions for the tabernacle.

Math:
This week in math we’ll solidify our understanding of three-digit numbers.  We’ll represent three-digit numbers with hundreds, tens, and ones, and we’ll use place value to write expanded form.  We’ll have our practice test, then we’ll take our test on three-digit numbers on Friday.

Language Arts:
This week we’ll be reviewing previous phonics concepts: 3-consonant blends, schwa, and Bossy R (er, ir, ur).  We’ll practice each concept throughout the week, and the test will consist of words we’ve practiced throughout the week.

In reading, we’ll do our first read of our informational text for this week: from Places We Go.  We’ll identify the main idea of the text, as well as supporting details.

Science:
We’ve learned eight different patterns found throughout Earth with land and water, and each student has chosen two patterns to add to their model.  This week we’ll add the patterns to our models.  Then we’ll look at different maps from different places in the world, as well as different time periods, and we’ll identify common features.  We’ll then use this information to create our own map legend.

Week 7

Fall Fest is this Saturday!  There are still opportunities to volunteer to make this event great!  Sign up here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4EAFAE28A5FD0-66156257-fall#/

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll learn about the Exodus.  We’ll talk about God’s faithfulness and provision throughout tough times.  We’ll also talk about the songs of Moses and Miriam that they sang after God brought them out of Egypt.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our module on collecting and showing data.  We’ll draw picture graphs to represent data, interpret bar graphs, and draw bar graphs to represent data.  After our review and practice test, we’ll take our test on this module.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is our last bossy R combination that says /er/--ur.  We’ll practice spelling /er/ with ur, as well as our new red words: far, goes.

We’ll also start studying a new realistic fiction text.  This time, we’ll be focusing on the characters in the story and what the author tells us about them.

Science:
Now that we’ve added land and water to our models using what we’ve learned in science, we’ll talk about ice and snow on Earth.  We’ll observe the characteristics of ice and water, then we’ll predict where ice and water show up on the Earth.  We’ll discuss where to find ice and water; then we’ll plan where we’re going to put ice and water on our models.

Week 6

We have another short week this week, but we have a lot of learning to do!  We’ll also be soaking up the beautiful weather before it cools down!

Pumpkin Day!
Wednesday is Pumpkin Day!  This is a Fall Fest incentive where we bring the pumpkin patch to BL!  If you want to volunteer, here’s the link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4EAFAE28A5FD0-65792407-thegreat?fbclid=IwY2xjawUwmONleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6IJAIR9tPiQL49D6bGHFtAffDASLHABRaHqV-Z7uYk7o3AAXHgWHb0KTYYWg_aem_iB60XOC7GNK20ClFWlY9NQ#/

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll continue to move through the Old Testament.  We’ll talk about Joseph forgiving his brothers and bringing his family to Egypt.  We’ll talk about forgiveness and God’s provision in our own lives.  Then we’ll talk about God calling Moses through a burning bush.  We’ll discuss how God equips those He calls and how we can trust in God, even when we don’t understand what His plan is.

Math:
This week we’ll finish our math module on equal groups and take our module test.  Then we’ll start the next module on collecting and recording data.  We’ll collect data using a survey and tally marks, then we’ll read picture graphs and answer questions based on picture graphs.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is Bossy R: ir.  This is the second most common “er” combination, and we’ll spend the week practicing this concept, as well as our new red words: water, watch.

Science:
In science, we’ll learn about five different kinds of water and their characteristics.  Then the students will choose two of those types of water to add to their model.  They’ll use clay to add it to their model. By the end of the week, the students’ models will have two types of land and two types of water.

Week 5

It’s starting to feel like fall!  I’ve been talking to the class about dressing for the weather.  I recommend layers this time of year.  It’s a tricky season for dressing!

Christian Studies:
This week we’ll be talking about God turning bad times into good for His people.  We’ll talk about Jacob and Esau reuniting.  We’ll discuss forgiveness and mercy during that story.  We’ll also talk about Joseph and how his life was really hard, but how God was with him through it all.

Math:
This week we’ll start our module on equal groups.  We’ll identify even and odd numbers, write equations to represent even numbers, and we’ll represent equal groups.  We’ll also add to find the total number of objects in arrays, and we’ll practice with arrays.

Language Arts:
This week’s phonics concept is Bossy R: er.  Of the three Bossy R combinations that say /er/, this is the most common of the three.  We’ll also work on our three new red words: call, room, ball.

We’ll also dive deeply into our realistic fiction text.  We’ll discuss setting and what the words and pictures in a text can tell us about the setting.

Science:
This week in science we’ll learn about different types of land.  This will get us ready to create our own models of land and water.  They’ll choose two of the landforms we learn about to add to their model.

Week 4

We have a fun week ahead, and it looks like we’ll have some nice weather, too!  With no school on Friday for a professional development day, our memory work and spelling tests will be on Thursday this week.  I’ll be giving the students extra time in class to study, so I hope they use their time wisely!

Fall Fest Quick Start!
Our Fall Fest Quick Start assembly is this Wednesday afternoon!  Fundraising envelopes will come home that afternoon and will be collected for the first time on Monday!

School Picnic:
Join us on Thursday night for our church/school picnic from 5-6!  If your last name ends in A-M, please bring a side dish; if your last name ends in N-Z, please bring fruit or a dessert.  I hope you see you there!

School Pictures:
Pictures are this Thursday!  Picture packets went home last week.  If you need a new packet, you can either pick one up in the office or let me know and I’ll send another one home. 

Christian Studies:
This week in Christian Studies we’ll talk about God testing Abraham, and we’ll discuss how this story points to Jesus.  We’ll also talk about “provision” and how God provides for us.  Then we’ll learn about Isaac and Rebekah (my namesake) and how God uses their sinful choices and brokenness for His plan and His glory.

Math:
This week in math we’ll finish our first module on adding and subtracting fluently, using properties and strategies.  We’ll take our test, then we’ll start on our next module.  We’ll identify even and odd numbers.

Language Arts:
This week our phonics concept is “schwa.”  It’s the most common vowel sound in the English language, but it makes spelling tricky!  Our test words will come from the 15 words we practice on days 1-3 of our dictation practice.  We’ll also have the same words on our practice test as we will on our test.  We’ve been practicing finding the stressed and unstressed syllables in our words by pretending the words are the names of our dogs and practicing calling their names.  So, for “bacon,” we’d shout, “BA-con!”  The schwa is always in the unstressed syllable.

Science:
This week I’m hoping to get to our first lesson in our science unit, which will explore what the students already know about land and water on Earth, and how maps can show them.