A note from Mrs. Tester

This year the students have really focused on learning how to read nonfiction.  We have discussed the features of nonfiction (e.g. table of contents, headings, captions, pictures, diagrams, vocabulary, and index).  I thought it might be fun for the children to get involved in an author study at home with their families.  Seymour Simon is a wonderful nonfiction author.  He has excellent pictures to illustrate the facts that he teaches his readers.  His expertise includes books about the human body, space (planets, stars, universe, etc.), our planet (hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, storms, earthquakes, etc.), animals (big cats, gorillas, snakes, etc.), and dinosaurs. 

            Mr. Simon has such a wide variety of topics that everyone is bound to be interested in at least one!  This would be an excellent way to pique interest at home after dinner or before bedtime.   Maybe each family member could take a topic and then share what they learned with each other after dinner one night.  Fun! :)

Have a good week!

Curriculum Connections

Reading:  This week we will read a narrative non-fiction piece called How My Family Lives in America.   We will use fact and opinion to help us understand the story’s content and use context clues to help us decode new vocabulary words. 

Language Arts:  Our grammar focus this week is on adjectives that compare (­-er, -est).  The students will define, identify, and use them correctly.  Our spelling words are all homophones (words that sound alike but they have different spellings and meanings).   Please help your child study throughout the week by studying every night! 

Math: This week we are learning about 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 as factors.  We will pull from both the 5^th and 6^th chapters.  Since both chapters focus on multiplication, we will wait to have a chapter test until we have completed both and it can be combined. In addition, I expect all students to still work on their Rocket Math facts so we can be prepared for 4^th grade.

Science:    We are continuing our study on the Earth by learning more about volcanoes and earthquakes.  The students already have some background knowledge on this from our Reading Street selection Volcanoes.  We will also learn about the difference between weathering and erosion. 

·         Keep practicing for Rocket Math!

·         Ask your child about Extreme Math!

·         Ask your child if s/he is working toward our Cool Tool!