Weekly Update

Good Afternoon!

This was a fun week in General Studies! On Monday, we celebrated a special birthday.

Math Blogger (Sage) – We did a lot of measuring in Math class this week. It was fun!     We measured our shoes:

We measured our waists:

Then, we compared the lengths of two ribbons. We estimated, measured in centimeters, subtracted to find the difference, and added to find the total length.

Reading Blogger (Jack) - We’re doing something new in Reading class. We have Reading groups: the Alligators, the Porpoises, and the Sea Turtles. This week, we have been learning about quilts, how they can be special family projects, how they change over time, and how familiar things like quilts can help us adapt to changes.

Spelling Blogger (Gabe) - We studied words with consonant le, such as example, crackle, and reliable. After we take our test each Friday, it goes into our white folders so we can see how we did.

Wordly Wise Blogger (Isa) - We practiced Lesson 2 this week. Some of the words only had one meaning, while some had two or three meanings. We read a story called “Fast Food on the Fly.” It was all about bats, and it taught us a lot of information.

In Science this week, we each held a wheatgrass seed that had been soaking in water. We split it open and found the white food that is stored inside and the tiny yellow-ish, green-ish plant called an embryo. We also wrote a few observations in our Science Journals about how high the wheatgrass and micro green plants are growing.

We sent our next round of Pen Pal letters in the mail!

In Art class, we’ve been having fun painting cherry blossoms!

On Friday, our Mystery Reader was Rabbi Lubliner! Instead of reading us a story, he was our first Mystery Storyteller. It was called “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” and he was very funny!

We created a special, Get Well gift for Zoe. It was a double-sided puzzle that she had to put together!

She figured them out!

We are so excited to have Zoe back in class this week!

Laila Tov,

Miss Stein

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General Studies Update

Hello, Families!

During this short week, we only had a few Bloggers. Benjamin D., Benjamin H., and Julia wrote in our special Blogger notebooks whenever we were studying their subject or when ideas came to mind. Here is their information:

Math Blogger (Benjamin D.) - We studied the Metric system. We reviewed measuring in meters and took a test. Then, we learned to measure things in centimeters, which is shortened to cm. We practiced lining up objects at the zero mark on a ruler. It was a very fun activity estimating and measuring our books and things around the room!

We also combined Math with Science when we learned about the Coordinate Grid.

Grammar Blogger (Benjamin H.) - In Grammar this week, we reviewed that a sentence tells a complete thought. We studied examples of complete and incomplete sentences. Then, we talked about the four types of sentences and the punctuation they end with. We also reviewed subjects and predicates. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The predicate tells what the subject is or does. We made up our own subjects and predicates to make sentences complete. “I think Grammar is a good subject. Grammar is really great!”

Science Blogger (Julia) - “This week, we are planting seeds. We have worked in our Science journals. We wrote what we knew about plants. And we wrote what we wanted to learn about plants. We learned that seeds have a coat. The seeds are going to grow in a few weeks. We got to touch wet seeds! The wet seeds already sprouted! I’m looking forward to more Science.”

    

    

    

Have another enjoyable, long weekend!

Miss Stein

 

 

 

 

 

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Weekly Update

Shalom!

This week in Jewish Studies, we learned what God created on Thursday and Friday. We used the Smartboard to summarize this information. The kids had a lot of fun! In our prayers, we are moving along with Ashrei. We’re on the letter yud. In Hebrew, we studied the tools that help us learn (computer, flashcards, books, etc). Next week, we will start studying Tu B’Shevat!

In General Studies this week, for the first time ever, some of the students had the class jobs of being Bloggers! These jobs will rotate each week, just like our regular jobs. Here is their information on what we studied in each subject:

Math Blogger (Abigail) - I love math! Now we are measuring during math class. Math is a positive thinking area. When you brainstorm, you get good ideas for math. We learned about nonstandard units (measuring in big paper clips, small paper clips, hand spans, arm spans, our own feet, and lengths of ribbon). Then we learned about the standard unit of meters. We had fun measuring ourselves and things all around the room with metersticks!

We also learned that there is a U.S. system and a Metric system. The meter is on the left, and the yard is on the right.

Reading Blogger (Noah) – Every week, we have a Reading test on Friday. Today, our Reading story is “A Weed Is a Flower,” and that’s true! This story is the biography of George Washington Carver’s life.

Spelling Blogger (Nahila) - On Mondays, we take our Spelling Pretest. After that, we see what list we have for the week. We get Blue List or Green List. On Fridays, we take our test.

Wordly Wise Blogger (Lial) - When we study Wordly Wise, we learn what words mean and when we use them. Most of the words have more than one meaning. We read a story called “Bailey Finds a New Home,” and answered some questions.

In the future, we’ll have more Bloggers. In Science this week, we began a big unit on Plants and Photosynthesis. We started to work on individual Science Journals, and we wished there was more time in the school day! We will do more studying next week, and we’ll even plant seeds!

In Music class on Monday, we had so much fun drumming!

Our Mystery Reader this week was Hazzan Holzer! Even after thinking about his three clues, we were surprised to see him! He read us the wonderful book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Toda, Hazzan!

While outside at recess one day, Mrs. McVearry and the kids discovered an interesting creature! For an optional extra credit assignment, can you figure out what it is? You can turn in your answer any time next week.

  

We have all missed Zoe very much this week! We look forward to her healthy return soon!

Please check out the Art Blog. The students have been working on some special activities!

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Rivka & Miss Stein

 

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Weekly Update

Happy 2012!

The students transitioned back to school very nicely, and we’ve had a great four-day week! On Tuesday, we learned that New Year’s Resolutions are promises you make to yourself. After reading aloud a funny play called “I Resolve,” we brainstormed and then drafted our own resolutions. Our final step was publishing them by writing them on a snowflake paper of our choosing. Feel free to stop by next week to see our tree bulletin board inside the classroom!

In addition to the weekly Spelling stories we write, we have been enjoying other forms of creative writing as well. On Tuesday, we wrote about our Winter Break activities. We are also currently working on a class book on iPads with Mrs. Hernandez! After a whole class brainstorming session on the things we should include in the book, each of the students wrote a rough draft, edited, revised, and typed their final copy on an iPad. We’re now adding pictures and finishing up our work. We look forward to showing you our creation when it’s complete.

In Math class this week, we learned to solve word problems using something called unit bars. Please see the post from Tuesday for an explanation. I’m proud of how quickly the kids have acquired this new skill.

Today, we took Star Reading tests again in the library to see how much we have grown as readers so far this year!

We played basketball in P.E. this week, and it was so much fun!

Morah Rivka and I wish you a healthy and happy new year!

Shabbat Shalom,

Miss Stein

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Math Unit Bars

Today in Math class, we learned to solve word problems using something called unit bars. Rather than just drawing pictures or calculating numerical answers, this form of model drawing helps students to see the relationships among numbers and to develop number sense. We first reviewed key words that help us figure out whether to add or subtract. Next, we drew a basic rectangle to represent the first number in the problem, such as 200 marbles. Knowing the size of that first rectangle, we roughly estimated the size of the rectangle (or square) that we needed to draw to represent 30 marbles. We knew that it had to be much smaller. Then, we were able to easily add to find the sum of 230. The problems became much more challenging when we were given multiple pieces of information (see #5 about Mr. Washington). While these model drawings are not the only way to solve word problems, they do help to create a good foundation, and they will be used throughout the Singapore program in future grades. I already saw the students thinking very mathematically during today’s lesson!

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Weekly Update

Happy Winter Break!

This was a busy and productive week of school. In Math class, we continued practicing subtraction with regrouping. In Reading class, we read  the story “Anansi Goes Fishing.”      It was about a shrewd turtle who fools a spider using trickery. In this folk tale, we studied cause and effect; and when creative ideas are good versus when they are bad.

The students did an excellent job of locating compound words within the story and around our entire classroom! We integrated life science into these lessons by reading about insects, arachnids, and animal helpers. We also incorporated social studies by reading about how a spider’s web is similar to a fisherman’s net, and what happens after fishermen cast their nets into the sea.

It was perfect timing when we received our second set of Pen Pal letters! We will write back to our new friends after the break.

Our Mystery Reader today was Tal and Jona’s grandfather, and he read us Too Many Latkes! by Richard Codor. It was a really funny fable!

During Library with Mrs. Hallett, we chose some wonderful books to enjoy over the next two weeks.

  Today, we had not only a Chanukah party, but a farewell party too! We will miss both boys, and we look forward to their future visits.

    

 

Morah Rivka and I would like to thank all of you very much for your generous Chanukah gifts! Hag Sameach and Happy New Year!

Miss Stein

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Regrouping Twice in Math!

Good Afternoon!

Today in Math class, we learned to regroup twice within a problem. This is a very important and often challenging skill. We practiced on our Smartboard, first with pictures on a place value chart, and then with numbers in the standard form.

We discussed how the tens first help the ones by making an exchange, and then the hundreds help the tens by making an exchange. Most of the students seemed comfortable with the lesson, but I know that sometimes the skill becomes less clear at home. I reminded the kids not to worry, and that we would keep practicing in class.

Miss Stein : )

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Weekly Update

Shalom!

This week in Jewish Studies, we continued to study the Chanukah story. We emphasized how the Jewish people felt when the Greeks came to Israel and didn’t allow them to live Jewish lives.

In the book of Bereshit, we learned about the third day of creation, when God created the earth and the plants. The students searched for, and highlighted, the important Hebrew words.

In the prayer Ashrei, we learned two new letters, dalet and hay. Everyone is mastering this prayer, one line at a time. Great job!

In General Studies this week, our Reading story was called “Dear Juno,” and it was about a little boy who corresponds with his grandmother, who lives in Korea. We discussed the different ways that people can communicate, and one of them was using sign language. Sage brought in information on how to make the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 1-10 with our hands, and we had fun learning!

We also brainstormed as a class some of the many ways that people can communicate.

 In Math this week, we studied subtracting with regrouping, first in the tens and then in the hundreds. These were big lessons, and everyone worked hard! The students really enjoyed solving problems on our SmartBoard!

Did you hear that we used pedometers in P.E. class? The kids took thousands of steps and got so much exercise this week! They also enjoyed playing hockey.

Our Mystery Reader today read us the book Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss, and we really enjoyed the silly story!

During snack time, many kids have expressed the desire for more food or sometimes different food than what is in their backpacks. I’ve encouraged the kids to speak to their parents and to help pack their own school snacks. Also, we have created a snack basket where I keep pretzels, crackers, and raisins. If you’d like to contribute to this basket, please feel free to send in healthy, kosher goodies! Thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Rivka & Miss Stein

 

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Subtraction with Regrouping!

Today in Math class, we learned a brand new (and very important) lesson on subtraction with regrouping. By first learning with manipulatives, the kids were able to understand the process in a concrete way. Tonight’s homework on Workbook p.57-58 gives the students a chance to practice this new skill. It’s normal for there to be some confusion when they practice on their own tonight. We’ll continue to practice in class. Rather than explaining the way I taught this lesson with words or still images, here is a video of the actual lesson from this morning. As a special behavior reward, Jack chose to help me teach  this lesson. Enjoy!

 

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Extra Credit

Happy Weekend, Students!

If you are reading this and would like to do an extra credit assignment, then please go to the Vocabulary page above. Please put the words into alphabetical order, as we’ve done several times before. Then, whether you are familiar with the words or not, choose one word, look it up in a dictionary, and draw a picture to show what it means. Turn in this assignment on Monday for a small reward. Have fun!

Miss Stein

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