In my math class we are almost half way through the unit on fractions, decimals, and percents. Fractions seem to be a tricky concept for many students. You can help support their concrete understanding of fractions over break by integrating conversation and usage of fractions in everyday life. Have your child help with a recipe and discuss 1/2 a cup of sugar versus a whole cup. Have your child help you make a double batch of a holiday meal or have them help with dividing up/cutting up a prepared meal or dessert so there are enough pieces for everyone!
In reading, we are finishing up our unit on Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman. The students have been so engaged and have asked great questions about this era of civil rights and working for equality. We will be watching Remember the Titans on Monday when we return from break (you should have seen a letter come home last week) to tie in with the events around integrating the South. This movie does have a PG rating, and you can find more information here. Please let me know if you have any questions about this movie or its relevance to our studies.
We will continue reading The Liberation of Gabriel King, which also is based around 1976 Georgia, where race relations were still tense following desegregation laws. We are reading this book together and using it to keep learning how to respond in writing to our reading and include text evidence to support our thoughts.
We wrapped up our studies on the Revolutionary War this week and will be switching to our next science unit after break. We will be studying the Human Body in Motion. We will cover the various body systems and how they all work together to keep our bodies healthy.
This week we are doing a review week of the past 12 weeks of prefixes and roots. The quiz on Friday will cover all 12 prefixes and roots. There is no grammar this week. We will return to a normal spelling, grammar, and vocabulary routine when we come back from break!
Reading logs for numbers 12-21 are due on Friday. There will not be any responses due over winter break. With that said, students should have read about 20 books by the end of Winter Break to be on schedule for completing the 40 Book Challenge by the end of the year. Please help support your child in reviewing how many books they have completed and help them find a quiet time and space to read over the break.
Students have been busy coding this month! Check out a message from our tech facilitator, Ms. Breaux, regarding what students have been up to and how they can continue their progress.
Thank you all so much for all of the hard work and support you have been putting in to help your children be successful this year! It truly is a team effort. I hope that you all enjoy the Winter Break and whatever Holidays you celebrate with your loved ones! :)