April Update
We have had a busy April so far! Dinosaurs, science experiments, and fun Friday's have made our learning fun and engaging. See the Google Slideshow for pictures of our learning!
In literacy, we have switched to new flexible groups. Most students are working with a different teacher for an hour a day. These flexible groups allow for us to best meet the needs of our learners.
We have finished learning about dinosaurs! Students have worked with partners to create their own dinosaur. I am proud of all of the learners for their communication, collaboration, team work, problem solving, and creativity.
In math, we have finished the addition unit and will be starting our 7th unit: Data collection. Students will be learning how to collect, organize, and interpret data. The parent letter will be going home in red folders this week.
We have also stared our 2nd science unit! Students have been doing several experiment to learn about solids and liquids. This week we tested out cutting butter, cooking oil, and ice. Pouring cooking oil, buttons, and molasses. Now we know where the saying "as slow as molasses" came from! We also mixed cooking oil and water, buttons and water, and a powered fruit punch and water. Students recorded their observations in their science journals and discussed them with each other. We also conducted another experiment by observing how ice melts over time. We ended the week with a video from Sid the Science Kids explaining about reversible change (something melting and then freezing again, such a ice or a popsicle).
For writing, students have been creating "How to" stories. All of the learners have worked exceptionally hard at adding details to their illustrations and words, checking that they did not miss steps, revising for punctuation and using uppercase letters to start their sentences.
As part of our classroom routine, students will occasionally have a time to share something about themselves and events that they have done or are going to do. After a student shares, other students are encouraged to ask questions to learn more information. This week we tried a new way to "Share" where students talked in small groups taking turns sharing and asking questions.
Typically, we end our day with Explore Time. During this time of day, students are working on communicating and sharing with peers through imaginative play. On Fridays, I have started doing "Fun Friday." This means students may also use the ipads, lego bricks, and our Osmo as a free choice. Since we have a limited number of ipads, students sign up on a waiting list. The Osmo has the longest waiting list. I have submitted a Donor's Choose project to help our class get a second Osmo kit along with additional resources. This is an interactive tool for the ipad which allows students to create, problem solve, and work with a peer to strengthen their math and literacy skills. You can find more about Osmo here: https://www.playosmo.com/en/. I hope that we can partner together to help us fully fund this project. Our classroom site is: https://www.donorschoose.org/Mrs.Baltos . Our project name is "Creative Kids." Thank you so much for helping me reach this goal and to better serve our learners!
Finally, this coming week we have a short week! We have an early release on Thursday and no school on Friday. Students will be on April vacation until Monday, April 22nd. It is also spirit week!
Monday: Wear your favorite sports team
Tuesday: Pajama Day
Wednesday: Twin Day (Dress like a friend or a group of friends)
Thursday: Color Day- Wear blue or purple
I enjoy working with your child and watching him or her grow as a learner everyday!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Baltos
In literacy, we have switched to new flexible groups. Most students are working with a different teacher for an hour a day. These flexible groups allow for us to best meet the needs of our learners.
We have finished learning about dinosaurs! Students have worked with partners to create their own dinosaur. I am proud of all of the learners for their communication, collaboration, team work, problem solving, and creativity.
In math, we have finished the addition unit and will be starting our 7th unit: Data collection. Students will be learning how to collect, organize, and interpret data. The parent letter will be going home in red folders this week.
We have also stared our 2nd science unit! Students have been doing several experiment to learn about solids and liquids. This week we tested out cutting butter, cooking oil, and ice. Pouring cooking oil, buttons, and molasses. Now we know where the saying "as slow as molasses" came from! We also mixed cooking oil and water, buttons and water, and a powered fruit punch and water. Students recorded their observations in their science journals and discussed them with each other. We also conducted another experiment by observing how ice melts over time. We ended the week with a video from Sid the Science Kids explaining about reversible change (something melting and then freezing again, such a ice or a popsicle).
For writing, students have been creating "How to" stories. All of the learners have worked exceptionally hard at adding details to their illustrations and words, checking that they did not miss steps, revising for punctuation and using uppercase letters to start their sentences.
As part of our classroom routine, students will occasionally have a time to share something about themselves and events that they have done or are going to do. After a student shares, other students are encouraged to ask questions to learn more information. This week we tried a new way to "Share" where students talked in small groups taking turns sharing and asking questions.
Typically, we end our day with Explore Time. During this time of day, students are working on communicating and sharing with peers through imaginative play. On Fridays, I have started doing "Fun Friday." This means students may also use the ipads, lego bricks, and our Osmo as a free choice. Since we have a limited number of ipads, students sign up on a waiting list. The Osmo has the longest waiting list. I have submitted a Donor's Choose project to help our class get a second Osmo kit along with additional resources. This is an interactive tool for the ipad which allows students to create, problem solve, and work with a peer to strengthen their math and literacy skills. You can find more about Osmo here: https://www.playosmo.com/en/. I hope that we can partner together to help us fully fund this project. Our classroom site is: https://www.donorschoose.org/Mrs.Baltos . Our project name is "Creative Kids." Thank you so much for helping me reach this goal and to better serve our learners!
Finally, this coming week we have a short week! We have an early release on Thursday and no school on Friday. Students will be on April vacation until Monday, April 22nd. It is also spirit week!
Monday: Wear your favorite sports team
Tuesday: Pajama Day
Wednesday: Twin Day (Dress like a friend or a group of friends)
Thursday: Color Day- Wear blue or purple
I enjoy working with your child and watching him or her grow as a learner everyday!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Baltos
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