Dear Parents,

We’re going to have a great upcoming week. Below is a short description of what’s coming up and important links and/or announcements:

Watch These Announcements on Video Here

Mr. Gray’s Class Podcast

Class Website

Reader’s

Workshop

This week students will work on a few elements of being a great nonfiction reader: getting better by setting clear goals with a learning progression, approaching nonfiction as a learner, and distinguishing the reader’s opinion from the author. There will also be a short quiz to help me pinpoint areas of need.

Writer’s

Workshop

This week students will use a checklist to assess their own writing in their first attempt at information writing this year. As the kids write their next information book, they will try to make connections across chapters and create introductions. We will continue to use mentor texts (nonfiction chapter books) as examples for great pieces of writing.

Math

What happened to math class?

Students will continue to practice their multiplication facts. At this point, students should be spending a few minutes at home each day working with you practicing math facts. They can bring home their blue notebooks which not only have the math facts to practice but also examples of patterns and strategies students can use to practice.

Social

Studies

The kids will wrap up our current chapter: American Indians of California and move on to our next chapter: Changes in California over time. We will look at early exploration and early settlement of California and study some map skills looking at timelines.

Science

The students will continue studying the forces of pushing and pulling as well as designing a rollercoaster that uses gravity.

Thank you,

Mr. Gray