Reading
Our target in reading has been text structures, specifically compare and contrast. Why is it important for kids to understand the different text structures? First, identifying the various structures gives students the skills to monitor comprehension. With practice, their ability to analyze the text increases, and they can determine how it is written and organized. Also, they are able to prove their answer when writing a response.
Writing
We are poets, and boy, do we know it! The kids are eager to try their poetry with each new skill taught. We have been discussing figurative language for the past two weeks. An emphasis on the importance of word choice and how the poet selects words.
The two final forms of figurative language discussed included similes and metaphors. Both were challenging and stretched their understanding of play on words. The more we discussed how to compare an object or idea with another, using the word “like” or “as” for similes, the more they could grasp the skill. Below is an example of a simile.
“The Woods at Night” by May Swenson
The binocular owl
fastened to a limb
like a lantern…
Metaphors also compare two unlike things without the words LIKE or AS. Metaphors simply say, “this is that.” This was a stretch for some kids, but they began to develop an understanding with practice. Example poem below:
“All Kinds of Time,” by Harry Behn
Seconds are bugs
minutes are children
hours are people
days are postmen…
Another type of figurative language introduced was alliteration. This style focuses on repeating the same initial letter or sound in a series of words. Nursery rhymes and tongue twisters often exhibit this skill.
Fundations
We continued to manipulate words containing a schwa. As shared previously, a schwa is an (unexpected) unaccented vowel sound, usually a short u or short i sound. For example, in the word salad, the first a says short a, but the second a says short i. Students need to understand how schwa works for spelling than reading. In reading, students can decipher the word based on context.
Math
This past week, we continued our study of fractions. Our focus was on one-half, one-fourth, and one-eighth. There was significant instruction on dividing a whole into equal parts. I scaffolded this concept to support our learning of equivalent fractions. The kids could see the relationship between the fractions as they named the parts of the whole, i.e., one-half and two-fourths name the same parts. Next, we learned how to determine the simplest form and compare and order fractions. We will test on Thursday.
Science
We have been learning about the weather and how to predict the weather. We began by looking at the clouds and identifying how they form and the different types of clouds. Next, we started understanding the weather associated with the clouds. While studying the clouds, we also learned about the weather patterns often related to the seasons. Then, we began learning about the five significant climates throughout the world. Currently, we are learning about natural hazards. The kids will be conducting research this coming week.
Pack PRIDE
Our focus this week during Pack Pride was on various team-building concepts. We all make mistakes. However, sometimes our mistakes lead us to make poor decisions that hurt people or break school, family, or community rules.
One of the most critical social and emotional learning skills is the ability to work with other people. We are unique and have individual strengths and talents, which is reinforced in the following quote by Bill Shore,
Everybody has a strength to share. If we can tap into that...if people can find ways to contribute to whatever their particular unique talent or gift is, then that really can change the world.
Besides personal strengths, praising and encouraging others helps to build their confidence and motivation. For some, this is a strength, as they always look for ways to lift other people.