The first assignment was to complete today's Daily Exercises in language arts, math, geography, and handwriting. While students worked independently on those, I finished up the oral reading fluency tests with individual students in the front of the class.
We spent time correcting the math practice which was a simple review of multiplication and division skills. Then we corrected the language arts review of sentence editing, analogies, and a few other skills including abbreviations and reference tools.
As we wrapped up the Daily Exercises, we went directly into what we do first thing every morning: math! We began, as usual, with our Problem of the Day on the overhead. Students were to use the digits 0 through 9 and create two five-digit numbers that had the sum of 70,803. Kannen volunteered and was chosen to come forward and display his solution. Griffin joined him. Soon other students were eager to share out their answers. Julia shared an answer. Dominic and David also helped out.
While students were coming forward with different answers to the POTD, the class was assigned a half-dozen problems from the textbook focusing on addition and subtraction of whole numbers without estimation, but solving for the exact answer.
After students finished coming up with answers to the POTD, volunteers came to the white board to share out their answers and discuss strategies to use when solving these kinds of problems.
To wrap up today's math lesson, I conducted a mental math problem which involved me starting with a number and having the students work by only using their brains to keep track of the three or four steps involved in solving the problem. It was something like:
- Start with the number of days in September.
- Divide that number by 6.
- Add five.
- Add the digits of that number together.
- Whisper your answer to your neighbor.
We reviewed each step of the problem as students used their memory skills to get it right down to the exact wording of each step. I let the class know that I would do "Head Problems" from time to time to build their comprehension skills.
With the time remaining before recess, the class continued working on their special project we started yesterday. While they worked on their projects, I checked in homework briefly, and then I picked up our book - The Bridge to Terabithia - and began reading chapter 2, entitled, Leslie Burke.
The class was excused at 10:30 for recess. I joined the class on the upper playground for my yard duty assignment. Looks like kickball and a handball-version of kickball are the most popular offerings. Everyone seemed to be engaged in some kind of organized, physical activity.
When we returned to class we went into our first selection from Nature's Fury, Earthquake Terror. For starters, the class completed a vocabulary activity in their packets. I then had them take out their language arts notebooks to take notes on another vocabulary skill, using a thesaurus.
All students who had school supplies were able to use their thesaurus, and I had a sufficient amount of thesauruses to share out with the rest of the class We took notes on how the main entry words are listed in alphabetical order. We identified what comes after the main entry word: definition, sample sentence, part of speech. The class was given 5 or 6 words to look identify synonyms. I felt like the class was grasping how to effectively use a thesaurus and we wrapped up this activity.
The class then was informed of the reading skills (predict/infer) and comprehension skill (sequence) that would be a part of Earthquake Terror. I had the class write in their books: Part 1 - I predict... followed by what they thought might happen as we read the opening pages of Peg Kehret's story. After reviewing some predictions, class volunteers read through the paragraphs of the story about Jonathan and how his parents had to deal with Mom's broken ankle leaving him alone at Magpie Island with his 6-year old sister who had partially-paralyzed legs, and the family dog, Moose. Suddenly an earthquake struck leaving his sister in jeopardy. What will happen next? We will find out on Monday as we finish reading this exciting story.
After lunch, we came to class and I gave everyone about 30 minutes for independent reading. When it was time to stop, I introduced a special book called, "September 12th, We Knew Everything Would Be All Right." It was written in 2002 by a first-grade class from Kennett, Missouri. After discussing the 8th anniversary of September 11, 2001, I read through the story. On of the themes of the book was "America United" and so we finished the day by making patriotic pictures with that theme. No one finished their picture, but they'll be done and posted on the blog tomorrow.
During silent reading, I was able to collect all of the poems and pictures for our special project, Bio Poems. The class cleaned up beneath their desk areas and straightened up the room for Back-to-School Night. It was time to head home!
We revealed that Will was in the Quiet Seat today! And, one other thing, due to two missing assignments last night, we did not add to our Paper Clip Chain and have not yet. Hopefully tomorrow.
Tonight was Back-to-School Night and I was happy to shake hands and meet many of our wonderful families tonight. Enjoy this blog. I have enjoyed starting it. A calendar of assignments will go out tomorrow for next week and beyond as the class writes these entries instead of me!
Take care!
Mr. McMurray
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