Mentor Sentences in Word Study

  "Richard gave me one of his extra-rotten, weasel-eyed, green-toothed grins."  

  Last week we read the story, "My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother", by Patricia Polacco.  We used it to discuss story elements as well as well as using it to focus on some grammar activities. The sentence above was known as our 'mentor sentence'. We used it to discuss parts of speech, types of sentences, author's craft.   One of my favorite parts of this activity was the last day of analyzing the sentence.  Students had to imitate the sentence using the same structure Patricia Polacco used.  They came up with some great sentences!  We started some grammar centers in Rti and then continued them later on in the day in ELA.  In our grammar centers we worked on mentor sentences,  parts of speech BrainPop, parts of speech task cards, and a grammar board game we tend to play in Rti.      

Math Workshop

We officially started Math Workshop this week!  We rotated through four stations correlating to what we are learning in Chapter 1- Place Value.  I was so proud of the hard work everyone showed and am excited to see it continue next week!

T- Technology: Practicing  Xtra Math 

I- Independent: Working on MIF Extra Practice 

M- Making Meaning: Playing a Mystery Number Game

E- Extension: Problem Solving 

COMMENT BELOW AND SHARE:
WHAT CENTER WAS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?

First Few Days...

The first few days have flown by!  I hope you guys are having as much fun as I am. We have spent some time to building our classroom community.  It is important to get to know each other and establish some familiarity in the start of the school year.  I love learning new things about everyone.

On the first day of school we played played an activity where students had to get into groups and form new words with the letters of their names.  It wasn't as easy as it sounds... but after a while they figured it out.  :)

We also played "Scoot".  There were cards on everyone's desks and you had to read it and do what the card tells you to do. It was important for everyone to participate, because someone else's card could have depended on what you did on your card.  For example card #1 said to yell "I'm #1" as soon as you read the card, and then another card said something along the lines of "when you hear someone say' I'm #1' say 'I like to move it move it' and dance".  Then someone else had to yell 'SHH I'm working'.   It was a little nerve wracking in the beginning but it was so cute to see everyone come out of their shell and get excited about it :)

Last week,  we had a very challenging activity!  Everyone was in groups and had to recreate a design I made out of paper.  You weren't allowed to touch it, and you had to work together.  I went around the room and noted some things people were saying such as...

 "I can't do this!"     "I'm so confused"      "I messed up"      "Don't do that"   "You're doing it wrong"

These kind of things tend to be examples of a 'fixed mindset'. We will be working on how to change our way of thinking to a growth mindset, to see that challenges help us learn. It is okay to get frustrated and not understand things, but we want to look at the challenge in a more positive way.

Along those lines, I also heard things like....

"Ohh I see.."  "I know what you're trying to say.."  "Well, this part I understand..."   "So close!"

This shows me we are on our way to thinking positively and learning from mistakes!

Use the acronym, 'GROUPS' to remember some important ideas when working together. 
Give thoughtful feedback: We will use accountable talk. 

Respect Others: We will listen to everyone.

On Task: Are you doing your job? Are you on task?

Use Quiet Voices: Only your group should hear you. Participate: Do your part- don't let others do your work.  Stay in your group: Raise your hand, ask 3 before me!

 I'm excited to see what the next few weeks will bring!

What was your favorite part of the first weeks of school?  

Comment below and let me know! 

(Don't forget to leave your name)

Welcome Back!!

Welcome to 5th grade!  I hope you have enjoyed your summer and are ready for the new school year. 
This year, you will be working with a team of teachers.  I will be your Homeroom, ELA, and Math teacher. Mrs. Bouffard will be your Science teacher, and Mrs. Medugno will be your Social Studies teacher. Mrs. Sanders and Ms. Stanton will be some other teachers working with our team who also teaches ELA and Math. 

We will be using this classroom blog daily!  It is where homework is posted nightly, as well as pictures and useful resources that we use in the classroom.  On the right side there is a place for your parents to enter their email and they will get updates when new posts are added.  

We have a lot of fun activities planned for this year.  I am very much looking forward to this school year to begin.