Tuesday, December 3

Hi parents,

We had a busy day today. In the morning, we learned more about the uses of commas, and focused on how commas can be used to connect different ideas within the same sentence. The students were given badly written paragraphs about black bears, that featured only short, simple sentences with many redundancies. They rewrote the paragraph in their own words, using commas to create sentences of varied length that contribute to the flow of the paragraph. Many students also chose to add descriptive words.

In math, the Grade 3s practiced their multiplication skills, while the Grade 4s (and a couple Grade 3s who wanted a challenge) learned how to use the Stamp Game to solve 2 and 3-digit by 1-digit multiplication problems. While using the stamp game, we also looked into the standard algorithm, so students could see the 'behind-the-scenes' regrouping that takes place. 

In the afternoon, we did Daily LA, and then had a great discussion about the ways in which humans change the surface of the earth. We talked about how we need to change the earth in order to survive, whether it be through deforestation, mining, farming, etc., but also that its important to be aware of the impacts these actions can have on the environment.

We ended the day by reading Wish Tree.

Have a nice night,

Zac