Nonfiction!

Good Evening!

This past week we began our exploration into nonfiction. To start with we began with what we know about fiction so we could figure out what nonfiction is. We brainstormed and created a definition of what it means to be fiction based on the many fiction stories we have read together. This included elements such as characters, a made up story, plot, setting, and it is a way for an author to express himself or herself. We all browsed through nonfiction books covering a range of topics to look for common traits. We discovered several had an index or a glossary. Many times new words were in bold, and there were photographs instead of illustrations. The last few days of the week we focused on nonfiction books about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Our favorite was My Brother Martin by MLK’s Sister Christine King Farris. In response to this book and others about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we created a response to the prompt what Martin Luther King Jr. means to me. Some of these will be on display during Fort Jackson’s MLK celebration. Some responses included: Thank you for changing the world, because of you I can…, and inspired by MLK I have a dream.This next week we will continue to explore the genre of nonfiction.

Here we are exploring:

In math we have been reviewing two and three dimensional shapes from kindergarten, and talked specifically about what qualifies a shape for each title. For example what does it mean to be a triangle and what does that mean about shapes that fit the definition but are not regular triangles. We are expanding upon this foundation and looking at where we see shapes all around us.

We have also been using the value of different coins to practice skip counting and multistep addition during our calendar time in morning meeting. We are using what we remember about coins to practice math skills in an authentic way by figuring out how to make a number using different coins. For example on the 88th day of school we made 88 cents with three quarters, a dime, and three pennies. We will continue counting with coins this next week.

Please remember Wednesday we will take our class picture.

On February 16th we will start student led conferences. If you remember from last year these are a chance for your child to exhibit the ways in which they have grown so far this year. These will be held that day and night after school and will continue the next day during the afternoon of that half day. Please let me know if you need to request a specific time and I will send more information and a signup form in the next two weeks.

Here are some upcoming dates and have a great rest of your weekend.

January 18th: Class Pictures

January 20th: Gamecock activity form due and Scholastic Book Order

January 27th: CFI Commitment forms for next year due

February 10th at 2:20: Our Gathering

February 16th and 17th: Student Led Conferences

February 17th: Half Day