April Showers Bring May Flowers

*We are continuing to look at poetry during reader's workshop.  We are looking at the vocabulary that we aren't familiar with and finding the definitions in the dictionary.  They are exploring using the dictionaries in class.  They have been using them to find new vocabulary and also using them to spell words during their writer's workshop time. 
*Our word family this week is -og.  We are focusing on the pincher sound -ou and -ow.  Help your child to find words in their reading that have these letter patterns.
*We are using a tree map to help us form sentences correctly and add a variety of connecting words in our writing.  An example is in your child's blue folder.  I am encouraging them to stay on topic as they write and use more details in their writing.  An example would be:  The weather is scary.  It is dark and cold. It has rain, wind, thunder and lightning.  The weather can cause damage.  The underlined words are the connecting words.  This encourages them to use different words to write in each sentence. 
*In science this week we are working on parts of the plant. They are learning about what each part of the plant does and what its purpose is for the plant.  They will also be able to tell you what a plant needs to survive.
*In math, we are working on filling in a calendar.  They are working on filling in the days of the week, month, and dates.  We are also looking at special dates to add to our calendar.