1. October 17 – 21, 2016
Literacy
This week, the learners are focusing on plot and the turning point in the story. We are still reading a variety of fiction texts to review the literary elements, along with sequencing and summarizing. We will learn that the plot is the action of the story. It is comprised of all the events that occur in the text. We will learn that the turning point is when things start to “turn around” for the main character. Being able to identify the exact moment that the turning point happens is tough, so this may be something you want to practice at home when reading fiction books together.  We will also have an assessment on Thursday over the literary elements, sequencing, summarizing, story structure, plot, and phonics. The best way to help your child prepare for any reading test is to read books at home and always question your child. Thanks for your support!
Science
I am so excited about this week! I am a firm believer in assessing learners in multiple ways and that is what we will be doing every day this week! The learners will prove their knowledge of landforms and bodies of water by creating a 3D topographical map. They will work in groups of three to model two specific landforms, two specific bodies of water, and one landform/body of water of their choice. Their model will be graded based upon the accuracy of their landforms and bodies of water, which means that the learners must know what each landform/body of water is based upon its name and know what it looks like in detail. FUN! 
Math
We are continuing to work on addition and subtraction word problems. We learned a new way to approach word problems by using a bar model. I am attaching a page that explains bar models. I am also leaving the word problems from last week. If you want extra practice, you can help your child use bar models to solve the word problems. We have also started dipping our toes into time. Our goal is to read a clock to the hour, half hour, and quarter hour. We are also working on the difference between A.M. and P.M. The thing learners struggle with the most is when the hour hand is between two hours. You can help your child practice at home by reading the time on the clock and writing times down in number form (12:30).
October 17 – Kaden’s Birthday
October 18 – College & Career Shirt Day
October 20 – Chat and Chew Conferences
October 21 – Burgundy & Gold Day
October 26 – “Creative Kids” basket items due
October 31 – Halloween 1:30 (costumes must be brought to school, not worn to school)
The learners have had an amazing week of Daily 5 stations! They have been on the correct voice level and very engaged! 

2. Addition and Subtraction: Word Problems
Please have your child write the math problem vertically on another sheet of paper. These problems are mixed up and are designed to be challenging, so your child may need support. This is what we will be working on in class, so, at this point, it is still new to them. 
A supermarket has 412 bottles of apple juice bottles of apple juice are sold. How many bottles of apple juice are left?
Mr. Thomas drives 173 miles on Monday. On Tuesday, he drives 216 miles. How many miles does he drive in all?
Mr. Smith made 207 sandwiches. 18 sandwiches are tuna. How many sandwiches are not tuna?
A carpenter has 362 pieces of lumber. He needs another 228 pieces of lumber to build a bridge. How many pieces of lumber does he need to build the bridge?
The Morgans drive 864 miles in the first week of their vacation. They drive 178 fewer miles in the second week. How many miles do they drive in the second week?
A movie theater sells 294 tickets to the first show. It sells 457 tickets to the second show. How many tickets does it sell in all?
The Health Food Store has 600 jars of strawberry jam. It has 167 more jars of strawberry jam than blueberry jam. How many jars of blueberry jam does the store have?
Shantel has 546 stickers in her collection. She has 278 fewer stickers than Sherice. How many stickers does Sherice have in her collection?

3. Bar Models You do not have to practice bar models at home with your child, but if you would like to try this strategy out at home, here is a written example that I hope helps. 
First, the students draw a bar.
Then, they have to read the word problem and decide do they two parts or a part and a whole. Two parts means they have two things they need to add. A part and a whole means they have to subtract.
Next, they fill the numbers into their bar models.
This should help them visualize if they need to add or subtract.
Last, they write the problem vertically and perform the correct operation.
ADDITION BAR MODEL
SUBTRACTION BAR MODEL
Part Part 31
Whole ________ ?
Part Part ? 55
Whole ________