The Chrystall Miners

Thank you for bringing in the "Chrystalls" that were "mined." We loved seeing our class name in action! 

Happy Friday!!

Here is a snapshot of our week!  It was another great one filled with fun, but most importantly, lots of learning!  Please feel free to make comments on the blog.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the photos, articles, and ideas I share on our class blog.

Also, Scholastic Book Club orders are due on MONDAY!  There are many great titles available that will build a great home library for you!  In addition, everything you order earns us points to fill up our classroom with great novels to choose from.  You can order online shop online at scholastic.com/readingclub using the code, NJHCK.  If you'd rather, you can send your child in with cash and a list of the books they'd like to order.  

Working with partners to make inferences from a poem!

Working with partners to make inferences from a poem!

How to make thinking visible in math using discussion! 

Ms. Labak helped us make avatars and set our iPad backgrounds today!  Thank you!!

Mrs. Chrystall as The Grand High Witch from our class read aloud, The Witches. We had a lot of fun on Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Day!!!

Working with our buddies on making a puzzle and then putting it back together.

Thanks to Ivan's mom for  being a fabulous mystery reader today!

Place Value Chart

Click this link to the place value chart: https://www.engageny.org/file/8211/download/nti_may_2013_handout_35_millions_place_value_chart.pdf

Then touch "open in" and select the app Explain Everything 

Writers Workshop

All of the kids are really getting into the writing process.  They are all working on self-editting, peer-editing, or typing their final draft.  Typed, final drafts are due on Wednesday 10/1! 

Math Challenge: Multiplication in China

Use this google doc to explore the method used for multi-digit multiplication in China.

And the winner is.....

The Chrystall Miners

I'm so excited about our class name and I can't wait to see your t-shirt designs.  Remember they are due to Mrs. Chrystall by Thursday.  

The iPads are coming home TODAY!!

Parents- please look for your child's iPad and charger to come home today!  It is important for each kid to find a good place to keep and charge their iPad each night.  

For tonight's homework, I am asking that each child take a photo of the place they have chosen to keep their iPad.  Then I would like them to use the app "Explain Everything" to explain why they chose that spot to keep and charge their iPads at home (be sure to include the photo). This will also help kids explore all the features available in "Explain Everything."

A few important reminders: 

• The iPads are for school use only
• We will be checking their history randomly.
• Place the stand/cover over the screen when transporting it in their backpack.
• Charge them every night and bring them back everyday. We have no loaners at this point, so tell them not to forget them at home.
• Make sure they do not lose the charger or they will have to pay $40 to replace it.

Thanks so much for your support from home with the new iPads!

Dates for your calendar...

Thursday, September 25

Thursday is Mustang Motto Day which means you should wear your Mann gear.  Also, the Horseshoe Hooray Store opens on Thursday!  Woo hop! Start counting those horseshoes! 

Friday, September 26

This Friday is “Dress as your Favorite Book Character Day” at Mann.  This is a fundraiser for the recent fire victims in Oak Park.  Each participant is asked to donate $1.00  Please see this link for more information.  I already know who I'm dressing as, do you? 

Thursday, October 16

Picture day!!  Forms for orders will be sent home soon

We love math games!

The Product Game- a game of strategy and review!! Be sure to keep practicing times tables until you know them like the back of your hand! 

Deep in thought!! 

Common Core with our buddies....

Today our buddies from Ms. Weck's class came to our room for a change. We were able to practice using what we learned about character traits in reading to apply them to ourselves and buddies. 

Buddy teachers in matching outfits :) 

Class Name Polling Center

Here is the link you have been waiting for!!  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jLK8qW-aQKDW0y-1Azu8HDca8KzaW0ChhqCTOmlfnUw/viewform?usp=send_form

Reading Skill: Inference

Today we started learning about inference during reading.  We began our exploration into this tricky concept by watching a Charlie Chaplin silent film to see if we could infer what was happening even though there were no words.  The kids absolutely loved the silent film and were laughing out loud the whole time! This is the one we watched: http://youtu.be/AbBDO_nsuq, but there are tons more on youtube (I'm sure your kids would love to watch some with you!).  Take some time to talk about drawing inferences with your child tonight!  Tomorrow, we are going to practice drawing inferences with a short story.  

Check this out: Here is a quick presentation we looked at today to introduce inference.  

CCSS: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences front the text.  

The Flow of Electricity

Today we explored electricity by figuring out how to get a lightbulb to glow using just a battery and two wires. It took a lot of exploration to do it, but we all saw (and some felt) the electricity.  We all love science!! 

Our Class Name!!! Kids, submit your ideas online!

CLICK here to submit an idea for our class name!  Each student in our class can only submit the form once, so think carefully about your ideas first!  I am allowed each student to give TWO ideas for the class name and then we will vote on the best one next week!