Save the Dates!

Thanksgiving Break

11/25-11/29 See you back on Monday 11/30

Holiday Hope

11/30 is the last day to bring in gifts, unwrapped, please!

Winterfest

11/28 at 1:30

Plimoth Plantation field trip was great!

Hi families,

Just a quick note to let you all know that the Plimoth Plantation field trip was wonderful. After sheeting rain in the morning, we arrived just as the skies were clearing. The rain scared away a lot of would-be visitors and we were able to engage with the actors and learn without the difficulty of large crowds. Students asked questions about their research topics and gathered information, which they can use when they teach their lessons. We enjoyed the trip and made it home just in time for dismissal. Thanks for dressing your child for the elements. All were ready and a day in the rain would have been just fine had that of occurred.

Have a great weekend.

We have short week next week - only Monday and Tuesday.

Thanksgiving break runs from 11/25-28th.

See you all Monday!

Laura Velazquez

Plimouth Plantation field trip

Dear parents,

Next Friday, November 20th we will take a field trip to Plimouth Plantation. I am very excited for our trip because we have begun a Social Studies project, which links perfectly. Students have chosen an aspect of colonial life to study at Plimouth. They are researching in books presently, and the next step is to develop interview questions to ask the actors in Plimouth to further their research. Using the information they gather from their research, they will betake on the role of expert and teach the class a lesson that they design. We've begun discussions about what makes a good lesson, and how we will evaluate the lessons. The majority of research is happening here in school, though students will need to practice their lessons and possibly polish things at home before teaching them to the class. This will not happen for a few more weeks. Stay tuned for more information!

For the Plimouth trip, it is imperative that students dress warmly with hats, gloves, a warm jacket and toasty footwear. We will be spending a great deal of time outdoors and if it is windy, they could get cold without proper clothing. I encourage them to dress in layers. They will need a lunch and snack with no heatups and drinks included.

Dates to Remember

This week - Book Fair & AuthorFest see link for specific details:

https://www.friendsacademy1810.org/ftpimages/193/misc/misc_70141.pdf

Nov. 17th - Pizza Day

Nov. 18th - Bill Harley community-wide presentation 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Nov. 19th - AuthorFest & Family Luncheon

November 20 - Plimouth Plantation field trip

Nov. 25-29 School closed for Thanksgiving holiday

Dates to Remember

November 2nd - 6th

Hello families!

I hope this post finds you well and that everyone has recovered from Halloween. I've decided that this weekend I will wean myself off of the Halloween candy and current sugar addiction!

Friends Academy is gearing up for AuthorFest. Students have been reading and learning about books from our visiting authors during library. I hope that you can join us for the AuthorFest luncheon. See dates below!

Dates to Remember:

November 10 - I will be visiting the Carroll School to check out their math program in action. Dr. Kerry Bennett will be covering my class.

November 11 - School closed for Veteran's Day

November 13 - AuthorFest Book Fair preview in the Commons from 3:00 - 5:00 P.M.

November 16-20 - Book Fair runs from 7:30 to 5:30 P.M. daily

November 18 - 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. An Evening with Bill Harley - the Book Fair will be open for sales before and after the show

November 19th - AuthorFest all day long

AuthorFest lunch will be held in the gymnasium and families are invited to join their child for lunch. Order forms will go home Monday and are available on the school website. Orders for boxed lunches are due no later than Friday, November 13th. All lunches MUST be pre-ordered. Books may be signed by the authors following lunch.

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This week in mathematics, students are revisiting long multiplication and division. We are practicing facts to aid in these processes and on Monday you will see fact triangles come home. These triangles are a practice tool for students to work with multiplication and division facts simultaneously. Please help you child practice at home for five minutes or so a day. We continue to work with factors and multiples as they play a key role in multiplication and division. A model drawing approach to solving word problems has been introduced, so children learn to visualize problems and follow a systematic approach to solving them. This approach can be utilized across topics in mathematics from addition to division to fractions, decimals and so on. We continue to work with cognitive activities to promote flexible thinking. This week I introduced the students to the game of Mastermind using colored blocks. There is a lot of information they must hold in their minds and manipulate. Most importantly, they have to continually revisit their ideas of what could be correct and modify. Furthermore, strategy must be used and it's really neat to watch their eyes light up when they have a new possibility to try, and more exciting yet, to watch them explain the logic behind it.

In Social Studies, I introduced a new project today. The students and I brainstormed a list of topics about colonial life that would make good teaching topics. Each student will choose a topic, research it, and design a lesson they will teach to the class. As the students take on the role of teacher, they will become the expert in their area and they will plan, organize, teach, assess, and incorporate technology into their lessons. Topics they are considering include:

Colonial games - Nathaniel

Mrs. Donahue and I are excited to learn some new games from Nathaniel!

Animals native to the Plymouth colony and animals the colonists brought from England. How were the animals used? - Cody

Celebrations and traditions of the Wampanoag natives and colonists and the true story of the first Thanksgiving - Emma

Geography and landforms of Plymouth colony - Sam

We can't wait for some great maps and technology connections from Sam!

Dangers encountered in colonial times (what a long list we generated!) - Matthew

A.J. was absent due to illness, but we considered topics he might be interested in and have reserved weaponry and jobs/trades important in the colonies for him. We're curious if likes either of our choices, or if he'll go with an idea of his own!

In writing, our short stories have generated a lot of excitement. We held a writer's group the other day and students shared portions of their stories. They indicated the type of feedback they'd like from the group and I was immensely proud and impressed with the maturity of their comments, advice, suggestions, and support for one another. I feel the birth of true writers happening before my eyes. Great job, friends!

Alas, I could go on and on, however, the battery on my laptop is running low! I hope to see you around for AuthorFest, and as always, please call, send a note, or pop in if there is anything I can do for you. Thank you for sharing your children with me. They are absolute treasures.

Laura