Week of November 15th

Hello everyone,

I had an enjoyable day up at the Carroll School yesterday where I visited to meet with them about the implementation of our math curriculum.  Things are going well in our math world and as you know we recently completed our second math assessment.  The students have settled into the routine of our math packets, they've become accustomed to collaborating with their thinking and we continue to work to stretch our ideas in different ways as flexibility in mathematics is so important.

We have moved into using numbers in our What's' My Rule cognitive activity.  This is a great way for me to incorporate mathematical language and concepts into a cognitive activity.  In these pictures the students had to figure out what the rule was for each individual circle as well as the shared space in the center.  The rules of both circles must apply in that space.

It's a lot of fun to see their thinking unfold as they try out different possibilities and conversations erupt about what makes sense and why.  Students are probed to explain why they chose to put a certain number in a certain place.  They're catching on beautifully!


In Social Studies we have begun a project about colonial life.  Students are planning out a lesson about an aspect of colonial life that they will teach to the class.  We began at Plimoth Plantation where we collected information about our topic and asked questions of the Natives and Colonists we visited there.  Our next step was to research our topic further and the students are working with collecting main ideas and details. They will teach three main ideas with two details to the class.  As the teacher, they will create the two-column notes for their classmates and will create a visual and hands on piece to go along with their lesson.  We are talking about what makes a captivating lesson and what do they want their "students" to walk away understanding.  This project involves a lot of prioritizing, extracting salient information, and synthesizing of pieces - all higher level Executive Functioning skills.  I am breaking down the how's and why's of these pieces so students are successful with them.  Lastly, the research involved in this project is a wonderful introduction to the large-scope research paper the students will be writing in our next unit, the American Revolution.

As we lead up to Thanksgiving, we'll be looking at the real story of Thanksgiving from both the Wampanoag and Plymouth colonists' perspectives.  The students were surprised to learn that Squanto spoke English because he was taken as a slave by English explorers/settlers and later escaped England  and make his way back to this area.

Important Dates to remember:

11/19 Authorfest and Luncheon.
11/22 Holiday Hope selections are due (just the sign up - not the item. Please wait for confirmation!)  Information is going home. We are participating as an SBS division, all grades together.
11/24-11/28 is Thanksgiving Break
11/29 Classes resume

Fare well all!
Laura

Week of October 29th

Hi parents!

So.  I had a "problem" this week in class.  We are reading. ... and reading.  ... and reading.  And reading.  I've had to ask some children to put their books away in the middle of class.  A few times I've glanced over during math or social studies and someone has their nose in a book and they have been transported to another world. I asked one child, "Hmm, would you mind putting your book away so you're with me for this lesson?"  Their response: "OK, but can I please just finish this chapter?" I got such a kick out of that. Is it not the most magnificent problem to have?!!  Clearly the reading bug is catching.  Thank you so much for your efforts to make reading consistent at home.  I am really seeing the effects of this paying off in class.

In mathematics, we are concluding our Number Theory unit with an assessment on Wednesday.  We covered factors and factor rainbows, prime and composite numbers, volume, square numbers, continued with addition and subtraction facts and learned new mathematical vocabulary!  To help with the math facts, students have been given the rest of their Math Triangles to practice.  A check in on this material will be part of their assessment. I appreciate your effort in helping them practice.  The children have worked very hard on this math unit and it's exciting to see how much they have learned!  Next we'll be moving on to a unit on multiplication. :)

In Social Studies, students enjoyed wrapping up our Jamestown unit with an Online Jamestown adventure. Try your hand at surviving the challenges the colonists faced at www.historyglobe.com/jamestown.  We will start our Plymouth unit on Monday and use our field trip as an investigative opportunity where we collect information about what life was like for the Wampanoag natives and the English colonists.  Next, students will begin an assignment in Social Studies where they choose a topic about colonial or Wampanoag life and they will design and teach a lesson to the rest of the class.  We will learn about reading expository text and determining important information in conjunction with this assignment and will have our first experience with research.

Our Blue Hills Observatory field was a lot of fun.  The students learned about weather instruments in conjunction with the weather unit they have studied in science class.  Despite the precipitous weather, the kids made kites, saw unique weather instruments, and learned about the history of the Blue Hills Weather Observatory.  It is famous for having the oldest continuing weather records in North America!  Visit there website here.

We have a short week coming up.  Please remember that Monday is our Pizza Day.  Tuesday is our Plimoth Plantation field trip and there is no school on Thursday and Friday.  On Thursday school is closed in observance of Veteran's Day on Friday is a professional day for the faculty.  I hope that you all enjoy your long weekends.

Laura

Halloween Pictures