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
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