Our fourth week already!

Wow, it is hard to believe that we are already into our fourth week of school.  The time seems to be moving so quickly.  Also, this class community is functioning as though it has been in place for years already, we are really settling in.  This week saw some fantastic work.  Students are working to complete a full first draft of a piece of writing, and as many of you know this can be a daunting task.  Related to this, we also saw some great success with homework this week.  For the first time ever (in my experience) all students took their writing home, and all students brought their work back the next day!  There are generally a few that forget, but this group is so "switched on" that everyone nailed it!

In math we have moved into a new area of review.  We are revisiting and working to master subtraction with large numbers.  We have been working on the pictoral level of understanding within this realm, and have been finding the differences between numbers using a blank number line.  Mastery of this tool is terribly important to the mastery of subtraction as it illuminates that the difference between numbers can be physical space, rather than a magical answer.

We have also begun work with Arlyn investigating electricity.  We are doing this using a power-source (batteries), some conducting and insulating dough, and some LEDs.  This investigation will focus on the properties of insulators and conductors in electric circuits, as well as the properties of polarity in the flow of electricity.

Also, coming home today will be hike assignments for this years all school hike.  If you have any questions about the hike your student is participating in, please contact me and I will find the answer for you.

As always, I hope you enjoy your weekend, and return to Monday refreshed and relaxed.

Incredible writers, mathematicians, and community members!

Over the course if this week, students have been showing off there powers if writing. Every student in this class is writing a detailed and powerful narrative. They are working hard to add motivation and struggle to their characters, as well as to set the scenes fir their stories to unfold. We have been working on "stepping into the world of our characters" to make our narratives even more detailed!

Speaking of details, many students are becoming masters at the art of community membership. Details makes me think of this because it is only when you observe and are aware of the details and nuances of the people surrounding you that you begin to show the subtle art of community. The students in this class are very thoughtful of one another, and are quickly becoming a caring and cohesive group.

And speaking of groups, we have been using the power of collective consciousness in math during group work. In grouos students are working to really master the abstract knowledge of math needed to understand all higher order math concepts. Just yesterday we had an investigation into how different numbers interact, as we discovered rules that will work for figuring out "+9" facts. Check in wth your student for more information about this.

Finally we ate beginning a new unit in discovery. This unit will focus on places that are special and important to our families. Our work in this area will result in a bit of family research, and a narrated Googke Earth Tour!

I hope you all have a relaxing and refreshing weekend, and if you need to contact me please feel free.

-Dave