Hey gang, I just wanted to let you know that we have had a date change for our latest round of P.E. Lab. Last week I indicated one date, however, our lab is being switched to Wednesday February 21. We will be cross country skiing either at U-32 or at Morse Farm. Hopefully some of you can join us. If you would like to join us, and/or could transport students please let me know!
Thanks,
Dave
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
A few small updates and documents coming home.
Hey there everyone, I just wanted to check in with a few quick updates and electronic copies of documents that are coming home!
Today we not only finalized the research we have been doing on Native Vermont fish, but we also took delivery of some brook trout eggs. We have a shared tank in Mrs. Gannon's room, and we will be investigating, rearing, and learning about brook trout along with the other class.
I will also be sending home some copies of the books students have created about these fish so you can check out our first foray into research and writing. We also are currently working on biographies and will send home some copies of these when they are complete!
As for documents, two will be coming home today. One from our school counselor Mrs. Langevin outlining some of the curriculum she will be teaching in the coming weeks. The other is our sign-up for Winter Wellness this year! We will be looking for these Winter Wellness sign-up sheets to be returned by next Friday (1-19-2018), please fill them out as soon as you can and send them back with your student.
-Dave
Today we not only finalized the research we have been doing on Native Vermont fish, but we also took delivery of some brook trout eggs. We have a shared tank in Mrs. Gannon's room, and we will be investigating, rearing, and learning about brook trout along with the other class.
I will also be sending home some copies of the books students have created about these fish so you can check out our first foray into research and writing. We also are currently working on biographies and will send home some copies of these when they are complete!
As for documents, two will be coming home today. One from our school counselor Mrs. Langevin outlining some of the curriculum she will be teaching in the coming weeks. The other is our sign-up for Winter Wellness this year! We will be looking for these Winter Wellness sign-up sheets to be returned by next Friday (1-19-2018), please fill them out as soon as you can and send them back with your student.
-Dave
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Updates and another round of P.E. Lab!
Let's start with some updates. we have been working furiously since we returned from the December break! In math we have created our own dynamic (and fun to play) math games. Students were challenged to create a math game that hinged on a math concept that they feel they have mastered and the concepts they picked have been wonderful! we have games that use cards as factors and players need to add the products to try and get a sum of 301, we have games that a player must use knowledge of factors of different numbers in order to move, games that focus on using the difference between two values rolled on dice to move, and so much more. This not only allowed students to show their math knowledge, but also allowed them to craft something they could be proud of and have fun playing!
We also have finished up some of our fish-work. We did some mini-research into different native fish species in Vermont. Through this work students explored some of the structures and functions of different parts of fish, as well as the different habitats and characteristics that each fish has. Our next move in writing is to research someone to create our own small biographies, we have people looking into such a range of persons! We have Misty Copeland to Johnny Cash!
We also are looking forward to another round of P.E. Lab, below is some copy that I got from Mr. Blanchard talking about what we are planning to do, and go. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, AND CAN VOLUNTEER TO DRIVE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
From Mr. Blanchard:
I'm hoping to bring the kids over to the East Montpelier Forest behind the old fire station and do some cross country skiing, winter picnic and bonfire and possibly a structure building competition. I'm going to double check if there are bathroom facilities, I thought there was a port-a-potty but I'm not sure. If there isn't, then I'll check in with the folks up at U32 to see if we can use their trails and wilderness space.
I hope all is well!
Dave
We also have finished up some of our fish-work. We did some mini-research into different native fish species in Vermont. Through this work students explored some of the structures and functions of different parts of fish, as well as the different habitats and characteristics that each fish has. Our next move in writing is to research someone to create our own small biographies, we have people looking into such a range of persons! We have Misty Copeland to Johnny Cash!
We also are looking forward to another round of P.E. Lab, below is some copy that I got from Mr. Blanchard talking about what we are planning to do, and go. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, AND CAN VOLUNTEER TO DRIVE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
From Mr. Blanchard:
I'm hoping to bring the kids over to the East Montpelier Forest behind the old fire station and do some cross country skiing, winter picnic and bonfire and possibly a structure building competition. I'm going to double check if there are bathroom facilities, I thought there was a port-a-potty but I'm not sure. If there isn't, then I'll check in with the folks up at U32 to see if we can use their trails and wilderness space.
I hope all is well!
Dave
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Update on classroom happenings
Lots has been happening over the past few weeks! We were lucky enough to be able to see the movie Wonder at the Capitol Theater in a morning matinee just for students. This was a wonderful follow up to our exploration of the book. The message in this book and movie is so powerful, and if you haven't had the chance to either read the book, or watch the movie, I really suggest you check one (or both!) of them out.
We have also begun a new writing unit, and our focus for this unit will be writing informational text (this is one of my favorite units because it really blurs the line between reading and writing and illuminates to students that literacy is really a multi-faceted skill!), and for this unit we are working on researching Vermont History. Students are choosing topics they are interested in, and we have people looking into industry (Ben and Jerry's), the Revolution (Ethan Allen), notable animals (the Morgan Horse), Snowflake Bentley, and more! During this work we are working on crafting interesting pieces of writing, as well as reading to gain information and take notes.
Interestingly enough, we have taken a small break from this Vermont History work, and are doing a mini-unit on fish in Vermont. We are making notes, creating diagrams, and "hooking" our readers with interesting writing. Some of the drawings students are making are just wonderful.
During our math time we have been working on the two ideas simultaneously. We have been investigating the relationship between factors and multiples, and the operation of division. We are working on building the understanding that division is the notion that a certain quantity of a single factor (divisor) can make up a multiple (dividend). We are also working hard on understanding the thoughts that students are using to help the solve different division questions. Students are making good progress and are either counting up by the factor, until they get to the multiple, counting down from the multiple by the factor until they get to zero, or using their knowledge of multiplication to find the quotient.
I hope this post finds you well, and that you have a lovely weekend.
Dave
We have also begun a new writing unit, and our focus for this unit will be writing informational text (this is one of my favorite units because it really blurs the line between reading and writing and illuminates to students that literacy is really a multi-faceted skill!), and for this unit we are working on researching Vermont History. Students are choosing topics they are interested in, and we have people looking into industry (Ben and Jerry's), the Revolution (Ethan Allen), notable animals (the Morgan Horse), Snowflake Bentley, and more! During this work we are working on crafting interesting pieces of writing, as well as reading to gain information and take notes.
Interestingly enough, we have taken a small break from this Vermont History work, and are doing a mini-unit on fish in Vermont. We are making notes, creating diagrams, and "hooking" our readers with interesting writing. Some of the drawings students are making are just wonderful.
During our math time we have been working on the two ideas simultaneously. We have been investigating the relationship between factors and multiples, and the operation of division. We are working on building the understanding that division is the notion that a certain quantity of a single factor (divisor) can make up a multiple (dividend). We are also working hard on understanding the thoughts that students are using to help the solve different division questions. Students are making good progress and are either counting up by the factor, until they get to the multiple, counting down from the multiple by the factor until they get to zero, or using their knowledge of multiplication to find the quotient.
I hope this post finds you well, and that you have a lovely weekend.
Dave
Friday, December 1, 2017
Wonder the Movie!
Hey there! We have had a wonderful week! We are also trying to go to see the movie version of Wonder! Below is a copy of the permission form that is coming home today! If it is easier for you to email your permission, that would be fine, just please answer the questions outlined on the form! We are planning on leaving at 9:00 to return by 11:30.
Permission form to attend Wonder at the Capitol Theater in Montpelier
We have the opportunity to go see the movie Wonder on December 7, 2017!
We have recently finished reading the book and are looking forward to seeing the movie and comparing the two.
The cost for this movie is $10.50 per student (this includes ticket, popcorn, and soda). If this cost is a stretch for you, please let us know.
We are also looking for parent-driver volunteers! If you could drive, please let us know by Tuesday December 5, 2017.
Robin Gannon and Dave Willard
--------------------------------------------------------------
My child _______________ has permission to attend the movie. Please enclose cash for admission. No checks please.
__ I have a level II background check completed with the school.
I, ___________________, am willing to drive to the
movie, and my car can hold _______________ kids with seat belts.
Friday, November 17, 2017
What a wonderful week!
This week we have had so much going on. The grandest of which may have been last night's circus performance. Although I wasn't able to attend, I know how much hard work went into making that show ready for presentation, and I know how wonderful all of the students in our school did.
In our classroom this week we have been working ALOT on the ideas that lead to understanding division. We been working with factors and multiples, equal groups and Math-Libs. This is a blank copy of the Math-Lib we were working on, try it out with your student to see what comes out:
I have _____________________(composite number), __________________s (noun). I will give
______________________(factor of composite number), ________________s (same noun) away
each day. How many days can I do this for?
We have also been working on finishing up some first drafts. During the last week in writer's workshop we have been focused on adding a suffix to a word, and we are putting this work to use in new drafts that we are writing. We are planning to work next week, and perhaps the week after Thanksgiving on turning these into final drafts.
We have also pushed forward in our book Wonder. This really is a beautiful story with lots of twists and turns, as well as different points of view. The discussion that we have had around this book have been nothing short of spectacular. Students are sharing their thoughts, integrating the thoughts of others, and participating in discussion directly with one another, rather than using me as an intermediary!
I hope you all have a wonderful and restful weekend!
-Dave
In our classroom this week we have been working ALOT on the ideas that lead to understanding division. We been working with factors and multiples, equal groups and Math-Libs. This is a blank copy of the Math-Lib we were working on, try it out with your student to see what comes out:
I have _____________________(composite number), __________________s (noun). I will give
______________________(factor of composite number), ________________s (same noun) away
each day. How many days can I do this for?
We have also been working on finishing up some first drafts. During the last week in writer's workshop we have been focused on adding a suffix to a word, and we are putting this work to use in new drafts that we are writing. We are planning to work next week, and perhaps the week after Thanksgiving on turning these into final drafts.
We have also pushed forward in our book Wonder. This really is a beautiful story with lots of twists and turns, as well as different points of view. The discussion that we have had around this book have been nothing short of spectacular. Students are sharing their thoughts, integrating the thoughts of others, and participating in discussion directly with one another, rather than using me as an intermediary!
I hope you all have a wonderful and restful weekend!
-Dave
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Come one, come all to the EMES Circus!
We are having a Circus Performance Thursday evening at 6:00! This event will take place in the Gym at U-32! Please arrive at about 5:50 so everyone can get prepped. If you get there before 5:50 the doors might not be open, as there is some set up that needs to take place.
We are so excited to share our circus with you, and look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
-Dave
We are so excited to share our circus with you, and look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
-Dave
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