Working up to Halloween!

Man, another week, another bunch of learning and hard work.  This week we have been working on multiplication of digit and one digit numbers.  The foundation for this is fluency in one digit by one digit multiplication facts.  All next week your students will be coming home with homework to practice "products," and "factors."  They know how to play these games, so just ask them to explain how the game works, and enjoy!

We also have finished our narrative writing unit.  We will be compiling and sending home some of this work today, loo for it in the Friday folders.  We are also getting ready to dive into a unit on VT state symbols and research.  Be prepared to hear alot about the Hermit Thrush and the Morgan Horse.
This week also saw the continuation of our discussion protocols with Mrs. Christy.  We are working toward independence and student led and facilitated discussions.  In the future we hope to have students select the protocol that will be most appropriate for them to use based on what they are discussing, or what their goal for discussion is.

Student reflections from the week:  Students have really enjoyed art and PE this week.  Many students had a bunch of fun at the monster mash, many are looking forward to Halloween, and finally we are having an all school celebration today and kids are stoked!

Have a great weekend,

Dave

Starting to get chilly!

As the cool weather approaches, we continue our hard work, and anticipate some upcoming events.  We have been working hard this week on using different discussion protocols.   Through this practice, students are learning to share their thoughts, synthesize the thoughts of others, and respond in a thoughtful manner.  We have been using these strategies with books read aloud, as well as books read independently.

Speaking of books, we have begun our first book groups of the year.  The choices for this round are Danny Champion of the World, and George's Marvelous Medicine/James and the Giant Peach.  Students are digging into these books and sharing the ideas and insights that they take from reading each night.

Finally, we have begun working with the standard American Algorithm in math.  This is an exciting and fun time, as we learn to master how to "carry" and multiply 2 digit numbers together!

I hope this finds you well and that you have a restful and relaxing weekend.

-Dave

A short but productive week!

This week a lot has been happening.  One of the things we have been focused on is discussion.  We have had the opportunity to have Mrs. Christy join us anh help us learn discussion protocols.  Thus far we have worked on the "jigsaw," and "save the last word for me."  Both of these encourage engagement, and give students the time and space to share their views and thoughts, as well as to respond to the views and thoughts of others.

One of the strategies was used during our writing time, as we split into groups to investigate different aspects of a writing checklist.  After expert groups reviewed certain aspects of the checklist they "jigsawed" to share the information they had just gleaned.  This is a great way for students to synthesize and share new information.

Speaking of new information, we have been investigating the pattern of repeated addition and how this influences multiplication.  We have used the algorithm: 4 + 100 x 5 = _____ for this discussion.  Check with your student to see what they think the answer is to this, and ask how they arrived there.

Student reflections:  This week students have been really excited about math, engagement has been high, and discussions have been lively.  Many students are also stoked about the specials we have, especially P.E.  Lyddie has also been a big hit, we are nearing the end of the book, and many students are being carried along by this beautiful story.

As always, I hope you have a relaxing and refreshing weekend!

Dave

Ukuleles and math

We have continued to work hard this week in all aspects of academia.  This post, however, will focus on the work we are doing in math, and our uke-club.  As I outlined last week, many students in fourth grade participate in band.  Many, however, is not all therefore, this year all of those who are not participating in band will still be learning to make music, as we are building our own ukuleles!  These little instruments are fun to play and are proving cool to build.  We have affixed the necks of our ukes to the bodies, and will be gluing fret-boards next week!  Hopefully by January our room will be filled with "sounds of the islands."

This image is of our ukuleles drying!

The following images are of some of the models we have been building in math.

We have continued to work in math on solving multiplication algorithms.  We are working to master to concepts of multiplication by using models.  The premise we are working from is that all multiplication algorithms can be solved using the area of a rectangle, and we have been building these rectangles!  To build them we are using cuisenaire rods and hundreds blocks.  This model allows students to gain a sense of what is happening in multiplication that they can extend to the algorithm that many of us are familiar with...then one that involves "carrying."

As always, I hope you have a restful weekend, and look forward to seeing your students again on Wednesday.

-Dave

Lots of new things happening this week.

This week has seen alot of new action in our room.  We have taken delivery of some new tables!  These things are fantastic, the tops fold up for quick storage, and the surface is large enough for 5 students to spread out on!

These really increase our usable space!

We are also beginning a parallel program to band.  As you know not all students choose band, and this year, those who don't will be making ukuleles!  We will be working for the next four of five weeks to build and finish our ukes, and when they are done, we will learn to play!  At the end of the year, any participants from our "Uke-club" will be able to purchase their instrument if they wish (the cost is $46.00).  

As usual, I will wrap up this post with some reflections students have had about the week.  These take on a few themes, the most prominent of which are homework, and chromebooks.  We began our homework program this week, and it is off to a rolling start. Nearly all students are practicing at home, and all are eager to share what they have done.  Also we have a 1:1 ratio for Chromebooks this year.  Each student has a machine assigned for their use, and they will be using these for the duration of this year and in years to come.

I hope this post finds you well and that you have a relaxing and refreshing weekend.

-Dave

A friendly sock reminder.

This quick note is just to remind everyone that our sock fundraiser orders are due on Monday.  Originally they were due tomorrow, but as it is hike day, we are moving the deadline to Monday.  If your student(s) have sock fundraising forms please return them on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend, and our hike tomorrow if you can join us.

Dave

We are hitting our stride!

As we exit this week we are really starting to gel as a community.  We are working together in academic areas, sharing our work, and getting excited about things to come.  As usual the students have reflected this week, and our "paper blog," follows a few themes.  Students are getting really excited about many of our specials, their sports, and meeting up with old teachers.

Many students are really stoked about P.E.   This week the weather was nice enough to be able to go outside and play capture the flag.  This is such a valuable game for building teamwork and patience, and the students love it!

Students are also getting excited about band.  We have 12 students who will be participating in band this year, and we are looking forward to hearing them soon.  As for the students who are opting out of band, we will be working on some alternative music themed investigations, more to come on this soon.

Also next Friday is our all school hike!  If any of you are planning to attend, please be certain that all forms have been submitted to the office for a clean launch Friday morning.

As always, I hope this finds you well and that you have a relaxing and restful weekend.