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

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.

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

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

P.E Lab was totally RAD!...and other news...

Earlier this week we had the opportunity to participate in P.E Lab.  This is a new venture that Mr. Blanchard is spearheading to develop lifelong movement practices with kids, as well as develop transferable skills.  This week we went rock climbing on a "stacked wall" in the Millstone Trail Association lands.  This experience was wonderful for so many of us, even "Blanch" and I got the chance to climb!  Make sure to check out our photo page for lots and lots of photos about this.  Students worked hard setting goals and working to achieve them.

We also have been working on the notion of mixed numbers and whole numbers in math, and just today came to the understanding that whole numbers are called as such because they are made up solely of "one-wholes."  We also have returned to our practice with multi-digit multiplication and thinking about when it makes sense to make a model to solve problems, and when it makes sense to use partial products.

In writing we are working to finish up our unit on the narrative style, and are looking forward to moving into a short unit on handwriting and spelling.  We will be working with adding suffixes to words, and will build this skill in a few ways, one of which is making sure we know how to spell the root-word, and a wonderful way to do this is through the poetry form Haiku.  I offer this haiku from William Shatner:

Haikus are simple

But sometimes they don't make sense

Refrigerator

Also, today I will be sending home the most up to date version of the conference schedule.  If you want to check it out, it is linked on the conference page.  If you still need to sign up, please either send me an email, give me a call at x308, or pencil your name in on the hard copy and send it back to school.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

-Dave

More on conferences, and information for P.E. Lab

I will be sending home a conference sign up sheet tomorrow.  This has the same information as my most recent post about conferences.  If you would like to sign up for a time, please either email me, or write your preference on the hard copy, and send it back to school. 

Also, we have P.E. Lab scheduled for Wednesday, and it looks a little rainy.  I met this morning with Mike Blanchard, and we are planning to go ahead with our lab, with a slightly changed focus.  Originally we were going to be rock climbing, but rain is most conducive to safe climbing, so we are going to switch our focus to disc golf and hiking.  Please be certain that your student is ready to be outside, in the rain, on Wednesday.  Thanks so much for helping make this a success. 

Also, if any of you would like to join us, please be in touch with either Mike Blanchard, or me as soon as you can.

Dave

Conference Schedule Update

Hey there, I just wanted to get this port out so everyone could have an idea about the conference scheduling progress.  Lower in this post there will be a link that will direct you to the conference schedule as it is currently. 

I would like to explain how it is set up.  I had quite a few requests for conferences at the same time, so when that was the case, I just gave priority based on the time people's requests were submitted.  If your child's name is on the schedule next to a time slot, that is the time that I have scheduled for you.  If your child's name is under the heading "People I need to find a time with" then I need to do just that.  Please note, that if you submitted a request for a conference time, and you are in this column, it is simply the case that the time you requested was already accounted for.  Please let me know if you would like any of the times that are not accounted for.  Also, if you would like a time before school I can meet Mondays or Wednesdays from 8:00-8:20, and again from 8:20-8:40. 

Please just let me know which times work for you, and we can meet!

Thanks,
Dave

Link to the conference schedule:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cWsga2DnTU1ZCfkvvIqQ1scjA8YO2YNeBkpUNhyUbwo/edit#gid=0