I will be sending some information home tonight regarding our Boston trip that is scheduled for later this spring. On the pink piece of paper you will find information about being a chaperone, the amount your student raised through our sock sale, as well as the remaining balance for the trip. There are also a few individual fundraising ideas outlined on this communique. If you have any questions about this trip, please feel free to contact me so I can clear them up for you.
Have a wonderful weekend!
-Dave
Friday, February 9, 2018
Friday, February 2, 2018
Another busy week! And an apology...
...let's start with that. I would like to apologize for the lack of new photos. I am not a natural photographer, and have set a goal to take and post more photos but have fallen short on this goal as of late. I will work to take and post more recent photos as I know how interesting and valuable they can be.
As for busy-ness, we have been. During math we have been focused on noticing and extending patterns. We are looking at different patterns, how they progress, and how these patterns can be used to deconstruct large numbers. We are also working on the relative size of numbers. That is to say that if on the tenth step of a pattern you have 41, that on the 20th step you would have 82, and on the 100th step you would have 410. We are using group discussion to uncover some of these patterns, as well as to build communication within our ranks.
Students are also working on biographies of people of interest. We will hope to wrap these up by next week, and have full color published copies out for inspection at our celebration of learning! There will also be a black and white copy coming home as soon as they are finished.
The City of Ember is the dystopian novel that we are in the middle of. We are working on the nuance of reading a book like this, as well as trying to understand the ways the author helps us readers to feel the dystopia. This book is super-engaging, and if you are looking for a read for yourself, you might check it out.
I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
Dave
As for busy-ness, we have been. During math we have been focused on noticing and extending patterns. We are looking at different patterns, how they progress, and how these patterns can be used to deconstruct large numbers. We are also working on the relative size of numbers. That is to say that if on the tenth step of a pattern you have 41, that on the 20th step you would have 82, and on the 100th step you would have 410. We are using group discussion to uncover some of these patterns, as well as to build communication within our ranks.
Students are also working on biographies of people of interest. We will hope to wrap these up by next week, and have full color published copies out for inspection at our celebration of learning! There will also be a black and white copy coming home as soon as they are finished.
The City of Ember is the dystopian novel that we are in the middle of. We are working on the nuance of reading a book like this, as well as trying to understand the ways the author helps us readers to feel the dystopia. This book is super-engaging, and if you are looking for a read for yourself, you might check it out.
I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
Dave
Friday, January 26, 2018
Fractions, facts, and dystopia...
We have starting reading a dystopian novel entitled The City of Ember, this book can be a wonderful introduction to the genre of dystopia without being too heavy. Throughout our reading of this book we will focus on some of the "moves" that the author uses to really make us feel that Ember is a not-good place. Dystopian novels are great for this because students really need to reflect to find out what the author is doing to project the feeling of foreboding that accompanies reading a book like this.
We have also been working on researching people for biographic writing. This short foray into reading and research is always interesting for students as they work on the art of identifying what facts are relevant to the stories that they want to tell about people. We also use this opportunity to practice writing in a factual way that is more engaging than simply a list of facts. To do this we are using mentor biographies to see how other author's craft this sort of writing.
We also have been working with fractions. We are cultivating the notion that fractions are a piece of a whole, and and equal piece at that. We have been exploring these through discussion, with strips of paper, and drawings. We are using all of these tools to understand the aforementioned idea, as well as to build the notion of equivalent fractions.
We are also looking forward to Winter Wellness which starts next week! Students will bring home information about which group they are in with them today, and if there are any questions please let me know. Please also keep in mind that Wednesday February 21 is our P.E. lab at Morse farm, and Thursday February 22 is our celebration of learning.
I hope you all have a restful and rejuvenating weekend!
Dave
We have also been working on researching people for biographic writing. This short foray into reading and research is always interesting for students as they work on the art of identifying what facts are relevant to the stories that they want to tell about people. We also use this opportunity to practice writing in a factual way that is more engaging than simply a list of facts. To do this we are using mentor biographies to see how other author's craft this sort of writing.
We also have been working with fractions. We are cultivating the notion that fractions are a piece of a whole, and and equal piece at that. We have been exploring these through discussion, with strips of paper, and drawings. We are using all of these tools to understand the aforementioned idea, as well as to build the notion of equivalent fractions.
We are also looking forward to Winter Wellness which starts next week! Students will bring home information about which group they are in with them today, and if there are any questions please let me know. Please also keep in mind that Wednesday February 21 is our P.E. lab at Morse farm, and Thursday February 22 is our celebration of learning.
I hope you all have a restful and rejuvenating weekend!
Dave
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Quick update about P.E. Lab
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
Thanks,
Dave
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
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