Monday -PE -Passport Check -Studyhall before school | Tuesday -Out and About: Share 1st draft with elders at Jennings McCall (wear good walking shoes) -Studyhall before school | Wednesday -In and About: John Schrag and persuasive speaking -ART -Studyhall before school | Thursday -ELC--bring your favorite Dr. Seuss book! -Studyhall before school | Friday -ASM --Fandom Day (support your favorite TV show, movie book, artist, school appropriate of course!) -Studyhall before school |
2/29--Passport Club Check
3/1--Rough draft of Elder Story due
3/4--ASM Fandom Day
3/14--Final draft of Elder Story due
3/15--Volunteers needed for Fernhill Wetlands data collection
This week, March 2nd, to be exact celebrates Dr. Seuss. We'll be doing some different activities all week to celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss. I would ask that willing students bring in a few of their favorite Dr. Seuss books starting on Tuesday. They may decide to read one to their elder buddy and their ELC buddy!
Literacy
- Writing homework this week: Work on elder story—review what you need to do on your checklist!
Kerry gave some awesome writing lessons last week using different websites to engage students. We looked at how to stretch out details, so the reader can experience the story, as well as how to write an interesting climax and resolution. One way the lesson became interesting was to look at how our mentor texts would have read without incorporating those components. We are excited for the Merlins to share their first draft of the story with their elder!
Ask how are you doing on your elder story? Read me what you’ve got!
Listen to your child explain what should be in a good climax and resolution. Help them apply these in their story.
Extend the learning by reading or writing a small moment story as a family. Check out When I Was Your Age Volumes 1 &2 (not all stories were school appropriate.)
Project
This week our focus turned to what divided colonists during the years leading up to the Revolutionary War. Students are either Patriots (wanting to resist Great Britain), Loyalists (wanting to stay loyal to Great Britain), or Neutralists (have not yet decided a side.) On Monday we’ll have our first debate—the First Stamp Act Congress. I look forward to seeing how students debate their perspective and refute the other side’s argument. The debate takes a very formal process, much like how the First Stamp Act Congress was organized.
Ask, what were some of the issues colonists had with Great Britain’s governing?
Listen to your child explain what points he/she plans to bring up during the debate.
Extend the learning by researching about the tensions between the 13 colonies and England.
6th Grade Math
Sixth graders had a busy week wrapping up block 2 on multiplying and dividing decimals. To have some fun with the content Kerry created an assignment that had kids build houses by pulling slips that would have students calculate a roof, base, windows and a door. To add to the fun was that the pieces of the house didn’t necessarily create a functional looking house, hence why we named it “Wonkyville.”
If a student didn’t finish their test in class on Friday, I asked that they finished it over the weekend. Test signature, corrections and retake will be due on Friday the 4th—help your child meet this deadline.
Ask your child to divide 4.5 ÷ 0.78 .
Listen to your child explain the Wonkyville assignment.
Extend the learning by creating decimal problems that apply to your life.
5th Grade Math
Last week, 5th grade mathematicians completed an end-of unit test on mixed numbers. Students will receive their test back tomorrow, and test signatures, corrects and reflections will be due on March 4th. We began exploring the interpretation the division interpretation of a fraction and multiplication of a fraction by a whole number. We will continue work on multiplication of a fraction by another fraction this week. Later this week, we will again turn to decimals and multiplication.
ASK your child to solve 2/3 of 3/5 using a number line to explain the solution.
Listen to your child share his or her reflection on the last unit.
Extend the learning by creating fraction and decimal problems that apply to your life.