Monday PE | Tuesday In and about | Wednesday ART | Thursday -ELC ? -Geek Out | Friday -ART -Winter Break send off |
Important Dates
| Volunteer Opportunities |
We are planning to skip spelling homework this week, so students can focus on two other major writing projects due on Friday. Help your kiddo get everything turned in before winter break! Here's the list:
-Final editorial due Friday (there will be no work time on Friday).
-Literature packet due Friday (there will be no work time on Friday).
-6th graders have their block 4 test corrections, retake and signature due by Thursday.
-Math goals on Google Docs / Google Classroom due Friday
Lessons on gender identity and relationships
I was really impressed with how well students handled our first lesson on these topics. We looked at commercials that were geared towards "boys" and "girls" and identified troubling stereotypes within those commercials. Then, we looked at how these problems can feed into other stereotypes like "boys can't show emotion" or "girls aren't athletic". This week we will look at what makes up supportive relationships and how that allows friends to express themselves in the way they choose. Keep up the critical work, Merlins!
Project
A highlight this week was attending OMSI's weather lab presentation. We sat in the omnitheather where we viewed an interesting presentation that reviewed concepts we learned this fall, taught us some new info on weather and even highlighted a few things we'll learn in the spring semester about astronomy. Somehow we beat the rain and even enjoyed brisk, breezy walk on the Tilikum bridge to see a city watershed in action. Our watershed test will take place later this week!
Ask interested you the most about OMSI's presentation?
Talk about the review sheet together, so kids have opportunities to practice before the test.
Extend the learning by writing to the EPA about their proposal to remove some regulations from the Clean Water Act.
Literacy
We 're wrapping up our editorial and our literature circle book. Students have already received feedback on both, so they could find ways to improve their final product before the turn-in date. I would encourage all families to review the editorial with their kiddo. One great strategy is for you to read their writing aloud to them (exactly as it is written), let your child take notes on what sounds off. If possible try to provide symbols like a * to show something is off with a line, like this:
*** Meanwhile in africa many poeple struggle to find clean water.
The three stars symbolize the mistake of missing a comma, not capitalizing the A in Africa and mispelling people. If your child can't determine the error, then provide specific assistance.
Ask, what's happening in your read aloud book "Gossamer" I hear it deals with some serious issues.
Talk about how your child will meet Friday's deadlines of final draft of the editorial and lit packet completion.
Extend the learning to choose a writing project to do together over winter break.
6th Grade Math
I was impressed with how well the class did on their test to add and subtract mixed numbers. Test corrections, retake and signatures will all be due by Thursday, so help your kiddo stay on top of that in addition to regular homework.
Ask, how did drawing a picture for the last problem of the test help you visualize the operations to do?
Talk about misconceptions and mistakes on the block 4 test.
Extend the learning to finding math games to play over winter break.
5th Grade Math
Fifth graders, I'm proud of how hard you worked on test retakes and corrections - especially those of you who came in during your break to ask for help. This week, we began exploring all the different models mathematicians can use to think about fractions. When it comes to fractions, I don't want students to just memorize the tricks for adding or dividing, but rather to be able to visualize fractions in their brains! On Thursday, we ventured outside to estimate the fraction of FGCS property that is permeable (soaks in rain) vs. impermeable (like concrete). This was a math puzzle as well as an environmental engineering problem, as students noticed problem areas on our campus where water puddles or floods. This week we'll be looking at fractions in recipes. Yum!
Ask, which model do you use to picture fractions - the number line, "pizza" model, or something else?
Talk about what fraction of your home's property is permeable vs. impermeable?
Extend the learning by checking out artist Mondrian and estimating: What fraction of each paintings is red?