Monday PE | Tuesday O&A to Nana Cardoons | Wednesday Art | Thursday | Friday ASM--Mustache Day, Spirit Day |
- 11/11 No School, Veteran's Day
- 11/18 First Oregon Battle of the Books Club meeting, 3:30-4:15.
News of the Week
Conference Wrap Up
I finished creating the document that reflects our discussion from conferences. Kids will keep one in their binder and one will be sent home for the family to keep. If there isn’t anything listed in Teacher Support, it’s because I agreed with the student on what she/he picked for the focus areas. Family support reflects what you do or what you plan to do—based on my note taking abilities!
Systems: Nature and Design
Last week we looked a variety of Systems Thinking concepts. Using Fernhill Wetlands, we examined waste water treatment and the unintended consequences that can result. We also looked at different trends we expect to see at Fernhill over time, like cooler water and how that impacts macroinvertebrates, plant life, birds, etc. Because, Fernhill is now using a process that better reflects how nature cleans water, many of the unintended consequences aren’t so negative. Additionally, a teacher from Metro came to talk with us about pesticides and the resulting unintended consequences of those. One of our favorite scientific discussions though, was looking at the trends creating by our bridge project. We had 5 different graphs up, trying to determine which variable may have played the biggest role in bridge strength.
Ask, what were the unintended consequences of applying DDT to crops?
Listen to how the “behavior over time graphs” connected to each other in our Fernhill discussion.
Extend the learning by researching inventions inspired using biomimicry.
Literacy
- Typing Web homework this week.
- Starting next week (the 9th) and continuing until Thanksgiving, students are to dedicate writing homework time to editing and revising their poetry.
Last week we looked at two types of poetry. The “Where I’m From” or “I am From” had kids reflecting
about memories from their home and what makes them who they are. On Friday, Yasmine,
Rachel’s daughter, Skyped us from college to teach us about “Spoken Word” poetry.
It was a really special lesson and the Merlins were phenomenal writers for her!
Like Love That Dog, Hate That Cat, took on a serious tone this week. We learned Jack’s mom
can’t hear. This makes Jack wonder and question how she “hears” poetry. Is it by feel or rhythm?
Although this book is still a narrative poem, Merlins are also selecting their books
for our nature-adventure genre. My hope is that these books will help us think even more like
naturalists for our Nature and Design unit. Last week we looked at interesting words we could
tune into while we read. This week we’ll look for evidence that shows why our books are indeed,
nature-adventure books.
Level 3 is planning to have a Coffee House Night where we share our poetry with each other and our
families. Planning this is always hard as we want all kids to attend and share the poetry they’ve worked
so hard on. However, we realize many kids have evening commitments. Rachel and I will do our best to accommodate requests as we start to schedule.
Ask, what nature-adventure book are you reading?
Listen to you child talk about the “Spoken Word” lesson taught by Yasmine.
Extend the learning by reading favorite poems or writing poems together as a family.
6th Grade Math
We have just a few more concepts to explore in our second algebra block. Last week was packed
pretty full. We looked at expressions, and the many ways to say and write them. We solved
expressions by plugging in numbers for variables. Then, we looked at a variety of formulas that
Can be solved when you know the values of the variable. We discussed and practiced formulas for interest, batting averages, calculating distances, and several geometric formulas.
Ask, what’s the difference between volume, area and perimeter?
Listen to your child explain how to solve formulas.
Extend the learning by writing expressions that apply to your life.
5th Grade Math
This week, the 5th grade mathematicians will work with a variety of multiplication strategies, and work together to make an anchor poster of strategies for the class. We will also set up and use ratio tables to solve story problems around pricing of Brad's Baseballs. Students will complete their second checkpoint on multiplication and volume. Last week students were introduced to a routine called Work Places. This structure allows students a chance to practice skills and strategies for a unit in partner and independent game-like activities while the teacher meets with small groups for skill support and/or extension lessons. This week 5th graders will learn and practice their third Work Place game called Beat The Clock (encourages finding and using the most efficient strategies). We will end the week reviewing the area model to solve division problems.
Ask, your child to solve 18X15 with the most efficient strategies he or she knows.
Listen to your child describe Work Places, the math skills being practiced and what goes well and what could be improved.
Extend the Learning by solving this together There is a box of Blue Bombers that contains 72 baseballs. What are dimensions of all the possible boxes that contain 72 baseballs?