Tuesday -O&A team-building if weather permits | Wednesday -Art | Thursday -PE | Friday -Art -ODS paperwork DUE |
9/9--Outdoor School (ODS) paperwork due
9/14--Picture Day
9/26--ODS luggage drop off (time TBA)
9/27-9/30 -- ODS Magruder
A lot of last week was spent finding fun ways to get to know each other and build connections. This was accomplished by answering questions, playing games, and working through challenges. In particular we kicked off our water project through the Water Olympics and we'll use this experience to understand water's special traits later this week. Another challenge was saving Fred (a gummy worm) from his capsized boat, by figuring out how to get a life preserver around his body. Of course you couldn't use your hands!
We also spent time learning routines and expectations. There was a lot of practice devoted to be successful on O&As. This week we'll formalize our classroom expectations too.
Writing was started by brainstorming ideas for the classroom job application and our self portrait project, called "micrography."
And, we started reading "Flush" a fun mystery about a serious issue-- water pollution in Florida. There's a lot of great connections to thinking about how our human actions impact the environment, in particular, water!
Ask your child:
-What are you most excited about this year?
-What expectations will you suggest to the class so that the Merlins can have a successful year?
6th Grade Math- Gretchen looks forward to starting 6th grade math this week! Our first week of math will be a combination of several things--math games, challenges and starting a pre-assessment to show me where students are with their mathematical understanding. Math homework will start the week of the 12th. I'm excited to work with this group of mathematicians!
5th Grade Math- On Wednesday, Rachel will welcome all 5th graders for our first 5th grade math class. We will kick off math with an ice-breaker and team- building challenge to practice skills necessary for working with one another. 5th Grade Mathematicians will also complete a project that will help me and their classmates get to know them through numbers. Near the end of our week (just three short days for math), I hope to have 5th graders begin baseline assessments to help me get to know where each mathematician is with 4 grade content. Mathematicians will receive math notebooks (1 inch binders that will hold notes, assignments and practice) next week.