I do hope you'll forgive me...I'm sorry I've been absent from the blogging scene...as I'm sure it is in your home, December is nutty in the Wills' house. That being said, you may be thinking, "Then why on Earth did you assign a project?" I have been helping the kids manage their time on this project, so that hopefully, it will not be more than an extra 15 minutes each evening. Each evening their agendas have a new step to work on. So if they can keep up with the nightly steps, they will be more than ready come December 17th!
That being said...we have been incredibly busy and productive lately. Where to begin?
Language Arts
We finished up our "Reading Social Studies textbooks" unit and have moved into POETRY...one of my very favorite units. In our initial lesson I asked the kids, "Is poetry important?" and "Are you good at writing poetry?" Most kids argued that poetry is NOT important and that they are not good at it. I told them I would change their mindset on both! I explained that poetry is a wonderful way to communicate thoughts, feelings, and stories...plus I let them know they'll be analyzing it for the next TWELVE years or so...and then I let them know that not only will they be writing poetry, but they will write a poem they are amazed came out of them! Stay tuned for that!
The kids continue to publish stories in Writer's Workshop...there are quite a few hanging in the classroom and many others awaiting a Teacher Conference...we work on many different writing skills during the mini-lessons and the Teacher Conferences.
ALL lowercase cursive letters have been taught and we begin cursive capital letters this week...they have at least one homework assignment a week (usually word study) to do in cursive and we will continue to add more as the quarter progresses.
Math
My gosh they are amazing mathematicians! We have been working on multiple strategies to show explain multiplication, we have been working on "fantastic" responses when asked to solve word problems...we have been working on the multiplication algorithm. Everyone in the class was ready for three digits times one digit and has successfully mastered that!! Many kids were then taught to multiply two digits times two digits...that was just an extension, but one that many were ready for. The problem these days with the algorithm is that many people think that if the child can do that well, then they are better mathematicians. But this couldn't be further from the truth. It is INCREDIBLY important that the kids understand WHY they are regrouping a ten to the next column and what exactly it stands for...the strong their concepts at this age, the more successful they will be when faced with PRE-CALCULUS as a SOPHOMORE...that's right...you heard me...we are preparing them to be successful in high school and beyond. This is why when the kids are asked to answer a question they are asked to show TWO strategies...because after the algorithm, the next strategy needs to be one that shows their conceptual understanding...such as using the distributive property when solving for area or a larger multiplication problem.
STEM
Have your kids been talking about a marble ramp?! OMG...what an amazing project we just completed...the amount of problem solving, engineering, and physics that went into it was UNBELIEVABLE!! Let me break it down...we are having quarterly STEM challenges at UES...as a class we were given a toilet paper tube and a clothespin and told that we were to create a marble ramp/candy dispenser using any "school" materials, recyclable materials, and the clothespin and toilet paper tube. We discussed the STEM process, started a journal, and recorded our initial ideas. The second day we polished our ideas making sure the sketches had labels. We got into triads and shared our ideas. Then the group had to decide which of the three was the best model...they were able to take parts of each others and create a different one so that they all had a part in it...this was a very difficult step because they each thought their model was best...but they really did a great job compromising. We talked about the fact that if we worked for a company and we wanted to make the most money, even if we loved our own idea, we'd be open to an even better one in order to create the BEST product...many kids could roll with this idea...others, not so much...but we still came up with SIX great models. We were planning to vote on just one, but we realized that we really couldn't vote until we saw the results...just because a model looks great on paper, does not mean it's going to work...plus, I couldn't figure out how 18 kids were going to build ONE model!! ;-) Soooo we started the fun part...the triads built six marble ramps...it was soo fun to watch them work. They argued constructively, revised their plans, edited their models, and worked their tails off! In the end we had four working models and two others that were great plans, but ended up not working. Each group presented their model (working or not) and then we voted on the one that would represent our class. It was a REALLY close vote...BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WERE AWESOME!!
See what I mean? In the end, the class voted on the one we called "LONG"...it has the Fruit by the Foot box. Once each group was finished, the kids completed a STEM reflection...a written piece that will receive a grade. This project received two grades...the cooperative work/building/creating piece and the written piece. I'm pretty sure every kid will tell you they loved this project....they were so engaged! Our school will display all classes' marble ramp/candy dispensers the week before Winter Break. I can't wait to see what other classes came up with!
SOCIAL STUDIES
We are working on an Economics unit...and this coming week we will begin an in class project titled "ENTREPRENEURS" where the kids will use the economic concepts we've been studying, in a real world situation. They will develop companies, create products, advertise, and attempt to make a profit. Pictures to come!
REMINDERS
- Early Dismissal this Wednesday, December 12th...two hours early....magnet dismisses at 12:30
- Cultural Project due Monday, December 17th
- please send recyclables...especially paper towel/toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, and cardboard...nothing with food stains, please...
- I know the weather is unpredictable, but please help your child remember hats, gloves, and COATS on the really cold days.
As always...send an email if you have a question or concern. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
