This is "snow" ridiculous...when will I see your kids again?!

Hi, everyone...hope you have power and lots of food...looks like we're going to be stuck inside for awhile!


First...the movie that is in the post below did not turn out exactly how I wanted it to...I'll be trying again later...I attempted to put clips in it, but they didn't last very long, so I must have done something wrong...also, I tried to put one picture per kid, and deleted duplicates, but that didn't work either...so forgive me as I try to figure it all out!


We had a terrific week and this crazy snow worked in our favor for our Wax Museum. Neither the delay earlier in the week nor the early dismissal in the latter part of the week hurt our performances. We performed three times on our dress rehearsal day...for all third graders and the second grade magnet classes...your kids were wonderful that day...almost as wonderful as they were for you all on Thursday! I was so very proud of them...and am so glad that so many of you could attend.


But, believe it or not, we did other things this week, too...read on...


Language Arts
We started a novel unit this week...King of the Wind...this is a book that your kids are all going to enjoy...while we're reading we will be focusing on vocabulary, as well as author's tone, character's motivation, and much, much more. I will be requiring all students to look into the book for examples to support their thinking...this is extremely important! Although I know through our literature discourse that your child understands, an MSA examiner will not, and the only way your child can "show what he/she knows" is to use details from the text to support their answers in a written answer. (OK...I'll get down off my soapbox now.) :-)

We are also working on using quotation marks correctly in their writing. We are finding examples, writing conversation, and next week we will be viewing famous people's quotes to complete our work with quotation marks.

We have moved our focus in writing to the trait of "voice"...this really goes hand in hand with "word choice" and most of my students use a very distinct voice when writing! We will be analyzing pieces of writing for the trait of voice and scoring them so that the kids can see great examples and not-so-great examples...helps them to identify their own "voice" in their writing.

Math
The kids took their Quarter 2 post test this past week...these documents are "secure" so I cannot send them home, but I have shared them with the kids...they know what they got on the pretest and what they go on the post test...every single kid made improvement. If you are curious about these scores, I am happy to share them with you.

We are moving into division...and again, I will be grouping the kids based on their pretests...some of our students know how to long divide, but most do not...all of the students need to learn how to estimate when dividing...the strategies change with this operation. PLEASE continue to have your child work on his/her math facts...without the multiplication facts, long division is even harder! (and it looks like they'll have some extra time for facts this weekend...so please encourage (or require) this!!)

Science
We will be continuing our study of rocks...this past week we conducted scratch tests to determine the hardness of minerals. The kids worked with four different minerals and could put them in order using a fingernail scratch test, and a penny. After the fingernail scratch test, they were able to determine that talc and graphite were both SOFTER than a fingernail. After trying to scratch the minerals with a penny they were able to determine that the calcite was SOFTER than a penny...and then when they turned the mineral ON the penny, they found that feldspar was HARDER than the penny as it left a scratch on the copper penny! They were introduced to MOH's scale of hardness and know that rock scientists use this as a measure of hardness for minerals.

Please check out the important dates in the post from last Friday...and hopefully I'll see your kids sooner than later...we have SNOW much to do! :-) Stay warm!

Wills Wax Museum 2010

Where to begin?!?

First and foremost...thank you SO much to Ms. Kim and Mrs. Akula...they made cookies for us this week...not any old cookies...we had Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks, and Sedimentary Rocks...the cookies were helpful in our lessons, and also very yummy!

The kids have been working their tails off getting ready for our Wax Museum...wanna see?!

I told you they've been working hard...we've finished final drafts...each student has had a revision meeting, and final touches have been added. Now, as I'm SURE you know, it's practice time!! Yesterday and today we presented to the class and we all took turns telling each other how we can improve as we practice over the weekend...that's right...PRACTICE OVER THE WEEKEND...PLEASE!! We have our first run (no costumes or props needed) Monday morning and then on Tuesday its DRESS REHEARSAL DAY...we will be doing two different runs sharing our wax museum with the second grade magnet students and the rest of our third grade friends. Wednesday we'll take a break and then the "real" Wax Museum is THURSDAY at 9am in the cafeteria for...YOU! When you arrive, please go to the office, sign in, and go to the cafeteria. There will be a slide show scrolling that the kids have prepared for you...it will give you an idea of all of the important people you will meet that morning. Our tour is a walking tour...the wax figures will come in around 9:10 am, take their places, an introduction will be given, and then you will move from group to group learning about all of our famous people. The entire tour takes 45 min to one hour...please plan to stay the whole time. The kids are very excited and I think you will be SO impressed with how much they've grown as students and speakers!!

This project has taken quite a bit of our time, but there is life beyond the wax museum...read on...

Language Arts - we have been reading from the Sciencesaurus text about rocks and minerals. We've used sub-headings to help form purpose questions...an excellent study skill...we gathered quite a bit of knowledge and then got to break apart each type of cookie...I mean, rock...and get a better picture (and taste) of what the book was telling us.

Science - all the while we've been continuing to monitor our compost and our worm friends. Quite a few of our worm friends are no longer with us...after observing them, and designing our own experiments for the worms, some just couldn't stand the activity!! While decomposers are making nutritious soil in our compost piles, we've been busy observing rocks and minerals. As a class we know what to look for to help determine whether the object is a rock or mineral...we've discussed the properties of minerals, and Monday we'll be doing tests to determine the hardness of certain minerals.

Math - man, did we fit in a lot of math this week...we finished with line plots and finding averages, we worked with double line graphs and discussed that line graphs are used for showing information OVER TIME, and now...we've moved into decimals...yesterday we had a great lesson...I asked the question, "A decimal number has been rounded to 6, what might the decimal number be?" This question spurred so many answers...we took all of them, wrote them on cards, and then everyone participated in an ordering activity...we then used the hundreds, tens, and ones blocks to create different decimals numbers...all of this while making sure to use the proper terms when reading decimals...NO using the word "POINT"!! The decimal tells us to say "and"...so that when you see 24.792, you say, "twenty-four AND seven hundred ninety-two thousandths." Today we worked with adding and subtracting decimals....and we took a quiz on line plots and line graphs...whew! I told you we got a lot accomplished!

We took the week off of word study...we're headed right back into it with prefixes, suffixes, and root words in the coming weeks. Speaking of the coming weeks...at the end of this post I have listed important dates...please make a note of them.

Last, and on a much more serious note, Logan Cresswell's uncle, Sgt. David Smith, a Marine serving with 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Company Battalion B, based in Frederick, was injured last weekend serving our country in Afghanistan. He died this past Tuesday. Mrs. Fike, our school counselor, came in to talk to our class about Logan's uncle...explaining that he is a hero and a wonderful role model...and discussing how Logan is going to be sad for awhile...he and his uncle were very close. Mrs. Fike and I talked with the kids about not talking to Logan about it unless he wants to talk, and that it is important to just act normal...so that school is a place Logan can come and keep to his routine. I am so proud of your children...they have been compassionate and understanding...they have been absolutely amazing.

I continue to love what I do...and that is because of your kids...they make my job delightful. Have a good weekend and please make note of the below dates...

FEBRUARY

Tuesday, February 2 - Dress Rehearsal - Wax Museum

Thursday, February 4 - Wax Museum for parents - 9am in the cafeteria

Friday, February 5 - Multicultural Fair/last day for coins for Haiti

Friday, February 12 - Valentine's Day Party 1:30-2:30pm

Monday, February 15 - No School - President's Day

Tuesday, February 23 - 2 hour early dismissal

Happy Short Week!

Hi, everyone...we had a very busy two days...but before I get to that...do we have any bakers out there? Next week we are diving into the "rocks" portion of our science unit and I found recipes for different edible rocks!! I would love to know if anyone out there would like to bake some this So check out the website below... http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/curriculum/MISmart/rocks/edible.html and to email me, send to karen.wills@fcps.org. Thanks ahead of time!!

This week:

MATH: we are working on line graphs and diving into decimals!

SCIENCE: we built compost piles, observed our decomposer friends...the worms, added them to our compost piles, and are continuing to monitor the decomposition that is going on in our compost piles. We conducted experiments with our worms yesterday...we tested whether or not the worms prefer light to dark areas and we tested whether they like wet or dry areas. Then the kids designed their own experiments that we will conduct next week. You have amazing scientists for kids!!

LANGUAGE ARTS: we are heavy into publishing our biographies in the first person. The kids are doing a good job. I meet with each student to revise...organization is very important with this piece of writing and many kids need to make changes in order to tell the story correctly. Please be thinking about your child's outfit for our wax museum...they need to wear or bring something that will help the person listening identify with the character they are portraying. I am still waiting on four of the orange papers that need to be signed acknowledging that you are aware they need help planning and are aware you have been invited!

OTHER NEWS: Our Valentine's Day party is scheduled for Friday, February 12th from 1:30-2:20. Mrs. Gallo sent an email/letter to all students' families...this letter lets you know how you can help, and also gives you a complete list of the kids in our class. School rule: bring one Valentine for each student in your class. Thank you for making sure your child is prepared on that day.

Have a great weekend!

We are Soaring with Pride...

Where to begin?! So much to share...let's start with how excellent our behavior has been...we continue to rake in the Soaring with Pride stickers. At the beginning of the month the kids predicted how many stickers we would receive this month...I asked them to adjust their predictions today based on how many we have right now...we have 26...and we have 7 more school days...over half the class thinks we will have more than 47 stickers by Jan 31...and I gotta tell you....they could be right!

Here's how our week went down...

In Language Arts, the students have been researching, taking notes, and organizing those notes in order to write the biography of their very important person. Each student is working at his/her own pace and the entire class is doing an excellent job. All students must be finished reading their books and articles AND taking notes by next Thursday when they return from the long weekend. There are a few kids who will be bringing their books home this weekend. We will be in the computer labs on Thursday and Friday publishing the biographies....many students have already started this endeavor! The Wax Museum timeline I sent home is a tight one and they're going to be very busy over the next couple of weeks. But they're very motivated and all are doing such a nice job.


Their writing skills have improved so much! Wait until you see the narrative essays they are bringing home this week. I was very impressed. I want every student to continue to PROOFREAD their work for punctuation and capitalization errors...these can be caught with one read through before my eyes get to their paper!!


In Math this week we have been working with line plots, finding the mode of the data, and finding the mean (or the average). We collected data about our class and found the mean height of all of our classmates to be 53 inches! The mode was a tie between 51 and 53 inches! We also wrapped up the geometry unit with a test today. There were 23 questions and a bonus...measuring and drawing angles...I was pleased to see how many students attempted this optional bonus.


And finally...the big news of the week...our new Science unit: Rocks, Soil, and Fossils. Sometime today we are expecting the arrival of our very own decomposers...the earthworms! The kids are very excited! We read and discussed composting this week and built our own...it was tons of fun...thank you to Ms. Wichman, Allie's mom, for helping us with this task...take a look for yourself...scroll down to the next blog entry!


In closing I'd like to leave you with a few important dates to mark on your calendar and a few needs for the classroom.



Tuesday, February 2 - Wax Museum dress rehearsal for second grade and third grade students

Thursday, February 4 - Wax Museum presentation for parents 9am

Friday, February 5 - Multicultural Fair at UES

Saturday, February 27 - Dancing Bear Toy store...wax museum figures can perform there...more details to come, just mark your calendars!


March 8-12 - MSA testing for 3rd graders (please do not schedule any appointments on these days if you can help it!)



Classroom Needs: kleenex and "Post-It" brand sticky notes (squares 3"x 3")

Thanks for your help with the needs...looking forward to a fun filled February...enjoy your long weekend...I plan to...headed to Chattanooga, TN to see my oldest son and his wife...they bought a new house, and we're excited to spend some family time together!

Composting!

Wow...

So...I wouldn't have chosed today for our FOURTH snow day...yikes...wonder what January and February hold for us? Oh well...we had a jam packed week anyway...let me start with...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I missed all of your little people, and I was worried that after being gone for SIXTEEN days we'd have to start back at square one...but not your kids...we jumped right back into it and they have been AWESOME!

LANGUAGE ARTS

Just this week...in four days...they wrote multi-paragraph narrative essays...and they are incredible! I have about 6 more kids that need a conference with me for revision and then we'll be done. The kids had a choice to type their first draft or write it...most kids chose word processing, so their revisions were a little easier, but the kids who chose to write did a fantastic job...and THEN typed!! Our long, hard work on paragraphs has paid off!! This week we also have been continuing our biography unit...I was excited for today because the kids were going to be picking their "important person" that they will eventually represent in our Wax Museum. We will be starting this process on Monday. This past week, in order to prepare them for this next writing assignment, we read two different biographies...Louis Braille and Thomas Edison...they identified the main ideas, necessary supporting details, and then organized all of their notes on a graphic organizer. As a small group, we wrote the biography in the first person (just as they will do) about their important people. I believe they are ready...but ready or not, we start Monday!

MATH

This week in Math we had one of our best math lessons EVER! We used the first day back to review lines, measuring angles, geometry vocabulary, etc. While we were reviewing we drew triangles with particular angle measurements...and discovered that triangles' three angles always add up to 180 degrees! The next day I asked the kids to do an investigation about how to find the area of a triangle. They all cut out their triangles and began investigating....I wish you could have been here...they had rulers, grid paper, protractors, they were talking, thinking...it was energizing...and guess what?!?! They flippin' figured it out! Some kids realized that if you put that triangle on a rectangle, it was 1/2 and they knew how to find the area of a rectangle. SO they found the area of the rectangle and then divided by 2! Some kids traced it on grid paper and counted squares, and one child figured that if you folded the two corners into the triangle, it created a rectangle, he found the area of that rectangle and multiplied by two! It was such an "ah-ha" moment for all of them. I asked them why they thought I chose to teach the area of a triangle like this, and one of the kids said, "So we could figure it out ourselves..." YUP...and they sure did. We will finish up this quarter working on line plots, line graphs, and decimals.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We finished up the Social Studies unit on Coming to America this week...we did a Readers Theater called "First Stop, Ellis Island" and then performed it for Mrs. Humerick and Mr. Clutz's classes...it was really a great play...it focused on the hardships of immigrants in the early 1900's and taught the kids about how quotas were put into place around 1922...and what that meant for people as they got off the boats. I was very proud of the oral communication skills the kids used to perform this play...they are improving daily in their self confidence and in their ability to speak with that confidence (and a couple of them already had plenty :-).) I am so looking forward to you seeing them in a performance role later this winter.

HAVE A GOOD LONG WEEKEND

Well...I am at school as we speak (because there is NOTHING wrong with the roads)...catching up and writing this post. But I wish the room was full of the chatter of some of the greatest kids I've ever taught...but since they're not here, I'll turn up my music and get some work done. Enjoy your early weekend...and as always, email me with questions or concerns.