Multiage Team Blog
September 16-20
Responsive Classroom
As you know, our team uses Responsive Classroom. This is a research-based, developmental approach to teaching children of all ages. It is a part of the routines, academics and social/emotional skills we teach, the language we use, and the use of logical consequences as opportunities for children to learn. Follow the link above to learn more about this approach!
Morning Meetings continued this week. During Morning Meeting everyone has the right to fun, feel like they belong, and feel that they are in important. Students created guidelines for behavior to make sure everyone has those rights. Students continued playing more activities such as Frogger, Tap Someone Who and Secret Elf.
Math
This week we continued Number Corner, Number Talks and math warm ups/cool downs. Warm ups and Cool Downs require skills we feel kids should be practicing daily, such as mental computation, base ten understanding, and math facts. They also help get kids ready to really focus in on their math.
We continued our first unit of the year in Bridges. Fourth graders are working in Unit 4 with a focus on place value, rounding, as well as addition and subtraction strategies. Fifth graders started with Unit 1 which focuses on multiplication, expressions, equations and volume. For now, we are keeping students in home rooms for math instruction.
Math Stars
Math Stars begins next week. A reminder that students may not get help from others on Math Stars. We recognize that the problems can be challenging but it is important students learn perseverance skills. A letter is going home explaining this.
Writing
Read Aloud
Mrs. S. Mead's Class is reading: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Aven has decided that if her family doesn't find a creative way to bring more people to Stagecoach Pass, it will go under, and she'll have to move again. She, Connor and Zion come up with some ideas that they think will bring in customers and more businesses to the theme park, and Aven's parents are cautiously optimistic. Just when they think things are headed in the right direction, Aven realizes something about her friend Connor. All along, she has been thinking that the reason he doesn't like to go out in public, or include his mom in the Tourette's support group, is not because he's worried about other people. It's because he blames himself for having the syndrome, and for causing his parent's divorce. Now Aven is making it her mission to help Connor see the good in life no matter what it throws at him.
Ms. Jeffrey's class is reading The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. Mason and his new friend, Calvin, continue to be bullied by Matt Drinker and his friends. The two boys often hide out in Mason's house until the other boys start lacrosse in order to avoid apples or lacrosse balls being thrown at them. When they were playing in the back yard they discovered an old door hidden in some brambles on the hillside. After some very hard work they were able to pry the door open and discovered an old root cellar. Mason and Calvin have decided it will be their hideout. Mason continues to grapple with the death of his friend, Benny, but is very happy to have made a new friend.
Mrs. K Mead's class is reading Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Mrs. K Mead's class is reading Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Dash tries to enlist Roddy to help him hack into the computers to find the footage of Dr. Holtz leaving the airlock. He finds Roddy being teased by Patton and Lily Sjoberg, tourists to MBA who have paid a lot of money to be there. Dash decides to help Roddy in the hopes that Roddy will help him. Dash manages to distract Patton and Lily but Roddy runs away and Patton and Lily decide to go after Dash. While running away from Patton, Dash leads him to where they are unloading the rocket and Patton crashes into a carton of fresh eggs- fresh food is quite the commodity on the moon! Furious, Nina grounds Dash but not before he talks to Kira who offers to help him with his investigation.
Science
Allergy Free and Safe Settings
Allergy Free and Safe Settings
We have some students on our team with severe, life-threatening allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame seed and oil. That means foods containing those or foods processed in a facility with those ingredients will not be allowed in the classroom. Please read food labels, including the entire ingredient list, carefully. A safe snack list is posted on the team website for your convenience.
Please plan to pack your child's snack in a separate bag or container to keep the snack away from any lunch items containing tree nuts. Lunches do not have to be allergen-free, and may contain any foods. Everyday students will leave their lunch boxes in crates. Please let us know if you have any questions.
All About Me Gazette
Between now and Open House, students will be working on an "All About Me Gazette," which will include information about themselves. As a part of this, students may bring in printed photos of themselves and their families. This is optional, as the photos will be taped/glued and may not be able to be returned. If you and your child choose to send photos, they can come in any time between now and September 26th.
A note from the Odyssey of the Mind Coordinator:
Essex Town Odyssey of the Mind: Registration Open
This is our 9th year of Essex Town Odyssey. Odyssey of the Mind is an international STEAM based program that focuses on creative problem solving for students in kindergarten through college. Teams of 5-7 students work together to creatively solve a long term problem and to practice spontaneous problem solving. The team members must solve the problem--coaches facilitate and guide the group, but can not provide any answers or solutions. They present their solution in an 8 minute skit at the State Tournament in March. If you or your student is interested, please fill out the registration form.
Please follow the link to complete the registration form:
https://forms.gle/oM7dRCQtrdbCqhvn7
For more information about Odyssey, you can check out:
http://vt.odysseyofthemind.org/wp/ and https://www.odysseyofthemind.com
or contact Rachel Preston at preston6vt@gmail.com
Field Trips
UVM Ropes Course Field Trip
The students all did a fantastic working together and problem-solving through challenges on Friday! Check out the pictures below to see them in action!
Important Dates
September 26 FMS Open House (Multi-Age Times 6:15 - 7:15 p.m.)
September 27 FMS PTO Fun Run
Contact Us
Karen Jeffrey: kjeffrey@ewsd.org
Kelsey Mead: kmead@ewsd.org
Stacey Mead: smead@ewsd.org
Kristi Goyette: kgoyette@ewsd.org
Website: https://www.ewsd.org/Domain/379
Location: Founders Memorial School, Founders Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-879-6326