Multiage Team Blog
November 11 - 15
Responsive Classroom
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.
Math
Students started a new calendar grid that focuses on the different types of triangles. Over the next couple of weeks they will talk about vocabulary words such as equilateral and scalene.
5th graders continued fraction work this week focusing on finding common denominators when adding and subtracting fractions, as well as mixed numbers. 4th graders continued working on multiplication. They used their thinking about divisibility rules and factors to determine if numbers were prime or composite.
Math Stars
Students are working diligently to earn Math Stars. 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.
Writing
Mrs. S. Mead's students continued working on their science writing. Students have now created 4 paragraphs, each centered around one question about their topic. This week they will be adding their introductions and conclusions to complete this piece.
Mrs. K. Mead's class is also working on informational writing. Students are wrapped up their comparison pieces on Earth and Mars. Students who have time will be working on a choice research piece while others finish up their piece Earth and Mars writing.
Reading
Last week we began some guided reading groups with all students using short texts. This work does not carry assignments that are due, rather the group work happens when students meet in group. Instead, all students are expected to be reading a novel of their choosing, and are entering their thinking periodically into their Reader's Notebooks.
Read Aloud
Mrs. S. Mead's Class continued reading: Chomp. After being bitten by the bat, Derek develops an infection, and with it, a fever and compromised thinking abilities. He also happens to be a cult fan of the Nightwing Trilogy, a set of three vampire movies. He decides that he must be turning into a vampire, so he sneaks out of his tent in the middle of the night, and steals one of the airboats. Now the crew, including Mickey Cray, Wahoo and Tuna, are all on the hunt for the missing survivalist. Meanwhile, Tuna's father has shown up on the scene, at Sickler's station, looking for Tuna. He knows she's around because she called him from Sickler's phone, and Tuna's father traced the call.
Ms. Jeffrey's class is reading The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. Mason is looking after Moonie, the Drinker's dog for the weekend. He is very excited to spend time with the dog without Matt being around to bother him. In addition, Mason was able to visit Calvin when he returned home from the hospital. Mason is feeling guilty because he thinks he should have figured out Calvin might have been stuck in the sonotube earlier.
Mrs. K Mead's class is The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor. This is from this year's Dorothy's List. Mason and Calvin were explore Mason's backyard when they came across a root cellar. After working very hard, Mason and Calvin were able to get inside the cellar. They have decided to use it as a hide out from Matt Drinker and Lance Pierson and are starting to fix it up. One problem they had was the cellar was very dark. Calvin came up with the idea to create a light shaft and after lots of searching near by construction sites he and Mason were able to find a sonotube that would work for that purpose. Unfortunately, while they were walking the tube home, Matt and Lance came upon them and decided they wanted the tube for themselves. Calvin challenged Matt and said that he could have the tube if he could get him off of it. Mason was uncomfortable with this but Calvin was determined not to lose the tube or lose to Matt. Luckily Matt's mom came across the scene and broke up the physical battle. Calvin was very proud of have ended up with the tube.
Science
Ms. Jeffrey's class completed the Science Court on gravity. They learned that all matter has mass and that mass never changes but weight can change depending on the gravitational force. They learned that there is less gravity when objects move farther away from Earth.
Mrs. K. Mead's class focused on gravity this week. We began a Science Court on gravity. Kids have had discussions about what causes weight and how weight can change depending on what planet you are on. This Science Court will continue into this week.
Mrs. S. Mead's students finished their learning about constellations by creating a Universe in a box. This is a model they created to demonstrate the reason we see different constellations during different seasons.
Lunch Bunches
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.
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
Music Blog for Mrs. Ferris
Practice Superstars
Jeffrey: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
K. Mead: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
S. Mead: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Important Dates
November 25-29 No School for Students
December 23 - January 1 No School for Students
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