News from the Hill
December 2, 2019
Principal's Message
Happy December! As this month marks the end of the 2019 calendar year, at Hillside, we enjoy looking back on all that we have accomplished. Hillside teachers are rolling out our new Writing Units of Study and our children cannot wait for Writer's Workshop each day! Budding writers in Grades K-4 have been journeying through the complete writing process. Utilizing portfolio assessment, writers are reviewing their pre- and post- assessments to assess their growth as writers. And it is truly amazing to see what students can now do after just a few months of purposeful instruction! We look forward to setting new goals for 2020 and continuing the writing momentum.
At Hillside this year, we have been prioritizing both student and staff recognition. We have introduced both the Lunchbox Challenge and Hallway Recognition Certificates to honor positive behavior in school. We are awarding students with core value bracelets when respect, courage, or curiosity are demonstrated. And you might be hearing from Mr. DeKams or me with a happy phone call as teachers are making positive office referrals! Even our teachers are being recognized by both administration and colleagues with "Works of HeART" to go along with our school theme. Please join us in celebrating all of the good that is happening by letting your teachers, support staff and children know that their work matters!
Though December is a short month at Hillside, please note the important dates below:
- December 5- Report cards will be posted to the Parent Portal. Please check to be sure that you can access your account.
- December 6- Historical Society visit for 2nd Grade Classes
- December 13- Late Start
In addition, many classrooms will be communicating with you directly regarding winter celebrations that showcase our students' learning.
Over the winter break, my family and I will be traveling to four more states on our US tour of the 50 states and spending some quality time together. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter and the time to do whatever it is that you enjoy most with your amazing children.
Warm regards,
Amy Cazes
Classroom News
Kindergarten
Kindergarteners worked hard this month to participate in our first Season of Giving event where they assembled gift bags for our troops and created heartfelt cards. It was an amazing experience all round!
As mathematicians, we continue to build a strong foundation for numbers by composing and decomposing numbers up to 10. We are also strengthening our number formations and trying to eliminate reversals.
We have continued to enjoy heart books. In addition to sequencing stories by looking at images (beginning, middle and end), we have practiced changing our voices to sound like the characters in the books we have read. As readers, we have also been learning how to look at the characters and state what they might be thinking as we keep the stories in our minds. We are building powerful comprehension tools as readers!
We have started a new unit in Writer’s Workshop where we are exploring and creating How-To books. The children are planning, stretching and writing How-To books and are also continuing to stretch sounds in their words and are sharing them with partners. We are so proud of all of their hard work!
1st Grade
Our first grade readers are working hard at learning strategies for problem solving, overcoming challenges and persevering while reading. The primary focus of this unit includes word solving, fluent reading and retelling. Students use knowledge of word parts and known words, check their own reading by asking themselves questions when they read, and build greater fluency as they reread texts multiple times.
In writing, our students have completed their work involving pattern books. Many students enjoyed this unit that allowed them to explore various ways to make their patterns exciting, using seesaw patterns and by adding a twist to their writing. Our next unit will focus on “Adding Trouble” where children will learn to craft personal narratives and then have fun by asking themselves, “What if….”
After we return from Thanksgiving break, we will begin our new unit in math. Module 2 introduces students to place value through addition and subtraction within 20. Students will be introduced to more efficient counting on strategies and will learn to solve problems with three addends.
2nd Grade
The second graders are reading informational texts. They are learning to use the various text features to build their knowledge on so many interesting topics. The readers have been eagerly sharing facts and understandings with their classmates.
Our mathematicians continue to learn so many ways to add and subtract two and three digit numbers. We are experts at using empty number lines, at counting up and back by ones, tens, and hundreds, and in representing numbers with place value disks. We’ll practice the arrow way, using compensation techniques, and, ultimately, the algorithms! Those place value disks will be bundled and unbundled all month long, as we regroup ones and tens. The math facts quizzes are ongoing; some of our students are racing the facts to and within 20 already!
Keep helping your children with those basics at home! Enjoy dice games, card games (Blackjack?), and flash cards (in stages: to/from 10, then 15, then 20) routinely. Fluency with facts builds math confidence!
Our writers are writing non-fiction expert books and are so excited to be sharing their knowledge on various topics ranging from Minecraft, horses, dogs and the beach! They are learning how to incorporate text features such as diagrams, glossaries, captions and so much more!
The social scientists are learning all about communities and the three types: rural, suburban, and urban. Interdisciplinary comparisons and contrasts offer opportunities for art, technology, and literacy-based projects.
Please save the morning of Thursday, December 19 to join our classes as we Celebrate Communities!
3rd Grade
In math, we have begun our third unit of study: Multiplication and Division with Units of 0, 1, 6–9, and Multiples of 10. Module 3 extends the study of factors from 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 to include all units from 0 to 10, as well as multiples of 10 within 100. We continue to have weekly quizzes on multiplication facts. Studying multiplication facts at home greatly helps students to solve problems fluently.
We have begun reading Peter Pan as part of our ELA unit: Interpreting Characters’ Relationships in Book Clubs. We are using this classic to study and practice the techniques of book clubs. This will be followed by student book clubs based- on books of interest and reading level. As we read Peter Pan, we will discuss and write about how characters move the story along through their actions, words, and thoughts. We will also read the book, Duck! Rabbit!, to discuss perspective in stories.
In writing, we continue to work on our second unit. It is an informational unit where students have been asked to write a question and answer book based on a topic in which they are an expert. Some students are writing about a hobby or activity they enjoy, while others are writing about a place that is very familiar to them. The students have used a systematic approach to generate ideas, organize their knowledge, and develop questions and answers to engage their reader.
Our new social studies unit has begun. We will be immersed in a study of China for the next two months or so. This begins with research about the country’s flag and its history. We are reviewing the physical map of China. Each student will create a kite, a Chinese invention, with a special word written in Chinese. Students will have the pleasure of working with our artist-in-residence, Alison Marra. Next up, children will paint their own Chinese lantern. Lanterns and kites will be on display during our Chinese Tea Ceremonies before the winter recess.
4th Grade
In math, 4th graders are continuing to strengthen their multiplication and division skills. They are tackling multi-digit multiplication problems and long division in both area models and standard algorithms, and are applying this new found knowledge in word problems as well. It is amazing to watch as the students build their confidence levels and even ask for more challenging equations!
In ELA, we have just wrapped our first units in reading and writing and are delving into thinking deeply about characters in fiction in Unit 2 Reading, and learning to write Literary Essays in Unit 2 Writing. When writing, students will create claims and then support their ideas by referencing specific text details and writing clear and organized responses. We look forward to this thought provoking work.
In Social Studies, 4th grader teachers were thrilled to see the incredible creativity and effort that students demonstrated with their longhouses. Students have thoroughly enjoyed viewing each other’s work as well, and it is clear that they have learned a great deal about the Haundenosaunee (Iroquois) culture and had a blast doing so. We will continue this learning through a web based research project in the coming weeks.
In Science, 4th graders continue to learn about living things. They are learning that animals and plants must adapt in order to survive in their environments and they are learning that organisms have life cycles and life spans which determine their growth and development, and how long they are able to live.
4th grade teachers wish all families a Happy Thanksgiving and much deserved time with family and friends!
Learning Lab 2-4
As readers, we are continuing to immerse ourselves in nonfiction texts. We are learning to identify and label text features. We are also learning how these features help us understand then text more deeply. We are learning to use our notebook to jot quick notes that we learn as we read. We read, stop, think, jot. One of our favorite shared readings was titled Hummingbirds. You won’t believe how much we learned by reading this text together several times. We are also continuing to focus on growing as readers by learning more sight words and having many word attack strategies. We will soon be moving back to fiction reading as we work in book clubs to share our reading experiences.
In math our second graders have completed their study of place value. We can use place value drawings and manipulatives to model counting on and counting back by ones, tens, and hundreds. We are now beginning our new unit in which we will develop place value strategies to fluently add and subtract within 100.
Our third graders are getting ready to begin our next math module; Multiplication and Division with Units of 0, 1, 6–9, and Multiples of 10. This module extends the study of factors from 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 to include all units from 0 to 10, as well as multiples of 10 within 100. We will also continue to work on solving word problems and increasing our fluency with addition and subtraction facts.
Our fourth graders are continuing to develop place value strategies for multiplying and dividing multi-digit numbers. This is a very important fourth grade skill! Continued practice with multiplication and division facts greatly supports this work.
Communications Class K-2
In ELA, we are reading books multiple times to answer reading comprehension questions. Our K and first grade friends are reading heart books and our 2nd grade friends are reading nonfiction texts to accomplish this goal.
In Math, our K and 1st grade friends are working on identifying and counting numbers 1 -20. Our 2nd grade friends are adding and subtracting single and double digit numbers using a variety of strategies.
In Social Studies, our K and 1st graders are working on learning their personal information. Our 2nd graders are learning about rural, urban and suburban communities. They are also learning to identify important places within their community and understand the role community helpers play in their daily lives.
Communications Class 3-5
Art
Wow! What a great month of Art. Every student created a painting based on the book “Say Something.” These art pieces, created by K-3rd graders, are hanging around the hallways in Hillside. As always, please check out the Hillside Art blog featuring regular updates of what is happening in the Art Studio - https://www.hohschools.org/Page/1225 .
Music
Physical Education
Hello There! Here if Physical Education we are about to wrap up our Gymnastics unit within the next week. Our 3rd and 4th grade students will be given the opportunity to create routines made up of the skills they have learned, and perform these routines for their peers. Our K-2nd grade students will learn their final skills for the unit and practice everything they have learned and help their classmates when necessary.
Starting on December 9th, the infamous Obstacle Course will be set up for every student to run through. For those who are not familiar, the Obstacle Course is made up of 2 blow ups; a large slide, and one long blow up that is made up of obstacles that students have to climb over, up, and through. This is definitely a crowd favorite and we are excited to get this unit started! Please make sure your child is prepared with socks each phys edu day. In order to participate on the Obstacle Course you must have socks on. Thank you!
FLES
First grade students have been learning and communicating about family and pets. Look for the “Mi familia” book they created. It will be completed and sent home soon!
Second graders have been continuing their study of adjectives and opposites. They recently completed a writing/guessing game activity where they described themselves and a popular character, in Spanish!
Third graders have been studying South America and focusing on the country of Chile. They are working on a “passport” portfolio which showcases all that they are learning about this Spanish-speaking country.
Fourth graders are studying the country of Spain and have started their “passport” portfolio. After each lesson, they record a new, written entry in their passport about what they have learned. The project will go home at the end of our unit.
All grades are participating in the “One book, one school” project and have read the book Di Algo by Peter Reynolds, (it’s the Spanish version of Say Something). Students are working on “saying something” they are thankful for with a Thanksgiving writing project.