Notes from the Learning Lab
3 Weeks in the Books!
We are a Family!
We believe in building a supportive, safe, caring and engaging environment for all of the members of our classroom family. We brainstormed in small groups ideas for rules/agreements that both the students and teachers should follow in our family. We will live by these agreements each day, not striving for perfection, but for growth and support of each member of our classroom family.
Click the link below to see the great brainstorming that took place for our agreements.
We love our class!
We already love our class and have had so much fun getting to know each individual. Each day we are learning something new about their personalities, interests, learning styles and social interactions. Thank you for entrusting us with your kids. We truly love coming to school each day and think about how we can make each day meaningful and successful for your child.
Our New Tarantula, Baby Boris (who sadly has escaped)!
Solar Eclipse
Since our school opted to stay inside for the eclipse, we spent the day learning about the Indiana history related to the solar eclipse and scientific terms associated with it (penumbra, umbra). The kids also watched a live stream in the afternoon as their viewing session and were able to see two total eclipses (one in Missouri and one in Kentucky). They will have a lot to talk about at home tonight!
Reading Workshop
We are so thrilled to start our reading lives with our thoughtful readers! Over the past weeks, we have started an amazing shared read aloud, Wonder, looking closely at the rich and realistic characters. We have started writing short responses to independent books where readers are thinking about their thinking (metacognition) and are describing evidence that supports their ideas. We've also been getting to know our readers' interests and stamina. We look forward to seeing our readers grow in the way they think and write about their books!
4 C's
We always start the year introducing the 4 C's- collaboration, creativity, communication, critical thinking. This work is laying the foundation for how we work in groups and generally work and inquire in our classroom. We love laying this important groundwork.
Writing Workshop
Notebooking. It's a word we have used daily as writers because that's what writers do. Notebook. In these notebooks, we have been doing quick writes, 3 for 3, making lists, playing with the word Meanwhile in stories and so on. We are practicing playing with words and using our notebooks as a tool for trying out writing moves that we can use later. It has been a lot of fun watching their creativity and confidence blossom. Ask your child about his or her writing in the notebook!
for
A technique where writers use 3 words to describe an ordinary object.
Click the link below to see the class brainstorming settings for meanwhile.
These Writers Chose a Page They are Proud of Writing
Math Workshop- 5th Grade Curriculum
If your child has Mr. Kimmel, Mrs. Clarey, or Mrs. Pastore for math, then the big concept being learned in class is number sense. The goal of all of the math classes is that students are flexible and fluid with numbers. Lessons have focused on factors, factor trees, multiples and divisibility rules. Work with number sense will continue this week.
Math Workshop- 6th Grade Curriculum
Our first workshop started out with a card building challenge. The idea was for each group to collaborate and think critically about how to build the tallest card tower. It was a frustrating activity because the first designs collapsed easily or would not hold much weight. Over time, groups starting thinking outside of the box and figured out alternative ways to stack as well as which surfaces held the cards up best. The idea was to show our mathematicians that math can be challenging at times, but there are multiple approaches to figuring out problems. The best "answer" can be shown from different perspectives. The theme of not giving up and growing through challenges was an overall message that the kids gathered from this team building activity.
Over the course of the past few weeks, we have studied:
-decimal place value to the trillions (and beyond)
-decimal place value to the millionths (and beyond)
-powers of 10 (positive and negative exponents)
-multiplying numbers by positive and negative powers of 10
-scientific notation
-dividing by decimals
-multiplying by decimals
Name That State
As I'm sure you know, we have started our study of the state regions. Each week there will be a blank map to fill out and to use for memorizing the states and capitals. Along with the states and capitals, students are reading about the climate, land and water, landmarks and culture unique to each region. A digital notebook is being created by the students and can be used as a reference throughout the school year. A quiz will be given on both the states/capitals as well as the notes taken on the region. We are hoping that by studying the regions, it will help build background knowledge about the land as we study Native Americans and the American Revolution.