Multiage Team Blog
October 28 - November 1
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. This week students did things like: I Spy, Squeezer, Oh Captain and Blind Cow.
Math
We wrapped up the October calendar grid and will start a new one next week!
5th graders began fraction work this week, focusing on relating money and time to fractional parts. 4th graders continued working on multiplication. They are learning about writing equations and label their answers with units. Groups flexibly change based on student needs as we make our way through the skills in these units.
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. Some students are still working on gathering information using questions/answers. In addition, we also talked about how to use either a "one time" or and "all about" structure for organizing their writing.
Mrs. K. Mead's class is also working on informational writing. We began working on a piece that will compare Earth and Mars. Students read an article and collected information and we will be working on using that information in our writing.
Reading
Students are participating in realistic fiction book groups. Some of the books they are reading are Frindle, Lunch Money, On My Honor and Among the Hidden. They have assignments due every Wednesday and Friday. Their written responses are based on a choice board they have in their reader's notebook.
Read Aloud
Mrs. S. Mead's Class continued reading: Chomp. Mickey, Wahoo and Tuna are now on site with Derek and the entire Expedition Survival! crew, somewhere in the Everglades. One one of the days, the script called for a creature to swim near Derek, that he would then grab, and eventually kill and eat. Mickey Cray did as the director asked, and captured a nonvenomous snake, but knew that if he heated it up by keeping it in his shirt, the snake would become agitated. When the cameras were rolling, Mickey let the snake go, Derek grabbed for it, and the snake reacted! By the time the scene was over, Derek had been bit over 10 times, all over his face, torso and arms.
Ms. Jeffrey's class is reading The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. Matt Drinker and Lance Pierson were chasing Mason and Calvin through the orchard. Mason lost sight of Calvin and assumed he went home for dinner. Unfortunately Calvin never made it home and the police start a search. Of course, Lieutenant Baird questions Mason and it seems like he thinks Mason was involved in Calvin's disappearance. The next morning Mason woke up and realized that maybe Calvin was stuck in the sonotube which they were using for sunlight in the root cellar. And he was right! Rescue workers were called in and they were able to extricate Calvin from the tube. The students were so relieved!
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. This story is told from the perspective of Mason Buttle. He is a seventh grader who has a sweating problem as well as some trouble reading and writing. Due to this he is often the victim of bullying from a student named Matt Drinker. Mason's best friend Benny Kilmartin died two years ago in Mason's orchard. Mason also sees a social worker at school who has introduced him to Dragon Dictation which allows him to write down his thoughts. We have learned alot about Mason and his life through what he has told the computer. Mason has a very strong voice as the narrator of this book.
Science
Ms. Jeffrey's class continued learning about the moon and the phases of the moon.
Students have a stargazing chart and it would be great if they could observe the stars and constellations on a clear October or November night. They have resources such as the constellation guide and Universe in a Box to help them. Once they have completed the star gazing chart they can return it to school and share their findings. Both of those documents are linked below.
Mrs. K. Mead's class focused on gravity this week. We watched a video that taught us about gravity as a force and will be doing an activity to determine how high we can jump on different planets.
Mrs. S. Mead's students started learning this week about the phases of the moon as well as what stars are made of, and why they shine.
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:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22
K. Mead: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21
S. Mead: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 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