Vacation is finally upon us! It's been hard to contain our enthusiasm today, but we have managed! We started our day with the annual JES chess tournament -- results to be shared when it ends. We took a break from chess for our tropical themed writing celebration, sipping juice with umbrellas in the cups while wearing flower leis. This helps those of us who aren't going to warmer climates next week!
Our week was full. We finished our persuasive writing pieces and completed our on demand assessments. I was happy to see a lot of the strategies we learned reflected in the writing the students did on their own! We also finished up our civics unit and the accompanying assessment. The students found creative ways to show me what they know about all our legislators need to consider when passing a bill into law. We had our mock legislature with Miss Fecura's class, and I was so impressed at how thoughtful all the "senators" were. They are ready to be active participants in our democracy now! Too bad they are too young to vote...
Our math work continued in earnest this week. 3rd graders started learning about how multiplication and division are related, and they worked hard to understand how to use what they know to figure out what they don't know, always remembering that "10 is their best friend." 4th graders began working on division with remainders and trying to wrap their heads around what exactly that means. They learned the difference between a straight mathematical answer (6r2, for example) and the answer to a specific question in a story problem. Ask them to tell you about this -- they get it now!
I have heard from all of you regarding conferences, and I have made a tentative schedule which looks like it will give everyone their first or second choice. I will take one more look at it over vacation and then send home a confirmation on Thursday March 5. I'm looking forward to seeing you and discussing your children.
I hope you all have a wonderful, warm, fun-filled week (+) with your children. I will miss them!
Friday, February 21, 2020
Friday, February 14, 2020
Happy sunny Valentine's Day! We had another rather short week here at JES... with a field trip on Monday and a delayed opening Wednesday, we managed to squeeze in some good learning anyhow!
We are learning about multiplication and division in both 3rd and 4th grade math. Third graders are working hard to use models to show their thinking of equal groups, and they are learning about how multiplication and division are related. 4th graders are learning how to use partial products -- breaking up one number into tens and ones and multiplying each separately. They are also working on division and how to deal with remainders. There's a lot of good thinking going on!
In reading, we have finished up our social issues book clubs, and the students impressed me with their ability to discuss these issues and their newfound interest in what IS and ISN'T a social issue. Now that they are all finished reading their book group books, they have some time to read on their own while I finish up assessments and work with individuals. After break, we will begin a research reading unit.
Our persuasive pieces are just about finished, and the students have some very compelling arguments about hats, recess, homelessness, the environment, pollution, smoking and so much more! This week they learned how to address their specific audience and how to add examples when they elaborate. I think they have learned so much about organizing and saying more. I'm proud of the work I am seeing!
Each of the students has become a "Senator" in our General Assembly. They have been researching their counties and learning about demographics. Next week, we will have our Mock Legislature with Miss Fecura's class (the House) and we will discuss a bill that is currently being discussed in the legislature about healthy kid meals at restaurants. That will be the end of this unit -- and we will get back to science after the break.
A few important pieces of information:
The students have asked me to go back to giving them themes for sharing. Next week's theme is "something that warms your heart." Of course, the theme is entirely optional! I forgot to mention the theme to the kids today, so it would be great if you could tell them.
I have received many parent conference sheets but am still missing about half. Please get those back to me this coming week so that I can make a schedule and share it with you. If you don't want a conference, please let me know so I don't need to keep asking for your sheet!
No homework next week!
That's a wrap for this week. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!
We are learning about multiplication and division in both 3rd and 4th grade math. Third graders are working hard to use models to show their thinking of equal groups, and they are learning about how multiplication and division are related. 4th graders are learning how to use partial products -- breaking up one number into tens and ones and multiplying each separately. They are also working on division and how to deal with remainders. There's a lot of good thinking going on!
In reading, we have finished up our social issues book clubs, and the students impressed me with their ability to discuss these issues and their newfound interest in what IS and ISN'T a social issue. Now that they are all finished reading their book group books, they have some time to read on their own while I finish up assessments and work with individuals. After break, we will begin a research reading unit.
Our persuasive pieces are just about finished, and the students have some very compelling arguments about hats, recess, homelessness, the environment, pollution, smoking and so much more! This week they learned how to address their specific audience and how to add examples when they elaborate. I think they have learned so much about organizing and saying more. I'm proud of the work I am seeing!
Each of the students has become a "Senator" in our General Assembly. They have been researching their counties and learning about demographics. Next week, we will have our Mock Legislature with Miss Fecura's class (the House) and we will discuss a bill that is currently being discussed in the legislature about healthy kid meals at restaurants. That will be the end of this unit -- and we will get back to science after the break.
A few important pieces of information:
The students have asked me to go back to giving them themes for sharing. Next week's theme is "something that warms your heart." Of course, the theme is entirely optional! I forgot to mention the theme to the kids today, so it would be great if you could tell them.
I have received many parent conference sheets but am still missing about half. Please get those back to me this coming week so that I can make a schedule and share it with you. If you don't want a conference, please let me know so I don't need to keep asking for your sheet!
No homework next week!
That's a wrap for this week. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!
Friday, February 7, 2020
Happy Snow Day! I hope you are all on the slopes or cozy at home with your children, enjoying the day one way or another! It's pretty nasty out here in Huntington, and I'm happy to NOT be on the roads.
Not too much info to share this week since I was at a meeting one day, we had a field trip one day, and our week was a day short! Our trip to the State House was lovely. Our tour guide did a nice job keeping his presentation succinct and giving us just enough information. We got to follow a big idea all the way through the process from becoming a bill to becoming a law. We started in a Senate committee room where the bill was approved. Then we moved on to the Senate chamber where it was approved again. We walked over to the House chamber where we got to meet 2 pages and hear about their positions. Our bill was approved there as well. Finally, we moved onto the Mural Room where our student governor signed the bill into law. A highlight was getting to meet Lt Governor Zuckerman and being able to sit in his office and ask him questions. What a treat!
The Historical Society Museum was also informative and fun. We did a hands-on activity with old maps, and I was impressed by how engaged the students were and how hard they worked! It was a great day all around. Thank you to the chaperones that made the day go smoothly!
Here are 3 quick announcements:
1. I sent home a parent conference sign up sheet on Thursday. Please check to make sure you received it. Spring conference time is around the corner!
2. We have our All School Flynn Trip on Monday. We will be leaving by 8:30 and hope to be back by 11:30. The lunch on Monday will be a bag lunch. Our class doesn't have lunch until 12:30 so we will be back in plenty of time to eat in the cafeteria as usual.
3. Valentine's Day is coming up. I don't make a big deal out of it -- no party or special treats. However, I do give the students a bag to decorate and time to pass out and look at their Valentines. Bringing Valentines is entirely optional. The only rule is that students who bring any must bring one for every student in the class. Here is a class list to help you:
Hazen, Max, Blake, Hadley, Lena, Quinn, Anabel, Levi, Torrin, Cassie, Mollie, Sienna, Aila, Cooper, Silas, Kinsley, Griffin, Adri, Torsten, Cayla
That's all for this short week. Enjoy your weekend!
Not too much info to share this week since I was at a meeting one day, we had a field trip one day, and our week was a day short! Our trip to the State House was lovely. Our tour guide did a nice job keeping his presentation succinct and giving us just enough information. We got to follow a big idea all the way through the process from becoming a bill to becoming a law. We started in a Senate committee room where the bill was approved. Then we moved on to the Senate chamber where it was approved again. We walked over to the House chamber where we got to meet 2 pages and hear about their positions. Our bill was approved there as well. Finally, we moved onto the Mural Room where our student governor signed the bill into law. A highlight was getting to meet Lt Governor Zuckerman and being able to sit in his office and ask him questions. What a treat!
The Historical Society Museum was also informative and fun. We did a hands-on activity with old maps, and I was impressed by how engaged the students were and how hard they worked! It was a great day all around. Thank you to the chaperones that made the day go smoothly!
Here are 3 quick announcements:
1. I sent home a parent conference sign up sheet on Thursday. Please check to make sure you received it. Spring conference time is around the corner!
2. We have our All School Flynn Trip on Monday. We will be leaving by 8:30 and hope to be back by 11:30. The lunch on Monday will be a bag lunch. Our class doesn't have lunch until 12:30 so we will be back in plenty of time to eat in the cafeteria as usual.
3. Valentine's Day is coming up. I don't make a big deal out of it -- no party or special treats. However, I do give the students a bag to decorate and time to pass out and look at their Valentines. Bringing Valentines is entirely optional. The only rule is that students who bring any must bring one for every student in the class. Here is a class list to help you:
Hazen, Max, Blake, Hadley, Lena, Quinn, Anabel, Levi, Torrin, Cassie, Mollie, Sienna, Aila, Cooper, Silas, Kinsley, Griffin, Adri, Torsten, Cayla
That's all for this short week. Enjoy your weekend!
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