week #4

Week #4

We had a great week!  We have been working really hard in both subjects, even though we had a short week!  

This week we moved in to division.  We worked on 1- digit divisors for the majority of the week, including story problems where we needed to figure out what to do with our remainders.  Today, we grouped ourselves by self assessing...we grouped by 1 digit divisors and 2 digit divisors (which is a new concept).  As students caught on with 1 digit divisors, they transitioned to our two digit divisor group.  We ended our class on Friday by doing a quick check on a post-it to see how everyone was doing.  Based on the results, we will create three small groups for our work on Monday. 

This week in science, we worked on the scientific method.  We complete a couple of experiments and then learned how we would put this in to a presentation (like science fair).  The students completed a Skittles experiment today, which they will then use their information to create a mini-board on Monday.  We will then progress in to Life Science.

Week #3

Week #3

Well, we made it to week 3!!!!  I hope that everyone enjoyed their 3 day weekend!  The kids will get an additional 3-day weekend this weekend!  

Picture Day is Tuesday when we return, September 15th.  Please make sure that you send your child with their picture money on Tuesday!

This week in class we have been working hard on the beginning of Division.  We have gone over division vocabulary and also various ways to help us with a division problem.  Today, we also worked on our endurance of working on a challenging problem.  This was a very interesting task for many...it was hard for them to not ask questions, sit in their seat, etc. for 10 mins!  We worked on strategies on how to handle a large problem, with multiple steps...and then reworked our problem!!!  Next week, we are going to start working with long division!

In Science, we worked on the scientific method.  We discussed the steps that we need to take EVERY time we complete a science experiment.  We also completed 2 small experiments.  The students are really focusing on how to write a well-written procedure. They were challenged to make sure that it was a procedure without assumptions, or missing pieces.  This possess a challenge to many!!! We will continue to work on this idea!  Next week we will start our Life Science Unit.  

First Two Weeks!

First Two Weeks

Phew!!!!  These last two weeks have flown by!  We have really been working hard in math and science class.

In Math, we took a pretest last Friday on Multiplication and Division.  On Monday, I place students into small groups, based on where they tested/their knowledge of the content.  I explained that we would be working on multiplication (one x one, two x one, two x two, three x two, three x three, and decimals) for the next week or so.  Students have a menu of activities to complete for each level and take an exit slip at the end of class each day, in hopes to advance to the next level for the next day.  I have also been working with small groups to provide them with direct instruction on their particular area.  We will continue this next week and then advance in to division.  Please make sure that your child is studying their basic facts!!!  

Our Math Logs are due EVERY Monday!

In Science class, we worked in small groups to create a design challenge.  Students were to design a car that was built only out of edible items (THANK YOU to all of the wonderful families that donated supplies! We had extras items, and we will keep these for a reward for the students at the end of the trimester.)  The students realized with my rules, this challenge was not as easy as they thought it was going to be!  They could only place a total of 3 supply orders, and any supplies they took, MUST be placed on their car (this was the most challenging part!).  Students did a great a job working together during this challenge and never gave up!  On Wednesday, we "raced" our cars down a ramp outside of our classroom.  Many students were surprised that in the end, the car actually was able to make it down the ramp....some not all in one piece!  I was so proud of all of the students.  We finished out the week by learning about the various tools that we will be using in science class this year and now they are creating a tool poster to provide what the particular tool is and safety features for the tool.  

I am looking forward to another great week! 

Here are some pics of our completed cars!!!          

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome Back to 2015-2016 School Year!

Wow!  It has been a busy start back to school!  The students have been setteling in to their new space in the 2-8, with their new SLC (Smaller Learning Community) B.  We have been working on how to S.O.A.R (Self control, Operate Safely, Act Responsibly, and Respect myself and others) in our classroom, our new learning facility, the playground, etc.  We have also completed a few team challenges (the first one, students were asking to quit!).  We have discussed what it means to be a part of a team, how we should handle ourselves during any challenge that would be presented to us in our daily lives.  Additionally, we have also completed several activities on simply, following directions-hopefully, your child shared these activities with you tonight!  

The last two nights, I have asked the students to prepare an All About Me Page...however, the trick was to use equations to communicate their facts. For example, I shared that I have 2 children.  Instead of simply stating that I have 2 children, I could write this using an equation:

4 x 5 - 3 x 6 = the number of children I have.  

This was a great way to see what the students are familiar with in math!  I also suggested, to make sure they were on the right track, to share these equations with a family member!

Finally, we completed a challenge in class today to Save Fred the Worm.  Fred (gummie worm) and his boat (a paper cup) got caught in a terrible storm.  Fred's boat tipped over and trapped his life preserver (gummie life saver) under the boat.  The students were then provided with 4 paper clips.  The object was to get the life preserver on Fred and the students could only use the paper clips to touch Fred, the life preserver, and the boat.  They also could not hurt (poke Fred with the paper clips!) Fred.  The students were partnered with students that I chose, and in the end, they were shaking hands, saying good job, etc.  They really worked well on this group challenge.  

 

Next up...we are going to job in to multiplication and division facts  for math, and working on an edible car challenge in science.  Thank you to all of our families who contributed to our edible cars!!  I will post pictures when they are created!

DARE DRUNK GOGGLES!

Today was a very powerful day in our final DARE class. Officer Kelly brought in goggles that simulate what it looks like through the eyes of someone who has been drinking. 

The students enjoyed some laughs, however, Officer Kelly shared an extremely powerful video of one of his personal friends who was hit by a drunk driver. Please ask your kids about the details from class today. 

Eyeballs!!!!

3rd Time WAS the charm!!!

After many reschedules due to weather, etc. we FINALLY got to dissect the cow eye!!!  The students partnered up and worked together to dissect the cow eye.  While they read directions on how to dissect, students needed to identify the various parts of the eye (cornea, lens, pupil, iris, retina).  The pupil was the most challenging part to find, as many students were looking for an actual part while dissection (it is literally just a hole within the iris!).  Thank you to all of the parent volunteers that came in to help us make this day successful!  It will be a great memory for all!

Below are some pictures taken by one of our terrific parents!

Cold Days!!!

Updates!!!!

What a crazy week!!! Only 1 day of class?!?!?! Due to all of our missed days, we are going to reschedule our eyeball dissection.  We are going to dissect on Tuesday of next week!  REMEMBER- if you haven't turned in your permission slip, please do so on Monday!

If you are board today or this weekend, try to beat me by completing the typing contest!  I typed 61 words per minute!  Also, visit any of the testing sites that I have put up on Schoology to get you prepared for our tests that are coming up!

Enjoy your long weekend!