We had an awesome morning!
Our day began with thank you notes from Grandma Stamps for her valentines. Students read these, proofread the letters they wrote for homework, and turned them in for mailing. Next we talked about goals and students used their prewriting to complete their first semester conference forms. I will read these, give feedback, and meet with students individually as needed.
The rest of our day was spent with the new math unit, From The Ground Up. In this unit, students will work as apprentice architects. Today's lesson involved warming up our measuring skills by using rulers, measuring tapes, and meter and yard sticks to find the length of several items in both Metric and U.S. Customary measurements. We discussed these together so they could evaluate how they did. Precise measurement will be very important during this unit. Next we reviewed the basics of the metric system and its connections to base 10. Students viewed a short video clip to demonstrate tips and techniques of using a compass, and then I taught them how to use the compass to strike arcs and construct an equilateral triangle. Finally, student used their tools to measure and construct several different shapes. This is where the SPRING FEVER took over. I had to use my Batman voice just a little too much today. As I was focused on helping students individually with their measurement and shapes, some friends were a little too far off task. And as always, some friends were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. I asked everyone to reflect at the end of the day about which group they were in, and I know we'll be more focused next week. :)
Students who finished measuring and constructing their shapes moved forward, cutting out the shapes and employing their creativity to make a design from them, then evaluating which shapes were the hardest and easiest to draw. Those who did not finish in class will finish it for homework. Students also received "Memo 1" today, introducing our building simulation. They have a family letter explaining what we'll be doing and should go over it with you.
Please note:
And finally...I hope that Grandma Stamps will be visiting on April 20th. She wants to meet the children and have a book signing. She has published a collection of her poetry and hopes that some of her former pen pals will be able to come and visit. It's on our WHR calendar, probably 1:00-3:00. I will share more details as I pull them together.
Our day began with thank you notes from Grandma Stamps for her valentines. Students read these, proofread the letters they wrote for homework, and turned them in for mailing. Next we talked about goals and students used their prewriting to complete their first semester conference forms. I will read these, give feedback, and meet with students individually as needed.
The rest of our day was spent with the new math unit, From The Ground Up. In this unit, students will work as apprentice architects. Today's lesson involved warming up our measuring skills by using rulers, measuring tapes, and meter and yard sticks to find the length of several items in both Metric and U.S. Customary measurements. We discussed these together so they could evaluate how they did. Precise measurement will be very important during this unit. Next we reviewed the basics of the metric system and its connections to base 10. Students viewed a short video clip to demonstrate tips and techniques of using a compass, and then I taught them how to use the compass to strike arcs and construct an equilateral triangle. Finally, student used their tools to measure and construct several different shapes. This is where the SPRING FEVER took over. I had to use my Batman voice just a little too much today. As I was focused on helping students individually with their measurement and shapes, some friends were a little too far off task. And as always, some friends were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. I asked everyone to reflect at the end of the day about which group they were in, and I know we'll be more focused next week. :)
Students who finished measuring and constructing their shapes moved forward, cutting out the shapes and employing their creativity to make a design from them, then evaluating which shapes were the hardest and easiest to draw. Those who did not finish in class will finish it for homework. Students also received "Memo 1" today, introducing our building simulation. They have a family letter explaining what we'll be doing and should go over it with you.
Please note:
- The only homework this week is to finish the math. If your child finished in class, no homework!
- Next week STRIDE will be on THURSDAY as I will be in training on Wednesday.
- Field trip money is due by next Friday. Please send this in ASAP if you haven't already paid. This includes chaperone payments as well.
And finally...I hope that Grandma Stamps will be visiting on April 20th. She wants to meet the children and have a book signing. She has published a collection of her poetry and hopes that some of her former pen pals will be able to come and visit. It's on our WHR calendar, probably 1:00-3:00. I will share more details as I pull them together.
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