Hello everyone!
It seems like I was emailing you daily during Sugaring, and then---nothing! So, here is an update of the learning happening in our classroom.
Literacy Workshop
Poetry has been our focus, learning how to read, write, and perform poetry. Whether reading funny Shel Silverstein poems, or flowery Emily Dickenson, the students have all found a style that they can connect to personally. We read both Love that Dog and Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech, 2 brilliantly funny, short novels, written in poetry form. The main character is a middle school boy, Jack, who starts out saying "boys don't write poetry- girls do" and turns in to a writer that really finds his way with words. I really recommend reading them- they are quick reads for adults!
Through reading poetry, we were able to gain more of an understanding of Word Choice and Voice as elements of writing. Reading and writing with Literary Devices (similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia etc.) was a challenge since these stretch our thinking by creating vivid imagery.
Currently, students are publishing their own poems and practicing for a poetry performance next week. I wasn't planning on turning it into a large event, but if you want to come let me know! I believe it will be Wednesday or Thursday next week, depending on the preparedness of the kids.
Word Study
Using personalized word assessments I was able to determine specific patterns each child needs to focus on for practice. The students formed "teams" based on the patterns and created games to play to practice their pattern lists. We also continue our study as a class of base words, prefixes and suffixes, using these to decode both pronunciation AND meaning of new words. The "Nifty Thrifty Fifty" create a list of 50 words with the most common prefixes and suffixes. So far, we have practiced spelling, mixing, and matching the base words, prefixes and suffixes of 32 words already!
Science
We have been investigating our physical world these days. We just finished a unit on Heat and the States of Matter and the main concept learned was that adding or subtracting heat causes changes with molecules, depending on their chemical and physical properties. By conducting an investigtation, we explored the challenge of insulating a house. We practiced reading thermometers and creating graphs with all the pieces needed to display the data. One day we had hands-on stations that gave us the chance to play with density of liquids and solids, the changing forms of water, and the concept that the mass of an object is equal to the sum of its parts.
We will begin a unit on Force and Motion next week. The concept we will explore is: How can use data to predict and explain how forces affect motion, position, or acceleration? It is going to be so much fun- ramps, balls, bowling, friction slides...can't wait!
Math
Our math units have coincided with our Science units beautifully! After fractions, decimals, and percents, we started our unit on 3-D Shapes, Weight, Mass, Volume & Capacity. Using a variety of scales, we worked to build a frame of reference for both metric and customary units of measurement. We used a computer application to examine 3-D shapes with virtual rotation and used real shapes to explore the vocabulary used to describe them. We used a formula to calculate volumes of rectangular prisms and discussed how displacement can measure volume of irregular objects.
Next week we will assess the 3-D etc. unit and focus on individual skill and/or fact practice. Memorization and fluency with math facts is SOOO important! I have encouraged the kids to let me know or seek out a way to practice these if Xtramath does not match his/her learning style. Some fact practice sites have been posted on Edmodo, so they can check those out. This quarter we will have frequent fact check-ups for those that have not yet demonstrated mastery of multiplication and division through x 11.
Looking forward to...
Arts & Authors Night on May 2 at 6:30!
We have been working for almost 2 years on our Tree Altered Books, using Science, Writing, Art, and Problem Solving (and so much more) to create these works of art. They will be 90% finished an on display. (Not 100% because we need to add some pictureswriting and from when the leaves appear!)
Thank you ALL for your kids- They are amazing children and this is attributed to the places from which they come.
Jaclyn Karabinas
