10/29/17

Hi Everyone,

It was wonderful to see you all at conferences this week.  Keep an eye out on Seessaw for updates on goal setting!  

Reading

Students have continued working on writing about reading using a new system used to look for important moments in fictional texts.  We will soon move from writing pit-stops into summaries, and eventually a longer version of writing in the weeks to follow.  We have also been using a new read aloud, The Wild Robot to understand character traits and development.  

Theme

Students wrapped up the week and their most recent science unit.  Many of the final testing moments can bee seen on Seesaw.  Students worked tirelessly designing and redesigning Flugtag vehicles to withstand large amounts of kinetic energy.  We will be working on a fun inquiry science project this week and moving into the first social studies unit of the year to follow.

Writing/Word Study

For the last two weeks students worked through a paragraph refresher unit.  Students began the unit writing on either the golden, or the platinum rule.  After two weeks learning in either my classroom or Ms. Figdor’s, everyone made great progress!  Check out their paragraph writing samples on Seesaw!  Both classes started initial assessments this week to begin working in spelling groups.  All four teachers on the floors will be team-teaching spelling this year in order to meet the specific needs of developing spellers.

Important Dates:

11/7- Picture Retakes

11/22-11/26- Thanksgiving Break

Have a great week!

Mr. G

10/13/17

Dear Families,

What a busy two weeks it has been since my last update.  We have been working on a range of activities from Flugtag to marble runs, from signposts to pitstops!  Read on to find out more!

Reading

We have finished setting up expectations and routines for reader’s workshop.  Students are buried in their books, running into signposts, and taking pit stops along the way.  Does that sound strange?  Well this year I implemented a new system that students are using to write about reading.  We started learning about signposts, or a place in a book that makes readers stop and think.  Students learned good readers not only read prolifically, but think about what they are reading.  We learned about our first three signpost moments this week, to include: aha moments, contrasts and contradictions, and words of the wiser.  Students use these moments to take pit stops, also known as writing about reading.  

Science

We are almost finished with our unit on energy collisions/potential and kinetic energy.  Last week we started the first arts-integrated science project of the year, where students used knowledge of potential and kinetic energy to design giant marble runs in the art room.  There are some great photos from this activity posted below.  Additionally, we have moved into the final phase of the unit, Flugtag.  Flugtag is a worldwide event where participants create homemade flying machines.  Students have been working in partnership to design their own machines for a classroom Flugtag.  These machines will be launched from a ramp on my desk, with an egg inside.  Students are tasked with using their knowledge of energy collisions to keep their egg-passenger safe!

Writing

Students wrapped up the first week of a paragraph writing refresher unit.  Students are grouped between my class, and Ms Figdor’s class to best accommodate student needs.  Stay tuned for more Seesaw posts with student writing samples moving forward!

Upcoming Events

iMove Hike:  10/19

Conferences: 10/24, 10/25, 10/26

Have an amazing weekend,

Mr. G