1/25/18

Dear Families,

We have been busy wrapping up existing units of study, and moving onto new in many of our content areas.

Reading

After learning about different non-fiction text structures and comprehension strategies, students have begun working on a non-fiction author’s study of their choice.  Each class will be putting together a resource for classes to come, that will feature and author’s bio with a review and summary of their writing.  Upon completion of the project we will wrap up the non-fiction unit and move into work that will prepare students for the spring assessments.

Writing

Students have completed their work drafting, editing, and revising realistic fiction pieces.  The class as a whole worked tremendously hard on their writing this semester, and finished by reading their writing to the pre-k classes downstairs.  We have now started a unit crafting opinion pieces.

Theme

This week wrapped up the final Vermont geography presentations for our class.  Students presented in partnerships about an important Vermont landform of their choice.  We have now moved back into science, and have started a unit to explore the complex world of energy conversions.

iMove

With icy conditions, the iMove team cancelled cross-country skiing at Trapps this week as you know.  We have scheduled one make-up day for 2/7.  If any other ski days are cancelled they will not be made up further.

Quest

Students have been returning quest proposals from families with great insight, and commitment from families, thanks so much for your support in such an awesome project!  I got most of the quest proposals back from families this week.  If your child hasn’t returned theirs to me (I understand life is hectic), please make sure it comes in early next week.  I look forward to seeing where their personal pursuits take them on this journey!

Important Dates

• 1/31 Report cards will come home

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday, it will be a beginning of the week update this week.

Reading

In reading students have been learning a whole new set of “sign-posts”.  These signposts are moments in texts when students are encouraged to stop and work through a series of questions to create deeper understandings of the texts being read.  This non-fiction unit will wrap-up with students working on a non-fiction author’s study, where they will explore the author’s craft, life, and the signposts that they use.

Writing

We are coming to the close of a great writing unit!  Students have been spending a tremendous amount of time polishing up their realistic fiction pieces.  These stories have been planned, crafted, edited and improved upon for the last six weeks now!  Look for a final version to be posted on Seesaw soon!

Theme

The class is working on their final piece of the Vermont Geography unit.  We have studied a range of geography topics including: maps, landforms, Counties, and the use of Google Maps.  Students are completing a choice project in partnerships to show their knowledge of a landform right now.  

Important Dates:

• Winter iMove x-country skiing:  This program will take place starting this Wednesday January 8th, and will run for one month.  Please make sure your child brings appropriate gear for being outside on these days.
• NO SCHOOL 1/15

Have a great week,

Mr. G