Gombert Project Arrow

Week of December 8th

Our goal will be to wrap up "The Old Man and His Affectionate Son" during the upcoming week. Students will be participating in a task entitled Chalk Talk. They will take an active role and respond to higher-level thinking questions through the use of written conversations. The goal will be for students to to learn from one another and gain a deeper understanding of the text.

They will also engage in a team debate carousel. Students will respond to the following dilemma: A society does not have enough resources to feed all of its people. There is a proposal to take all people over the age of seventy into the mountains and let them fend for themselves. I am eager to observe their responses.

Finally, one of the big ideas of this text is honoring and respecting elders within our community and learning from the wisdom they have. We will extend our learning by viewing and examining a TED Talk that focuses on this premise. It is entitled "Connect the Ages". Please click HERE to view. Have a great weekend!

Week of December 1st

I hope that each student had a relaxing Thanksgiving break. I am excited to see the students and look forward to continuing the learning process.

This week, students will begin with building background knowledge for a folktale entitled " The Old Man and His Affectionate Son." Each learner will be shown several images and will be encouraged to use higher-level thinking to determine how they relate to one another. Students will use inferential thinking and be encouraged to synthesize throughout the lesson. We will also review the characteristics of folktales prior to reading.

This story is about an aging father lovingly cared for by his devoted son, whose kindness highlights the strength of their bond. Each learner will be responsible for reading and annotating the text. They will be tasked with examining the piece of work for the following ideas/concepts: ethical issues, inferences, theme, characterization, problem/solution, etc. Have a great week!

Week of November 17th

This week, students will be diving into our grammar unit. Prior to our learning, each individual will be given a pre-assessment to determine their current knowledge of the eight parts of speech. We will then begin reading from our Grammar Town textbook and having in-depth discussions. We will cover common and proper nouns and pronouns. In addition to reading from our grammar book, students will engage in some interactive learning routines to help solidify their learning. These routines will also allow students to communicate and collaborate with their peers.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to you for entrusting your child's education to me. I am extremely lucky to be able to work with such wonderful and supportive parents. It's an absolute honor to work with your children. I hope that everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break!

Week of November 10th

This week, students will be wrapping up their Socratic Seminar training. Then, learners will participate in their very first seminar. Our goal for this discussion will be engagement as well as fluent thinking. We will focus on the ground rules for discussion with an emphasis on the rule that states, "Know that you are responsible for the quality of the seminar." Students are aware that I will be a facilitator of the learning process and that they will be in the driver's seat. Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of each student to engage in thoughtful conversations in order to ensure that the seminar runs like a well-oiled machine. I am excited to observe their thinking.

As a culminating activity, students will be playing Monopoly. This game is referenced in the story and aligns with the conflict that occurs within the text. Afterward, they will consider the symbolic meaning of the game and how it relates to our reading. Students will share their thoughts in a written or verbal format. If time permits, their knowledge of the literary selection will be assessed through the use of an exit slip. Have a wonderful week!

Week of November 3rd

During the upcoming week, students will complete their annotations for the story "Lenny's Red Letter Day." Each learner will also undergo training to learn about the Socratic Seminar. Students will learn about the purpose of a seminar, view examples of exemplary learners engaged in a discussion, and take notes on what they see and hear as they watch the seminars. We will have many conversations about how to interact with one another and behave. Also, the students will be tasked with creating a personal goal for themselves that they will work towards achieving. Have a great week!

Week of October 27th

During the upcoming week, students will be completing background building for an upcoming story entitled "Lenny's Red-Letter Day". They will also be introduced to new vocabulary and work to learn the meanings of the words through the use of Quizlet and Blooket. We will then begin the process of annotating the text. This process will be scaffolded. We will begin working as an entire group, and eventually, students will collaborate with a partner to complete their work. Each learner will be encouraged to make inferences, search for examples of symbolism, identify various perspectives, uncover themes, and pinpoint ethical issues within the text. I am looking forward to observing some great thinking this week! Have a great week!

Week of October 20th

We will continue with our exploration of the poem entitled "Birdfoot's Grampa" by Josep Bruchac. They will be using a forced analogy, including images, to uncover a hidden meaning within the text. A pictorial forced analogy is when someone uses a picture or visual comparison to link two things that don’t really go together — just to make a point. Students will discover how the author Joseph Bruchac used the toads in his poem as a metaphor for Native Americans being mistreated and displaced from their land. They will also be completing a Depth and Complexity organizer that will focus on the following icons: patterns, details, big ideas, and across the disciplines. Please be aware that students will only be attending PA on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Week of October 13th

This week, students will be reading, analyzing, and annotating a poem entitled "Birdfoot's Grampa". This will be our very first text of the year. The Depth and Complexity framework will be highlighted and used throughout the annotation process. Students will be encouraged to use inferential thinking and to uncover implicit themes within the text. If time permits, they will also be completing a Depth and Complexity organizer that will focus on patterns, details, big ideas, and text-to-world connections.

PA conferences will take place on Thursday, October 16th from 4:30-8:00 p.m. and Monday, October 20th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and 4:30-8:00 p.m. If you have not signed up, you can find the links in a previous email that was sent last week. Please be sure to complete the "Parent Homework" questionnaire and have your child turn it in on Tuesday, October 14th, if you have a conference. This will help to guide our discussions during the conference. Have a great week!

IMPORTANT: Please remember that conferences are for parents of students who are new to PA. However, you may request a conference, if you would like.

Week of October 6th

Last week, students reviewed literary elements, plot development, and began to learn about the four types of conflict. We also learned about character vs. character conflict and viewed the movie adaption of The Ugyly Duckling. Afterward, we had a great discussion about examples of character vs. character conflict that were present. During the upcoming week, we will move on to learning about character vs. self, character vs. nature, and character vs. society. Literary texts will be used to help students apply their learning and focus on the type of conflict being examined. They will also be viewing short video clips from popular movies to enhance their knowledge. Toward the end of the week, students will apply their knowledge by reading passages and identifying the type of conflict that is present. Learners will be working in small groups and will be encouraged to find evidence to support their thinking. If time permits, students will be given a short assessment to determine their understanding of conflict.

Week of September 29th

Last week, students spent the bulk of our class time composing a piece of writing in connection with point of view. During the upcoming week, we will be completing a close reading of the text They All Saw a Cat. Students will be responsbile for making observations about how the author depicts the characters' perceptions of the cat. Later in the week, students will be composing a writing piece to support their understanding of perspective. Eyebombing is a playful and imaginative writing activity where children place googly eyes on everyday objects to bring them to life—then write short stories or character descriptions based on their creations. It’s a fun way to blend visual creativity with storytelling while building observation and writing skills. Have a great week!

Week of September 22nd

Students will begin the week by reviewing point of view. They will work collaboratively with their group members to read passages and determine the point of view of each. Afterward, students will be completing a point of view writing task. They will be responsible for writing a story for a chosen image from different points of view (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited, and 3rd person omniscient). If time permits, students will identify the difference between point of view and perspective. We will also complete a close reading of the text They All Saw a Cat and make observations about how the author depicts the characters' perceptions of the cat. I am looking forward to an AWESOME week of learning!

Week of September 15th

At the beginning of the week, each learner will complete a pre-assessment for literature. The assessment will be used to determine students' knowledge of theme, change, interpretation of implicit ideas, and conflict. We will then transition to learning about point of view. Students will learn about 1st Person, 2nd Person, and 3rd Person points of view. They will also discover what 3rd Person Limited and 3rd Person Omniscient mean and will be taught how to decipher them when reading texts. Please contact me if you have any questions. I am looking forward to an AWESOME week of learning!

Week of September 8th

Students are making steady progress on their creativity projects despite having a shorter amount of time to work. Please be aware that each learner will continue their iReady assessments during the upcoming week (9/8, 9/10-9/11). As a result, our class time willl, again, be abbreviated. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me via email. Have a great week!

Week of September 1st

Please be aware that students will be participating in iReady testing on 9/3-9/5. As a result, PA services will be shortened to allow for students to complete the assessments. During the upcoming week, we will continue to work on our introductory project. Students will be encouraged to consider their passions, desires, and interests. We have begun the process of brainstorming ideas. Each learner has been exposed to the components of creativity, and the hope is that they will consider these throughout the design process. Also, I would like to remind any students who have not yet turn in their supplies to bring them in as soon as possilble. Finally, I'd like to remind you about the parent survey. This will help me to learn more about your child. Click HERE if you still need to complete the questionniare. I am looking forward to another wonderful week with your children. Enjoy your weekend!

Week of August 25th

I am extremely excited to begin the 2025-2026 school year, and I am confident we are going to have an awesome year! Students will begin Project Arrow on Monday, August 25th. This week, we will begin to create a community in our classroom through the use of team building activities. They will be encouraged to communicate and collaborate with one another to be successful.

Students will also begin a project that will help them to consider what their passions, interests, and desires are. They will be creating a pictorial representation of these ideas. They will be encouraged to integrate the components of creativity (fluency, flexiblity, originality, and elaboration) throughout the design process. Prior to beginning the project, we will be reading a book entitled Sarabella's Thinking Cap by Judith Byron Schachner. My hope is that this text will inspire thoughtful ideas for their project.

Please be aware that your child brought home a teacher bio, PA schedule, and a supply list last Friday. You can also find a digital copy of the supply list as well as the schedule on the homepage of the PA Google site. Please have your child bring in their supplies no later than Friday, August 29th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

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