Tuesday 11/20/18

Here are a few highlights from the past two weeks:

  • Between me being out one day, TWO snow days, and a short week due to the Thanksgiving break, we had a lot of interruptions the past two weeks...
  • In reading students continued Book Clubs! There are 4 groups that each meet twice a week. We are reading together, independently, with partners, etc... As we read and discuss the books, we are finding and using signposts as tools for close reading. All groups are focusing on summarizing skills as well as character analysis of varying degrees.
  • We continued math rotations as best we could with all the interruptions! The three different groups are working on the three following topics: Ratios, Fractions, and Area/Multiplication and some decimal work.
  • Also in math, we are trying out a new program called Freckle, which is an online resource with opportunities for students to practice skills. They are currently using it to do individualized word study as well as math practice: facts and skills related to the current unit we are doing in their lesson time or review work.
  • We did a short Outdoor Learning on Wednesday of last week to visit trees and see how things have changed so quickly with the winter weather.
  • Also last Wednesday afternoon, we helped prepare for Thursday's Harvest Lunch. Students helped peel garlic, wash potatoes, and get a few other things ready to help.
  • Last Thursday, Susan Sawyer came in to lead a Four Winds workshop on Predators and Prey. It was a cold day and we decided to do all the activities indoors. It was a really great workshop!
  • The class reached a goal of 35 Bear Paws and voted to watch a movie and have snacks to celebrate, which we did this past Tuesday. It also happened to be on the same day as a whole school mini celebration, so it was a fun day!
  • No green sheets either week, there just wasn't enough time...


Some upcoming dates, important notes, and things to look forward to in the coming weeks:

  • Early Release Day- Friday 12/7/18.
  • *** Cold and snowy weather has arrived!!! Please be sure to start sending kids with warm gear for recess and other outdoor time like Outdoor Learning! This time of year they should have snowpants, a coat, a hat, gloves or mittens, and boots (be sure they have indoor shoes for during the day). ***


  • We will be generating more ideas for writing in writing journals. Also we will likely do a poetry workshop and read and write another poem!
  • Students will have an opportunity to create a commercial for a book they've read during these first weeks of school during independent reading.
  • We will do a few more weeks of Outdoor Learning. We head back into the woods to do some tree investigations.
  • We will spend time post-conference, looking closer at hopes and dreams and deciding on some areas for growth. Students will reflect on strengths and challenges and brainstorm ideas for goal setting.
  • We will continue with our cafeteria waste station redesign. The plan is to build a prototype and test it out for a bit...
  • We will also be working on a series of lessons to share with the K/1 Little Buddies. We will use ideas we got from our Mastermind Mentor training in Greensboro!
  • We will continue with independent reading and students will begin doing some work with reading response, using these new reading strategies.
  • Book Clubs (Reading Groups or Literature Circles) will continue!
  • We will continue with our math units (Ratios, Fractions, and Area). I will continue to run 3 math groups on a rotation schedule. One rotation is a lesson with me. One rotation is work and games based on that lesson or current math topics. One rotation will vary depending on the day and may include: word work (vocab/spelling), writing, reading response, typing instruction, independent project work, etc...
  • We will continue with our map unit. We will review some geographic terms, identify parts of maps, and look more closely at and use some of the different types of maps we identified during the map station activity (topographical, road, physical, historical, political, informational, special interest/theme).