This week we have been working hard on writing a Response to Literature. We are writing essays that tell what we think about our last read aloud book The Gollywhopper Games. Students are writing a four paragraph essay telling two attributes that describe the book. They are doing fine work.

Today we listened to the tape of Peter and the Wolf and read the book in preparation for an assembly tomorrow. The Imani Winds will be here performing that piece for us. This is a special offer to us from the Flynn Theater because not enough tickets had been sold. We are very fortunate!

In my math class, we are wrapping up the geometry unit by looking at geometric solids and learning the vocabulary to describe it: face, edge, vertex, base. We have played Bingo. We have also been working on Problem Solvers that have focused on Area and Perimeter. Perhaps you have heard of The Puppy Pen or Old Faithful. We are also learning about dimensions: length, width and depth. These are difficult concepts to grasp!

You may have found a pink class list in the folder today. This is to help students make Valentines. Our party will be next Friday, February 12th. We'll have it right before the skiiers leave. We are working out the menu for the snack buffet and will let you know tomorrow who signed up for what.

I have some photos still to share, but have been unable to get them to the blog. It's an uploading glitch I hope to clear up soon. Thanks for your patience.

Friday

The news I hear from the classroom is that things are going well. Thank you for your support.
It has been a fun week. On Monday we practiced Amani Umbuti which is one of the chorus’s concert songs They actually taught it to the larger group. You can see our chorus members singing it below.
On Tuesday we had a Four Winds session about Snowflakes. It was interesting and FUN! Perhaps your children told you that we went outside for part of it. Though it had been a precipitation free day, suddenly, when we went out there were round solid, WHITE bead like snowflakes. After about ten minutes the snowflakes became kind of feathery and a little bigger. Next they became HUGE and fluffy. And then snow tapered off and we went inside. Soon I will post pictures-Monday I hope.
On Wednesday we enjoyed our sixth of eight African workshops. Ask your child about the one he/she attended.
Progress reports should arrive in your home with your children on Friday. If you have questions or feedback for me, please contact me via email or at my school phone.

Private Encore Performance

Video provided by Lydia's mother, Anya Koutras. Thanks Anya!

Concert

The 3-4 Grade Chorus practice concert today was FANTASTIC. The students sang rounds, they sang parts in harmony, they projected toward the audience...The songs were interesting and varied. It was a terrific assembly-one of the best. Our singers then gave us a small private concert in our classroom. It was an encore performance. It was great too! Photos to follow!

In other news today we are working on problem solving in math. In my math class we are working with the concepts of AREA and PERIMETER. Feel free to discuss these terms!

Wednesday 1/20/10

We have had some great discussions lately. One about behavior and self control when there is a guest teacher in the room, and the other about the reconfiguration of our school next year.



Apparently people had a lot of trouble mustering up their self control when I was away last Thursday morning. After we discussed this, people wrote cards to themselves about one thing they could do differently the next time I am away. We continue to refer to these cards and practice these skills. It has been amazing to hear what people say when they reflect on their own behavior in the group. They are very honest and want to do better. To that end students have made specific plans of how they will do better next time.



Jackie Parks came by on Friday to welcome us all to the other building in light of the disclosure of decisions made last week abou the new configuration. Students had many questions for her or me, and they continue to. We are now talking about this quite a lot.



During Read Aloud these last two days I have been reading and then modeling how one would respond to the the prompts on the last page of this week's reading packet. Hopefully this will help students take more care, and understand better how to address one of those prompts.



As a class we are all working on pleasant greetings to each other, using positive language and positive tone of voice.

Wednesday Morning

We're having a full and fun week so far. One of our highlights is reading the Gollywopper Games. Monday afternoon we listened to several versions of Wimowey (or Lion Sleeps Tonight). Many of us sang along. Next we listened to a teaching version by Pete Seeger. This was one of the most fun Kiva Sings! The song is VERY popular.

In math we continue to work with geometric shapes. We are building regular and irregular polygons. 'Poly' means many; 'gon' means sides. A polygon has at least three sides, no curved lines and is a closed two dimensional shape.

Science on Tuesday furthered our learning about pendulums. Students worked in age, gender and core mixed pairs (self selected) to test the variable of weight on the bob of a pendulum. Next they tested the length of the string. The question was this: "How does the weight of the bob ( or the length of the string) change the number of swings per ten seconds." Each pair of students used the science inquiry process and fair testing to explore these questions. Please do feel ask your child about this.

If you read this blog, it would be helpful to me if you would leave me a comment. I can't tell if the blog is an effective form of communication or not.

For all school announcements, please see The School Bell.

Thanks.

Happy New Year!!

Here are some great photos, mostly shot by Logan, of our holiday buffet. Thanks to everyone for making it fun and delicious! Please note the party hats made of twice recycled materials!