Welcome Back! We had a fantastic return to school this week: enthusiasm for learning, fantastic behavior, and a whole lot of laughter, too. The kids chose their reward for working together to earn 30 class paws (they earn paws for walking quietly in the hall, transitioning quickly, etc.). They chose a homework pass for one night "free" from all homework! They may redeem their pass at any time, except counting toward a large project/ paper.
The snow is here!! A quick reminder: we play outside in the snow unless it's too cold, so please send boots, snowpants, gloves and hats each day there is snow.
The snow is here!! A quick reminder: we play outside in the snow unless it's too cold, so please send boots, snowpants, gloves and hats each day there is snow.
In order to prepare for this, we read a story in which students are late for school. They try to take a shortcut, but get tangled up in all sorts of disastrous fun! After reading, the students began mapping out their own "secret shortcuts," and now they are drafting their stories based on their maps.
4th Grade Math: This week we reviewed the first strategy to solve double-digit multiplication: "Multiplication Wrestling" (or the "old-school" term: "FOIL"). Next we learned the "Partial Products" method. Today we learned the "Lattice" method, which is the ones most students prefer to use. Next week I'll teach the kids the "Old Fashioned Way," which is the way most of us probably learned to multiply! Ask your kids to see the lattice method; as a child I didn't learn it, but it's pretty cool!
5th Grade Math: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
5th Grade Math: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Science: This week we reviewed the scientific method by testing the 'bounciness' of our chairs now that they have tennis balls on them. We had a lot of fun as we made observations, formulated a question and hypothesis, and of course, dropped the chairs from a foot off the ground. We also learned about the properties of light through some guided reading. Ask your kids about how lightwaves can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted ("bent").
We are halfway there on the bottle collection! If you haven't sent any clear, 2-liter bottles in yet, we'd appreciate any contribution you can make! They need to be clear (not tinted or green), rinsed out, and label-free please. Thanks to those who have sent in bottles. Keep 'em coming, and spread the word to family, friends and community. We have a blue 'bottle bin' in the Whittier lobby, so bottles can be dropped off conveniently on the first floor.
We are halfway there on the bottle collection! If you haven't sent any clear, 2-liter bottles in yet, we'd appreciate any contribution you can make! They need to be clear (not tinted or green), rinsed out, and label-free please. Thanks to those who have sent in bottles. Keep 'em coming, and spread the word to family, friends and community. We have a blue 'bottle bin' in the Whittier lobby, so bottles can be dropped off conveniently on the first floor.
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Miscellaneous:
- Please send in signed permission slips for our Book Talk with Christopher Paul Curtis. We'll walk to Beye School (whether permitting) to hear him speak.
- For our Sci-Tech fieldtrip, please send your child's lunch in a paper or plastic bag. We will eat at the facility and dispose of our lunch when we're done.
