Thanks so much to all for taking the time to meet with us this week. We are sharing conference notes and are working to get back to you each about any specific concerns or needs that you expressed. If we haven't made contact yet, we will -- it's been a busy week!
Thinking about the goals we've shared, the kids have been actively goal setting and thinking about how to make changes that will help us continue the growth trajectory we're on. We've been talking specifically about small changes (like where we sit, our body placement, and moving distractions aside) to ensure that we have optimal focus and attention. We have talked about what we practice (rehearse) becomes habit, and that makes all the difference in our learning (performance).
In project, we are discovering information about Keyhole Gardens in preparation for building and planting our very own right here on Kiker campus.
Second Grade readers analyzed characters, and labelled some familiar characters with their stable traits. We found that traits are different than feelings, and there are many, more complex ways of describing characters other than "nice" or "good." We have been summarizing using CSERT and letter form.
In Third and Fourth Grade reading and ELA, we've completed some assessment activities (routines that we've been practicing consistently). We found that practice and engaged learning during instruction pays off! We reflected on our areas to yet master and set goals. We've been looking more at descriptive words, poetry, figurative language, and imagery. Third is working on responses and summary, especially with our novel, A Long Walk to Water. Fourth has been using nonfiction text to support our understanding of the Wilhelm Gustloff disaster in preparation for our novel.
All three grades are using the writing process to write narratives and having small seed ideas develop with a beginning, middle, and end. We've been reviewing the specific skills of capitalization, punctuation, and forming complete sentences as well. Fourth Grade is analyzing parts of expository, primarily how to support examples with details.
Second grade mathematicians used virtual manipulatives called thinking blocks to model addition and subtraction word problems. We noticed that we can use part-whole relationships to help us better understand what we know in the problem and to identify what we want to find out. We also explored number lines to help us visualize distances between numbers. Here are a few pics of our second graders drawing their own open number lines:
Third graders are also using part-whole relationships to explore multidigit addition and subtraction. We've been using bar models and equations to solve multistep word problems. We found that these types of problems often have multiple parts that add to one whole and we've learned that there are different possible ways to represent these situations in an equation. Enjoy these pics of 3rd graders sharing their equations with each other:
Fourth graders reviewed decimal place value using base-ten blocks, money, and number line models. We also applied our decimal understanding to addition and subtraction story problems, always making sure that our answers are reasonable by estimating first. Then we moved into 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication by brainstorming strategies to solve 8x200. From an impressive list of student strategies, we focused first on drawing a picture with base-ten blocks and using multiples of 10. As we start our work with multidigit multiplication, we're noticing that it builds confidence when we already know our basic multiplication facts.
Thinking about the goals we've shared, the kids have been actively goal setting and thinking about how to make changes that will help us continue the growth trajectory we're on. We've been talking specifically about small changes (like where we sit, our body placement, and moving distractions aside) to ensure that we have optimal focus and attention. We have talked about what we practice (rehearse) becomes habit, and that makes all the difference in our learning (performance).
In project, we are discovering information about Keyhole Gardens in preparation for building and planting our very own right here on Kiker campus.
- Where were they started? Why?
- What is a Keyhole Garden? How is it different?
- How does it work?
- What are the components of a Keyhole Garden?
The process of inquiry has led us to more and more questions, and our research is getting us buzzing with excitement!
Second Grade readers analyzed characters, and labelled some familiar characters with their stable traits. We found that traits are different than feelings, and there are many, more complex ways of describing characters other than "nice" or "good." We have been summarizing using CSERT and letter form.
In Third and Fourth Grade reading and ELA, we've completed some assessment activities (routines that we've been practicing consistently). We found that practice and engaged learning during instruction pays off! We reflected on our areas to yet master and set goals. We've been looking more at descriptive words, poetry, figurative language, and imagery. Third is working on responses and summary, especially with our novel, A Long Walk to Water. Fourth has been using nonfiction text to support our understanding of the Wilhelm Gustloff disaster in preparation for our novel.
All three grades are using the writing process to write narratives and having small seed ideas develop with a beginning, middle, and end. We've been reviewing the specific skills of capitalization, punctuation, and forming complete sentences as well. Fourth Grade is analyzing parts of expository, primarily how to support examples with details.
Second grade mathematicians used virtual manipulatives called thinking blocks to model addition and subtraction word problems. We noticed that we can use part-whole relationships to help us better understand what we know in the problem and to identify what we want to find out. We also explored number lines to help us visualize distances between numbers. Here are a few pics of our second graders drawing their own open number lines:
Third graders are also using part-whole relationships to explore multidigit addition and subtraction. We've been using bar models and equations to solve multistep word problems. We found that these types of problems often have multiple parts that add to one whole and we've learned that there are different possible ways to represent these situations in an equation. Enjoy these pics of 3rd graders sharing their equations with each other:
Fourth graders reviewed decimal place value using base-ten blocks, money, and number line models. We also applied our decimal understanding to addition and subtraction story problems, always making sure that our answers are reasonable by estimating first. Then we moved into 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication by brainstorming strategies to solve 8x200. From an impressive list of student strategies, we focused first on drawing a picture with base-ten blocks and using multiples of 10. As we start our work with multidigit multiplication, we're noticing that it builds confidence when we already know our basic multiplication facts.
SBLC scientists completed their matter projects and were excited to share them with their classmates.
Second and third graders shared their projects with a gallery walk and fourth graders challenged each other in their Matter Mania games.
We ended the week with a scavenger hunt and some comparing and contrasting.
Happy Weekend!
Team SBLC
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