Hello 206 families and friends!

I can’t believe we are in our last week of October! Check out what we have been up to! Look for pictures at the end of the blog

In reading workshop, students are really into their independent reading book and discussing it with their partners.  Some students are ready for the second book in their series!  We are continuing to work on our reading stamina – reading long and strong –  and are keeping a class chart to see our progress.  

We are continuing our picture book a day and adding to our message board.  This week we read Fox, What Does Peace Feel Like? (another one of my favorites) and Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories.  The latter highlights different children from around the world who have made a difference, i.e. Greta Thunberg.  This book has created much class conversation on ways we can conserve energy and care for our planet.  

In writing workshop, students are finishing up their moment in time story, and are starting the publishing phase.  I was able to get some students logged into Google Classroom and they are starting to type their papers. This is wonderful practice for them, as the ultimate goal is to be able to revise and edit on their laptop/ipad.   I love how the students are eager to write and revise their work!   

This week in math, we focused on finding the lines of symmetry in various shapes. Students then created their own symmetrical shape using grid paper. We also revisited bar graphs to represent the heights of the students in our classroom.  We measured in inches and converted the data into feet.  We are also practicing word problems that mirror real life situations and solving problems with an unknown.  We are using the Read, Draw, Write method. Students work with a partner. They read the problem together, identify the important information, and draw a visual or mathematical model to help identify what they need to calculate.  Then students write their answer as a statement. We have been going over what makes a productive and happy partnership.  

Our Stem project for October was the Pumpkin Catapult Challenge! The objective was to design a catapult that could launch a mini pumpkin as far as possible! To provide some background and generate ideas, students watched various videos of students participating in catapult competitions.  We also discussed the science behind how catapults work. Students were put in multi-age groups with the 4 classrooms on the second floor. This was a wonderful opportunity for them to collaborate with students in many different age groups.  Students were first given time to draw their design and then used a myriad of materials to create their catapult.  After they tested the catapult, many groups made changes and tested again.  It was fun to see them all working together, and I was impressed with how they persevered and tried different strategies and materials to get their pumpkin to launch.  Students had a chance to discuss how their team came up with their ideas during our sharing circle. On Friday,  all the groups participated in the catapult challenge. The weather was perfect and the pumpkins definitely flew!

In Mystery Science this week, we studied our skeletal system and discussed how our skeletons are similar to the framework of a skyscraper! Without it – just like the Chicago buildings we studied- we would collapse.  We then created an x-ray of our hand using simple ingredients – crayons and vegetable oil. These are displayed in the classroom window.  Students also had a chance to compare the bones in their hand and arm with the bones in a bat’s wing.  Ask your student what is similar – we were surprised by the result!

Finally, please make sure your student reads 20- 30 minutes a night. It can be a book or magazine of their choice!

Have a wonderful weekend, please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Ms. Beth

Hello 206 families and friends!

We had another busy week. Here is what Room 206  has been up to. Look for pictures at the bottom of the blog.

In reading workshop, we finished our class novel, Chasing Vermeer and were surprised by the ending.  It got very exciting and slightly scary as we neared the end of the novel. Petra and Calder found the missing painting and discovered who the culprit was.  The number 12 played a significant role in the book, and we found the number 12 in other places around the classroom and school!   Coincidences continue to occur. Ask your student where they see the number 12!

We are also working on our reading stamina, being able to read long and strong.  Students now have a dedicated book for independent reading.  They have partners that they meet with after reading to discuss what is happening in their book. Just like our class novel, students are reading mysteries and they are keeping track of important events and clues. 

We are continuing our picture book a day and adding to our message board.  This week we read Bob the Artist, one of my favorites! We also read The Bad Seed and The Day You Begin, Henry’s Freedom Box, and God Bless the Gargoyles. 

In writing workshop, our writing has really taken off! I am so proud of how hard everyone is working on their moment in time piece.  We are focusing on sensory details and adding dialogue.  We begin writing workshop with a Dream Write, where students write for 1-2 minutes without thinking! Yes, it is a challenge, but students are having fun writing whatever is on their mind, and not stopping until the timer goes off.  This helps get them ready for writing their stories. Everyone has fun sharing what they wrote. 

We also started cutting out words from magazines and newspapers to decorate our writing journals. Students are finding words that they love and that have meaning for them.  After they have around 30 words they will create a collage of words on their notebook cover. They may cut out additional words at home and bring them to school to add to their collection.

This week in math, we focused on geometric shapes. This coincides with our investigation of pentominoes from Chasing Vermeer.  This week’s multiplicity lab focused on volume, which prompted a discussion of area and perimeter.  Students also found the perimeters of all of the pentomino shapes and discovered they all include the number 12 except for one – the letter P!  We also worked with geometric shapes to create tessellations and rep-tiles and polyiamonds.   Each student created a beautiful repeated pattern which we hung in the classroom. 

In Social Studies, our Chicago Architectural Mural (inspired by Chasing Vermeer) is now ready for visitors – but look out for frogs, blue m&m’s and pentominoes in unexpected places around the school.  Student partnerships will present their building design and inspiration to the class next week. 

Finally, please make sure your student reads 20- 30 minutes a night. It can be a book or magazine of their choice!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Please reach out with any questions or concerns!

 

Ms. Beth

Hello 206 families and friends!

A short but great week! Here are some updates of what 206 is up to! At the bottom of the blog are pictures from our week.

In reading workshop, we are practicing writing about what we are reading and expressing our ideas. We started our reading response journals for this purpose. Students are using this journal to respond to specific questions about our class read aloud and to record their thoughts about the novel.  They will also use the journal to write about their independent reading books.  We are nearing the conclusion of Chasing Vermeer, and some students are wondering if the painting was actually stolen – that is an interesting theory and we will discover the answer soon. 

We are continuing our picture book a day and adding to our message board.  This week we read 2 more books featuring our favorite potato – I’m Sorry and I’m Bored. We also read,The Day the Crayons Quit, by Oliver Jeffers. Our wall is slowly being covered with powerful messages from these books. If you have a picture book your family enjoys, and would like to share it with the class, please send it for the day! I will make sure it makes it home!

Our morning challenge work includes 2 prompts, one math and one language arts. The math problems usually require students to notice and identify patterns. The language based questions prompt students to find synonyms or multiple words that have the same letters.  I love how everyone participates and shares their findings! 

In math this week, the multiplicity lab focused on which is more.  Students worked in partnerships to come up with their criteria and strategy for determining which picture of rods had more. Students used different forms of measuring– including finger tips, centimeter cubes and rulers! It was fun to see how they approached the question and then share all of their ideas.  This prompted a discussion on standard measurements and why they are important for comparing answers.  We are also adding to the math vocabulary section of our JAM notebooks, as we broaden our math words.  Students have created factor rainbows that are displayed throughout the room.  This helps students identify which are the more flexible numbers.  Students came up with a list of what makes numbers flexible and why some numbers are easier to use than others. Ask your student which number they chose and how flexible it is!  

In Social Studies, students are finalizing the construction of their Chicago skyscraper- we are almost done! They are also putting together fun facts about their building to go alongside their creation. The mural will be on view in the hallway leading up to the classroom next week. Students will also present their design and inspiration to the class. Each building is unique and I am impressed with their creativity.

In Science, students read and discussed Killer Plants and learned about 5 different carnivorous plants. Ask them which was their favorite!

Now that we have settled in and have strong routines in place, I will start our nightly reading homework (20-30 minutes a night – information will be sent home in a letter) and a math or related home link a few times a week.  This is to reinforce what we practiced during the day. 

Have a wonderful weekend, please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Ms. Beth

Hello 206 families and friends!

We are getting into the groove and are so busy the days fly by! One thing that impresses me is how excited they are to learn and share ideas! They are a wonderful group, and I am so enjoying getting to know each of them. 

The kids enjoyed the Breast Cancer Bake Sale and helping Ms. Demetra’s class buy their treats! There were some delicious baked goods – so check your student’s backpacks when they get home!

In reading workshop, we are continuing to read our class novel, Chasing Vermeer. As we get closer to the end, we are starting to make thoughtful predictions as to who (although some think there is more than one suspect) might have stolen the Vermeer painting. Students have been busy deciphering the pentomino code that appears in some  letters in the novel. We discussed whether it is okay to steal in order to fix a wrong or take a stand.  This is something that students are grappling with and discussing with each other.  We are learning about character traits and using evidence from the text to support our ideas. Chasing Vermeer is filled with compound words — we discovered 5 on one page! We are identifying and sharing the compound words we find. 

In writing workshop, each student created a heart map in their journal and are currently drafting a small moment from one of the seed ideas. This is their first writing piece for me, and I am excited to read them!  Next week, students will start decorating their writing journals with words and images that are important to them. Students may bring in pictures (that you don’t mind being cut) to add to their covers. I will remind them at the beginning of the week.

We are continuing our picture book a day and adding to our message board.  This week we read the Word Collector, Tortoise and Turtle are Not Friends, Invisible Boy, I’m Worried and I’m Sad. Each of these books have strong messages and students enjoy discussing them.   The potato is now our class mascot!  Ask your student who the potato is!

In math, we continue our practice of place value and are using place value charts to demonstrate regrouping. We are also creating as many arrays as we can for specific numbers — this helps students understand and recognize prime and composite numbers.  We now notice there are  arrays all around us–  from windows, ceiling tiles, street markings, etc.  We have started a class array museum and will continue to add to it over time. 

In Social Studies, we are discussing skyscrapers and identifying landmark buildings in Chicago. Ms. Emma from Des Plaines History Center came today and students worked in partnerships to begin creating a reproduction of a Chicago building of their choice. Ms. Emma brought a large selection of paper and supplies for the students to use.  These buildings will be on display in the hallway leading into our classroom.  Currently, the buildings are under construction!

Have a wonderful weekend, please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Ms. Beth

Hello 206 families and friends!

We had a wonderful week getting to know each other and figuring out our routines.  The students come each day enthusiastic and ready to learn. 

We begin each day with a sharing circle, which Leo has aptly named the “Sharing Stone”, as we use the stone as a talking piece. We start the circle with “lightning” questions: what is your favorite color, food, animal, etc, We then follow up with deeper questions: what is something you are looking forward to learning/doing today, what is something you felt good about, how would you describe a team, sportsmanship.  Everyone shared thoughtful and supporting comments. 

In reading workshop, we are continuing to dig into our class novel, Chasing Vermeer. We are discovering many clues, coincidences and connections and are adding it to our growing list.  Students are planning their next drawing/painting inspired by the painter and the novel – so look out for frogs and pearl earrings!  We also watched a short film about Vermeer’s life, and students were able to identify many of the pieces mentioned in the novel.  Students have come up with some great predictions as to how it will all unfold – stay tuned to find out!

We also started our picture book a day (or most days!).  This week we read The Dot, The Word Collector and Happy Dreamer by Jason Reynolds.  We discussed the overall theme and message of the books.  Students then had a chance to share what kind of dreamer they are – inspired by Happy Dreamer – and created a visual to share with the class. We have a wide variety of dreamers!

In math, we reviewed rounding numbers and spent time on place value and practiced using our place value chart. We also finished setting up our JAM notebooks – Journal about Math for our computations and math vocabulary.  We focused on number sense, and discussed how a number is not just a number, but can represent many things, such as the sum of an addition equation and the number of stars in a constellation. Students are working on creating a poster to show all the ways their chosen number can be represented and described. 

In Science, we perfected our contraptions for the egg drop project.  The objective was to design a system to protect an egg from cracking or breaking from a high fall. Last week, with Ms. Bia, the students brainstormed ideas and then created contraptions using a myriad of materials, including cotton, felt, bubble wrap, tape and plastic bags.  They then did a test run of 3 contraptions from the height of the classroom tables. This week they modified their design based on those results. The students discovered that the parachute was too heavy so they selected lighter material (plastic garbage bag and painter tape instead of duct tape. On Thursday, they used the two new and improved contraptions and dropped them from the second floor balcony and both of the eggs survived!  

In Social Studies, Ms. Emma from Des Plaines History Center came to discuss and share more information on Chicago Architecture, which is the setting for our class novel, Chasing Vermeer.  Students were shown photographs of Chicago buildings and discussed which they thought was the tallest.  Things to consider was the age of the building and the materials used to build it.  Students then worked in partnerships to see if they could build a tall building with limited materials (pipe cleaners, straws and paper clips) Each team was able to get their building to stand!

Have a wonderful weekend, please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Ms. Beth

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