Hello, 206 families and friends!

Room 206 is busy!

In Everyday Math, we explored multi-digit multiplication and learned three different strategies for solving these problems. Students had the opportunity to choose the method that felt most comfortable for them. We also worked on word problems involving unit conversions. Students also solved problems using drawings to represent fractions, strengthening their visual understanding of the concept. Additionally, we added a new math game to our collection—How Much More. Students also played various versions of Top-It.

We also celebrated Pi Day!  To deepen our understanding of circles, students participated in the 30 Circle Challenge, where they brainstormed and sketched as many objects as they could think of that are shaped like a circle. They came up with so many creative ideas—ask your student what they thought of!

Afterward, we practiced using a compass to draw circles, exploring how adjusting the radius affects the diameter. This hands-on activity helped reinforce key mathematical concepts while allowing students to experiment with precision and design.

We watched a short video on the concept of pi, and discussed its meaning. In partnerships, students measured the circumference and diameter of various circles to see if the ratio was close to 3.14. A special highlight—Loki impressed us all by reciting many digits of pi! Check out the picture!

In reading and writing, our War Horse and Soldier Dog mural is officially complete! Students also wrote a flash opinion draft on whether dogs should be used in wartime. Earlier in the exploration unit we created a classroom list of pros and cons of using dogs in wartime, which students referenced while crafting their arguments. Everyone had strong opinions on the topic—ask your student how they feel about it!

In word work, we introduced the prefixes mis-, dis-, and fore-. Students had the chance to illustrate and label words of their choice, creatively bringing meaning to words like foresight and discover. This led to a discussion about how every picture tells a story or conveys a feeling to the viewer. Naturally, this brought us to the topic of emojis! We explored how emojis can represent objects, emotions, or even entire stories. Inspired by this, students designed emojis that don’t yet exist but should. Their creative new emoji designs are now hanging on our classroom door—who knows, maybe one of them will become an official emoji one day!

Finally, students practiced creating Google Slides in preparation for a project we will begin after the break. This gave them a chance to explore formatting, design, and presentation skills that will help them showcase their learning in an engaging way.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hello, 206 families and friends!

I can’t believe it is already March!

We have been incredibly busy in Room 206.  

This week in Everyday Math, we explored the use of decimals in centimeters and millimeters, discussing when more precise measurements are needed. We also practiced calculating the area of rectilinear shapes. In partnerships, students played math games like Rugs and Fences and Top It to deepen their understanding of the concepts we’ve been working on.

In reading, we finished War Horse! The ending was bittersweet—while Albert was reunited with Joey, he also suffered the loss of his best friend, David, and we learned that Emilie had passed away.

Emilie’s grandpapa kept his promise to find and care for Joey after the war. However, upon seeing Albert’s deep bond with the horse, he chose to sell Joey to him for just one English penny. This moment was both heartbreaking and heartwarming, reminding us that even after the devastation of war, kindness and goodness still exist in the world.

The class especially connected with this powerful quote from the novel: “Where there is life, there is hope.”

In writing, we began by creating a class poem about Joey from War Horse. Together, students came up with beautiful descriptions of Joey and highlighted the most important events from the novel. Afterward, students applied their creativity to their own writing, crafting individual poems inspired by their Soldier Dog books. Their poems reflect deep understanding and thoughtful expression of the stories they’ve been reading.

Our mural is almost complete! It’s always exciting to watch it take shape—you never quite know how it will turn out until students begin adding their ideas.

To start, students painted the background based on the settings of their books, all of which take place during WWII. These locations included France, Belgium, Pearl Harbor, and more. They then drew and painted their soldier dogs, carefully depicting each breed, and added their poems to bring their work to life.

With just a few finishing touches left, the mural will soon be complete! It has been such a fun and creative project, and you can see it displayed along the wall leading to our classroom.

Enjoy the weekend!