January 2, 2013

Snow during Christmas would have been nice, but I am sure that many children were glad to see it regardless. I posted the Mo Willems books on the class blog, and as they are completed, I am posting the sciences projects.

During next few months, I will be introducing students to the newly adapted Common Core State Standards. The CCSS continues the trend of setting standards of achievement, but the CCSS are much more specific in terms of mastery. Now, each grade has standards (the MLR were grouped by grade spans).

In reading, the emphasis shifts from literature to informational texts. In writing, away form the personal narrative and toward writing to persuade, explain or inform. Speaking and Listening is now a separate topic. We will work toward these goals in class and during the Modern Woodman speech contest. I don’t have any dates yet, I can tell you that the topic is “A person who has overcome".

There will be changes in Math, but we will talk more about that this summer or in the fall when we move to a new math curriculum. You can find out a lot more by visiting the class blog. I have added links to the CCSS. If you don’t see what you are looking for just ask.

December 17, 2012

It is the last week before Christmas break, and it will be a busy one. Students are finishing up two big projects; one in science and one in reading. The reading project is also a Christmas present for pre-k students. The 6th graders scanned in several Mo Willems books, formatted the files for iMovie and will soon add voice narration to each page. We will save these as movies then upload them so that they are accessible to the pre-k students. 

The final project for Science is well under way. Some students are working in teams and others are working independently. The rubric is on the class blog. Last week, students constructed a bucket for making “worm compost tea”.  We will start a brew on Monday morning. The tea is supposed to help plants fight aphids and other greenhouse pests. I’ll get back to you with the results.

On Thursday, Gladys is coming in from 12:30 to 1:30 to help students make holiday gifts. On Friday, we will watch the movie Bridge to Terabithia. Students recently finished that book.

I still have openings for teacher conferences. If you were not able to schedule one during the teacher conference week, consider doing so this week. Give me a call or send an email.

December 10, 2012

The first real snow of the year is always magical; now it feels like December. Despite that, we have spinach, lettuce and beets sprouting in the greenhouse. Today, the 6th grade math students will harvest the first lettuce of the winter season. I finally posted the Garden Book. Please excuse the mis-spellings. We will edit and revise again after the Christmas break.

The 6th grade math students have been studying angles and the relationships between them when transversals run through parallel lines. Today students take their second quiz.

In science, we continue to move through time. Today, we begin talking about reptiles and flowering plants (286 MYA - 65 MYA). I am also introducing the final project for this unit. I will post the project outline and rubric on the blog. 

On Friday, December 21, we will be watching the movie, “Bridge to Terabithia” and having a small class party. Gladys has offered to come in and help students make some crafts. The 6th graders will be making treats. Please don’t buy gifts. We are focusing on making our own cards and gifts in class. 

The holiday concert is this Wednesday and if you were not able to schedule a parent teacher conference last week, consider doing so this week. Give me a call or send an email.

December 2, 2012

There does not seem to be nearly enough time to do all that needs to be done and things feel chaotic. We have tried to focus on the positive as we deal with buses, muddy kick-ball fields, late basketball practices and other stumbling blocks. I know these things trickle down to you parents as well. Friday night, of course was the holiday fair. I did not get to see too much of it , sequestered in the Bingo Emporium as I was, but I understand that everyone had a good time. I wanted to send a big THANKS to Gladys for all her help. She was in her element!            The 6th grade math students are studying two-dimensional shapes and measurement and we are continuing to progress in our studies of life through time. We are at about 286 MYA. The amphibians are making an appearance. Report cards are coming out today. The format is new. I will be anxious to see what they look like. Seth, John and Jason helped winterize the greenhouse. It looks like we were just in time. We have lovely lettuce and red russian kale. The winter spinach should be making an appearance soon. If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for conferences on Tuesday evening. I would love to show you some of your child’s work.

November 13, 2012

Our first unit in “Life Thru Time” covered the time period from 4.5 BYA to 544 MYA. Students worked in groups and individually to learn about the planet, atmosphere and  life during this time period. This afternoon students will meet some of these organisms (AKA staff actors) and decide which organism best represents the time period. 

The 6th graders are finishing up their unit, “Bits and Pieces I”. We will probably have the unit test next Monday. We are working on writing to compare and contrast. This type of writing, and way of thinking, is a perfect fit for our current science unit.

The school’s Thanksgiving dinner is tomorrow and as far as the students are concerned, I believe it is a pretty quiet week. The 5th and 6th graders will be doing a Beano game this year and making some crafts which will be sold at the 7th and 8th grade table.

The end of next week, which is Tuesday for students, also marks the end of the first trimester. Report cards go home on the 3rd of December and parent conferences are on the following night, Tuesday, December 4th.

I hope you were all able to get outside this weekend. This fall weather has been unusual but very nice. 

November 5, 2012

This week we will put the finishing touches on our garden book and begin a new writing unit. You can see the book on our class blog. The 6th graders begin working with percentages and we will start our science unit, Life Thru Time. We will also talk about day light savings time, Veterans Day and the election.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Fall Festival and the Italian Supper huge successes for our school. Maine Weather was great, and after they ate, lots of folks sat around to chat and listen to the band.

There is a Team Canyon meeting this afternoon at 2:00.  We will discuss the supper, write thank-you notes and begin planning our introductory videos and school tours. We got our first grant! It is from LL Bean.

Don’t forget to vote this Tuesday. If you know anyone who needs a ride to the polls, please call me at 1-207-669-2193 and I will arrange for someone to pick them up.

October 29, 2012

This was a week of completing things. Students finished their Persuasive Letters, don’t worry, they are school-based topics. We will begin woking on a writing project, “The Garden Book”. Students finished their social studies unit on ancient civilizations and took their unit test. Next, we will start a science unit, “Life Thru Time”.; Mid-trimester reports go home today. In spelling, we finished the first multi-unit review and in math students are working on fraction to decimal conversions. Everyone enjoyed cupcakes make by John’s mom. It is official, John is eleven years old. Mid-Trimester reports go home today. Please get in touch if you have questions or comments. The Fall Festival, aka Halloween Party, is this Wednesday afternoon. Mr.Davis has planned several activities and it should be a lot of fun. On Friday, Nov 2, the Coast to Canyon group is having an Italian supper. On the menu, meatballs and spaghetti, meatless marinara, lasagna, and lobster alfredo. The time is 5-7pm and the suggested donation is $10 per person or $25 per family.