Homework and Classwork
We started Math Stations again! Students seem to feel challenged, understand the math concepts, and enjoy the activities each week. The idea behind math stations is that there is a focus for the week's lesson on Monday (this week it was Prime Factorization), and one of the stations (generally, Analyze and Reason) is devoted to that concept. The other stations are Review/Preview, where students learn to make abstract math concepts concrete using math tools and games, and Perseverance, where students learn to persevere through challenging multi-step problems and explain their thinking. Students have 1 hour each day to complete one station, and if they don't finish, it becomes homework. Many students do finish early, so they work on 5th grade math concepts on Khan Academy. They should complete 40 minutes of Khan Academy per week (including class time and homework), averaging to 8 minutes a day, but they do not need to do this daily. If they want to complete all 40 minutes in one day, that is fine.
Math station work is due on Friday, when we discuss strategies students used for the perseverance station. They get feedback about their math work on Monday, and students take the packet home again to make revisions as necessary. This means they may have 2 packets they are working on, one to revise, and the new one to complete for the week.
Mr. Carter used a program called Xtra Math in his previous school, and this helped his students practice and gain fluency in their multiplication and division facts. We have accounts set up for each student, and they should be working on this as their math facts practice daily at home for about 10-15 minutes each day.
We have also started Spelling lessons every other week, on Wednesdays. Students do a word sort with a particular spelling pattern (this week was i before e), and sort the words according to the rule. They then practice the words for homework for 1 week, and the spelling test is on the following Wednesday. For interesting ways to practice spelling words, see this website.
Students have 30 minutes of independent reading at school daily, except Wednesdays, during which they are reading just right books. We are currently assessing students for reading and will be able to share their reading level with you at conferences, so you can help them find just right books at home. Book Wizard by Scholastic is a good resource for finding books based on level, interest, etc. Students should be reading at home daily.
Math station work is due on Friday, when we discuss strategies students used for the perseverance station. They get feedback about their math work on Monday, and students take the packet home again to make revisions as necessary. This means they may have 2 packets they are working on, one to revise, and the new one to complete for the week.
Mr. Carter used a program called Xtra Math in his previous school, and this helped his students practice and gain fluency in their multiplication and division facts. We have accounts set up for each student, and they should be working on this as their math facts practice daily at home for about 10-15 minutes each day.
We have also started Spelling lessons every other week, on Wednesdays. Students do a word sort with a particular spelling pattern (this week was i before e), and sort the words according to the rule. They then practice the words for homework for 1 week, and the spelling test is on the following Wednesday. For interesting ways to practice spelling words, see this website.
Students have 30 minutes of independent reading at school daily, except Wednesdays, during which they are reading just right books. We are currently assessing students for reading and will be able to share their reading level with you at conferences, so you can help them find just right books at home. Book Wizard by Scholastic is a good resource for finding books based on level, interest, etc. Students should be reading at home daily.
Redesigning Recess Project Update
We are so proud of the work the students are doing! They have been using a process that adults in the real world use to solve problems, or design solutions, called Design Thinking. They conducted research on the problems and needs at recess, using quantitative and qualitative research methods. They then used these to create needs statements for various groups at our school. They looked at inspiration for playgrounds and spaces from various sources, including Urban Jungle, an online gallery walk, and an advocate for inclusive playgrounds. After identifying the problems and needs, groups of students worked together to brainstorm solutions, filtered solutions through constraints, looking for high leverage ones, and then decided on one to pursue. They wrote a group project proposal in which each child wrote a paragraph section.
Yesterday, students presented their ideas to a focus group consisting of a Kindergartener, a First Grader, a Second Grader, a Third Grader, a Fourth Grader, Ms. Chown, Ms. Kluver, and three After School Program staff. They were amazing! Students looked professional in their presentations, and they knew their stuff! They received feedback from the panel, and will use this to revise their solutions.
On a side note, generally, project work in completed in class, but sometimes students need to bring home something that they didn't finish. Usually project work is time sensitive, as we need that homework to move on to the next step in our process. When you see project work in their Homework Planners, please make sure it's done for the following day. This will help each child to be a contributor in their group.
Yesterday, students presented their ideas to a focus group consisting of a Kindergartener, a First Grader, a Second Grader, a Third Grader, a Fourth Grader, Ms. Chown, Ms. Kluver, and three After School Program staff. They were amazing! Students looked professional in their presentations, and they knew their stuff! They received feedback from the panel, and will use this to revise their solutions.
On a side note, generally, project work in completed in class, but sometimes students need to bring home something that they didn't finish. Usually project work is time sensitive, as we need that homework to move on to the next step in our process. When you see project work in their Homework Planners, please make sure it's done for the following day. This will help each child to be a contributor in their group.
Field Work
On October 6th, we are headed to UCSD Challenge Course to build community with our fellow Fifth Graders, to challenge ourselves to take risks, and to be inspired by yet another unique space for play. Thanks to volunteers who make it possible to get there and back safely. Thanks too for the many people who helped fund this opportunity for our class. We would not be able to do it without you!
The following week, on October 13, we have the opportunity to see yet another inspiring play space at Balboa Park. The Nature Exploration Area will be facilitating some group activities for our class to experience nature play. If you can help drive to this field trip, please let us know!
The following week, on October 13, we have the opportunity to see yet another inspiring play space at Balboa Park. The Nature Exploration Area will be facilitating some group activities for our class to experience nature play. If you can help drive to this field trip, please let us know!