September 25, 2009

Calliope Weekly Update
September 21-25, 2009
Week Four

Literacy: I have been taking turns reading with students to establish independent and instructional reading levels. We’ve also been practicing reading passages and answering both multiple-choice and short-answer questions as we polish our skills for the upcoming NECAP test in October.

We will use the “Burger” model to develop constructed response paragraphs next week. The buns represent the intro and the conclusion to your paragraph. The lettuce, the meat, and the cheese represent the three detail sentences to support the point you’re making.

Another way we’re practicing our writing is in our composing a song for our recent Stowe Pinnacle hike. Students have contributed many, many words and images over the last week, and today we thought about what kind of a melody would best fit the experience we had on that mountain. Hmmm: was it more “We Shall Overcome” ? Or was it more along the lines of “Running Down a Dream”? or Michael Jackson’s “ABC”?

We began Spelling this week. Students are in mixed groups with Mr. Bolger or Ms. Schoolcraft. We will be establishing spelling homework routines next week.


Finally, Professor Hardwigg and his nephew Harry, are about to sail for Iceland to find the volcano that will be their entry into the Earth’s crust in Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Math: Both third and fourth graders are hard at work in math. In addition to NECAP review, third grade mathematicians are reviewing time and money concepts, as well as, data collection. Fourth graders are exploring geometry and NECAP review.


Responsive Classroom: We finished up with the last of our Life Boxes this week. We are hanging pictures of each of our students around the classroom, and they will serve as the bases for activities across the year.
We watched the documentary “Paper Clips” to show that one classroom of kids truly can impact thousands of people.

“Ask Me About…” _
Spelling (if you’re with Mr. B): --- there are so many ways to make the /a/ sound in words! One is by using Magic e as in cane. As an intro to this year’s spelling, we looked at this and three other ways. What are the other ways?
Germ City. Yuck!
The Spanish we’re learning. “Buenos dias”, “Hola clase!” “Hola Senor Bolger!” , “Manos arriba, por favor. (= “hands up please.”)
Our new project cubbies.
Our paper chains that celebrate our progress with our At-Home Reading.




Over
Homework Routines: Thank you for helping your child establish and maintain homework routines. I know it’s a lot of signing and paper handling initially. We’ll scale back parent involvement in a few weeks. For now, thank you for keeping those signatures coming.

Dress in Layers: As the weather becomes increasingly cooler, please encourage your child to dress in layers to ensure comfort throughout the day.

Finally, We all look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night at 6:30 for Curriculum Night. Please remember that this is an “adults-only” evening. Thanks for your understanding.

Also, note that Tuesday is a half-day of school for students. Please mark your calendars!

Volunteers must attend a Confidentiality Training (short and well-presented!) If you are interested in volunteering this year, please plan to attend CONFIDENTIALITY for School Volunteers! This 10-15 minute MANDATORY presentation will take place on Tuesday, October 6th at 8:00 a.m. OR 2:20 p.m.

Enjoy the first weekend of autumn! And thank you for the gift of your children’s bright faces each morning when they bust through that door.

Mr. Bolger