January 15, 2010

Calliope Weekly Update
January 11-15, 2010
Week Eighteen

Literacy: Students were engaged in lots of independent work time this week as Mr. B and Ms. S worked diligently to complete the January literacy assessments.

Math: Third graders have been working with fact triangles, multiplication and division fact families and using the multiplication table. Students shared their array projects, which are prominently displayed on the border of the Calliope lockers…they look fabulous! Mr. B’s 4th grade mathematicians are continuing their work with decimals.

Writing: We reviewed the format for writing a constructed response this week. Students had the opportunity to practice their skills, while writing about their teachers! How flattering!

Word Study: Ms. Schoolcraft’s class continued to work with schwa this week, specifically with words ending in -et. Mr. B’s class continues their work in the spelling-writing connection.

Social Studies: Students finished up their Vermont maps using toothpick flags to label important landforms and towns, and of course, green paint. They look outstanding!

Responsive Classroom: Looking forward to Catamount, gearing up for the making of our 4th Calliope Music CD, putting together a Calliope response to Haiti, discussing with our students the expected changes next year, and working with them to find some acceptance, perspective, and comfort in the middle of all these changes, OH MY!

Ask me about:
• New Student teacher from Champlain College: Jessica Palmer
• Assessments, Assessments, Assessments

Other: No school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Wednesday will be our field trip to Catamount from 9-1. Thursday morning will be our January 4-winds, and Thursday afternoon will be music to our ears as we attend the chorus concert. Phew! Enjoy your three day weekend!