January 29th, 2010

Calliope Weekly Update
January 25-29, 2010
Week Twenty

Reading and Writing: Students practiced responding to reading in a variety of ways this week. Mr. B’s class finished reading aloud The Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne and watched the film on Monday. Both classes are currently reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien aloud.

Math: Third grade mathematicians were treated to a special math class with Mrs. Dodge on Tuesday, while Ms. S taught the first graders about comparing numbers (and < > alligator mouths). Third graders continue to make arrays and learned about shortcuts for mastering multiplication facts, as well as, tricks for nine’s. Fourth graders took an assessment worked on manipulating numbers with decimals.

Word Study: Mr. B’s spelling group did a review unit this week. Ms. S’s spellers learned about open syllables and y as a vowel (y-cry-/i/ and y-baby-/e/).

Social Studies: Students interacted with their salt-dough Vermont landform maps by playing a “battleship” style game this week. Students also identified and painted Lake Champlain, the Connecticut River, the Winooski River, White River, and Lake Memphremagog. Next week, students will do a post-assessment by drawing a map of VT. It will be exciting to compare student pre and posttests!

Responsive Classroom: It seems to be the time of year around Calliope that a revisit of our school, house, and classroom rules is due. We spent some time as a house during our Wednesday kiva meeting discussing expected and unexpected behavior and followed up that conversation in our classrooms. On Monday, Ms. S’s class watched a movie, Monsters vs. Aliens (until the DVD skipped and then we watched Bee Movie). Students had earned this movie with “substitute stickers,” demonstrating respectful behavior with a substitute. Finally, on Friday, our lobby sing was dedicated to Haiti, and we sold ribbons to the Allen Brook community. We have raised over $555 and will finish this fundraiser just before February vacation.


Ask me about:
• Student of the week: Alyse
• Verb…it’s what you do!
• Noun…PPT
• Mr. B & Ms. S’s friendly battleship competition

Other: Please look for your child’s report card in Friday folders, and sign and return the envelope next week. Students have an early release on Tuesday, February 2nd. Thank you for all that you do in support of Calliope!

Teacher Comments: We will not be writing personal comments this week due to report cards. Please know that we have both spent a considerable amount of time working on each child’s report card. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated! We couldn’t be more proud of our third and fourth graders!