Calliope Weekly Update
January 19-22, 2010
Week Nineteen
Reading and Writing: Students completed the CSSU on-demand grade-level writing task this week. Third and fourth graders wrote reports on assigned topics. Although guided reading groups did not meet this week, students had independent reading time and read-aloud.
Math: Both third and fourth graders are working to master the basic multiplication facts. Fourth graders continue their work with decimals, and third graders continue to study multiplication. Fourth graders are also reviewing the concepts of the first semester in anticipation of a semester-end assessment next week.
Word Study: All third and fourth graders completed the January round of the Developmental Spelling Assessment (DSA). This assessment helps us match students to their developmental spelling stage and plan instruction accordingly. Regular word study work will resume next week.
Science: Our Four Winds parents led us in an exciting exploration of snow! We learned about the names of different snow crystals, their commonalities and differences, conducted an experiment using “old” and “new” snow, collected and examined snowflakes outside, and even created six-sided coffee filter snowflakes!
Responsive Classroom: Our field trip to Catamount was a successful day of adventures and winter fun …students were able to engage with old and new friends, play in the snow, and possibly try something new. Thank you to all parent volunteers…we couldn’t have done this without you! (And, Ms. Schoolcraft and her group of 7 skiers may still have been at Catamount as we speak! )
Calliope students have taken the lead on ABS fundraising efforts for Haiti relief. We have made over 500 ribbons, and sold almost half that in our short week. Students should be proud of their leadership and enthusiasm in this school-wide effort.
Thursday afternoon, the Allen Brook school community gathered in the gym for the first-ever 3-4 chorus concert! The students sang beautifully, projected their voices, and faced the audience in a poised manner. We were so proud to see so many Calliope faces up there…GREAT JOB!!!
Ask me about:
• Julia Neeld, soloist
• Put a Little Love in Your Heart
• Under the Full Moonlight
Other: Thank you for all that you do to support your child and Calliope from home. It makes such a difference to work with such a caring, supportive community of families. Thank you. Report cards will be sent home Friday, January 29th. Enjoy the weekend!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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!
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!
January 8, 2010
Calliope Weekly Update
January 4-8, 2010
Week Seventeen
Literacy: Ms. Schoolcraft finished reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi aloud this week and started a new read aloud, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O’Brien. Students in both classes spent time finishing their responses to literature with the book Brave Irene and worked independently while Mr. B and Ms. S worked to complete January’s reading assessments.
Math: Fourth grade students have focused this week on learning a variety of strategies for solving problems like this: Gaylord Farm harvested a truckload of potatoes. They sold 400 potatoes on Saturday at the farmer’s market, and had 324 left over. How many, exactly, did they harvest? 324 = P - 400. One great strategy is to write out the fact family for the number sentence: (P – 400 = 324, P – 324 = 400, so 400 + 324 = P, and 324 + 400 = P). Seeing it written as an addition problem makes it simple to solve for P. P = 724.
Third graders started a unit on multiplication. They explored the fact that multiplication is the study of things in equal groups, and is an efficient strategy for repeated addition. Students explored the concept of arrays, circles and stars, and read a math book entitled Each Orange has Eight Slices by Paul Giganti, Jr. Students will be working on a project around this book in the upcoming week.
Writing: Both classes completed publishing responses to text about the book Brave Irene by William Steig.
Word Study: Ms. Schoolcraft’s class studied the schwa this week. Mr. B’s class is really working on applying spelling rules in writing, and is publishing silly stories on the spelling blog.
Social Studies: Students worked in cross-class pairs to create salt-dough physical maps of the state of Vermont. We added a little math into the mix when we created dough using 1 part flour, 1 part salt, and 2/3 part water.
Responsive Classroom: With so many changes in our support staff (Ms. Gail, Ms. Landrigan, Ms. Kozlik), Calliope is reviewing classroom and house norms and expectations as we get settled into what is classically a great stretch of learning time (January and February).
Ask me about:
• Maps
• Our new classroom teacher Ms. Hillary
• Brainpop
• My narrative
Other: The Cochran ski program started today. Students are dismissed at 1:20 on Fridays to attend the ski program. Calliope will be attending the Catamount Family Center for our winter field trip at the end of the month. Please check the Friday folders for additional information and a permission slip.
January 4-8, 2010
Week Seventeen
Literacy: Ms. Schoolcraft finished reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi aloud this week and started a new read aloud, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O’Brien. Students in both classes spent time finishing their responses to literature with the book Brave Irene and worked independently while Mr. B and Ms. S worked to complete January’s reading assessments.
Math: Fourth grade students have focused this week on learning a variety of strategies for solving problems like this: Gaylord Farm harvested a truckload of potatoes. They sold 400 potatoes on Saturday at the farmer’s market, and had 324 left over. How many, exactly, did they harvest? 324 = P - 400. One great strategy is to write out the fact family for the number sentence: (P – 400 = 324, P – 324 = 400, so 400 + 324 = P, and 324 + 400 = P). Seeing it written as an addition problem makes it simple to solve for P. P = 724.
Third graders started a unit on multiplication. They explored the fact that multiplication is the study of things in equal groups, and is an efficient strategy for repeated addition. Students explored the concept of arrays, circles and stars, and read a math book entitled Each Orange has Eight Slices by Paul Giganti, Jr. Students will be working on a project around this book in the upcoming week.
Writing: Both classes completed publishing responses to text about the book Brave Irene by William Steig.
Word Study: Ms. Schoolcraft’s class studied the schwa this week. Mr. B’s class is really working on applying spelling rules in writing, and is publishing silly stories on the spelling blog.
Social Studies: Students worked in cross-class pairs to create salt-dough physical maps of the state of Vermont. We added a little math into the mix when we created dough using 1 part flour, 1 part salt, and 2/3 part water.
Responsive Classroom: With so many changes in our support staff (Ms. Gail, Ms. Landrigan, Ms. Kozlik), Calliope is reviewing classroom and house norms and expectations as we get settled into what is classically a great stretch of learning time (January and February).
Ask me about:
• Maps
• Our new classroom teacher Ms. Hillary
• Brainpop
• My narrative
Other: The Cochran ski program started today. Students are dismissed at 1:20 on Fridays to attend the ski program. Calliope will be attending the Catamount Family Center for our winter field trip at the end of the month. Please check the Friday folders for additional information and a permission slip.
December 18, 2009
Calliope Weekly Update
December 14-18, 2009
Week Sixteen
Literacy: In Mr. Bolger’s Reading, four book groups are approaching the ends of their books this week. Ask your child about his or her book. Ms. Schoolcraft’s readers read a book entitled Fortunately, by Remy Charlip, and then published their own class book modeled after the pattern…fortunately/unfortunately. Ask your child what his or her “event” was! Students also continued to examine fiction and nonfiction text.
Math: Mr. Bolger’s math class was visited again by Master Math Teacher Claire Earley. She and Mr. Bolger taught the class together, and ten ABS and WCS teachers sat in and listened intently as our students grappled with the problems and explained their thinking. The class received a number of compliments for how earnestly they worked and how willing they were to take risks. A central question they debated was “What does subtraction mean?” (Hint: it doesn’t always mean taking away.) Third grade mathematicians wrapped up their unit of multi-digit addition and subtraction with an assessment on Thursday (with some very high scores!) and will round out the days before vacation with work on portfolio problems.
Writing: Two big things happened in Mr. Bolger’s Writing class this week. First, in the middle of a talk about what makes a good story, Mr. Bolger ripped off his shoe right in the middle of class, yelled, and hurled it across the room at a spider. Then he charged over, scooped up the shoe, dropped to his knees and hammered on the floor with it. The second big thing was that students got Pocket Pads – little flip pads to carry around with them for jotting down funny, sad, or interesting things they notice and might want to write about. Ms. Schoolcraft’s class did some creative writing for a treasured friend who will be leaving to student teach next semester…Ms. Landrigan.
Word Study: In Bolger spelling, the spelling bee concluded on Tuesday with Julia Neeld emerging as the winner! Beyond that, students studied high-frequency words this week. We will do the same for next week’s short week, and we’ll return to our regular sorting when we get back. Ms. Schoolcraft’s spelling group reviewed 1-1-1 words and v-e words with vowel and consonant suffixes, and did a Unit 4 assessment “retake” on Friday.
Social Studies: Students in both classes worked on independence, problem solving skills, and collaboration as they completed a map scale packet this week.
Responsive Classroom: In Mr. B’s class this week students shared “What color I am most like – and why.” Students in Ms. S’s class celebrated “tell someone they’re doing a good job week” by complimenting others.
Ask me about:
• H1N1 shots
• Crystals: In Mr. Bolger’s class, Jordan kindly shared her crystal-growing kit with the class. Everyone carefully mixed up the solution, and now they are watching anxiously as the crystals begin to form on the dangling yarn.
• Junior Great Books presentation
Other: Wow…what a whirlwind week! Just 3 more days until winter break! We will have our house cookie swap on Monday, December 21st. Please be sure to bring in 2 dozen cookies to share with the team. There will be no weekly update next week due to the short week and holiday. Have a restful, joyous, and safe winter break with family and friends. See you next year!
Mr. Bolger and Ms. Schoolcraft
December 14-18, 2009
Week Sixteen
Literacy: In Mr. Bolger’s Reading, four book groups are approaching the ends of their books this week. Ask your child about his or her book. Ms. Schoolcraft’s readers read a book entitled Fortunately, by Remy Charlip, and then published their own class book modeled after the pattern…fortunately/unfortunately. Ask your child what his or her “event” was! Students also continued to examine fiction and nonfiction text.
Math: Mr. Bolger’s math class was visited again by Master Math Teacher Claire Earley. She and Mr. Bolger taught the class together, and ten ABS and WCS teachers sat in and listened intently as our students grappled with the problems and explained their thinking. The class received a number of compliments for how earnestly they worked and how willing they were to take risks. A central question they debated was “What does subtraction mean?” (Hint: it doesn’t always mean taking away.) Third grade mathematicians wrapped up their unit of multi-digit addition and subtraction with an assessment on Thursday (with some very high scores!) and will round out the days before vacation with work on portfolio problems.
Writing: Two big things happened in Mr. Bolger’s Writing class this week. First, in the middle of a talk about what makes a good story, Mr. Bolger ripped off his shoe right in the middle of class, yelled, and hurled it across the room at a spider. Then he charged over, scooped up the shoe, dropped to his knees and hammered on the floor with it. The second big thing was that students got Pocket Pads – little flip pads to carry around with them for jotting down funny, sad, or interesting things they notice and might want to write about. Ms. Schoolcraft’s class did some creative writing for a treasured friend who will be leaving to student teach next semester…Ms. Landrigan.
Word Study: In Bolger spelling, the spelling bee concluded on Tuesday with Julia Neeld emerging as the winner! Beyond that, students studied high-frequency words this week. We will do the same for next week’s short week, and we’ll return to our regular sorting when we get back. Ms. Schoolcraft’s spelling group reviewed 1-1-1 words and v-e words with vowel and consonant suffixes, and did a Unit 4 assessment “retake” on Friday.
Social Studies: Students in both classes worked on independence, problem solving skills, and collaboration as they completed a map scale packet this week.
Responsive Classroom: In Mr. B’s class this week students shared “What color I am most like – and why.” Students in Ms. S’s class celebrated “tell someone they’re doing a good job week” by complimenting others.
Ask me about:
• H1N1 shots
• Crystals: In Mr. Bolger’s class, Jordan kindly shared her crystal-growing kit with the class. Everyone carefully mixed up the solution, and now they are watching anxiously as the crystals begin to form on the dangling yarn.
• Junior Great Books presentation
Other: Wow…what a whirlwind week! Just 3 more days until winter break! We will have our house cookie swap on Monday, December 21st. Please be sure to bring in 2 dozen cookies to share with the team. There will be no weekly update next week due to the short week and holiday. Have a restful, joyous, and safe winter break with family and friends. See you next year!
Mr. Bolger and Ms. Schoolcraft
December 11, 1009
Calliope Weekly Update
December 7-11, 2009
Week Fifteen
Dear Parents,
Literacy: In Mr. Bolger's reading, students have revisited this week what topics, what genres, and which authors really move them. Many kids are finally landing that book or that series that they can't put down. It has been exciting. Ms. Schoolcraft’s readers explored features of nonfiction text and noticed these features (captions, headings, bold words, etc) and how they enhance comprehension. Readers in both classes continue to write in their journals the thoughts they have about their reading.
Math: Fourth graders have focused on data collection and analysis with a particular focus on finding median and mean. Students measured heads of family members, and Megan reported getting her measuring tape wet measuring her fish's head. Third graders practiced partial sums addition, trade-first subtraction, and engaged in a variety of tasks manipulating numbers during group work and our games station. Third graders earned their 2nd popcorn party of the year by transitioning quietly from station to station during math.
Writing: Mr. Bolger's Writing this week has centered on students' developing their narrative stories. Ms. Schoolcraft’s authors will be finished with narratives and both classes will begin writing responses to text next week.
Word Study: Mr. B's spelling class earned the privilege of wearing pajamas for Friday's spelling bee when the group averaged an 85.9% on Thursday’s test -- a review of all their first semester words. Ms. S’s group has been hard at work with v-e words and the addition of vowel suffixes to both v-e words and 1-1-1 words. Students wore clothes backwards on Thursday, and drilled sounds backwards, spelled and wrote words backwards, and sat in chairs backwards!
Social Studies: Students finished world and North America maps this week, and started working on map scales. We will continue this work next week.
Responsive Classroom: Over the past several weeks, we have noticed many students working more efficiently, effectively, and independently. Also, we're seeing students in much of our cross-classroom work cooperate readily and productively. We've got a good head of steam going as we arrive soon at our Winter Break. Snowflake Bentley "saw beauty where others did not," and reading his story this week reminded us that we don't need more beautiful things. We just need to better see the beauty in the world, the people, and even the snowflakes around us.
Cookies! Just a reminder that Calliope house will be having our cookie swap on Monday, December 21st. We hope this experience will be a positive one for you and your child, as you select a recipe and prepare it together. Not only will we be able to share tasty treats on Monday, but we’ll hopefully learn a little more about Calliope family traditions, as well. December 15th is a half-day for students; please plan accordingly. Enjoy the chilly, snowy weekend!
December 7-11, 2009
Week Fifteen
Dear Parents,
Literacy: In Mr. Bolger's reading, students have revisited this week what topics, what genres, and which authors really move them. Many kids are finally landing that book or that series that they can't put down. It has been exciting. Ms. Schoolcraft’s readers explored features of nonfiction text and noticed these features (captions, headings, bold words, etc) and how they enhance comprehension. Readers in both classes continue to write in their journals the thoughts they have about their reading.
Math: Fourth graders have focused on data collection and analysis with a particular focus on finding median and mean. Students measured heads of family members, and Megan reported getting her measuring tape wet measuring her fish's head. Third graders practiced partial sums addition, trade-first subtraction, and engaged in a variety of tasks manipulating numbers during group work and our games station. Third graders earned their 2nd popcorn party of the year by transitioning quietly from station to station during math.
Writing: Mr. Bolger's Writing this week has centered on students' developing their narrative stories. Ms. Schoolcraft’s authors will be finished with narratives and both classes will begin writing responses to text next week.
Word Study: Mr. B's spelling class earned the privilege of wearing pajamas for Friday's spelling bee when the group averaged an 85.9% on Thursday’s test -- a review of all their first semester words. Ms. S’s group has been hard at work with v-e words and the addition of vowel suffixes to both v-e words and 1-1-1 words. Students wore clothes backwards on Thursday, and drilled sounds backwards, spelled and wrote words backwards, and sat in chairs backwards!
Social Studies: Students finished world and North America maps this week, and started working on map scales. We will continue this work next week.
Responsive Classroom: Over the past several weeks, we have noticed many students working more efficiently, effectively, and independently. Also, we're seeing students in much of our cross-classroom work cooperate readily and productively. We've got a good head of steam going as we arrive soon at our Winter Break. Snowflake Bentley "saw beauty where others did not," and reading his story this week reminded us that we don't need more beautiful things. We just need to better see the beauty in the world, the people, and even the snowflakes around us.
Cookies! Just a reminder that Calliope house will be having our cookie swap on Monday, December 21st. We hope this experience will be a positive one for you and your child, as you select a recipe and prepare it together. Not only will we be able to share tasty treats on Monday, but we’ll hopefully learn a little more about Calliope family traditions, as well. December 15th is a half-day for students; please plan accordingly. Enjoy the chilly, snowy weekend!
Friday, December 4, 2009
December 4, 2009
Calliope Weekly Update
November 30-December 4, 2009
Week Fourteen
Happy December, Parents and Kids!
Literacy: Readers and writers are working on responding to text in guided reading groups. Many groups have finished up some longer selections, and vocabulary, fluency and comprehension continue to be a focus. All students continue to work in reading response journals and are reviewing how to write letters about our reading to our teachers.
Math: Fourth graders used raisins to study landmark data terms (mean, median, mode, range). Students predicted how many raisins would be in the box and compared predictions to data. Fourth graders also explored decimals to the hundredths place. Third graders have started a unit on operations, specifically multi-digit addition and subtraction. Students worked intensely to find $1.00 words...ask your child what this means!
Writing: Both classes are working on narrative writing. We are working on building stamina during writing, and how to add on and revise to make our writing stronger.
Word Study: Mr. B’s spelling groups are publishing silly spelling stories on a new class writing blog, stay tuned! There will be a spelling bee for Mr. B’s spellers next week (spelling test Thursday, bee on Friday). Fundations spellers worked on vowel-consonant-e syllable exceptions: /ive/ has a short vowel sound instead of a long vowel sound. Students are really seeing improvements in their spelling when they tap each word!
Social Studies: All 3-4 students worked cooperatively on a global address project: students worked in small groups to identify and map each section of our global address: 3-4 classrooms, Calliope House, Allen Brook School, Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont, New England, United States, North America, The World, The Solar System, and the Galaxy. Wow! This week, we worked in pairs to locate and label continents and oceans on a world map and countries, major cities and bodies of water on maps of North America.
Responsive Classroom: As we transition back and forth between the two classrooms many times each day, some students have raised concern over their property and school supplies while away from their desks. We had a conversation about the role of school supplies as tools for learning, and not collections (ex: fooeys and pencil cap erasers)—meaning no hoarding. Please encourage your child to keep any collections at home and tools for learning at school. Thanks.
Ask me about:
• Emma’s Birthday
• My new table-group mates
• Friday morning meeting with Ms. Schoolcraft’s class
• TCT: snowflakes, knitting, board games
• Our class pets (our worms in our worm bin working day and night to compost for us)
Other: FUN NIGHT IS SATURDAY NIGHT! We hope to see you and your families at this exciting annual Calliope event. And yes, Ms S. and Mr. B. will be there! The WSD/Cochran’s ski & ride program begins 1/8. Please see the online edition of the School Bell for details. Tuesday, December 15th is a half day for students, please plan accordingly. Have a fantastic first December weekend…and hope to see you Saturday!
Mr. Bolger and Ms. Schoolcraft
November 30-December 4, 2009
Week Fourteen
Happy December, Parents and Kids!
Literacy: Readers and writers are working on responding to text in guided reading groups. Many groups have finished up some longer selections, and vocabulary, fluency and comprehension continue to be a focus. All students continue to work in reading response journals and are reviewing how to write letters about our reading to our teachers.
Math: Fourth graders used raisins to study landmark data terms (mean, median, mode, range). Students predicted how many raisins would be in the box and compared predictions to data. Fourth graders also explored decimals to the hundredths place. Third graders have started a unit on operations, specifically multi-digit addition and subtraction. Students worked intensely to find $1.00 words...ask your child what this means!
Writing: Both classes are working on narrative writing. We are working on building stamina during writing, and how to add on and revise to make our writing stronger.
Word Study: Mr. B’s spelling groups are publishing silly spelling stories on a new class writing blog, stay tuned! There will be a spelling bee for Mr. B’s spellers next week (spelling test Thursday, bee on Friday). Fundations spellers worked on vowel-consonant-e syllable exceptions: /ive/ has a short vowel sound instead of a long vowel sound. Students are really seeing improvements in their spelling when they tap each word!
Social Studies: All 3-4 students worked cooperatively on a global address project: students worked in small groups to identify and map each section of our global address: 3-4 classrooms, Calliope House, Allen Brook School, Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont, New England, United States, North America, The World, The Solar System, and the Galaxy. Wow! This week, we worked in pairs to locate and label continents and oceans on a world map and countries, major cities and bodies of water on maps of North America.
Responsive Classroom: As we transition back and forth between the two classrooms many times each day, some students have raised concern over their property and school supplies while away from their desks. We had a conversation about the role of school supplies as tools for learning, and not collections (ex: fooeys and pencil cap erasers)—meaning no hoarding. Please encourage your child to keep any collections at home and tools for learning at school. Thanks.
Ask me about:
• Emma’s Birthday
• My new table-group mates
• Friday morning meeting with Ms. Schoolcraft’s class
• TCT: snowflakes, knitting, board games
• Our class pets (our worms in our worm bin working day and night to compost for us)
Other: FUN NIGHT IS SATURDAY NIGHT! We hope to see you and your families at this exciting annual Calliope event. And yes, Ms S. and Mr. B. will be there! The WSD/Cochran’s ski & ride program begins 1/8. Please see the online edition of the School Bell for details. Tuesday, December 15th is a half day for students, please plan accordingly. Have a fantastic first December weekend…and hope to see you Saturday!
Mr. Bolger and Ms. Schoolcraft
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