May 21, 2010

Calliope Weekly Update
May 17-21, 2010
Week Thirty-four

Reading & Writing: The Reading Restaurant was a huge success!  Thanks to all families for your support with the restaurant itself, and for being kind and generous patrons!  In the upcoming weeks, students will be completing end-of-the-year assessments in reading and spelling in preparation of June report cards.

Math: Fourth graders worked on dyads and problem solving this week, as well as, participated in the fourth and final ‘studio’ class of the year.  Third graders are working with geometry; specifically attribute blocks and lines, line segments, and rays.

Word Study: Both classes maintained a consistent spelling routine despite the reading restaurant preparations this week.  Ms. S’s class completed unit 9 in Fundations, including the application of the 1-1-1 rule for adding vowel suffixes to 1-1-1 words with r-controlled vowels.

Science:  Fourth graders completed the first two sessions of the Science NECAP on Tuesday.  Fourth graders will finish with the inquiry task next Tuesday.  A good night’s sleep and breakfast prior to testing helps students start off on the right foot.  In other news, our expected hatch day is Wednesday, 5/26.  Students are eagerly anticipating the hatch of our chicks.  On Thursday, we visited Mrs. Wirsing’s classroom to view an embryo that has been developing without its shell.  We were able to see what our embryos look like and identify body parts…the eye, egg tooth, feathers, and feet.  Science is amazing! 

Responsive Classroom: I continue to be impressed and amazed at the manners and kindness I witness between students.  Much of this came to fruition at the reading restaurant; students remained calm and were incredibly polite not only to our guests, but to each other.  That is a success to be celebrated by all of us.  On Thursday, both classes were able to ‘serve’ each other as we visited one another’s reading restaurant.  How wonderful to see the excitement as students visited each other’s core classes and experienced the reading restaurant as a guest.

Ask me about:  

·       Art Show

·       Reading Restaurant Rehearsal!

·        Discovery’s Reading Restaurant

·        Science necap – 4^th grade

Other:  With the Reading Restaurant behind us, we have the final four weeks of school fast approaching.  As we prepare for many endings – Calliope House, Allen Brook for all of us, the completion of another grade, 4^th grade graduation (to name a few…) let’s take a deep breath and slow down.  We have much excitement planned in the upcoming weeks…let’s enjoy every minute with each other, practicing respect and kindness.  You are all an amazing group of kids and parents and I am so thankful to be a part of the house that is Calliope.

- David and Sarah