May 28, 2010

Calliope Weekly Update
May 24-28, 2010
Week Thirty-five

Reading & Writing: Students tried their best to ‘cool down’ with good books this week during the heat wave.  Students have begun work on their benchmark reading assessments for the last time this year.  We will be sharing student instructional levels in reading with you come report card time.  Mr. Bolger's class began a new read aloud: The Time Warp Trio's book -- It's All Greek to Me. Ms. Schoolcraft’s class began a new read aloud too: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech.

Math: Both third and fourth graders exclaimed ‘we have the same homework!’ Thursday afternoon (their geometry work looked similar with dot patterns)…as both grade levels are studying geometry.  Third graders’ math work is on display outside the main office in the lobby…our work included rotating designs using polygons from an earlier problem.  Come check it out!  Third graders also began to explore elements of area and geometric solids during an activity called “boxes” on Friday. Fourth Graders are hard at work studying the world of fractions.

Word Study: Mr. Bolger's Spelling Class took home their second-to-last spelling list for the year. The kids are ramping up for a year-end spelling bee covering all the spelling words and rules they have learned! Ms. S’s group began unit 10 this week, examining syllables with double vowel teams.  Students learned that vowel teams are either vowel digraphs (two vowels making one new sound) or diphthongs (pronounced diff-thongs; where the first vowel glides into the succeeding vowels). 

Science:  Tuesday marked the final NECAP assessment of the year.  Fourth graders worked in pairs or trios and then independently to complete an inquiry task.  The assessment took about 90 minutes (on arguably the hottest day of the year)…  and third graders “chilled out” in the [air conditioned] computer lab during testing, brushing up on keyboarding skills and enjoying spellingcity.com.  As for a chick update…at the writing of this update, we have hatched 1 chick.  This, although incredibly exciting, was a disappointing turnout from the 28 eggs we set on May 5^th.  We have decided to leave the incubator running over the long weekend, in the hopes that we will have a late hatch, to join our first chick, “Early.”  The eggs that are not successful will be laid to rest in the woods on Tuesday by our class.

Responsive Classroom: The heat may have played a role in both student and adult behavior this week -- cranky, cranky, cranky :)

Ask me about:  

·        How we problem-solved soccer play at recess

·       Mrs. Wirsing’s hatch

·        Vista’s Performance

Other:  Please help your child remember to bring a water bottle to school these last few weeks.  Our classroom can be quite hot, and it is easy to get dehydrated in such warm weather.  As always, thank you for keeping consistent home routines (even throughout May Madness © The Warren Family).  Please see the note in the School Bell regarding parent feedback surveys (found online).  Please complete these as soon as possible, as your feedback informs our practice and is greatly appreciated.  Finally, we look forward to several Calliope events in June!  Have a fun, relaxing and safe Memorial Day weekend!

 -- Sarah and David

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