Wintertime Ooohs!: Update 1/21-1/25

Hi 5V Families! How are you? Can you believe it's almost the end of January? We are in the swing of things; in a groove. The kids are enjoying demonstrating their knowledge in their own ways, discovering things for themselves, and following specific routines to get the best out of them. I enjoy teaching them whether it's online through a video lesson, via whole group in class, or small group at the tables. Here's an update on the week ahead:

 

Do you know the balloon is gaining from the girl's hair? What if touched the balloon to a chalkboard? Why do strands of the girl's hair stand up away from one another?

 

 

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: What will the kids learn or discover?

* Comprehension strategies to use during and after reading.

* Test taking strategies for comprehension tests.

* Strategies for determining meanings of words. (Context clues)

* How to write reading essays with structure and elaboration to support an answer.

 

 

 Current Events: What will the kids learn or discover/discuss?

* The NFL playoffs 

 

* International and domestic affairs

 

* President Obama's inauguration



 Science: What will the kids learn or discover?

* What static electricity is.
* How static electricity is created.
* What is happening between positive and negative charges during static electricity.  


Writing: What will the kids learn or discover?

* Recurring themes in the texts they read and their relation to real life.

* Research and blogging skills (note taking, reading informational text, paragraphing, and structuring)

* Composing a reading essay (extended response) 

* More paragraphing and elaboration skills through reading extended response or other writing.  

Technology: What will the kids learn or discover?

* Shortcuts on internet explorer and Microsoft Word 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on:

* Review of the school matrix, playground safety, helping classmates, reflecting on grades, setting goals, nd staying individually organized.  

 

Discovery Learning: Update 1/7-1/11

I hope that everyone has had a fun, peaceful, revitalizing break. I caught up on some much needed sleep, got to have fun with friends and family, and read quite a bit.

It's time to get back to the grind. The school year is similar to a professional basketball season. We both start in the fall (September/November) and end in the spring (May/June)  We play 5 games a week while the average pro team plays 3 a week. We're at our half way point (or very close at least) and there's a lot more to accomplish, improve upon, discover, and learn.

Is that Coach Thibodeau and the Bulls or Mr. Vaid and the students?

I titled this blog post "discovery learning". I talked to the chief (Mr. LeCrone) and we had an enlightening conversation about giving students more opportunities to at least begin their learning through a process of discovery. This doesn't mean we leave them to their own devices. It means that when we begin studying a concept (magnetic fields), content (the American Revolution), skill (writing ratios), or strategy (re-reading to understand) we give the students more time to discuss what they already know, more time to experiment with methods, more time to talk to each other about how they would solve a problem, more time for the kids to experiment with multiple options, and demonstrate their understanding in varied and multiple ways. It also means that I step in and model possible or correct methods afterwards, and assess for learning. I think we've come close to practicing this in writing and definitely in science (during our weather unit especially), but it's going to occur more in math and social studies too. Henceforth I will refer to it as the DMA model! (Discover, Model, Assess)

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: What will the kids learn or discover? 

* How to distinguish between minor and major details in non-fiction and fiction reading. 

* To use organizers to help them clarify, summarize, and comprehend what they read. 

* Strategies for determining meanings of words. 

* The beauty of literature and its connection to our lives. 

* We'll continue to use Edline for our reading responses this week. (2-3x a week)

 Current Events: What will the kids learn or discover/discuss?

* What's going on in D.C (We've already talked about bipartisanship) 

* The Bears looking for a new coach. 

* International and domestic affairs. 
* The NFL playoffs
Science: What will the kids learn or discover? 

* How a molecule is different from an atom.
* Different properties of magnetism (magnetic fields, polarity, attraction, repulsion, magnetic types, and more)  
* The learning will be in the hands of the kids. They will try to determine or prove the existence of the properties. 

Writing: What will the kids learn or discover? 

* Recurring themes in the texts they read and their relation to real life. 

* How to compare and contrast themes across two or more texts. 

* The necessity to think about audience and genuine purpose of writing prior to actually composing. 

* New information/content via discovery and inquiry. This will be done through our weekly research and blogging. 

Technology: What will the kids learn or discover? 

* The kids are learning a lot through their weekly research and blogging; learnings with word processing (for their weekly notes), multi-media usage (as part of using the blog), and internet navigation (as part of their research). 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on:

* One item on the agenda for this week is to discuss our feelings about the first half of the school year which will include a written reflection about how the first half has been for us.  

* We'll also re-visit the building expectations and especially the playground safety rules. 

Lots of Good Stuff: Update 12/10-12/14

Can you tell what atom this is?

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading:

* The kids are going to learn a few new prefixes this week and as a result will be able to learn meanings to new words.

 

* The kids will also learn how to make metaphors using concrete and abstract nouns. We did this last week and the week before but now I will formally introduce them to the terms concrete and abstract nouns.

* In small groups we will study comprehension skills based off the Time for Kids assessments.
* We're reading for purpose and identifying theme and conflict. We're going to ask ourselves where we find similar theme or conflict in history, our lives, current events, and literature through a webbing experience.

 

 Current Events:

* Tick, tick, tick...fiscal cliff...

* Our week will probably begin with some Chicago Bears talk: hopefully a victory.

* Kids are going to begin groundwork on the 5V Magazine; an informative publication that will encompass many of the writing, reading, and research skills we already teach through our curriculum. When I say groundwork, I mean we will just talk about it this week informally and begin work after winter break.

Science:

* Kids will learn the basic parts of an atom! This includes the nucleus, protons, neutrons, electron shells, and electrons.
* The kids will also learn the functions of those atomic parts.
* In addition, the kids will study the periodic table and learn what the atomic #, atomic mass, and classifications of elements means.

Writing: Writing everyday...

* The kids will continue to learn how to elaborate using cues like because, for example,  and  like.

* The kids will also continue to organize their writing through paragraphing. They should be able to explain why they separated paragraphs and why they made the transitions between paragraphs that they did.  

* In grammar we are studying a variety of kinds of nouns including: personal, proper, common, possessive, and more.

* As part of their inquiry learning the kids will ask questions about what they want to find answers to and they will either discuss, infer, experiment, or research to write about what they have learned and then share it. They did such a fine job with this in social studies last week!!

 

Technology: Edline skills this week!

* Because of the increase in flipped instruction, students will practice taking quizzes and watching video lessons online.

* The kids will learn while in the computer lab how to go back and forth between note taking for a subject (like science or writing) and their MS word document. They will learn (and already have learned) how to paraphrase and note take again.

 

 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on:

* Having class meetings to discuss agenda items for the week.

* Learning cool tools of the week.

 

Join the May Watts Service Club!

Hi 5V Families!

See the attached picture for more information about the May Watts Service Club. The next meeting is Monday, December 10th after school.

Math Night 12/3 6:30pm to 8pm

Come to the May Watts Math Night!!
It is still not too late!

When: Monday, December 3rd 6:30-8:00pm (grades 3, 4, and 5)

Where: May Watts

What: Lots of sports and game themed MATH activities. Lots for you to participate in.

Who: May Watts families. Registration as walk-ins at the door is welcome. OR...just bring back the form your child brought home last week.

Why: To experience the fun in math!

Deeper Learning: Update 11/26-11/30

If you read the post you'll get the idea! 

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: 

* During reading conferences we will study symbolism. We are striving to learn ideas that have more depth to them. 

* The kids will deepen their comprehension by using metaphors and similes

* As usual, we'll study vocabulary and vocabulary strategies. (Last week were terms like fiscal cliff, and bipartisan). 

* We continue to write along with our reading to reinforce our comprehension. This week we have some arguments rooted in our study of history. Kids will continue to provide textual evidence to support their arguments. 

* As we continue our read aloud we will also continue to discuss ideas and theme and how they relate to history and current event. 

Current Events: 

* If anyone thinks that kids aren't interested in the world around them and national and international news tell them to come to our classroom. 

* We'll continue our study of terms relevant to the news. This content will continue to be deep in meaning and reinforce our global awareness. 

* We'll continue to examine maps and math through our current event studies. How about we add some depth to our content by studying the time zones. Come to our room to see the clocks. 

* Kids are going to begin groundwork on the 5V Magazine; an informative publication that will encompass many of the writing, reading, and research skills we already teach through our curriculum. I think this will be a context for learning that is deep in nature as it is authentic and has some rigor to it. More to come on this one later! This publication will supplement and reinforce all of our learning. 

Writing: Writing everyday...

* This week we wrap up our realistic fiction publication. We try to add depth to our writing as we implement the traits and features of what real authors do: This includes learning how to write dialogue, use foreshadowing, plot twists, perspective writing, atmosphere, and more! 

* The kids will edit and revise their work after computer lab conferences with me. 

* We're beginning the second round of grammar conferences and each child is studying what he or she needs to as it relates to grammar. 

* By the end of the week we will prepare for our next writing/research publication which will be a historical fiction piece in which the student does research on a time period or event as the basis of the story. 

* The 5V magazine framework for our writing/reading/research will be a great supplement to our learning and provide context with depth.  

Technology: Edline skills this week! 

* Because of the increase in flipped instruction, students will practice taking quizzes and watching video lessons online. 

* I'm going to teach the kids to use their file locker on Edline for storage. As a result flash drives will not be as essential. 

* We are going to have a note taking lesson combined with research. 

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on: 

* Continuing our bully lessons

* Having class meetings

* Hopefully having our art show to generate classroom revenue and money for the Naperville Humane Society. 

Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: We're studying America as a "playground" and...

* Colonial self-government. 

* The playground of America and how the British occupy one part of it. The kids are beginning to understand this deep concept. 

* The impact on Native Americans

* Ideas of self government

* Soon our own classroom will role play the democratic process in order to make authentic decisions in class. We will have political parties, a congress, a judicial system, and of course I will be President. 

* Early colonial towns of the British on the east coast.  

* All of our studies are aimed at our SS theme question" "How did the U.S become so powerful?" This is a very deep question that frames everything we do...okay almost everything we do in social studies! 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice. 

Diversity Week: Update 11/12-11/16

This week is Diversity Week @ May Watts! 

Math: Please refer to the 5V Math Class blog with the link provided below. For easy access, the link is also located on the left hand column in the links for learning section. Or... http://5vmath.blogspot.com/

Reading: This week in reading the students are going to study the following: 

* Character traits through our read aloud. 

* Inferential and critical thinking via our social studies texts.  

* Transferring knowledge and content gained in social studies to writing. 

* Test-taking strategies. 

* The "usual" comprehension strategies. 

Current Events: The election is over but we'll study a mix of government and more...

* Self government (connection to social studies) 

* Branches of government (future connection to social studies) 

* Chicago Bears talk

* The Economy (what in the world is a fiscal cliff?)

* Any other events in the news and/or interesting articles. 

Writing: Writing everyday...

* Persuasive writing skills through our argument writing. 

* Reflection writing 

* Math reflective writing

* Kids will begin a new student-driven story (we'll organize it based on ideas and theme)

* Focus on authentic audience that will drive our student-driven stories

* Poetry through social studies

* Maybe a short answer response

Technology: This week in the lab the students will learn the following skills: 

* More graphic manipulation

* Features and tools of MS Paint

* Internet browsing

Citizenship: Next week we will focus on: 

* DIVERSITY WEEK: Kids and I will have discussions/presentations on holidays/traditions

* Empathy (finishing up lessons from last week)

* Being thoughtful (we're having an art show to raise money for an animal shelter) 

Science: We're checking the weather daily and reinforcing the ideas of fronts, air pressure, and wind. We actually forgot to check the weather last week. Note to self: Check weather. 

Social Studies: We're studying America as a "playground" and...

* The French exploration of America

* The impact on Native Americans

* Ideas of self government

* Early colonial towns of the British on the east coast.  

* All of our studies are aimed at our SS theme question" "How did the U.S become so powerful?" 

Spelling: We are studying study strategies with spelling. We're also doing a lot of math with it too which is always nice.