It was a Monday that felt like a Friday. We just jam-packed our day to the max. We got a great start on our Social Studies Indian projects. The kids were able to begin to write their written part of the report. Remember, this part is to be done at school. Tomorrow they will begin to type what they got done today. I do feel that I need to encourage students to really put an extra effort into their reports. Effort is worth ten points on the written part. It was explained, in detail, with a model, what my epectations are for their written information. If students choose to just find the answers and write them down, that is not a lot of effort in my eyes. If students take the information they find, think outside of the box, and creatively write it down in their fifth grade own words, now that is effort. For example, if the research states that the Deleware People live in Canada, and I write on my poster: The Delaware People live in Canada, I am not showing much effort. Now, if I stated, The Delaware People live nearby. As a matter of fact they live just North of where I live in Canada, that shows out of the box thinking. I do not just want facts, I also want analyzed information in a creative way. These kids are very capable of that kind of thinking, but they may need your help to practice it.
We also started Division in math. We will be venturing into long division tomorrow. This concept does take a few days to master so please be patient. It is always fun for me to see the exact moment that the light bulb does go on. Please check their math resource sheet when trying to help them at home. I use a method called Daddy, Mommy, Sister, Brother or better known as Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down and Repeat. It is explained on their step by step process box.
In spelling it is a review week. I have chosen twenty of the words given in Unit 12 for their test. The students copied them down and put them in their purple spelling folders. If not, they are also on this blog. Test is on Friday.
Tomorrow we have guests from the education field observing our class in the morning. Make sure to ask you child about their Tall Tale Computer Adventure or Inspiration Masterpiece. Fun!
I hope to see all of you on Friday for our Thankful Lunch and Read In starting at 11:00. Peace Out Little Diamonds!
