The Week in Review

Hello!

It has been a productive week here in Equinox House!  For a variety of reasons, students did not complete weekly updates this week. You'll have to rely on my perspective.

Literacy:

This week, some students started reading groups.  Reading strategies continue to focus on vocabulary, making inferences, attention to detail and questioning the text.  Students in groups are participating in Guided Reading sessions with me.

Young writers continue to write scenes for their realistic fiction stories to get to know their characters better and to develop their plot line.  Students are focusing on character development in Wonder.   Morning work challenges (DLR - daily language review) included concepts of antonyms, “guide words” and alphabetical order and syllabication.  

Math:

This week fourth graders have continued to multiply two digit by two digit numbers.  They are practicing using strategies by building arrays.  Students are also using what they know about single digit numbers and multiples of ten to calculate large products.  

Third grade mathematicians have spent the week working equal groups.   “Using equal groups to arrive at the total” as the Core Math Idea has allowed practice with halving, doubling, arrays, and skip counts.   

Science:

We are reading a book called The Code which is about inherited and genetic characteristics.  We have examined photos of fruit flies and we are looking at those of people as well to recognize variation and relatedness. Students have begun to recognize differences between inherited and acquired characteristics in living things.  This distinction is central to the science content knowledge being presented in this unit.  Another goal of the lesson is that students will practice making inferences.  This has been a goal in previous lessons in this unit as well.  

Awards:

These are given at Friday Kiva where we also give Xtra Math, Lexia, Digital Passport and various other certificates.

We have finally decided on a Student Award called The Stupendous Student!  This award will be given by a student to a student who displays the following:

-School SMARTS (Safety, Mindfulness, Acceptance, Respect, Truthfulness)

-Empathy

This week Henry was nominated by at least three of his peers. He is the first to win the Stupendous Student Award.

The teacher award is given by me.  We call it the Student of the Week Award and it recognizes students for special attention to their own particular school challenge as well as the great attributes any particular student naturally brings to our classroom community.  

Please Note:

• Booster cells are still being awarded for students who follow adult directions the first time!  
• Coat Drive:  CVU is partnering with the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program in a coat drive - please bring in your gently used winter wear and leaving it in the box in the WCS lobby until 11/21/14.  
• ¾ Chorus is cancelled for Wednesday, 11/19.