Such Valuable Feedback!

Hello Families!

This morning friends worked on their character descriptions again and they are writing so much!  We outlined the steps to get our characters done.  This helped the students to see what they need to do and in what order.  The students realized that there are two places to get feedback because there are two elements to give feedback on: the written description and the illustration that goes with this.

Today we were able to see more helpful feedback emerge.  Students read what they had written so far and then their constructive partner asked questions or told what they felt they'd like to know more about.  These answers gave each student ideas about what to change or add to make their character description more detailed and clear.

This afternoon we journaled with a question from a story as a prompt.  I have read the beginning of the chapter book, Flat Stanley, to the children and we used this to practice writing a different style of journal entry.  The students were required to write the sentence starter and then continue the sentence and explain their reasoning for their choice.  Many students are working on making their work special and writing thoughtfully while still getting work done in a timely manner.  This is SO tricky.  But these times in the day are perfect practice.  Practice is how we learn, right?  

Below you can see how we go about our journaling process.  First we identify our topic and have a quiet moment to plan what we will say.  Next the students ask for words they will be using that they do not know how to spell yet.  I write these up on the board.  Finally, the students create their composition using the key words they brainstormed and other words they inventively spell.  

I was interested in hearing the reasons why they would or would not like to be flat like Stanley.  The kids identified elements that it is important to think about, like how does your eating style change if you are flat?  It has also been so neat to see their writing progressing!

Also, on Monday we played math games in the morning.  Here is a list of the games we played:

Make a Flat! (100)- This one was a big hit!
Subtraction Dominoes
How Many Ways can you make 10?
Make Ten then Make Zero
The Last Block

Some of these are very easy to make and require little supplies at home.  Some do require valuable tools like Pattern blocks, Unifix blocks and Cuisenaire rods.  These are great for learning different math concepts, such as grouping, addition and subtraction. Please ask your child to explain how you play these games.  This might stimulate an interesting discussion about what parts of math concepts your child likes!  Please come in and have your child show

If your student wants to make a new math challenge as their homework we have some topics to cover: writing a word problem, incorporate subtraction in a word problem or in an equation and also writing a math problem that incorporates coins.

Here are two new math problems that came up in discussions already this week.  Many of you may have heard from your child that three families have recently made changes in their five day at school plan.  This means we have said goodbye to having these friends in our class.  This brought up the first question here.

How will you go about solving these?

Another topic that has come up recently is how people go about memorizing words whose spelling just doesn't make sense.  Many friends have been challenging themselves to memorize words we see all month in the songs and poems we practice and study.  This has brought up discussions about each friend's personal method of memorizing information.  We have talked about chanting, writing something down many times and making up a movement to do when memorizing a new word.  But, aren't there more ways that help us memorize information?  With each friend's unique learning modality they need to figure out the best way they learn and retain info they want.  So another homework option friends gave themselves was to think about what their personal method is and to share it with the group at school this week.

Well, I hope this has helped you to connect to your child's learning this week.  And I hope the students are sharing more stories with you at home!  Have a great day!  Love, Jennifer

PS THANK YOU for all the sign images, PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING IN!!!