April News!

Happy Spring! 

A few upcoming dates to remember:

April 22 - No school for students: Assessment Day
April 24 - Science Fair boards and notebooks due
April 25 and 26 - Overnight field trip to Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Leaving after school on the 25th and returning around 1:30pm on the 26th.

May 3 - Space Day/Star Wars Day & Spelling Bee
May 17 - Spring Festival (Greek Themed!)
May 20 - No School for Students: Teacher Work Day
May 27 - No School for Students: Memorial Day 
May 30 - Field Day
May 31 - Family Conferences

LifeSkills:

Being different, acting different, and looking different are targets for bullies. Division III students have been learning ways to deal with others who say hurtful words and do hurtful actions by practicing the problem solving process, role playing ways to solve conflicts with peers, and creating their own scenarios. 


World of Math:

In Dr. Ricotta's class, Unit 9 is coming to a close and Monday will be the day of the test. Students have been implementing their multiplication facts with decimals.  Not so difficult if you remember to place the decimal in the right place!  Same with division.  Estimation has been an interesting method in where to place the decimal.  Practice problems for multiplication and division of decimals can be found on web sites, such as: 

http://www.education.com/worksheets/fourth-grade/math/

http://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/activities/4th-grade.html

http://math4children.com/Grade4/worksheets/index.html


Ms. Brown's class is beginning a comprehensive review of their learning this year in preparation for the end of year assessment, as well as taking the opportunity to experience those we have mastered on a deeper level in preparation for next year.  Last week, students prepared a "wish list" for our work during this quarter, and their list includes more work with fractions and decimals, strategies for multiplication and division, multi-digit addition and subtraction, and more work with probability and data.  Students are also creating a reference book for these concepts to take with them on to the next level of math.

Ms. Burns' class is currently working on equations and formulas for area, perimeter, and circumference.


Art of Language

It is really amazing to see how much our students have grown this school year.  They've improved as critical readers, informational and explanatory writers, and they have learned to craft persuasive and opinion pieces and explore the opposite side of an issue. This quarter, we are focusing on the narrative.

Many works of fiction have an underlying theme of change that moves with the characters throughout the story. To tie in with this quarter's big idea, Ms. Brown's class, students are reading My Daniel by Pam Conrad, looking at it through the eyes of a fiction writer.  We are exploring the changes that happen within the characters themselves and the ways the author communicates those changes to her audience. We are taking this analysis into our own fiction writing, planning out narratives, and exploring ways to communicate our stories to our audience.  Ms. Burns' class is also currently focusing on fiction writing and are taking their creative ideas through the writing process.

In Dr. Ricotta's class, students are exploring biographies. Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney and Dr. Suess all had at least one thing in common - they all believed in the importance of learning from our past. Since the inquiry unit on Pioneers, the DIII students have been fascinated with history.  Carrying this interest into language arts, students have been able to choose a famous historical figure from available biographies. Reasons for reading biographies are many, but here are just five:

1.  Biographies allow you to stand on the shoulders of giants.
2.  Biographies remind you that history repeats itself. 
3.  Biographies promote self discovery.
4.  Biographies allow you to see the world in new ways.
5.  Biographies give you mentors at a distance.


Do you know which 'giant' is mentoring your child?


Scientific Inquiry 

We've just embarked on a new science unit having to do with life cycles of organisms. This unit includes work towards mastery of Colorado third grade life science standards. The essential questions we will attempt to answer are: 

Why do different stages take longer in different organisms? 

Why are the stages different?

How is it possible for organisms not to change? Why do organisms change?

Why do organisms have different life cycles?

How are the development/life cycles of organisms different?

How does environment affect development of organisms?

How do needs of organisms change throughout its development?

How can we predict the life cycle of an organism?

Students are working through several simulations via explorelearning.com and doing individual research.  

We are planning to have a guest speaker coming at the end of the month to discuss the unique life cycles of various insects in addition to our field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on the 25th of this month.


Historical Inquiry

In May, we will begin a study of architecture during the Medieval period.  Students will be focusing primarily on the architecture of churches during this period.  If you have research resources on this topic, please let your homeroom teacher know.  

Mid-February News

Dear Families,

Included in Thursday folders last week were permission slips and information sheets for our field trip to Manitou Cliff Dwellings on March 1.  Please keep the information sheets for your records and return the permission slip with $12, the fee for this trip.  Understand that we do not keep money in the classroom to provide change, so exact payment or a check made payable to AcademyACL is simplest.  We have had several inquiries regarding chaperones for this excursion, and each class has plenty for this trip at this time--thank you for your interest!

Due dates:

Friday, February 15 - Please let us know if your child will need a sack lunch.  Ms. Brown sent an email on Thursday requesting this information, or you can let your child's homeroom teacher know.

Friday, February 22 - Permission slips and field trip money ($12) due no later than this date.

If you need another copy of the permission slip or the information sheet, please see your homeroom teacher. 

Here are a few more important dates to add to your calendar:

February 15 - Early Release at 2:10

February 20-21 - 3rd grade Reading TCAP  (Please note that on the initial Academy ACL calendar, the dates for TCAP were the 13th-15th.  Testing dates were changed by the district after our calendar was printed.) Make up tests will be done on the 22nd.

March 1 - Field Trip to Manitou Cliff Dwellings

March 4-22 - DIII - DV TCAP and makeup days; 3rd grade will take Math and Writing tests at this time.  4th and up will take all (Math, Reading and Writing, plus Science for 5th and 8th)

March 23-31 - Spring Break

April 24 - Science Fair Projects Due

LifeSkills

Division III has been discussing test-taking strategies for upcoming TCAP tests.  Students have been getting familiar with the format of the test itself, reviewing phonics skills in reading, as well as ways to calm themselves down when anxiety strikes and prepare their bodies and minds for this demonstration of learning.  Please help your child prepare for TCAP by helping him or her get a good night's rest before the test each day, providing a healthy breakfast, and sending water bottles to school to promote hydration.  

In addition, we have been reviewing our Social Contracts in each class as there are times where students experience brain burps with behavior. Kindness to others during class and outside of the classroom is imperative for strong social skills. 

World of Math

Ms. Brown's class had a wonderful integration with Ms. Hellen this week, creating pieces of Mondrian art to further apply their knowledge of fractional parts of the whole.  Students created a grid of 80 squares, and then took out fractional parts to create blocks of color.  Please check back this weekend for a post that includes photos of students' artwork from this integration unit! 

Dr. Ricotta's class is wrapping up Unit 7 concerning fractional parts of a whole. Students were each given mandarin oranges to see and touch the whole then peeling it for the segments representing the fractional parts. Pattern blocks were helpful in segmenting in introducing parts to whole. It has been a very tactile learning unit!

Art of Language

Partner and popcorn reading "The Tiger Rising" has been Dr. Ricotta's students' novel focus. Students have been completing journal pages for this unit which entails prediction, vocabulary, comprehension, and non-fiction information. Students are actual enjoying completing the 'worksheets'!

Caesar's English Lesson 9 has introduced new stems. Vocabulary cards with definitions were created and students have been able to play games to reinforce their understanding. Having students write original sentences for modern words of these stems proves they can use the words in context.

Ms. Brown's students have started an analysis of poetry, focusing on imagery and symbolism.  They have read two poems by Emily Dickinson, and another by Joseph Ceravolo.  All three poems engage the subject of cyclic change and students are engaged in the analysis of the theme of these poems as well as the analysis of the poems from a structural standpoint.  

Students are beginning to integrate their Caesar's English work into their writing.  Having just completed work on a persuasive writing project, it was noted that students are taking risks with the use of higher-level vocabulary to strengthen their sentences, and exploring more complex sentence structure.

Historical Inquiry

Students are wrapping up their initial study of Colorado's history.  Students have investigated everything from the symbols of our state to how our geography affects life here for humans and other living things to important people and events in the development of Colorado. Students will be finishing up culminating projects next week.  

Beginning the last week of February, we will begin a simulation in which students will take on roles within a wagon train heading west from Missouri to Oregon, making decisions along the way which require data analysis, generating solutions, and determining a course of action as a group.  It is often a challenge for students to develop a thorough understanding of the issues pioneers faced and why people chose to move from place to place during those early years of our state's history, and this simulation provides students with the opportunity to analyze this time period on a deeper level, while making connections to events in our own state's development.

Science Fair

Help your student to continue his or her research and experimentation for the science fair!  During the month of February, students should be planning out their experiments, and gathering observations and data.

Here is a link to the Science Fair planning packet you were provided at conferences:  

http://www.hollyschools.org/www/Holly/site/hosting/sciencefairguide12.pdf 

We expect that students will be analyzing concepts that truly interest them, and that the design of their experiments are unique and demonstrate the kind of advanced and creative learners we know them to be.  As your student works through this process, please help them to prepare their science fair board so that it presents both a neat and creative appearance.  Students have asked whether parents can assist with this part of the project, and the answer is a resounding yes!  We expect the work itself to be student created, however helping students with the use of word processing to create labels, pictures, or graphs using their data, as well as the finer points of board organization at this age is most helpful.  

Science fair projects will be due April 24.

Field Trip March 1 - Important Information

Dear Families,

Included in Thursday folders last night were permission slips and information sheets for our field trip to Manitou Cliff Dwellings on March 1.  Please keep the information sheets for your records and return the permission slip with $12, the fee for this trip.  Understand that we do not keep money in the classroom to provide change, so exact payment or a check made payable to AcademyACL is simplest.

Due dates:

Friday, February 15 - notice to HOMEROOM teachers if your child will need a sack lunch provided by the school.

Friday, February 22 - Permission slips and field trip money ($12) due no later than this date.

If you need another copy of the permission slip or the information sheet, please see your homeroom teacher. 

Thank you!

Newsletter January 31, 2013

Happy (almost) February!

Here are a few important dates to put on your calendar:

February 15 - Early Release at 2:10

February 20-21 - 3rd grade Reading TCAP

March 1 - Field Trip to Manitou Cliff Dwellings

March 4-22 - DIII - DV TCAP and makeup days; 3rd grade will take Math and Writing tests at this time.  4th and up will take all (Math, Reading and Writing, plus Science for 5th and 8th)

April 24 - Science Fair Projects Due

Science Fair Projects

February is just around the corner, and we hope that students have determined what questions they would like to answer for their Science Fair projects.  With a month of time to work on this project under their belts, students should also have a hypothesis prepared and have done a bit of research to help them in creating experiments that will answer their questions.  These portions of their science fair boards should be planned out, and perhaps even done in draft at this point.

During the month of February, students should be planning out their experiments, and gathering observations and data.

Here is a link to the Science Fair planning packet you were provided at conferences:  

http://www.hollyschools.org/www/Holly/site/hosting/sciencefairguide12.pdf 

We expect that students will be analyzing concepts that truly interest them, and that the design of their experiments are unique and demonstrate the kind of advanced and creative learners we know them to be.  As your student works through this process, please help them to prepare their science fair board so that it presents both a neat and creative appearance.  We expect the work to be student created, however helping students with the finer points of board organization at this age is most helpful.  

Science fair projects will be due April 24.

LifeSkills

Dr. Ricotta's students have been discussing conflict with peers and how to solve problems together.  They are exploring four problem solving steps and are in the process of creating their own unique "Problem Solving"posters to keep in their binders. Ask your child to share it with you!

Students have started analyzing what "Leadership" really means in Ms. Brown's room.  What does it look like to others?  What does it sound like to someone outside of our learning environment?  How can we recognize the five leadership skills in ourselves and others?  Modeling the way, enabling others to act, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, and encouraging the heart--how can we make those part of our everyday lives?  During Care and Compassion Month, we will continue to explore these characteristics of leadership and tie them to the FISH! Philosophy.

World of Math

Ms. Brown's class is currently analyzing fractional parts of the whole, learning how to write fractions properly, and recognize them in both written form and regional models.  As this unit progresses, students will explore equivalent fractions as well as be introduced to the concept of mixed numbers.

Students in Dr. Ricotta's room have just completed an exploration of the use of partial quotients as a strategy to solve division problems and are also beginning their own study of fractions.

Ms. Burns' students are beginning a study of geometry, specifically the use of coordinate grids and ordered pairs.  Playing games involving grids like this, such as Battleship, are fun ways to explore this concept!

Art of Language

Ms. Burns' Language Arts students are continuing their exploration of Frindle by Andrew Clements.  Students are currently making predictions about characters and their motivation, while supporting their predictions with information directly from the text.  One student made a very astute observation that a character from the book often chooses to create his own "drama" to get out of doing work in class!

Dr. Ricotta's students just completed a Reader's Theater integration with Mr. Jesse using excerpts from his own book, The Night the Moon Ate My Room!  Her students performed for Mrs. McKellip's students last week and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of literature from an entirely new direction.  Her students are also in the process of presenting their essays to explain directions to play a game each of them created on their own!

Ms. Brown's students recently completed pantoum poems on topics of their choice, and are currently finding their inner lawyers, infomercial hosts, and editorial writers by studying the art of reasoning and persuasive techniques.  Students will be working in small groups, pairs, and then independently to tackle important hypothetical issues such as later bedtimes for children, required novel studies during summer break, and appropriate snack-times during school in addition to their own ideas.  Hopefully, these reasoning (*ahem*...arguing) skills will transfer to your dinner table conversation!  Feel free to require multi-paragraph persuasive essays from your children!

Historical Inquiry

Students are currently focusing on the geography of Colorado and how it has impacted the lives of the people moving here from other places in the past and present.  We will begin exploring how our unique geography impacts our climate and the living things with whom we share our state in the coming weeks.

As we explore our state's rich history, we have planned a field trip on Friday, March 1 to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings to study an early resident of our area of Colorado, the Anasazi.  Permission slips and other pertinent information will go home in Thursday folders on February 14. The fee for this trip will be $12.00.  Please let your child's homeroom teacher know if he or she will need a sack lunch for this trip as soon as possible.

Due dates for permission slips and payment are not flexible.  All funds and permission slips will be due back to homeroom teachers no later than the Friday prior to the trip--February 22.  Students who do not return both of these items by that date will not be allowed to attend the field trip and will stay at school--no last minute exceptions will be made.  

Welcome back!  Our Big Idea this quarter is "Growth."  Students will be exploring this in LifeSkills classes and content area classes as well.

Important Dates:

January 18 - Upper Division Science Fair

January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

February 7 - 12 - Jump Rope for Heart

February 13 - 15 - Third Grade Reading TCAP

February 18 - President's Day - No School

February 19 -21  - Third Grade Reading TCAP Makeups

Conferences and the "Effort" Dilemma

Thank you so much for taking time to meet with us on Friday and Monday for our goal setting conferences.  We appreciate having the opportunity to speak with each of you to review your child's progress and goals for this quarter.  

It has been noted that there was a recurring dilemma with the idea of "effort."  While many letter grades were fine, the scores for effort were low, which troubled both us and you.  The nice thing about our report cards is that effort is now an entirely separate entity, rather than figuring into a letter grade.  While it was great when a student earned a "B" in a class, the question became how the "B" was earned--was it because the material was easy and the student was able to breeze through without much thought?  Or was it earned through hard work, perseverance, and resilience?  We wanted to address that, and thus the "effort" score was born.

For gifted and high-achieving students, the letter grade is important, and the effort score is even more so because for many, school has come easily to them for several years and they were able to easily achieve an "A" without much effort until now. Some are in the habit of giving up easily when things get difficult, and some still have the mindset that effort is not important.  Students have a copy of a matrix in their binders in the "life skills" section to help them rate progress, effort, and behavior. It is posted in each classroom and will be used by all teachers to facilitate a reflection at the end of each class period.  Please review it so that you are clear with what each rating means, and feel free to ask questions as needed. Note that behavior is a part of this reflection.  Each class period, whether they are in homeroom or with another teacher, students are to record the day's lesson objective upon arrival as part of their welcome work.  When lessons are introduced, this objective is stated and referred to throughout the lesson.  By the end of the lesson and that day's work, students should be able to "rate" themselves through both a letter grade AND an effort grade, as well as evaluate their behavior during class.  They will be required to write this in their planner and then will be able to discuss it with you each evening.  

We are beginning to place more responsibility on our students, particularly those going into Division IV, because they must learn to take on the responsibility of informing their families about what they are learning, what their assignments are, and what the expectations are regarding work needing to be done at home, projects, and upcoming events.  When students reach the upper divisions, the students will be your primary source of information, not their teachers.  They must learn to be responsible for their own work, projects, and learning.  The adults in their lives can facilitate this, but it is not up to us to ensure that their work, projects, and learning happens.  As teachers, regardless of grade level, we will always provide the information students need in order to complete assignments, projects, and be successful, however as they grow older, information will be given more and more to the student, rather than to their parents via email or other methods, in order to prepare students for the time when their work is solely the responsibility of the learner or worker.

Each evening, take 10 minutes to review your child's planner with them.  Ask what he or she learned learned, the level of mastery the child feels was attained, and what kind of effort was put into whatever assignment was given.  It is your opportunity to discuss what your child is learning with him or her.  Know that we review planners as well, though not in a conference scenario with your child.  We do assess both student's feelings on mastery of the lesson AND their effort, though it looks much different in the classroom than it will for you and your child across the dinner table.  

Science Fair  

The project itself will be due on the 25th of April.  The FAIR will be held in the gym during the day of the 26th.  As a reminder, the judging that is done by outside judges is NOT used for grading purposes -- our DIII rubric (which will come via email separately later this week) is completely different, as we are looking for different elements in our students' projects.  Understand that this project is not intended to be a "parent project."  All work should be completed by the student with facilitation as needed by an adult at home.  If the parent is facilitating (e.g. helping to locate information and research at the library, helping prepare the board to ensure neatness, assisting the student in creating graphs from the data collected using a computer program, etc.) that is fine.  At no time however, should the parent be the primary scientist or worker on the project. While we want the end result (board, scientist's journal, data tables, etc.) to be neat and free of errors, it must also be the work of a third or fourth grade student and that student must be able to discuss their experiment fully. 

Life Skills

In addition to learning to rate ourselves both for mastery as well as effort, we will be analyzing the idea of growth from a social standpoint, learning how to handle conflict, solve problems, demonstrate assertive behavior, and deal with bullying issues if they arise.  We will also investigate the FISH! Philosophy, Big 5 Leadership Skills, Habits of Mind, fallacies, and other thinking and social skills between now and the end of the school year.  

World of Math

Ms. Burns' class is working with fractions, decimals, and percents currently and will take the progress check next week. 

Dr. Ricotta's class has started Unit 6, which begins with an introduction to division. Using diagrams to help set up story problems slowly introduces the students

to the relationship of multiplication and division.  Family letter and study links were sent home on Tuesday of this week and can found in their binder.  Please note, study links are now mandatory!

Ms. Brown's class will spend the next two weeks learning strategies for learning multiplication and division facts.  Home Links and other information on this unit went home Friday in students' binders and by email.  

Art of Language

Dr. Ricotta's class is beginning this quarter with a CREATE A GAME project that will emphasize nonfiction writing skills and imagination. Students are to create their own title, objective, number of players, age appropriateness, contents, rules, and scoring.

Upon directions being completed, they are free to design and create the actual game. 

Choices are board games, dice games, card games, floor games, etc.  The only limitation is their imagination without violence.

Ms. Brown's class has started their study of Caesar's English, and are using English translations of Latin sayings and phrases as the basis for their four-level sentence analysis each day as they study the correlations between Latin, English, and some Spanish words as well!  Students have also begun an analysis of poetry, looking for patterns of change and growth.  Our first poem is "all ignorance tobaggans into know" by e.e. cummings.  Students had incredible connections to and analysis of this poet's metaphor for learning! We will finish up the literature web for this poem next week and begin a study figurative language using this poem, as well as "In the Windowsill" by Mary Pleiss.

In Art of Language, Ms. Burns' students will be starting their very first "Book Club," reading the book "Frindle" by Andrew Clements.  They will analyze vocabulary, create meaningful sentences, compose reflections about what they read, and discuss the story together in small groups periodically.

Scientific Inquiry

In your child's planner in the science section, you will find a Lab Report template we have been using this week (blank one also attached, to be used for the science fair or modified if the scientist wishes).  Please review it with your child for each experiment we have done in class.  We have done these experiments together as a whole class, in small groups, and in partners.  Our focus in science this quarter is the actual "write-up" of our use of the scientific method: the experiment, data, results, and conclusion, to ensure that all scientists can recreate our experiment to check its validity and to perhaps take our ideas further.  As the quarter progresses, we will do other in-class experiments as well with this same focus in mind.

Historical Inquiry

The primary standard for fourth grade social studies involves the exploration of Colorado History.  We will spend the majority of the third quarter learning about our beautiful state.  While the topic does not change, our approach to it must from  year to year.  This year we have chosen to use a workbook to facilitate our study in addition to research and other activities in class.  We are hoping to have a field trip relating to our study of Colorado before the end of the quarter or shortly thereafter.  We will keep you posted on where and when, as well as costs as we have that information available.  

Handwriting

Students who need to build foundational fine motor skills to improve their handwriting are working with Mrs. Burns two to three times per week.  Division III students who have not yet mastered cursive, using it as their primary handwriting, work with Dr. Ricotta to learn the basics of cursive handwriting.  Students who have demonstrated mastery (or close to it) of cursive handwriting are working with me to further develop this skill as well as learn calligraphy, the art of "beautiful writing."  Some will also begin typing practice during our handwriting time within the next few weeks.  This will continue through the end of the school year.

Post-Thanksgiving News

Dear Families,

As we wind down from Thanksgiving break and time with our families, teachers are busily getting back into our regular routines!  We loved having this time to attend the National Association for Gifted Children's Conference in Denver where each of us came back having learned quite a bit about how best to meet the needs of our students!  We also enjoyed time at home, relaxing with our own families, celebrating those things for which we are most thankful.

In LifeSkills this week, we are beginning to generate solutions to common social and emotional issues that arise in Division III, as well as learning to evaluate the consequences those solutions might bring. 

World of Math in Ms. Brown's class will involve reviewing place value of whole numbers to begin learning about decimals, while continuing to master basic math facts for all four operations.  Continue having your child use xtramath.org each night for practice!  

Dr. Ricotta's class experienced a guest teacher from Division IV prior to Thanksgiving break. Ryan Kricker joined them and taught the first level of "Hands On Equations" for three days. The students loved learning pre-algebra through hands-on methods taught by Ryan!

Ms. Burns' World of Math class is currently extending their understanding of algebraic expressions, applying their knowledge of variables learned during their work with Hands On Equations prior to break.  Taking the time to learn the Hands On Equations method has been helpful for all students!

During Art of Language this week, Ms. Brown's students will continue their novel studies, completing literature webs (due December 7) and vocabulary webs (due December 14), as well as participating in literature circles with others reading the same novels to discuss the patterns of change within their novels.  Students will also begin analyzing persuasive writing and planning their own using the "Hamburger Model" structure.  When your child begins requesting gifts and such for the holiday season, ask them to draw upon their newly found persuasive abilities and techniques in ethos, pathos, and logos!

Just before break, Dr. Ricotta's students completed their 5-paragraph essay for the classic "The Secret Garden."  Each essay details the theme of change throughout their particular chapter.  The essays are on display in the hallway outside of Room 6.

Ms. Burns' class has continued their work on the animal reports that were started prior to Thanksgiving break.  Students have started doing fluency work with reading, doing one-minute partner reads to increase reading speed and fluency.

Historical Inquiry brings Division III to one of our most enjoyable topics: Government, Politics, and Nursery Rhymes of the Middle Ages.  During this unit, students will study the government and politics of the time, the feudal system and the everyday life of those living during this time, as well as about castles and their purpose during the Middle Ages.  Students will learn the history behind many common nursery rhymes.  For instance, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" has a very interesting story behind it!  These topics are essential to understanding the history of this time period, so that students can make connections to our current governmental and political structure both in the United States, and specifically in Colorado.  

Students will be able to choose from a number of projects to demonstrate their learning during the course of this unit, and will have the opportunity to research at home and create a model of a castle of their choosing as well.  Information on the Castle Builder Project will go home in binders with students and via email to families today (Thursday, November 29). The project will be due on December 17.

Some important dates to keep in mind during the last several weeks of this quarter:

December 1 - Festival of Lights Parade: Academy ACL will have a float this year! See this week's Monday Message for more information.

December 3 - Scholastic orders due (to ensure delivery before we go to Winter Break)

December 14 - DIII Medieval Feast!  More information to follow soon.

December 20 - Winter Festival: Encore teachers have been working with students to create celebrations of the holiday season from around the world. Performances and artistic expressions will be at the forefront of this event! 

December 21 - No School for Students: Teachers will be busily preparing Quarterly Learning Reports and planning for the third quarter.

December 21-January 3 - Winter Break: Teachers will have a work day to prepare for conferences on January 3.

January 4 and 7 - Family Conferences

November 1 Newsletter

Important Dates & Reminders

November 5 - High School Night

November 15-18 - NAGC Conference in Denver - No School

November 19- 25 - Thanksgiving Break (WOO!)

December 21 - Teacher Work Day

December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break

January 3 - Teacher Work Day

January 4 & 7 - 2nd Quarter Family Goal Setting Conferences

January 8 - Begin 3rd Quarter

Dear Families,

Division III teachers had wonderful goal-setting conferences with all of you last week--thank you for coming!

Please consider donating to our school's holiday food drive.  Many families in our school community are struggling financially, and we would love to be able to alleviate some of the stress that accompanies the holiday season by being able to provide food baskets for all who need them.  We can't do this without your generous donations.  Non-perishable foods can be donated to the boxes outside the office, and grocery store gift cards in $10 increments can be donated as well, being brought to the office.  Every item donated matters and will make a difference for a family.  Thank you for your generosity in advance!

Second quarter is off to a great start:

In LifeSkills, we've started discussing how to calm down when we begin to feel strong emotions and role playing our responses to situations that can cause strong emotions.  The more students can practice these techniques, the more automatic they will become.

In the World of Math, Ms. Brown's class is finishing up their first exploration into measurement.  Students have practiced measurement to the nearest inch, half inch, quarter inch, and explored measuring using metric units as well.  Students also learned to find the perimeter of polygons and experimented with different ways to calculate area.  Most students have begun working toward their quarterly goals of improving math fact automaticity and accuracy by using xtramath.org to practice each night as well.  By the end of the school year, all students should be fluent in math facts for all operations.  Continued practice at home will help in meeting this goal.  Our next unit will focus on common uses of multiplication and division. The Unit 4 family letter was sent home in binders and a digital copy emailed home today.  

In Mrs. Burns' Math class, students are delving in to algebraic concepts with learning "legal moves" with pawns and cubes that represent variables and number values. 

Dr. Ricotta's World of Math class is completing Unit 3 on Friday.  Mastering multiplication facts has been emphasized, division introduced, and beginning algebraic equations has been practiced through open-ended equations.

Ms. Brown's Art of Language class has started work analyzing patterns of change in literature.  During this unit, students will be analyzing the language of literature through four-level sentence analysis, other grammar and vocabulary activities, and class discussion, while reading literature which explores the concept of patterns of cyclic change.  Over the past two weeks, students have created a Frayer Model to explore cycles we see around us every day and started delving deeply into the vocabulary that writers use to communicate their messages.  Students analyzed a portion of Maya Angelou's "On the Pulse of Morning," this week and had some very interesting connections to the poem!

In Mrs. Burns' Art of Language class students are jumping into researching on an animal report. They are working on taking notes on important information and getting ready to compile it into a report. 

Dr. Ricotta's Art of Language class completed reading The Secret Garden. Each student will now be writing an essay relating the novel's theme of 'Change" for one chapter in the book. A home project for their chapter with many choices to choose from is optional.

Division III has chosen to level students for our current Scientific Inquiry which explores rocks and minerals.  Because many of our students have demonstrated mastery of the standards relating to this unit, they are exploring topics within it that appeal to them, becoming experts on the topic of their choice.  Others are experiencing these concepts for the first time, while others are going a bit deeper, synthesizing what they learn while working their way through a web quest and then experimenting hands on with rocks and minerals.