Getting back into the swing of things...

Important Reminders:

Friday, August 24, 6:30 p.m.  - Academy ACL's Third Annual Sock Hop

Come dance the night away to the oldies and learn some new moves, with DJ services and dance lessons provided by Division V students!  Bring your best guy or gal--it's bound to be a great time! (Be on the lookout for your Division III teachers who will be dressed to impress!)

Friday, August 31, 12:00pm - Early Release

Monday, September 3 - Labor Day, No School

LifeSkills

Just like any other traditional contract, Division III classes are preparing for the formalization of their Social Contracts in homerooms on Friday. Discussions have been centered on the four essential questions:

1. How do I want my teacher to treat me?
2. How do I want to be treated by others?
3. How does my teacher want to be treated?
4. How do we want to be treated when there is a conflict?

On Friday, students will then agree to what elements are included in their contract, sign it, and will adhere to their peers' expectations.

We have also been discussing listening with attention and how to identify passive, aggressive, and assertive behaviors.  The concept of being assertive is a difficult one for many of our students, because they fear coming off as bossy, or fear reprisal from others. We have role played in the classroom as well--continue this practice at home with your child, presenting scenarios in which assertive behavior is needed to help them develop this skill. 

World of Math and Art of Language

While math and language arts groups are not yet finalized as of Thursday, Division III students broke out into some initial groupings while we continue to assess both math and literacy levels school-wide to ensure proper placement.  Students are learning procedures and routines in each classroom and getting familiar with academic expectations at new levels. 

Students in Dr. Ricotta's math class have been collecting class data to create a bar graph this week. Students chose their topic ranging from favorite color to the different alphabet letters in a bag of blocks. From their data, students then identified the maximum, minimum, range, and mode. Each graph was unique to its creator and turned out expertly! Reading and interpreting graphs are skills that will be assessed throughout level four math curriculum.

Ms. Brown's math students spent the week learning foundational math games to help them practice basic math facts such as Addition and Subtraction Top-It, practice naming numbers using place value language in Number Top-It, and challenged them to formulate equations using all four operations while playing Name that Number.  These games will help students continue to build their math fact knowledge and think like mathematicians.

Students who went to Mrs. Burns' room this week also learned math games used to solidify mathematical concepts into which they will delve deeper this year.  Many of these students will be dispersed among other classrooms beginning next week, as other Division classrooms were still testing, and transitions will begin next week.

Poetry is an integral genre that students need to read, interpret, and create. Using a generic template, Division III students are using their voice to create a personal poem about themselves. The writing process begins with a sloppy copy, then revision and editing, with the final copy published on the computer. Students' creativity has been evident and encouraged throughout the process.

We are working with students to promote seeing writing as a process, rather than a finished product.  While some pieces may go to publication, as in the case of the poem, often, even the published pieces will be revised or re-used again later.  Students are being encouraged to think of themselves as writers in all areas, not just language arts.

Inquiry

Our study of mechanisms is underway!  Division III scientists have defined the term "mechanism" and determined characteristics common to mechanisms, as well as observed them to understand inputs and outputs and are working to understand the "law of the lever."  It's interesting to see students observing everyday items in new ways!

If you have the game "MouseTrap" please send it in!  We'll be using it shortly!

Reading Logs

We'd intended to begin sending them home this week.  There are many new procedures being learned right now, so we have put them off for now so as not to overwhelm our students.  Please continue to have your child read at home.  When we are ready to send them home, we will let you know!

Planners, Binders, and Thursday Folders

Please continue reviewing your child's planner nightly and signing off on them.  The great majority of our students have done a wonderful job, being responsible for bringing them back each day and having you review them.  If your child forgets to share them, please remind them until it becomes a nightly habit.  

In addition to remembering to bring back their binders and planners, students are also responsible to return empty and signed Thursday folders each Friday morning.  These must be returned, otherwise students will need to call home and spend our assembly in another classroom, which would be a big bummer--assemblies are fun!

Have a great weekend!