On Friday, we created some simple machine traps.  We learned what some basic simple machines are, and then the children planned on how to incorporate a simple machine into their trap.  I was impressed with how the children planned, designed, and reflected upon their designs.  It was a fun way to end the week. 🙂  I was sad to hear that no one was successful in trapping one of those sneaky leprechauns.  I hope they didn’t play too many tricks at your homes.  We are still drinking green milk, in our house.  😉

This Wednesday is

This Wednesday is World Down’s Syndrome Day.

NBCS, and our class, are going to wear some funky socks to help spread awareness.

Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that is caused by the presence of three copies of the twenty first chromosome, instead of the usual two.  It’s the most common genetic chromosomal disorder and cause of learning disabilities in children.  It also commonly causes other medical abnormalities, including heart and gastrointestinal disorders. -Mayo Clinic

We hope that the Math Monkeys will show their support, and help spread awareness by wearing their fun, and funky socks this Wednesday

The last few weeks, we have started to learn about different biomes.  The children watched some brief films, introducing each of the biomes.  This week, we will start to do some research on their chosen biomes.  The children will be using three different web-based resources, as well as a text resource, or two.  The children will collaborate with their book buddies to do some of this work.  They will search for, and take notes.  Their culminating activity will be to create a glogster to present their information.  The kids are excited to start this project, this week.

Just a quick reminder, that we have no school on Tuesday, due to voting, and a Teacher Workshop Day.  Although, it looks like we might have another snow storm headed our way.  Winter just doesn’t want to let go.  I will miss the children, and look forward to ending the week with some St. Patrick’s Day fun on Friday.

Last week, the snow fun continued, and we had our first early dismissal, followed by a snow day.  We tried to compress our learning, which was mostly successful.  There was a lot of excitement with a fresh foot of snow.  🙂  We did have a very productive Friday.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit in a STEAM challenge.  There was too much catching up, from the week, to do.  We did, however, participate in the read-a-thon Friday afternoon.  It was a lot of fun, and thirty minutes of uninterrupted reading is pretty great.

Today, the children brought home a reading log.  We are working toward school, class and personal goals for reading.  The kids have been very thoughtful in choosing a goal, thinking about how much they plan on reading at home, as well as in school.  In class today, we talked about how the children have three options when they finish a book.  They can talk to a parent about what they’ve read.  I have included some suggested prompts/questions to help the children discuss what they have read.  This is just for a check-in, to make sure that the children are choosing books that are just-right for them.  If they struggle to answer a few questions, then it probably isn’t a good fit.  Likewise, it is good to have the children have to think a little bit about what they are reading, rather than them being able to ramble off answers.  If they are able to easily answer all questions, then perhaps the text is too easy, or the questions are.  Second, the children can read books at school, and one of us will sign off on it, again, after they have been able to talk about their book.  And, finally, they can take a Reading Counts quiz on it.  I have printed off a sample report of how many words the children have read.  Now, this is not a comprehensive list of everything that they have read, as they do not always take a quiz on every book that they have read.  For the month of March, I have asked the children to record everything that they have read.  I am also encouraging them to take Reading Counts quizzes for them, as well.  It will be fun to see how many words we can read this month.  It has been fun to watch these children become stronger readers, and to see them actually asking for time to read.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Here is the schedule for the read-a-thon:

If regular school day, or a delay tomorrow – we will participate in the read-a-thon tomorrow afternoon.

If snow day tomorrow – we will participate in the read-a-thon on Friday afternoon.

Just a reminder, that children can wear either pajamas, or dress as their favorite character on the day of the read-a-thon.  Please also send any donation forms in on that day.

Also, we have had a chance to preview the book fair, and the children filled out some wish lists of books that they were hoping for.  I have been so impressed with the care that most of the children took in picking books.  Making sure that they were choosing not just books that interested them, but books that were a good choice, as well.  They were also very conscientious of the cost of their items, as we have been working a lot with money amounts.  The children are welcome to visit the book fair, up until Friday.  The PTA also has a fun event set-up on Friday afternoon.  You can come watch the film “Wonder” in the gymnasium, and shop the book fair with your children.  What a fun way to end the week, and support the PTA.