Back in Business

Whoa...it's good to be back. I hate being sick and boy, was I sick. I'm back now and rearin' to go. Here are some updates for you.

We have postponed the play. We just weren't ready. Instead of setting a new date, we've decided to keep working and when we feel ready, we will pick a date. It's the more humane way to move forward we think. We are moving ahead though. Thanks to Colleen who has been working with our "Writing Experts".

In class we've been reading "The Giver" as our read-a-loud. The kids LOVE it. Ask them about "Sameness" and if they'd like to live in the "Community".

We've moved on to some new units in class as well. In math, we are looking at patterning. The unit is mostly about input and output of numbers into a "function machine". They need to create patterns, extend patterns, and decipher patterns. They will also be doing problem solving with patterns and graphing their patterns.

In Science, we are looking at the Human Body in grade 5 and Diversity of Living Things in grade 6. This unit ends off with an exciting culminating activity called the New Life Convention. More news to come on this.

In Language, we've been looking at some more strategies that good readers use and ones that good writers use. For reading, we looked at asking questions. We talked about asking questions about how you are reading, what you are reading, and questions to deepen your understanding or to learn more about what you are reading. In writing, we've been looking at sentence fluency: writing sentences that are rhythmic and that sound good. The kids wrote some really great poems about their neighbourhoods. So good in fact that we are going to show off to each other. We've planned our very own Coffee House. On Thursday, the kids will read their poems out loud while the rest of us listen while sipping our hot chocolate. Instead of clapping, we'll probably snap to show you how cool and fluent your poem is. In class, we talked about the following criteria for oral presentations:
tone (the mood of your poem)
pace (not too fast, not too slow)
volume (can you be heard)
pitch (robotic)
gestures (body movements can distract but they can also help)
eye contact

That's all I can think of now. If there's more, I'll let you know!

ps Because of the short week, there is only a reading response for homework. I've also asked the kids to practice saying their poems at home. They were asked to bring them home today.