Learning To Go Mr. Avery's Class on the Web 

What an amazing presentation was given by animal rehabilitator Jim Parks, who brought us his Wingmasters program this week. Students were highly engaged while learning more about adaptations that help local birds of prey survive. Using live specimens, Jim focused his interactive experience on nocturnal owls, as well as our school mascot: the peregrine falcon! Thanks to our PTO for helping to sponsor this informative and exciting event.

 

 

 

Following up in the classroom, we conducted a scientific investigation to test the effect of oil on feathers as one adaptation necessary for bird survival in rain or water, and made implications for the effect of oil on fur and hair.

This week, we will continue to explore adaptations by learning about the design of another nocturnal animal: bats. We will learn about bat anatomy and behavior, comparing it to what we know about birds. Students will then choose a nocturnal animal of their own to research and create a poster about, with a focus on adaptations. More about bats at National Geographic’s kids’ site, which is a great place to explore animals in general: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/content/kids/en_US/animals/vampire-bat/

This week also marks the end of Trimester 1! Students will be taking end-of-term assessments in writing, reading, math, science, and social studies. To tell if papers sent home are assessments, look for a number score (e.g. 8/10) or a proficiency score (e.g. 3-Proficient) on the top.

In writing work, we will be finishing main events based on our common experience of the Harvest Hoedown in the gym. We will also write descriptive pieces all about the jack o’ lanterns we made during Fall Festival. Students will then take the district writing assessment, a personal narrative assignment where they show what they’ve learned with entertaining beginnings, main events, and description.

In math, we are beginning a very important unit. Chapter 4 focuses on bar models and using them to solve number problems and work algebraically. This way of doing math is extremely useful, and will benefit students greatly in the future when they apply it to multiplication, division,  fractions, measurement, and more!  As an example, consider the picture below as a way to model this problem: Jim is planning Thanksgiving dinner for 21 people. 15 people will be having turkey, and the rest are vegetarians. How many people will Jim plan a vegetarian meal for?

For students, setting this problem up can be tricky. We’ve learned to use parts and total boxes to model algebraic thinking: bar models are an even more explicit way to show our thinking about problems, one that helps us make sense of the numbers involved. Notice how the bars are drawn to scale in comparison to each other. This skill really requires students to understand the relative size of the numbers involved. As such, it is a smart but hard skill to master, especially with two- and three-digit numbers.

To learn more about bar models from our publisher: http://www.hmhco.com/~/media/sites/home/education/global/pdf/white-papers/mathematics/elementary/math-in-focus/mif_model_drawing_lr.pdf

And remember, you can access the student ebook to learn exactly how math is being taught and to try examples yourself or with your child at home. Just go to http://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/logout.do , select the relevant info from the dropdown menus, and enter your child’s username and password (which you can get from PowerSchool Parent Portal). Then in the “My Library” section, select the G2 Student Edition, Volume A, and use the “contents” button on the left to link to Chapter 4.

          

Also in the Library section, you’ll be able to access videos that explain the how and why of bar modeling.

 

You’re invited! Our class will be performing songs and poems with a Winter Theme in the cafeteria on Friday, December 19, at 9:30 (snow date: Monday, December 22, 9:30). We will remain in the space after, for photo opps and congratulations. <”) Please come: family and friends welcome! This is our Winter Celebration, and takes the place of a class party. Per district recommendations, please do not send in food or drink to share, though you are of course welcome to send in something special, nut free, for your child to enjoy at snack time.

Next week our blog will be taking a break for Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family have much to be thankful for this year, and I wish you the happiest of holidays!

 

Thanks go out to the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury! We were treated to a read aloud from Rotary member, School Committee member, and Floral alum Jason Palitsch as part of a focus on supporting our community through literacy incentives. Mr. Palitsch also shared with us the importance of giving back to communities at home and around the world. In addition, several new, hard-cover books were donated to our classroom library for reading together and individually! We are lucky indeed.

We were a hit! Our class appeared at School Meeting on Friday, reading responses to What if Everybody Did That? (see last week’s blog). The kids did a fantastic job speaking, presenting, and engaging the audience.

You’re invited! Our class will be performing songs and poems with a Winter Theme in the cafeteria on Friday, December 19, at 9:30 (snow date: Monday, December 22, 9:30). We will remain in the space after, for photo opps and congratulations. <“) Please come: family and friends welcome! This is our Winter Celebration, and takes the place of a class party. Per district recommendations, please do not send in food or drink to share, though you are of course welcome to send in something special, nut free, for your child to enjoy at snack time.

Volunteering: Several of you expressed an interest in coming in to work with students. At this time, students can benefit from fluency and comprehension practice in the mornings, M-Th, 10:25-10:55. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, please let me know! kavery@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

This week we will learn more about animal adaptations. In particular, we will be studying owl physiology and behavior as part of a research unit on nocturnal animals. We will be treated later this week to a visit from local raptor rehabilitator Jim Parks, as part of his educational Wingmasters program. Jim brings several live specimens and engages kids in learning about adaptations, characteristics, and conservation. You can learn much more about the program and local raptors at: http://www.wingmasters.net/aboutus.htm. And here’s a great collection of age-appropriate informative text and media about owls that kids can read at home to learn more about owls: http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season12/owls/facts.cfm

This week in math we will learn and practice algebraic thinking, including understanding models and using them to solve problems. When helping your child with homework, encourage them to always start with what they know. Pictures or diagrams can help (parts and total boxes, number bonds, etc.). The games Funny Numbers and Missing Numbers on the Greg Tang Math site are both helpful and fun ways to practice algebra (click the link under “Student Resources” and select the “games” tab). We will end the week by assessing student progress on Chapter 3 (I will score and send home the Chapter Review/Test).

          

Chapter 4 of Math In Focus (MIF) spends a lot of time on “Bar Models”. This is a new way of thinking about math for our kids (and for many of us), and as such it will take time to learn in-depth. I encourage you to find out more by logging into the MIF website I shared with you on Tuesday, and accessing the Student Book. It will show you what’s coming in a comprehensive way, and you can even work with your child by doing the exercises at home. If I missed sharing it with you via the green handout, please let me know and I’ll send home another.

Thanks for your spirit of cooperation, your thoughtful questions, and your continued work on behalf of your child!

Conferences are upon us! When we meet on Tuesday, I’ll share with you your child’s progress across the curriculum, and we will also address any questions or concerns you may have. A final conference schedule will be sent home on Monday.

As a way of building our school community, there are several school-wide initiatives throughout the year. One of them is a monthly “all school read,” in which classrooms study and engage in activities around a theme. This month, we are reading What if Everybody Did That (Javernick, 2010), about a boy who finds out about personal responsibility by learning that small things matter, like littering, interrupting, and more. Our class will focus on small things that make a difference in a positive way: inviting kids to play at recess; saying sorry; contributing at work times; etc. We will write, draw, and share our work at this week’s School Meeting on Friday.

Also this week, we will be treated to a visit from a community reader. Our local Rotary Club will be sending a representative to grade 2 classrooms to model for us the importance of reading in our daily lives. In addition, the organization is donating a hard cover book to each classroom. Thanks to them for all they do for us!

Yee-Haw! Our Fall Festival was a big hit! Thanks to Sue Agneta for coming and helping out Friday morning. The kids had a fun day of crafts, dancing, stories, and learning.

Reference: Javernick, E. (2010). What if everybody did that? Seattle, WA: Two Lions.