We are enjoying our last full week of school before our Thanksgiving break. One big source of excitement is our new SMART board in our classroom! This interactive board is now located in the front of the room (now, the south wall), and has erased the need for our chalkboard... pun intended :) The computer screen is projected onto the large white board. Using several 'marker' tools, we can manipulate the screen as if we were using a mouse or a marker or eraser. We have the capabilities to maximize, minimize, highlight and write with the SMART board tools.
The SMART board also allows me to use interesting and interactive lessons with the students. Today, for example, we looked at the geography of South America, identified countries and landforms. We specifically focused on the Amazon River and viewed a short video of the life of a girl who lives along the river in Peru. The students then were able to come up to the board to answer questions and identify locations.
What else is new in our room?
SCIENCE - Our floating and sinking unit continues. Students have been observing several variables that influence if an object floats or sinks. They have focused on weight, shape and now, the size of materials. Students have been observing the upward acting force that opposes an object's weight. They have discussed this resistance that they have felt as they push down on their foil boats into the tubs full of water. We will delve into this concept further and discuss buoyancy as it relates to our investigations this unit.
WRITING - Students did such an excellent job producing quality finished products for their biographies. Now, their energy is directed towards their speeches. Students are constructing informational speeches to present to our class this upcoming Monday and Tuesday. These speeches will be topics that students have a strong interest in. Today, they worked on their outlines and collaborated to add meaningful details to the body of their speech. I am looking forward to seeing the speeches come to fruition.
READING - Lit groups continue in the new groupings. Students continue to read books centered around the them, "One Land, Many Trails." As they read, I meet with each group once a week and the other groups work together to use their reading strategies in discussions. The students also have a packet of vocabulary terms and questions to fill out along the way.
Students also have been reading their independent books and I encourage them to read 30 minutes outside of school every day!
LITERACY LIVING TIME is at the end of each day during our Language Arts period. I value this time, as it gives students the opportunity to assess their learning and choose a task for themselves. Options during this time include:
-Reading and Responding in their RRJ (Reader's Response Journals)
-Reading a News Article and responding in their RRJS.
-Writing - working on projects and creative writing
-Spelling/Grammar - Yellow practice book pages
-Spanish - Using their "carpeta" to review on their own or in pairs.
SMART board time (4 students each day are able to use the SMART board for activities and to familiarize themselves with the new tools it offers.)
Conferences
I have enjoyed the time spent with parents these past weeks as we connect over students' learning. It is a joy to share the growth and learning I see happen each day with each student and a time that I value very much. The last day of conferences is this Thursday.
Notes from Mrs. Whittington:
6th Grade Math: We are continuing our study of fractions, now turning to how to divide and multiply fractions and mixed numbers. We will be converting fractions to percents soon. Students are just doing fantastic in math. I often kid them and ask rhetorically why I bother to show up to teach them, they are so smart! It has been fun working with this group. That is for sure!
Social Studies: We are now looking at the early colonies to study their strengths and look at the ways they helped make England a richer nation. Knowing how valuable the colonies were will give us a greater appreciation for why the British did not want to lose them in the Revolutionary War. It will also give us some insight into the reasons some colonies were more loyal to the British and why some were ready to break away. The unfolding story of our nation's founding is a great one!
