For Genius Hour these past two weeks, we've been gearing up to and then actually creating our blogs. We'll be using these to post stories, reflections, opinions, etc. This will be something your child can add to and modify for the rest of his/her life. I will be keeping tabs on each of their posts as they are posted, and we will be continuing discussions about appropriateness and privacy. Ask your child his or her blog address!
We have moved on to our next unit - neuroscience! We are currently reading Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science by John Fleishman. Ask your child what happened to this railroad foreman in 1848! We will have quick reading comprehension checks almost every day, and a portion of these will go into the grade book, with revisions being an option. We are also writing something about Phineas almost every day. This week we responded to a longer writing prompt, as well.
Mr. Slowinski has been coming in to help us with grammar - while I head to his class to give book talks I've already given to my classes. This is something new! It will continue for a few weeks, until he feels that we have a good base from which to work. We'll also still be reading in class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 20 minutes. This should be something your child continues to do at home. Please check in with him or her and ask what he or she is reading these days at home. Reading only in school is not enough to bolster your child's reading and comprehension skills.
Today we created 55-word stories... ask your child to share his or hers with you! We also had a visit from Grammie in 6/8 - she read aloud an Edgar Allen Poe story - "The Oval Portrait!"
Block 9/10 has had quite a quarter - they have not had any of their grades posted to Edline. This year, they are grading themselves. If you know a child who is in block 9/10, ask him or her about the experience!
We have moved on to our next unit - neuroscience! We are currently reading Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science by John Fleishman. Ask your child what happened to this railroad foreman in 1848! We will have quick reading comprehension checks almost every day, and a portion of these will go into the grade book, with revisions being an option. We are also writing something about Phineas almost every day. This week we responded to a longer writing prompt, as well.
Mr. Slowinski has been coming in to help us with grammar - while I head to his class to give book talks I've already given to my classes. This is something new! It will continue for a few weeks, until he feels that we have a good base from which to work. We'll also still be reading in class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 20 minutes. This should be something your child continues to do at home. Please check in with him or her and ask what he or she is reading these days at home. Reading only in school is not enough to bolster your child's reading and comprehension skills.
Today we created 55-word stories... ask your child to share his or hers with you! We also had a visit from Grammie in 6/8 - she read aloud an Edgar Allen Poe story - "The Oval Portrait!"
Block 9/10 has had quite a quarter - they have not had any of their grades posted to Edline. This year, they are grading themselves. If you know a child who is in block 9/10, ask him or her about the experience!