We have had some exciting and full weeks – playing original math games, celebrating the 100th day of school, having the trust fall challenge with Mr. Caron, star gazing, Valentines’ Day, and meeting a new classmate, Sam Andreotolla, all integrated into our usual reading, writing, researching and problem solving. Here are some details about some of our classroom work – hopefully your child can fill you in on the rest.
100th Day Fun In Space
For the 100th day of school we explored the interesting things we knew about space. Each person in our class thought of five different facts they had recently discovered about space. The challenge was to try to think of ones no one else would think of as well. The facts were illustrated, written on the back and cut out. These space shapes were hung in the door in ten groups of ten – so we can walk through space when we enter and leave our classroom each day.
We have been learning a great deal about space – first the moon (thank you for your support in completing the moon log each night- the waxing crescent is easier to see in the early evening), then the stars and now more about the solar system and the process of discovery. Space is an exciting topic because it is a science that is obviously growing and changing in our lifetimes. The children can imagine themselves as the scientists to discover a planet or develop a new type of rocket or even to travel beyond the moon.
The children have chosen space research topics and have begun exploring resources to gather their facts. As they get a little further along, it may be helpful to talk about what they are discovering. Conversation may help them understand more fully and clarify what they are discovering – this information can be hard to grasp. Space is huge and in many ways incomprehensible. It is easy to misunderstand.
Focusing on Understanding
We have been working to know when we are understanding. We have had some great conversations about what is happening in our minds when we understand and comparing it to what is happening in our minds when we are not understanding. We are working to go deeper by being aware of our inner voice – when we think a question we are trying to go beyond. “If I wonder that, then what does that make me wonder…” That said, we are also trying to be aware of times when we distract ourselves and get off track of the main meaning and so lose the point.
The children are keeping track of their understanding as we read George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen and Lucy Hawking. At the end of each chapter they are thinking about what they authors most want us to understand. They are forming this into a sentence, then focusing even closer with a phrase and finally zooming in even closer with a word.
We have also been learning to guide our comprehension by understanding through empathy. This comes naturally for some of the children. They describe themselves as understanding when they are able to enter what they are reading to walk along side the characters and experience the story. For others it is a stretch to take a different perspective and look at things through a different lens. We have been exploring this by making quick sketches of what we imagine as we read or listen and we have explored extending stories to write the dialogue the characters might have if the next scene of the story happened. I wonder if your child can tell you how they know they are understanding and how they are working to strengthen their strategies.
Book Clubs
Children have been part of book clubs for the past three of four weeks. They have been reading together and thinking about what is happening as they read together. It has been challenging to rich discussions when not everyone has met the reading deadline and we have learned that we need to work on that. The children have appreciated having others to question and wonder with as they were reading.
Please be on the look out for book review posts on the blog (3enews@edublogs.org). I know the children would really appreciate comments – it is gratifying to know your work has been noticed.
Thank you for all you do – from helping children create their math games, fitting in Star Gazing changes into your already busy lives, helping with Valentines and checking in every once in a while to see that they are actually taking responsibility for their homework. Special thanks to Alison Duffy and Caroline Kelly – our Valentines’ breakfast for beautiful and delicious.
Bits and Pieces:
- Please look for the Art and Music Self Reflections/Report Cards in your child’s communication folder.
- We are planning a field trip to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Thursday, March 14 – permission slip and details to follow