Thinking About Math

Jo Boaler, professor from Stanford University, and her students created a great video about how we can learn math better and how we should change our thinking about math. I showed it to the crew today.  I have embedded the video below so you can watch it, too. It is worth your time. It is only 8 minutes long. If you get this post by email, you will need to go directly to the blog to view it.

Measuring in Non-Standard Units

We have been learning about measuring in math recently. Yesterday we talked about nonstandard measurement or using other items to measure rather than a measuring tool. Below are some photos of us using our bodies to measure things around the room. We measured in hands, feet, hand spans, paces, arm spans, digits, cubits and more.

Life in Iraq

Today, Michael's grandmother, Ms. Virginia, came in to talk to us about life in Iraq. Once again, we were fascinated by all that our guest had to share and we really enjoyed getting to taste some baklava. Ask your child to tell you all about it.

Important Dates
12/2 Fieldwork to Joyous Chinese Cultural Center 9:30 - 1:00
12/5 Vision and Hearing Screening
12/12 - 12/16 Climbing during PE from 1:15 pm to 2:05 pm
12/16 Fieldwork to Pacific Ocean Asian Market and Kings Land Dim Sum Restaurant 9:30 - 1:00
12/19 - 1/3 Winter Break
1/13 No school for students - Professional Development Day for students
1/16 No school - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

More Gifts of Reading

Our crew was given some great books that were purchased at the recent Book Fair. Kalyn and Nikelle gave the crew the newest Fly Guy book called, Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas - which of course, featured a ninja (they are both very into ninjas right now) and Ella gave us a sweet story called Penguin and Pine Cone. The crew loved both of the books and wanted more books just like them. It is easy to find Fly Guy books at the public library and there are more books in the Penguin series, too. The author of the series is Salina Yoon. Thanks Ella, Kalyn and Nikelle for the great books for the crew!

Arts and PE Class
Our Arts and PE class after Thanksgiving break will be Art.

Griffin, from Ms. Mary Beth's crew brought in his "tornado in a bottle" to share with us today. We were all mesmerized by it - especially me. The crew kept asking me to do it again and again and I obliged them for a while because it was so fascinating to watch. Thanks, Griffin, for sharing your tornado with us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Guest Speaker

On Friday, Mr. Mike, Tyler's dad, came and talked to us about the Chinese languages. He taught us some words, showed us some characters and read us a story in Chinese. We loved learning new words. Thanks, Mr, Mike!

Important Dates
11/23 - 11/25 Thanksgiving Break
12/1 Applications for Discovery Gifted and Talented Program due - please send the teacher pages in for me to complete if you are applying
12/2 Fieldwork to Joyous Chinese Cultural Center 9:30 - 1:00
12/5 Vision and Hearing Screening
12/12 - 12/16 Climbing during PE from 1:15 pm to 2:05 pm
12/16 Fieldwork to Pacific Ocean Asian Market and Kings Land Dim Sum Restaurant 9:30 - 1:00
12/19 - 1/3 Winter Break

Thanksgiving Feast

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving Feast at school. Many of our parents came to eat lunch with us. Enjoy the pictures below.

Arts and PE Class
Our Arts and PE class next week is PE.

Cup Stacking World Record

Mr. Doug invited the whole school to take place in a special challenge - setting a cup stacking world record. We stacked today from 10:15 - 10:40 am. We had a lot of fun. Mr. Doug provided the cups so everyone could stack. Different crews around the school stacked at different times.

Library
No library tomorrow because the library is filled with Book Fair books!