Soil Experiments

We have been taking some time to learn a little more about soil. We have gathered some samples (thanks to all of you) and have begun to take a closer look at soil, what it actually is and what it can do. We are learning so much as you can see in the pictures below.

Soil Drainage

Which soils allow water to drain through quickly?

Soil as a Filter

Is soil a filter? Will it clean water?

Settling Soil
What are the parts of soil?
Today we shook jars of soil and water and then let them settle. They settled into layers. We could see silt, sand, clay, humus as the layers in our samples.

One-Sentence Journals

One idea to help your child practice writing skills over the summer or any time is to have them start a one-sentence journal. It is a trend that is popular for adults right now. The idea is that one-sentence journals are a great way to keep track of happy memories or to remind yourself of those things you are grateful for but in a short and sweet way. You are more likely to write if you only feel like you need to write one sentence. (Google "one-sentence journals" for more about this idea for adults.) This idea would also work very well for kids. Have them pick out a notebook and writing utensil that they really like and ask them to write just one sentence a day. The sentences can be similar to these:

Today I found a blue feather.
I helped my mom bake cookies.
My dad read a chapter of Clementine to me tonight.
I fell off my bike and scraped my knee.
I saw a ladybug in the backyard today.
I learned that hummingbirds can fly forwards, backwards, sideways and upside down today.

The sentences can be on any topic. Doing just one sentence a day can help a child practice handwriting, spelling, spatial layout on a page or line, using punctuation and capital letters correctly and much more. Some children might want to draw a picture or tape an item into the journal as an illustration. Some children might want to write more than one sentence. Anything goes as long as the child enjoys it and writes (at least) one sentence a day.

This could also be a great family idea. You could have a family journal and take turns writing sentences in it. Then you would have a great family memory book. The sooner you start, the more memories your child will collect and the more their writing will improve.

Important Dates
Library - Tuesdays are check out only days for small groups and Fridays are whole crew library time. Be sure to bring back any books that you have finished with by those days if you would like to check out new books.

5/16 - 5/17 Student-Led Conferences for First Grade
5/23 Third Grade Showcase Portfolios 1:15 pm 3rd Grade Showcase Panel Member Sign Up
5/28 No School
5/30 Sixth Grade Showcase Portfolios 1:15 pm 6th Grade Showcase Panel Member Sign Up
6/5 Sixth Grade Closing Circle 6:30 pm
6/6 Final Closing Circle for Our Crew 11:45 am

6 Steps to Stamp Out Math Anxiety

Math Workshop

Previously I wrote about the math standards for first grade and the types of addition and subtraction problems that we have been working on all year. (I also wrote a post with links to the other content standards for first grade, too. Today I would like to explain a little bit about how our math workshop works.

We begin with a Math Routine. Math Routine activities are engaging problems that encourage lots of mathematical discussion and thinking. Often there is more than one correct answer to a problem or at least more than one way to solve a problem. The crew loves doing these and we always have a great discussion. All students are capable of joining in these discussions because the problems are so open-ended. I have created a page with all of the Math Routines that we use to make it easy for me to access these each day. Here is the link to that page (these might be fun to do as a family) and below are just a few examples of these routines.

Math Routines

Which one doesn't belong?

Splat: How many dots are hidden under the splat? (Total # of dots = 8)

Cube Conversations

Estimation Clipboard

Estimation Clipboard

These are just a few examples - there are many, many more at the Math Routines link.

After we have a 5-10 minutes discussion about one of these math routine activities, we usually solve some type of word/story problem (first on our own, then with a partner and then as a whole crew). After that we have some type of whole group lesson/discussion/or activity.

All of these beginning parts of our math workshop time are done with the whole crew so that we are all exposed to the same content and ideas and can all take part in deep math discussions. After these parts are finished we break up into small groups for more differentiated lessons/activities based on each student's current needs. Some groups may need more practice with a concept, some groups may need to work more on previously explored topics and other groups may need more challenging topics. Ms. Wendy and I each take a group and if we have a parent volunteer that day, they will take a group, too. Some times groups work on other math activities on their own including i-Ready lessons, other iPad app work or playing math games.

It makes for a very busy math time but the crew does love all of the parts of our math workshop and they are learning so much every single day.

Beauty and the Beast and the Artwalk Sneak Peek

Here are a few "sneak peek" photos of the Artwalk and Beauty and the Beast. Be sure to come and see both of these events. You won't regret it! Seriously! You simply must see the play and all of the artwork. You will be so happy that your children go to school here. I know I am so happy to work here!

New Fly Guy Book

There was a new Fly Guy book published very recently and I just got a copy from the library. It seemed like a good time to get all of the Fly Guy books and do a Fly Guy review. Here are some of the books we currently have in our classroom from the public library.

The library has lots of books on cds. It might be old technology but the kids still love it. You might check it out on your next trip to the library.

Coming Soon!

Important Dates
Library - Tuesdays are check out only days for small groups and Fridays are whole crew library time. Be sure to bring back any books that you have finished with by those days if you would like to check out new books.

5/9 Renaissance ArtWalk 4:00 - 6:00 pm
5/10 ArtWalk 4:00 - 5:30 pm and Beauty and the Beast at 7 pm
5/11 ArtWalk 4:00 - 5:30 pm and Beauty and the Beast at 7 pm
5/12 Beauty and the Beast at 2 pm
5/16 - 5/17 Student-Led Conferences for First Grade
5/23 Third Grade Showcase Portfolios 1:15 pm 3rd Grade Showcase Panel Member Sign Up
5/28 No School
5/30 Sixth Grade Showcase Portfolios 1:15 pm 6th Grade Showcase Panel Member Sign Up
6/5 Sixth Grade Closing Circle 6:30 pm