Quick update - Math quizzes are graded and coming home today. They need to be signed and returned early next week. A couple things to be aware of:

• Class average was a 72%. Not good. Not terrible. Clearly not where we want to be but consistent with our earlier quizzes from last unit so I expect much better things going forward...instructionally and performance.
• Collectively struggled with the two challenge problems so we have some work there.
• I removed #5 because I chose an area that didn't work within the scope of the problem.
• LABEL. LABEL. LABEL using correct units! Labels represent 1/2 the points on the problems...

Just a follow-up since I didn't blog yesterday but have gotten some questions regarding last night's Math task...

I decided to mix it up a bit in class yesterday and worked cooperatively on applying our knowledge of measurements in real life objects. Based on some feedback I received regarding the follow-up homework I wanted to clarify a few things...

• Based on our pre-assessment, it indicated that our class had a strong understanding of measurement conversion (inches to feet). Consequently, we haven't spent as much time as we might have on this and worked on higher level skills associated with measurement. However, despite the conversion piece, they were instructed to maintain a consistent unit of measure with the context of each object (all cm., all ft., or all in.) in this activity.
• This activity was exactly what the "application" part of the report card looks like. Can you take your skills/understanding from isolation to real world examples?
• Cooperatively, we worked on measuring the six objects from around the room to provide two things: a different dynamic and an opportunity to practice with peers rather than individually or with a teacher.

In the end, please continue to provide me feedback so that I can strengthen the connection between how we are working on concepts in class and what kinds of things you can do at home with the homework assignments.

As for today, we will be taking a quiz in Math that I hope to send home today.

Have a safe Thanksgiving!

Math: We had a rough go of things on last week's quiz. Simply put - a combination of instruction and carelessness. After today's lesson it was clearer what the expectation is with regard to labeling and demonstration of strategies...I don't think we'll make some of these mistakes again. On the other hand, based on our warm-up I realized we had some confusion with units of measure and what that meant so we spent a bit of time discussing what it means to be a standard (inches, feet, centimeters...) or non-standard unit (paper clips, arm lengths, shoes...). Tonight's homework is to complete an estimation worksheet that requires them to apply a specific strategy to solve the area of a particular shape.

1. Number the WHOLE squares.
2. Combine the PARTIAL squares into whole squares.
3. Add up the whole squares (wholes and partial combinations).

Language Arts:

In the Deep: We responded to the following questions in our RRJs:

What do you wonder about as you look at the cover?

What do you think "the deep" might refer to?

After reading the blurb on the back, did it confirm your ideas? What new information did it add to your thinking?

Sailing to a New Land: After recording some ideas prior to listening to the story in our RRJs, I actually read the story aloud and stopped periodically to ask some questions. Among the questions we discussed were the following:

How would you feel if...?

How did they know life would be hard?

Why did the sisters dance? (this is a bit of inferencing) Does it say that they are going to the new land in the text? If not, how do you know...what happened to indicate they might be going to a new land?

Babe: We completed our T-charts comparing how Babe and Fly treated the sheep by examining their speech and actions toward the sheep. WE discussed their findings in group and pulled text support to further explain the group's thinking.

Tonight, each group is to reread their chapters/book from class today.