Short but sweet today...

Math: Quiz tomorrow - mainly challenge items as I decided to leave off some of the 3rd grade content we've done consistently well with...don't worry - next week's quiz will include EVERYTHING from unit three.

During class, Ms. Jones hung out for awhile and helped us work on solving word problems that contained variables/unknown quantities. It is interesting to see how their understanding of multiplication and division concepts, in addition to their use of strategies, is beginning to come together in more complex, application types of activities.

Homework: Story problem worksheet (everyone)

Other than that, lots of research with print and Internet resources today...

Math: Great class today! We took a formative assessment that predominantly covered 4th grade content. As you will see tonight, this assessment was an opportunity to apply their understanding of algebraic concepts and variables to solve unfamiliar problems. I was generally pleased with their efforts and understanding but realized that the presentation seemed a bit abstract to them at first. However, I believe they felt empowered by the end of our review and expect to see a "can-do" attitude throughout the next couple of weeks. Please review this with them and sign it.

Language Arts: We continued our city research today in the media center. While some worked with print resources, the other students used some online media to collect additional information.

Spelling will begin next week because this project is eating into our LA time...

Math: We reviewed the math quiz from last week and decided to treat it as a formative assessment for a few reasons. One reason was we collectively did poorly on the factors/multiples content (4th grade concepts) which is clearly a reflection on my instruction. However, an equally important reason is that coming off an 11 day break and only two days of instruction, it made more sense to use as a wake-up call as opposed to a graded wake-up call if you know what I mean...Either way, these are in their folders if you would like to look at them tonight...

Homework (based on the quiz understandings):

Three different assignments representing three different needs...factors and multiples task in their math journals, fact family triangle worksheet, or a story problem worksheet. Each student knows what they are to do...

Language Arts: We continued our city research in the media center this morning and had small groups in the afternoon.

Small Groups:

Rumpelstiltskin - I decided to have them independently retell the main events of the story in their RRJs considering we have spent 3 days discussing the story together. Some did well - some, not so much...please read their RRJs to determine where your child is in this...Everyone should read The Gigantic Bell tonight.

How Spider got a Bald Head - We shared/discussed their responses to our prompt only to find the level of understanding was extremely literal (right there information). We talked about reading between the lines and connecting pieces of information together to get a deeper idea of what the story is really saying...this seems to be a shift in attention and effort - not something that requires Earth shattering thinking...

Both JGB groups are preparing to hold our Shared Inquiry Discussions in the next few days. Each group has completed the interpretive task in their packet which serves as a launching pad into a more purposeful examination of the text. This process will help them formulate their thinking during our discussion.