Math: We are in the home stretch for Unit One! Tomorrow we'll be working on some 5th grade content - polygons and their attributes. Sounds simple but it is actually complex when you try to classify... Unit assessment will be Monday and Tuesday. Study packets are due on Friday - a day of review, go figure!

Language Arts: We have spent the last couple of mornings discussing the "narrowing" of our thinking. For example, as we listen/read a story we have been identifying details that we "think" are important to the main idea of the story. Then, after analyzing these details for commonalities, we develop a few possible main ideas. Once again, we look at these possibilities and decide what is the main idea by incorporating common elements. Of course, these is then supported with specific text-support. Asleep yet?

After meeting in small groups today, I pulled everyone together and spoke of the importance of feedback. As I'm sure you've seen in their RRJs, I spend considerable time giving specific ideas for how to improve their thinking. One thing I have noticed throughout our class is how too many times they aren't committing to one interpretation; rather, they are listing a bunch of "maybe's" or "probably's" and providing limited support. I instructed them to "pick one and support it!" They need to be decisive because if not, it indicates a lack of confidence in their understanding...