Family Newsletter

This week's newsletter is from Mr. Matt, who finished his solo week yesterday. He will be in a supportive role until mid-April and I will return as the lead teacher next week.

Enjoy your long weekend,

Maria

This week I was leading the classroom while Mrs. McCormack was in a supporting role on Harmony or hosting parent-teacher conferences. All of the students did a wonderful job learning this week, and I’m so proud of them.

Social-Emotional Learning

-This week the students all had a word of the day that I revealed at the beginning of class. These words included SEL words such as “Kindness” and “Respect”. Students were given opportunities to share what these words meant to them and how it made them feel when they showed kindness or respect to their peers. They were also given opportunities to share a time they used kindness and respect, whether in the classroom or at home.

-Students continued to use their calming cards this week.The students used them effectively and appropriately when they needed a break or a calming tool.

-In our restorative circle, Ms. Nicole talked about something that may have been challenging this week, and something that students were proud of and did well. She also talked about the importance of honesty and accountability. I was impressed with the honesty most students showed with Ms. Nicole during this time.

-I tried to give the students an opportunity to share this week in our morning meetings. We learned about a vast range of fascinating things from the students such as: what Japan is like, a book two students wrote, and an object that meant a lot to students. It was terrific to see how respectful and thoughtful the questions that were asked to the sharer were. For those who didn’t get a chance this week, I hope to hear from you next week!

Reading

-This week we continued to learn about the Iditarod Trail. Students had the opportunity during independent reading time to continue Harmony’s optional Iditarod Reading Challenge. Many students participated in this, some even bringing these worksheets home because they were so interested in it. I was very impressed by the hard work, dedication, and perseverance these students showed when doing this. We will continue this reading challenge next week so there is still time for your child to join.

-This week we learned about two other dogs that were key players on the Iditarod Trail. These furry friends were Balto and Togo! We read The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford and Togo by Robert J. Blake. Through these two dog stories, the students learned about the heroic 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska.

-I had the opportunity to listen in on a few students reading during independent reading, and I really enjoyed this! What a great group of engaged readers we have!

Writing

-This week in writing we filled out Venn Diagrams comparing Togo to Balto. We did this as a whole class and I was amazed by the input of students. Some students even presented comparisons/contrasts I hadn’t even thought about!

-Students were also given time for more creative writing. They all have such an abundance of creativity when they write.

Math

-This week students learned two new math games: Star Power and Steps & Leaps. They all had assigned partners for these math games, and I thought it was great how they got to learn more about other friends rather than the ones they are most comfortable with.

-We continued our Number Talks and learned about understanding patterns in addition that involved two-digit numbers. I even threw a three-digit number into the fray to challenge them because they are such strong mathematicians. They all had fantastically unique strategies. These involved isolating the ones place (or tens in three-digit number case) to solve the problem more efficiently; figuring out the ones place via rounding up to the tens place, and so much more!

Science

- The students picked out animals for a project they will be doing within the upcoming animal report writing unit.  These animals ranged from the curiously unheard to beloved fan-favorites. We had Axolotls, Dogs, Cats, Jaguars, Basking Sharks, American Shortbread Horses, Cuttlefish, and Tasmanian Tigers to name a few. I loved their diverse choices. The students picked these using an assortment of books and PebbleGo Online to see their options.

-Some students chose to get a head start in jotting down facts about their animals for the project they will be starting next week with Mrs. McCormack and Ms. Scott. I am impressed by their “go-getter” attitudes.

News and Reminders

-Mrs. McCormack will resume helming the ship next week. I know they’ve all missed her very much and she has certainly missed being in the classroom with them!.

Best,

Mr. Matt