October means gorgeous falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and of course lots of candy. This month we will continue adding and subtracting. We will learn to recognize, write and count numbers to 10. We will continue focusing on letter names and sounds. We hope they are enjoying learning and settling into a routine.
1st Grade
Back in First grade, we are moving to place value in math and continue working on; teamwork, friendship, integrity, compassion, and responsibility. As a grade level, we are working hard to instill these types of characteristics in order to help our students grow and be successful in the world!
We are all available through Class Dojo. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask! We look forward to an amazing year together!
2nd Grade
For the last few weeks students have completed modules 1,2, and 3 of math. We covered fluency in addition and subtraction, equal groups, and data. In ELA we have been learning everything about inclusion and teamwork. In science class students are learning about weather, such as precipitation, clouds, and hurricanes, among others. We are having an awesome time making new friends and creating memories.
3rd Grade
Students are currently learning about Extreme Weather and seasons in ELA. We are also continuing to work on our vocabulary and informative writing skills.
4th Grade
Fourth grade has had a busy month! We worked hard on our Interim Benchmarks and our teachers are analyzing the results to see where we need to brush up on our skills with the standards we practiced with during 1st quarter. In Math, some of us are working with different ways to do division and some of us are working with adding and subtracting fractions on a whole new level. It is a real challenge, but we are up for it! Go Lions!
5th Grade
Quarter 1 is complete, and we are well underway in Quarter 2! Last month, 5th graders had the opportunity to listen to the Student Council candidates for President and Vice-President and vote for their choices. For most, it was the first time they participated in our important voting process. Students continue to work on their learning and skills in class and turn in assignments on time. We're proceeding through our Parent/Teacher conferences, and we're happy to have this time to meet with all of you with the goal of preparing our scholars for Middle School. Reminder: Our Fall Break this year is October 17-21, 2022. Thank you for all of your support!
MS Science
6th-grade scientists are conducting home experiments for the science research project. In class, they are discovering that our universe is made of matter.
7th-grade Scientists are learning about Newton's Laws in class as well as working hard on their Science Research Projects.
In 8th grade, we are learning all about DNA and inherited traits. We are also working hard to get our Science Research Projects started.
MS Math
Starting quarter 2, our middle school team just successfully completed our first online district assessment for math interim #1. We will be analyzing data from our interim test #1 to focus on standards and concepts that our students need support in. We will be sharing data with our students to identify their areas of strengths and improvements.
MS Social Studies
In Social Studies each grade is exploring the following:
6th: Ancient Indigenous Cultures of North America
7th: Themes of Dehumanization & Humanitarianism
8th: Reviewing Themes of Colonization & Imperialism
This past week scholars participated in an interactive lecture, read and annotated a critical reading, conducted independent research, and participated in a student-run class-wide discussion on their unit topic. Next week scholars will discuss how what they are learning about the past affects how they see our present world, scholars will spend 3 days drafting and finalizing and piece of formal writing on their unit topic, and finally, scholars will be asked to make a professional visual representation of what they have learned.
MS ELA
This month, all of the ELA classes are focusing on the primary standards in their studies. They are concentrating on the concept of designating and explaining the Main Idea of their subject matter to prove thorough comprehension of the materials they are reading primarily informative texts. They are working hard and very diligently!
Interventions
Math Interventionists are currently working on preparing for our second round of Unit Plans & Standards Analysis. We are utilizing power standards to determine what skills and concepts we will tackle next and analyzing student data on iReady to create a path from prior standards to the current grade level standard. The length of each Unit Plan varies, so we will be wrapping up the first unit and implementing the second throughout October.
In My Path classes, Math Interventionists continue working with students one-on-one and in small groups to bridge gaps in learning and correct misconceptions. We are tracking progress, sharing trends, and celebrating accomplishments with our students individually and as a whole class.
Art
Fall is in the air! Students will be making several fall-themed art projects to ring in the new season. Go lions!
Foreign Language
Please welcome Ms. Alena! She is the newest teacher to join our team. She is our official Russian teacher, and she will finish the year with us!
PE
K - 2nd: Kindergarten to Second grade are making a habit in which they learn the importance of stretching and warming up before practicing any physical activity.
3rd - 5th: Third through fifth grade are improving their breathing control in which they reinforce their flexibility, dexterity and strength skills with the introduction of sports.
6th - 8th: Sixth through eighth grade are developing the skill of a physical counseling consciousness in terms of endurance, strength, and flexibility with team games that reinforce strategy, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
MUSIC
Our K-2 musicians have been rehearsing their repertoire of songs such as "Los Pollitos" and "Herman the Worm". They have also been learning different rhythms and practicing problem-solving in rhythmic games. Students in Guitar/Piano are becoming more adept in their rhythmic knowledge as they have been focusing on sight reading and playing new rhythms. In Guitar, students are learning the following pieces: Neptune Run, Koi Under Moon Bridge, Coventry Carol, and Come Summer Night. In Piano, we are working on holiday songs, such as Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, Jingle Bells, O Tannenbaum, Silent Night, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
English Language Development
ELD news. The general, across the grade levels celebration, has been the scholars' push to use higher, richer vocabulary in their writing. The students look at it as a challenge. They have enjoyed the difference it makes in a poem, story, and written response to a question. Grades 1-5 recently created freestyle, fall-inspired poems using rich vocabulary. Creativity abundance!
