What are we studying?
This year, we will be working to create total authenticity in the classroom. We will be applying the content we investigate directly to real life problems and experiences. Each topic covered will have it's roots in our world.
Mathematics
We follow a math workshop approach that begins with mini-lessons (minimal lecture), expands into a great deal of hands-on experience-- creating models, developing STEM projects, exploring our personal lives and the natural world to discover where math works--and reconvenes with reflective dialogue about our errors and our successes.
Although this educator discusses High School material, his philosophy on reasoning, practice, and diligence should pervade every classroom.
Writing
Our words are our wings to the stars. I will help your young writer take their first fledgling flight into a world of open expression; no prompts, no number of words to be written, just the mind and the hand and the paper.
As writers, we will come to realize that all of us have stories to share and everyone's story matters. We will be writing to inform, persuade, entertain, and more. We will write to add depth to our lives. We will be writing in different places- our notebook, our blogs, on Google Slides, on Google docs, and on paper to publish!
We all have a story-- big or small-- every story matters and adds fabric to the patchwork of our lives. We will learn to value our words as we share in a community of writers. New stories will be built and old renewed. Let's start writing. . . . . . . . .
As writers, we will come to realize that all of us have stories to share and everyone's story matters. We will be writing to inform, persuade, entertain, and more. We will write to add depth to our lives. We will be writing in different places- our notebook, our blogs, on Google Slides, on Google docs, and on paper to publish!
We all have a story-- big or small-- every story matters and adds fabric to the patchwork of our lives. We will learn to value our words as we share in a community of writers. New stories will be built and old renewed. Let's start writing. . . . . . . . .
Enviro-Community Project
(Social Studies and Science)
Quarter 1--Exploring Our Community: people, place, and major natural elements:
Quarter 2-- Community Mapping- Finding our deeper connection to community.
*under student construction*
- animals (birds)
- insects
- plant life
- soil/rock
- air/sky
- water
Quarter 2-- Community Mapping- Finding our deeper connection to community.
- Pike Hikes- walk around the Pike to see our community through the eyes of community developers, activists, and environmentalists.
- Group Mapping- Highlighting key elements of the pike- People, Spaces, Animals, and Environment.
- Class Mapping- Each student with choose to focus on either People, Spaces, or the Environment. Assess and analyze to contribute to a student created classroom map.
*under student construction*
Reading
This year's FOCUS: 1. Developing a love for reading 2. Creating independent readers 3. Building reading strategies: both fluency and comprehension 4. Applying skills beyond the classroom |
This video does an excellent job at explaining the authentic choice that should underlay all reading.
"'Easy' books can be 'just right' at times and reading easier books can help with fluency and stamina. Challenging books shouldn't be avoided but like a heavy weight, they are not something you stay with for long stretches of time. Research shows reading books at your level and below your level will help you grow as a reader. Reading only challenging books will lead to frustration. " -Mrs. Kathleen Sokolowski (renown Reading/Writing Teacher) |