Friday, March 15, 2019
Friday, March 8, 2019
Take a Peek at Our Week!
In writing this week, we worked on adding counterclaim/rebuttal statements to address the other side of the argument for our chocolate milk debate. We discussed ideas for where to place these statements within our essays as a way to strengthen our arguments. Students used the statements as hooks, final thoughts, and transitions between body paragraphs.
At the end of the week, we self assessed our chocolate milk essays using the argument rubric. Students scored themselves for each section of the rubric and then met with a peer so that they could get additional feedback. Students were extremely honest with themselves and critically reviewed their writing to look for areas needing growth. Next, students selected two areas from the rubric to focus on and revised their essays accordingly. Next week students will be selecting their own debatable topics for their second argument essays!
In lang & lit, we worked on analyzing multiple resources for a debatable topic. We explored analyzing different types of resources (charts, graphs, etc. ) as a way to view evidence differently. Students then responded in writing using our RACCE strategy to express where they stand based on the evidence collected. This week, we added elaboration to our RACCE responses to explain our evidence more clearly.
We also worked on sharpening our accountable talk skills this week. First, we practiced in small groups to discuss several debatable topics and kept track of how many accountable talk statements we used. Next, we had an "electronic chalk talk" using Padlet to practice the same skills. The students did a fantastic job!
In individuals & society we began to discuss our rights and the U.S. Constitution. We started by having a chalk talk in which students discussed rules/expectations in our classroom, rules/expectations across the school, what a good citizen in our school looks like, and what rights every student deserves in our classroom. There was one area that was "CLOSED" during the chalk talk-"making changes or additions to the rules/expectations to our classroom". This was done purposely to help students understand the importance of having a voice (voting), and being able to make changes to the structure and daily operations of our classroom. Next week, we will finish this discussion by making connections to the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution.
A few reminders:
*Report Cards are now live on the Infinite Campus parent portal. I posted the links earlier in the week to help you if you encounter difficulties!
*Tuesday, March 12th is a half day-dismissal @ 11:10.
Have a great weekend!!!
In lang & lit, we worked on analyzing multiple resources for a debatable topic. We explored analyzing different types of resources (charts, graphs, etc. ) as a way to view evidence differently. Students then responded in writing using our RACCE strategy to express where they stand based on the evidence collected. This week, we added elaboration to our RACCE responses to explain our evidence more clearly.
We also worked on sharpening our accountable talk skills this week. First, we practiced in small groups to discuss several debatable topics and kept track of how many accountable talk statements we used. Next, we had an "electronic chalk talk" using Padlet to practice the same skills. The students did a fantastic job!
In individuals & society we began to discuss our rights and the U.S. Constitution. We started by having a chalk talk in which students discussed rules/expectations in our classroom, rules/expectations across the school, what a good citizen in our school looks like, and what rights every student deserves in our classroom. There was one area that was "CLOSED" during the chalk talk-"making changes or additions to the rules/expectations to our classroom". This was done purposely to help students understand the importance of having a voice (voting), and being able to make changes to the structure and daily operations of our classroom. Next week, we will finish this discussion by making connections to the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution.
A few reminders:
*Report Cards are now live on the Infinite Campus parent portal. I posted the links earlier in the week to help you if you encounter difficulties!
*Tuesday, March 12th is a half day-dismissal @ 11:10.
Have a great weekend!!!
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Spirit Day Volunteers Needed!
I know as it's currently snowing that thinking about June seems so far away! However, we are actively planning this year's Spirit Day at Village and as you know, this requires parent volunteers to help everything run smoothly! If you would be interested in signing up to help run a station, the link is below. This year's Spirit Day will be Friday, June 14th....hopefully the snow is gone by then! :-)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4da9a623a0ff2-spirit
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4da9a623a0ff2-spirit
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Important Report Card Information
Good Morning Parents! Report cards will be live on Infinite Campus Friday, March 8th. Below is additional information for you!
Dr. Rudd's parent blog has information regarding how families can access the report card :
https://drbrudd.blogspot.com/2019/03/elementary-report-cards-available.html
Additionally, the parent blog also includes information regarding the MYP Criterion Grading for students at grades 5/6:
https://drbrudd.blogspot.com/2019/03/information-for-village-5th-and-6th.html
Dr. Rudd's parent blog has information regarding how families can access the report card :
https://drbrudd.blogspot.com/2019/03/elementary-report-cards-available.html
Additionally, the parent blog also includes information regarding the MYP Criterion Grading for students at grades 5/6:
https://drbrudd.blogspot.com/2019/03/information-for-village-5th-and-6th.html
Friday, March 1, 2019
Take a Peek at Our Week!
We had a great week back to school! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable winter break (and didn't blow away in the wind storm!!). In language & literature, we continued our work with analyzing argument texts. This week, students worked on evaluating the strength of an author's claim by identifying strong and weak points presented through the evidence. This will also carryover into our work during writing as students research and select supporting evidence for their chocolate milk essays!
In writing, we've become more comfortable referring to our argument writing rubrics to keep track of the expectations related to our organization, development, and language. We have already identified several skills that we can already do after our informational writing unit (this gives us a lot of confidence as we enter a new genre!). Students identified that elaboration and using a variety of transitions are still areas needing growth, but we are working hard towards those goals! This week worked on our conclusion paragraphs for our first argument essays. We focused in on the "final thoughts" portion of the paragraph working to make this piece memorable for the reader. We discussed how the final thoughts are the author's last chance to convince the reader and pull them in the direction of the author's claim. The students did an awesome job...you'll be able to view their progress on Google Classroom-Argument Writing.
This week we began our second round of WIN! As you can remember, WIN stands for "what I need". The fifth grade teachers meet prior to each round and place students in groups across the grade level in order to receive extra practice, reinforcement, or extension of skills. Students loved our last round because they were able to work with different fifth grade teachers during our morning block (8:40-9:15). Your child should have brought home a goal sheet from their WIN teacher indicating who they will be working with and the focus of the group (ELA, math, both). Discuss WIN time with your child this weekend and ask how it helped them last round!
Have a wonderful weekend!! :-)
In writing, we've become more comfortable referring to our argument writing rubrics to keep track of the expectations related to our organization, development, and language. We have already identified several skills that we can already do after our informational writing unit (this gives us a lot of confidence as we enter a new genre!). Students identified that elaboration and using a variety of transitions are still areas needing growth, but we are working hard towards those goals! This week worked on our conclusion paragraphs for our first argument essays. We focused in on the "final thoughts" portion of the paragraph working to make this piece memorable for the reader. We discussed how the final thoughts are the author's last chance to convince the reader and pull them in the direction of the author's claim. The students did an awesome job...you'll be able to view their progress on Google Classroom-Argument Writing.
Just before break, we discussed the branches of government in individuals & society using our jigsaw strategy. Students were given one branch of government to research and were responsible for reporting out and teaching their group members. Next, we will be learning about balance of power and how our laws are made!!
This week we began our second round of WIN! As you can remember, WIN stands for "what I need". The fifth grade teachers meet prior to each round and place students in groups across the grade level in order to receive extra practice, reinforcement, or extension of skills. Students loved our last round because they were able to work with different fifth grade teachers during our morning block (8:40-9:15). Your child should have brought home a goal sheet from their WIN teacher indicating who they will be working with and the focus of the group (ELA, math, both). Discuss WIN time with your child this weekend and ask how it helped them last round!
Have a wonderful weekend!! :-)
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