What a great week have had in 5V! Innovation Day was amazing and all of the students were so excited to learn and explore a topic of their choice. Thank you for all of your help and support in making that day happen. Please be sure to check out our student blog. Each student posted about their day along with a photo of their project. The posts are our most impressive ones yet and I know they would appreciate some comments.
http://kidblog.org/MsValentisClass/
Have a wonderful holiday and vacation with your families!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Innovation Day photos
Be sure to check out our flickr page today for photos and videos taken from Innovation Day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msvalentisclass/
We are looking forward to a day full of exploring, learning and creating!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msvalentisclass/
We are looking forward to a day full of exploring, learning and creating!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Innovation Day update
Thank you so much for helping your child with their Innovation Day Planning Packet. Today we shared more on our topics and questions. We talked about materials and each student started to plan their schedule for the day.
I also spent some time, reviewing my three expectations for the day....
One is that they learn something they're interested in.
Two is that they make something related to what they learn.
And three is that they will share both with their class the following day.
I've included in this post a link to the video made by Wisconsin 5th grade teacher Pernille Ripp on her Innovation Day. If you haven't seen it, it's worth checking out because I think it will give you a good sense of what I envision the Day looking like in my classroom. Here's the link:
http://www.safeshare.tv/w/LnCdmFQStl
We also talked some about materials and resources for the day. Between now and Tuesday, students should be gathering materials they will use in their project. (I can supply common items from the school supply closet like construction paper, scotch tape, glue, paint, and brushes.)
Students may also want to bring in a book or magazine on their topic. Our library and computers will be available for students as well on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend!
I also spent some time, reviewing my three expectations for the day....
One is that they learn something they're interested in.
Two is that they make something related to what they learn.
And three is that they will share both with their class the following day.
I've included in this post a link to the video made by Wisconsin 5th grade teacher Pernille Ripp on her Innovation Day. If you haven't seen it, it's worth checking out because I think it will give you a good sense of what I envision the Day looking like in my classroom. Here's the link:
http://www.safeshare.tv/w/LnCdmFQStl
We also talked some about materials and resources for the day. Between now and Tuesday, students should be gathering materials they will use in their project. (I can supply common items from the school supply closet like construction paper, scotch tape, glue, paint, and brushes.)
Students may also want to bring in a book or magazine on their topic. Our library and computers will be available for students as well on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Innovation Day progress
Today, we met again with 4G to discuss our topics for Innovation Day. Students had time to talk with each other and revise their ideas as needed. We spent the afternoon translating our topics into questions that would require thoughtful research. We also began talking about what the students would like their products to be at the end of the day.
Most students have a good idea of what they are researching and what they would like to accomplish. More conversation at home would be helpful to develop these ideas further. Students began creating a list of materials they would need from home and school and are welcome to begin bringing in those materials.
Tomorrow we will plan our Innovation day hour by hour and continue to expand our ideas and plans. Thank you for your help and support in planning this exciting day!
Most students have a good idea of what they are researching and what they would like to accomplish. More conversation at home would be helpful to develop these ideas further. Students began creating a list of materials they would need from home and school and are welcome to begin bringing in those materials.
Tomorrow we will plan our Innovation day hour by hour and continue to expand our ideas and plans. Thank you for your help and support in planning this exciting day!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Innovation Day!
On Tuesday, December 20th, your child will be participating in SAU16's first Innovation Day. On this day, your child will get to study a topic of their choosing; spending the entire day immersed in self-guided learning! They will decide on what resources they will need for their research and create a plan for the organization of their day. In addition, they will design and plan a project to share with classmates that demonstrates what they have learned during this day.
During Innovation Day, teachers will facilitate, coach, question and guide students. Students will not be graded on their work. The focus on this day is the learning.
This morning, we met with Mr. Gagnon's fourth grade class to introduce the project and brainstorm. Students will be coming home today with a list of possible ideas. Their homework is to add to the list, think, talk to their families and narrow down their choices for one or two topics for tomorrow. At home, you can help by asking your child questions that will narrow down their ideas and topics into a question; one that will require deep thinking, researching and contemplation.
Tomorrow, we will meet again to discuss the topic choices, help students formulate questions and make a plan for Innovation Day. Included in this plan will be a list of materials to bring from home, materials needed from school, an hour by hour plan for the day, and an idea for a final product.
Mr. Gagnon and I are very excited to be piloting this project, along with other teachers at SMS and other area schools, on Tuesday, December 20th. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Please check out these sites for more information on Innovation Day:
Friday, December 9, 2011
5V News
Holiday book swap and celebration:
We will have a holiday book swap and celebration on Thursday, December 22nd. Our 5V room parents will be contacting you regarding what you can contribute if you'd like. I'd also like to do a book swap. I'm hoping each student can bring in a new or nearly new wrapped book (without a name) to share with the class. Each student will leave with a new book to read over the vacation. As always, feel free to contact me if you are unable to contribute a book.
We are learning about:
We will have a holiday book swap and celebration on Thursday, December 22nd. Our 5V room parents will be contacting you regarding what you can contribute if you'd like. I'd also like to do a book swap. I'm hoping each student can bring in a new or nearly new wrapped book (without a name) to share with the class. Each student will leave with a new book to read over the vacation. As always, feel free to contact me if you are unable to contribute a book.
We are learning about:
- Early European explorers
- Personal narratives
- Long division
- Mysteries
- Practiced long division
- Practiced more long division!
- Learned the qualities of mysteries
- Previewed and chose mystery book group books
- Met with our book groups to discuss our reading
- Researched our explorer online
- Experimented with Glogster
- Began creating a "glog" on our explorer
- Enjoyed our visit with Mr. Baldasaro and learned about quality blog posts and comments
- Planned our personal narratives
- Brainstormed how writers show movement through time in their stories
- Early release- Wednesday, November 14th
- Chorus concert- Thursday, December 15th at 6:30
- Early release- Friday, December 22nd
Friday, December 2, 2011
5V News
We are learning about:
- Early European Explorers
- Geometry
- Personal Narrative
- Reading Comprehension Strategies
- Discovered how many degrees in a triangle
- Experimented with total sum of degrees in quadrangles and pentagons
- Took our unit 3 math test
- Used an inverted triangle to "zoom in" on our life events in writing
- Began planning our personal narratives using a graphic organizer
- Discussed the evidence that exists about what happened to the Native Americans
- Chose explorers to research
- Enjoyed the book fair
- Read with our second grade reading buddies
- Began listening to Zach's Lie during read aloud
- Searched for "hypo" words
- Reviewed the difference between "their", "there" and "they're"
- Practiced asking questions before, during and after reading
- Learned about the types of questions readers ask
- Created a statement of intention for our altered books
- Students should be visiting Xtra math a few times a week to practice math facts
- PTO Pancake Breakfast- Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00
- Early release- Wednesday, December 4th
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