Hooray for Fall!

Congratulations to all of the wonderful, hardworking students of the Brisbin Crew, who completed their Goal Setting Conferences this week!  I am so proud of your reflection and desire to progress socially and academically.  Our crew is quite fortunate to be able to work together in an academically rigorous, thoughtful, caring, and driven learning environment!

Math:

In 5th grade, students have just taken their Unit 1 post assessment.  Number Corner keeps us guessing by providing a challenging monthly pattern that doubles, triples, and quadruples as the days progress.  Bridges Unit 2 focuses on building arrays through the lens of double digit multiplication, and teaches students to create a visual and break the problems into chunks.  

4th graders were just assessed on Unit 1.  Unit 2 is comprised of multiplication arrays, place value, multiplication strategies, and place value.  

*Both 4th and 5th grade are working on an October math practice called “The Product Game.”  Please play this game with your child at least three times a week to improve multiplication fact fluency.  Also, students will need to fulfill a weekly Kahn Academy and Mathletics requirement online.  Passwords, logins, and more info to follow!


The Daily 5 and Daily CAFE Literacy Program:

We have implemented a new and amazing literacy program into our crew called The Daily 5 and Daily Cafe.  Students work on a daily basis to complete five different stations, which include reading to yourself, reading to others, listening to others read, working on writing, and spelling and word work (conventions).  During these stations, I am conferencing individually with students and recording their literacy gains, as well as setting weekly goals.  Students are aware of their goals and post their names under the reading strategies they are working on.  Twice a week we have reading workshops, writing workshops, and a conventions workshop prior to The Daily 5.  Ask your child about the Checking for Understanding, Back up and Reread, and Tune into Interesting Words workshops we have completed.

Building a paragraph that “matches” from topic sentence, supporting sentence, and concluding sentence is essential when crafting a piece of writing.  Students are building and restructuring an Ideas piece titled “Nothing Ever Happens in the Brisbin Crew” and working off a rubric to assess themselves.  We have already gone through one peer review and used post it notes.  Friday Journals continue to go home every weekend- Parents, please ensure that you read and respond by Monday.

Redcoats and Rebels Expedition:

Students are examining the motives behind the Colonists in establishing and controlling the Colonies. We have been building maps, earning points for future travel across the Atlantic, and journeying on virtual fieldwork back to Boston in 1776.  A new affinity for John Adams has driven students to compare and contrast the uses and abuses of power that the King of England possessed.  This week we will channel Paul Revere’s famous ride and enjoy fieldwork at a stable in which we will trail ride, learn about horseshoeing, horse grooming, and equine therapy.

 Upcoming Events:

Bear Walk- October 31  come dressed in costume

Minimum Day-  October 24

Library Work Day- November 3

Fall Family Photo Day- November 4


Thank you for the efforts of all families in ensuring their child sets appropriate goals to reach their highest potential!

Julie