Expedition Express
Expedition Name: Cartographers and Commanders

Grouse Ridge
What a great trip we had. I have uploaded all of the pictures from the trip, if you have time, go to this link and check it out. I want to again thank all of the parents that helped to make this fieldwork possible. Again if you would like to see pictures of the trip please visit our crew website.

Math
We finished our first chapter and we are on to our next which focuses on adding and subtracting integers (positive and negative) and ratios/proportions. I want to remind parents that the best way for you to help our child on their math homework is to ask them questions like:
“How did you get that answer?”
“Did you do something similar to that in class?”
“What other ways could you solve that?”
I try to never pick up a pencil when I am working with students on their work. The reason for that is when I hold a pencil, I end up doing the work, and the student does not have to. There is no penalty for missing homework problems, and usually the students learns more from a missed problem.

Expedition
We have finished our mapping and navigation case study last week. This week we will begin our European history section of our expedition. Last Tuesday we took a short walking fieldwork to the Kid Zone to brainstorm ideas for exhibits the students could make that display ideas and lessons we have learned in class, that also tie into their already existing theme of fairytales and sailing. This will be part of our culminating project for celebration of learning.

Writing
I was so impressed at the quality of writing that was shared at Grouse Ridge, as well as how eager many of the students were to share it with the crew. We are continuing to work on our narrative writing, and specifically using sensory language (how it feels, sounds, looks, tastes, smells) figurative language (similes, metaphors, alliterations, personifications, hyperbole), how to write dialogue, and how to establish an effective plot. We will continue to work on skills and practice them.

Crew News
Goal Setting Conferences: (October 24-25) Goal setting conferences will take place after school on the Monday and Tuesday of minimum day week. Please follow the link to the sign-up sheet HERE and sign up. Two families can set goal each half hour. I will be talking to the students about goal setting at the end of this week.

Bay Area Sailing Fieldwork: We are preparing for the Bay Area Sailing fieldwork (October 27-28) Jen Wilkin is coordinating it and it looks like we have plenty of volunteers already (THANK YOU!!). We will be sending out more information about the trip soon.

Mark Your Calendar
• 10/12: Minimum Day
• 10/25 and 10/26: Goal Setting Conferences
• 10/27 – 10/28: Bay Sailing Fieldwork
• 10/31: Bear Walk
• 11/11: No School, Veteran’s Day
• 11/21 – 11/25: No School Thanksgiving

Highlights
I wanted to highlight all of the students that chose to share their writing on the fieldwork. One piece of writing that stood out was Jack’s. He took the opportunity to write a poem about our trip. It is below:

3 days spent here,
Looking at the water smooth and clear
These mountains, they stay the same
It has little in its rise to fame
The huge trees green and tall
Now the shadows will cover all
At night we all go and rest
This place puts us to the test
The mud squelches in my toes
Snot has overcome my nose
What a challenging place this has come to be
Yet it sets your spirit free
The fire lookout on the hill
And now the world is still
With all the beauty I have not seen a bridge
This beautiful place called Grouse Ridge
– Jack

I would also like again highlight everyone that helped with the fieldwork especially the coordinator Erica, and the chaperones: Kerri, Sasha, Jeff, Amber, and Chris. The trip went so smoothly and the kids came home with a great experience.