Math

We are currently playing a game called “Race to 1,000” in which students roll dice for ones, trade for a ten stick, and when ten ten sticks are obtained, trade for a hundred block, until reaching one thousand. This will be in preparation for understanding dynamic addition and subtraction where units need to be traded or borrowed.

Vocabulary Challenges

Students are challenging themselves everyday and nowhere is it more evident than when they are doing the Vocabulary sort on a Thursday. The collaboration and conversations that are witnessed and heard between peers working on some of the largest sorts is so delightful.

As part of our exploration of our theme of “Paper,” students are working on building their own paper-making press in technology. They have shown good skills and careful use of tools such as a saw, sandpaper, hammer, nails, and glue.

We are excited for our field trip to Freshcut Paper in Concord tomorrow. Students have been making pop-up cards with Ms. Camilla, so it will be really fun to see how they are made in their factory. Have a terrific weekend.

Jen and Lisa

Fire Drill

This week, we had a fire drill. Students moved very quickly, efficiently, and safely out to the meeting spot in the parking lot. As we were getting ready to head back into the classroom, we stopped to check out the fire engine and take a quick picture.

Spirit Day

There was a lot of excitement and some wonderful, creative costumes on our Spirit Day. In a brief parade through the Commons, students from across Acera walked around to show their spirit and appreciate each other’s choices.

Vocabulary Sorts and Partner Reading

The gentle hum of students getting down to business and engaging with vocabulary sorts and partner reading is always wonderful to see and hear. Students are slowly and steadily choosing more difficult vocabulary sorts and challenging themselves and each other when they choose to write down the new words they are learning. Each week on a Wednesday, we pair students for partner reading at Rest and Read. It’s a lovely way for current readers and emerging readers to listen to each other as they develop the skills of reading out loud and with expression.

Theme

This week for our theme, we watched a video about the invention of paper and a brief history of paper making. We also checked out the piece of papyrus that we had worked on making and problem-solving about why it may have dried in such a peculiar way. You can ask your student what happened! We read a book called “Christina Katerina and the Box” about a young girl who gets a big box to play with. She creates a castle but when it rains, the box falls to bits. We made our own boxes with card stock and discussed ways that we might be able to waterproof them so that they wouldn’t fall apart. There were some very creative ideas!

Happy Weekend!

Jen & Lisa