This week in performing arts we have been learning how to use our voices to create characters.

In Humanities, Blue Bay students overall had great success with their ‘Early Humans’ Test on the Paleolithic and Neolithic time periods. They have been continuing to work on the final draft of their essays, reflecting on prehistoric people as they compare and contrast to modern day humans. We have started a phonics/spelling review group, and the students are studying parts of speech (grammar) and text structure.

The students had a chance to visit the school library last week and have each checked out a fiction and a non-fiction book. My request is for students to do at least 20 minutes of reading from their fiction (chapter) book per school night at home, so thank you for reinforcing this.

In Math, 6th and 7th graders took a quiz on Monday to wrap up their unit on scale drawings, and are now learning to classify 3-dimensional shapes and find volume. 4th and 5th graders took a test on division concepts today, as they work on mastering simple division word problems, and introductory long division with and without remainders. Next week, all students will start working with the Zearn Math Curriculum and using their workbooks in conjunction with digital lessons.

During Mentor Time, students came up with a secret handshake with their buddy, and did some book selection and reading coaching in the library.

In literacy we are working on hearing the difference between short and long vowels while practicing with digraph sh. 

In math we have been playing with number lines and counting forward and backwards to connect to addition and subtraction. 

⇒ Games and activities to try at home

• Math: Build your own number lines at home and practice moving around on them- tape on floors, chalk on the driveway, sticks in the forest! 
• Literacy: See if students can hear the different vowel sounds in words. Keep reading and finding digraph sh. 

We are continuing to learn about unique schools around the world and how communities are being creative to make sure students are getting an education. Ask them about the schools for the visually impaired in Scotland and for nomadic families in Siberia.

Green Ridge welcomed back Jaimee B. to class this week! Good to have the gang back together again!

Math: Students are currently showcasing their three-digit know-how with a seasonal scratch art activity (thanks to Amy Guthrie for the supplies!) and are building serious writing stamina with all of their math writing. Tomorrow, students will be working on a pumpkin array courtesy of Mr. B’s fictitious pumpkin patch. Ghosts and bats may also appear!

In literacy, the Green Ridgers are demonstrating near automaticity with digraph blends. They are entering the wild and wily trigraph realm tomorrow. Students will also be bringing home another decodable booklet to practice these sounds.

In Field Study class we have been wrapping up our data collection from the natural springs we visited in fall. We took measurements at 5 different springs in the area and students are entering their data into tables and comparing and contrasting them. Students are learning some computer skills as they work to create neat data tables on their computers.

We are also learning more about geology. This past week we have explored the ring of fire and the rock cycle. Students are now creating comic strips about the story of a rock as it travels through the rock cycle. This week we will head to Smith Rock State Park to further our geology studies.

In P.E. class we have moved on from soccer and are trying some new sports. We will be out on the trails doing some cross country running in the coming weeks. We also set up the volleyball net and tetherball. Older students are learning some volleyball basics and our younger students have loved playing tetherball.