However, something strange happened today. Snow was swirling around in what seemed like white out conditions...and NOT one student noticed. Mrs. Pittorino and I stole numerous glances at each other between 2:00 and 2:30 as if to say, "Can you believe this crazy weather?" But not ONE student said the dreaded "snow" word nor did they even seem to notice?
I'd like to believe it was due to the engaging lessons that were taking place from 1:15 when recess ended to the end of the school day. Perhaps it was Mrs. Pittorino's lesson on the Mayflower Compact while using the Smartboard that kept their attention, or maybe it was the reading assignments in various text as partners discovered, compared and contrasted even more information about the Pilgrims and their first few months after arriving in Plimoth. Was it the excitement of creating a Pilgrim acrostic poem as a class, the realization that poems can actually be a way to share non fiction facts about a topic?
Did the snack in a sack bag arrive home tonight? Students had 15 minutes after recess to decorate and fill their snack in a sack bag with a napkin and directions. Mad Scientist Day, postponed from Oct 31st, is coming up next week. Students should have come home today with a white snack bag decorated to look like a scientist wearing a lab coat. Inside the bag is a napkin and a note explaining what to do for next Wednesday when we will have a Mad Scientist Day. (Yes, I'm still looking for a few volunteers from 10:30-12?)
The "snack in a sack" is in lieu of our party and food being sent in. Each family can fill their own child's sack with :
"Something salty,
Something sweet,
Something fun that is a treat.
And also don't forget a drink,
and write a note on my napkin...in ink."
Perhaps the student's minds were running wild imagining all of the treats that might be placed in their bags. Yes! This must be the reason not ONE student even so as whispered the 4 letter word we New Englanders love so much....SNOW! Just before buses were about to be called I announced to the class how proud I was of them for being so focused and working so hard, despite the snow that was falling outside.
And THAT'S the moment I lost them! It was as if I had just announced that someone was giving away free candy if you head towards the windows...all 22 students in the room at the time headed right to the windows and the BUZZ began! Needless to say, I was sure glad I waited to make that announcement!
Today we were able to accomplish so much, despsite the chill in the air and the crazy gray skies that loomed outside our classroom windows all day.
Students have just about finished up the book commercials and will receive feedback, in the form of a rubric, by Friday. We will be re-recording some of the first few book commercials tomorrow as the flip video was not cooperating and we had some technical difficulty. I hope you find the commercials to be as impressive as I do!
There is a Chill in the air that sends shivers down my spine when I hear students talking and discussing literature as if it is there job and they are getting paid by the word. The students are inspiring each other and pushing one another to new levels and today I witnessed this on several occasions. Their thoughtful comments and conversations around text that is being read and discussed is exemplary! Mrs. Pittorino's knowledge of subject matter and use of technology to actively engage our students in the Pilgrim unit is impressive and should be commended! Mrs. Henderson is igniting a passion for science as the students continue to perform tests on minerals in order to determine and identify what the unknown minerals are.
The election may be over, but there's still lots of work to be done in our "oval office" before the end of the week.
Tonight's Blog was a glimpse of the sparks that take place in our day...just a lil something to warm you up on this cold, raw, snowy November evening!
Here's one more spark: Since logging in on Monday, our class has completed 2,000 math programs on the IXL website and has logged in over 10 hours of MATH practice! So impressive!
4 students have logged onto the Pearsonsuccessnet website and taken the first End of Unit Test with over 97% accuracy! Wondering how your child will do? Check it out!
Thanks for supporting Stay warm!