It feels like forever since I've posted, but that's what a good break will do. Hopefully, you feel just as fresh and ready for new challenges.
This week in class, we've been finishing up our Measurement Unit from before the break and beginning the new Geometry unit that will take us up to report card time.
Today's measurement test was a little stressful for students. Even though we'd practiced the vocabulary this morning and I'd told them what was on the test, a new context (and probably the afternoon time slot it fell into) was challenging. No matter, we'll come at it fresh again tomorrow.
Yesterday by contrast, was one of those days in the classroom you dream about. I felt like students were excited and engaged by the partner work we did in math and hearing all the names of those never heard polygons, the nonagon, the decagon, etc. inspired a few to create the Hug-a-gon. It's the shape you create when the entire class joins in a group hug. Too cute?
We also are bridging up to writing some letters about some issues, so we're really working on means of persuasion. On the way to their Dental Screening yesterday, I had them brainstorm some ways they could convince me to brush my teeth.
A: They'll all fall out! It's good for you to brush your teeth!
B: Everyone has to brush their teeth twice a day!
C: Don't you want to do what you're supposed to do?
D: People won't want to get close to you if your breath is stinky.
E: If you brush your teeth, then I'll brush my teeth with you!
F: I have a toothbrush that sings and tells me when I do a really good job brushing my teeth. Maybe you should get one too.
G:Do it or else I'll be mad!
H: Please, just brush your teeth.
At the end of this highly hypothetical scenario, I was totally convinced.
We talked a lot about how #7 is not the best strategy, but that and #1 seem to be their go-tos. (Also begging, which never works).
Today, I made them use this list to convince me when some of them wanted to stay in for recess this afternoon. Hopefully, they'll continue to use their newfound powers for good.
I've also started a new read aloud book called "The Best Mistake Mystery" by Sylvia McNicoll, which is about a boy who solves mysteries by making mistakes and walking dogs. The author is local, from Burlington.
Happily, the cover artist is also local. So local that she's made a map of our neighbourhood. (I used this map on the test as a point of reference ---you can find the artist Tania Howells' site here, with a variety of other interesting maps.)
I'm also doing an art activity based on map making. Here's my partially finished example:
And here's the online tutorial I based it off of:
Kathy Angelnik's Neighborhood Art Project
About 2/3's of the class did their stamping in small groups while the class was doing the test, so more on that to come.
Sincerely,
Ms. Goegan
