September 22, 2017

Our character word of the week was self-reliance.  Students learned that it means to do your best to problem solve independently and do what you think the best thing would be.  They listed ways to practice self-reliance at school:  to check all folders and notebooks for missing multiplication cards, to visit the Extras folder for needed assignments, to look around the room and mimic what most kids are doing.  They also shared ways to be self-reliant at home: to complete chores without reminders, to clean up spilled messes without asking for parent backup, and set alarm clocks and timers to track reading minutes.  We also discussed that while self-reliance shows maturity, there will always be times when kids (grownups, too) have to ask for help & support.  

• Monday, September 25th 
• Mid Quarter Reports come home, sign & return 
• Computer Science Club @ 3:45-4:45 pm 
• Tuesday, September 26th  
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, September 27th 
• Picture Day 
• Thursday, September 28th
• We visit Mrs. Kleitsch for a counseling lesson. 
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Friday, September 29th
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• Saturday, September 30th
• Fun Fair 11:00 am-2:00 pm 

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

In Social Studies, students created a map of items placed on a classroom carpet.  

We removed the rug, created a grid system, and students recreated the map using coordinate pairs.  Grid systems help us create more accurate and specific maps.  

To prepare for a Math test, students tried a 20/20/20.  For 20 minutes, kids worked on the review independently.  For 20 minutes, Math partners worked as a team to support each other and ask questions.  For 20 minutes, we came together as a group and tackled the most challenging problems and shared different strategies.  

Kiaura, Maggie, & Molly work together to re-check a subtraction problem. 

Lydia was our Star this week, and we loved learning more about her!  Did you know she recently received an electric guitar and is working on learning to play it? 

Kids enjoyed a pizza lunch to celebrate our great behavior. 

We look forward to our next marble jar celebration in room 36!

September 15, 2017

Students focused on respect for a second week during class meetings.  They learned about the power of using "ma'am" and "sir" when speaking to adults, how it's a quick and easy way to convey respect.  

• Monday, September 18th 
• Happy birthday, Maggie! 
• Library Day 
• Pizza Lunch in the classroom!   
• Tuesday, September 19th  
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Wednesday, September 20th 
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• Thursday, September 21st 
• Moms & Muffins @ 8:00 am 
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Friday, September 22nd
• Professional Development Day for teachers, NO SCHOOL 

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!

William & Ethan try "FACE the Math," a fun activity that allows kids to solve a problem, then follow a direction to illustrate a specific part of a pictures. 

Landon, Lydia, & Will practice rounding & expanded form using FACE the Math.  

In Writer's Workshop, students are planning their personal narrative stories.  Students worked with their writing partners to create a Beginning Middle & End table to plot out the important events of their narrative.  

Writing partnerships review their BME table together, then ask clarifying questions to help each other add more detail.  

In Reader's Workshop, we have been participating in a whole class book club with Kate DiCamillo's The Tiger Rising. In our Reading Journals, we created character maps to help us better understand the traits and motives of the main characters.  We also harvested, or collected, several words DiCamillo used in her writing.  

September 7, 2017

Our character focus for the week was respect.  Students shared that this means treating people, spaces, and items as best as you.  Since we had our first substitute this week, kids shared many ways to show respect to a guest teacher, to make him/her think, "I can't wait to come back to that classroom again!"  We agreed that being helpful, adjusting to a different adult's style, and following the regular classroom & Crestwood rules are great ways to show respect.  

• Monday, September 11th 
• Dining to Donate, Chipotle @ 4:00-8:00 pm 
• Tuesday, September 12th  
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Boy Scouts @ 6:30-8:30 pm 
• Wednesday, September 13th 
• Early Release @ 1:40 pm 
• PTO Meeting @ 6:30 pm 
• Thursday, September 14th 
•  Mrs. Kleitsch visits for a counseling lesson.
• Girls on the Run @ 3:30-4:30 pm 
• Friday, September 15th 
• Scholastic Book Orders due 
• Staff vs. 5th Grade Kickball Game @ 2:00 pm 

After learning about plate tectonics and how they affect Earth's surface, students did a demonstration using graham crackers and Cool Whip to model three changes that can occur. 

Maggie & Will use their graham crackers to demonstrate how plates on the Earth can move apart, causing molten rock to emerge (volcano).  

Violetta & Alex create mountains by moving their crackers together and earthquakes by sliding their crackers against each other (see their incredible explanations below!).   

After learning about the 4 layers of Earth, students used food to create and label each part to demonstrate understanding.  

Josiah shoes off his model Earth. 

Alexa works very hard on her personal narrative.  Students did a 30 minute "on demand" story about a personal experience.  An on demand writing helps to show Miss Dausmann what students already to well and what she can teach them within this genre in the coming weeks. 

Sophia & Violetta reflect on their personal narratives using a checklist to set specific goals for this Writing unit. 

Nick & Noah found their writing flow; each wrote TWO short personal narratives!  

Ethan & Noah, Math partners, work together to practice multiplication facts.  

Math partners Lydia & Alexa work together to write numbers in expanded, standard, & word forms.  

Molly & Maggie discuss different strategies for rounding large numbers.  

September 1, 2017

     In Class Meeting this week, students discussed honesty.  We brainstormed reasons practicing honest can be difficult.  Students listed avoiding consequences or not missing out on fun things, protecting a friend, and not being known as "the kid who breaks stuff," which they then agreed is better than being known as "the kid who lies about stuff."  We all agreed that telling the truth takes courage when we don't know how the other person will accept it.
     We used the game of Jenga as an analogy;  every mistake we own up, every time we ask for help, every time we tell the truth, it's like laying a brick of truth in our relationship with a person.  It takes awhile to build this trust.  On the other hand, even though we can sometimes get away with one or two dishonest moments or bricks removed, all it takes is someone catching us in one lie to crumble the whole tower.
     We worked really hard this week to be honest about forgotten homework and speaking up when something is confusing or unclear.   In room 36, we want to be known as "those kids who tell the truth." 

• Monday, September 4th 
• Labor Day, NO SCHOOL 
• Tuesday, September 5th  
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• Wednesday, September 6th 
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• Thursday, September 7th 
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• Friday, September 8th 
• Library Day 

• Click here to check out the Crestwood PTO page!