January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Perimeter problems.

Writing -  Publish free-writing pieces.

Word Study - Parts of speech quiz; anagrams.

Vermont history - Continue reading and responding to Green Mountain Hero, about Vermont in the 1770’s.  Issues include New Hampshire’s vs. New York’s claim to VT, Tories vs. patriots, the resourcefulness and courage involved in settling the wild frontier, and the importance of Vermont’s rivers, lakes and mountains in our political history.

Science - Final nature journal observation, incorporating the various environmental factors studied this year.

Stewardship Day on Tuesday: wear clothing appropriate to working outside, plus sunscreen and bug repellent.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts. Thank you to our four snack families (Pearl, Lemieux, Bailey and Roberts) for feeding us on Tuesdays this year!

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned, Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday.

A Look at the Season's Main Events from Northern Woodland Magazine

By Virginia Barlow

Second Week of June

Bald eagle nestlings are building their flight muscles by flapping around in the nest.

The attractive, flat reddish beetles of the locust leafminer (Odontota dorsalis) are out. The adults will chew on the leaves of black locust, but it's the larvae, starting in July, that turn locusts from green to pale brown.

American toad eggs are in long double strings, which may have from 4,000 to 8,000 eggs. If it's warm, they hatch quickly - in just a week or so.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Begin Module 7 - Geometry and Measurement Word Problems: solving in varied contexts with a letter for the unknown; attributes of quadrilaterals (see enclosed letters).

Writing -  Finish and share narrative connected to Abenaki studies.

Word Study - Building detailed sentences using parts of speech.

Vermont history - Continue reading and responding to Green Mountain Hero, about Vermont in the 1770’s.  Issues include New Hampshire’s vs. New York’s claim to VT, Tories vs. patriots, the resourcefulness and courage involved in settling the wild frontier, and the importance of Vermont’s rivers, lakes and mountains in our political history.

Science - Organisms and their environment: Mystery Science lesson on flowers; flower explorations outside.

Stewardship Day on Friday: wear clothing appropriate to working outside, plus sunscreen and bug repellent.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Roberts (6/5).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned, Tuesday - Thursday.

A Look at the Season's Main Events from Northern Woodland Magazine

By Virginia Barlow

First Week of June

Leisurely drivers can easily spot common yellowthroats because they sing loudly and seem to like roadsides.

Canadian swallowtails and the similar eastern tiger swallowtails are both sipping salts and other nutrients from puddles.

On hot, humid nights, listen for the trill of gray tree frogs as they congregate at mating ponds. With a flashlight and some patience you can follow the calls to their source, often in trees or shrubs near ponds and marshes.

January 03, 2023

SBAC’s continue this week.  A good night’s rest will be good for our young charges!

This week:

Math -  line plots, continued; final assessment this week.

Writing -  Continue drafting a narrative connected to Abenaki studies: setting and cultural details (historical fiction), character development.

Word Study - Building detailed sentences using parts of speech.

Vermont history - Continue reading and responding to Green Mountain Hero, about Vermont in the 1770’s.  Issues include New Hampshire’s vs. New York’s claim to VT, Tories vs. patriots, the resourcefulness and courage involved in settling the wild frontier, and the importance of Vermont’s rivers, lakes and mountains in our political history.

Science - Organisms and their environment: Mystery Science lesson on flowers; Barnet School ash tree inventory.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (5/29).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - None this week because of the testing..

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Constellations seem to twist around fast when they pass your zenith — if you're comparing them to the direction "down," i.e. directly away from the zenith. Right now, as the stars come out, the Big Dipper still floats almost horizontal practically overhead to the north (seen from 40° N latitude). But in just two or three weeks, as seen in the same stage of twilight, the Dipper will be hanging straight down by its handle!

​

January 03, 2023

SBAC’s this week and next:  a good night’s rest will be good for our young charges!

This week:

Math -  line plots (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  Continue drafting a narrative connected to Abenaki studies: setting and cultural details (historical fiction), character development.

Word Study - Sounds of long u and ow.

Vermont history - Continue reading and responding to Green Mountain Hero, about Vermont in the 1770’s.  Issues include New Hampshire’s vs. New York’s claim to VT, Tories vs. patriots, settling the wild frontier, and the importance of Vermont’s rivers, lakes and mountains in our political history.

Science - Organisms and their environment: Mystery Science lesson on flowers; Barnet School ash tree inventory.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux. Next week: Pearl (5/22).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday and Tuesday only.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

This week Venus shines in the west during twilight. Jupiter glares in the southeast at nightfall, and Mars and Saturn rise late at night.

January 03, 2023

For the remainder of the spring, we return to our study of organisms: their growth and development, and how genetic variation and environmental factors affect survival and reproduction. We’ll pay close attention to our ash trees as a case study, which are under imminent threat by the emerald ash borer.

This week:

Math -  Module 6 - Collecting and Displaying Data: categorical data, tape diagrams and bar graphs (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  Draft a narrative connected to Abenaki studies: setting and cultural details (historical fiction), character development.

Word Study - Sounds of long u.

Vermont history - Begin reading and responding to Green Mountain Hero, about Vermont in the 1770’s.

Science - Organisms and their environment: Mystery Science lesson on lizards; Barnet School ash tree inventory.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Lemieux (5/15).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Keep a watch on the changing patterns Venus makes in the western sky in the evening with its background stars from week to week. As Aldebaran and the Pleiades sink away, Beta Tauri (El Nath) above Venus closes in.

• Summer is seven weeks off, but the Summer Triangle is making its appearance in the east, one star after another. The first in view is Vega. It's already shining low in the northeast as twilight fades out.

Next up is Deneb, lower left of Vega by two or three fists at arm's length. Deneb takes about an hour to appear after Vega does, depending on your latitude. The third is Altair, which shows up far to their lower right by midnight.

January 03, 2023

This week the third graders are running the school’s community meeting on Friday and will be presenting information on Abenaki culture. They will share their posters in class in a museum format, learning from each other about their respective specialties.

This week:

Math -  Equivalent fractions; comparing fractions with like numerators (see enclosed letter); final assessment on Friday.

Writing -  Plan and draft a narrative connected to Abenaki studies.

Word Study - Sounds of short o.

Vermont history - Posters about Abenaki culture.

Science &  Art - Sketching tree forms outside with Mrs. McCarthy

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (5/8).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

May has sprung, but wintry Sirius still twinkles very low in the west-southwest toward the end of twilight — far to the left of much brighter Venus. How much longer into the spring can you keep Sirius in view? In other words, what will be its date of "heliacal setting" as seen by you?

Summer is seven weeks away, but the Summer Triangle is beginning to make its appearance in the east, one star after another. The first in view is Vega. It's already shining low in the northeast as twilight fades away. Next up is Deneb, lower left of Vega by two or three fists at arm's length. Deneb takes about an hour to appear after Vega does, depending on your latitude. The third is Altair, which shows up far to their lower right by midnight.

As dawn begins on Saturday morning May 5th, the waning gibbous Moon shines between Saturn and Mars. Saturn is to the Moon's right, and Mars to the Moon's lower left.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Showing and decomposing equivalent fractions using various models (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  Share and critique persuasive pieces. Begin narrative connected to Abenaki studies.

Word Study - Sounds of ‘k’ and short o.

Vermont history - Continue partner work reading about the Abenaki, leading to a poster presentation about their culture.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux. Next week: Pearl (5/1).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Arcturus is the brightest star in the east these evenings. Spica shines about three fists at arm's length to its lower right. To the right of Spica by half that distance is the distinctive four-star constellation of Corvus, the Crow of Spring.

Face north just after nightfall, look very high, and now you'll find the Pointers, the end stars of the Big Dipper's bowl, on the meridian pointing toward Polaris straight down below. From the Pointers to Polaris is about three fists at arm's length.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Comparing non-unit and mixed fractions and placing them on a number line; equivalent fractions (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  Draft and polish persuasive piece (problem statement, main argument / supporting arguments, counterargument, next steps).

Word Study - Sounds of ‘k’.

Science - March climate review.

Vermont history - (Finally) Begin partner work reading about the Abenaki, leading to a poster presentation about their culture.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts. After break: Lemieux (4/24).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Wednesday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Capella is the bright star high in the west-northwest during and after dusk. Its pale-yellow color matches that of the Sun, meaning they're both about the same temperature. But otherwise Capella is very different. It consists of two yellow giant stars orbiting each other rather closely every 104 days.

Right after dark, Orion remains well up in the southwest in his spring orientation: striding down to the right, with his belt roughly horizontal. The belt points left toward Sirius, and to the right toward Aldebaran and, farther on, the Pleiades.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Comparing unit fractions and placing them on a number line; mid-module assessment;  (see enclosed letter). Third trimester STAR assessment.

Writing -  Plan and draft persuasive piece (problem statement, main argument / supporting arguments, counterargument, next steps).

Reading - Third trimester STAR assessment.

Word Study - R-controlled vowels.

Science - Magnet design challenge: self-assessment and expo.

Vermont history - Begin partner work reading about the Abenaki, leading to a poster presentation about their culture.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Roberts (4/10).

Please return conference forms this week.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

The Big Dipper glitters softly high in the northeast after dusk, tipping leftward on its handle. You probably know that the two stars forming the front of the Dipper's bowl (currently on top) are the Pointers; they point to Polaris, currently to their lower left. And, you may know that if you follow the curve of the Dipper's handle out and around by a little more than a Dipper length, you'll arc to Arcturus, now low in the east.

But did you know that if you follow the Pointers backward the opposite way, you'll land in Leo?

Draw a line diagonally across the Dipper's bowl from where the handle is attached, continue far on, and you'll go to Gemini.

And look at the two stars forming the open top of the Dipper's bowl. Follow this line past the bowl's lip far across the sky, and you come to Capella.

January 03, 2023

A culminating activity for the magnetism unit is for student teams (or individuals) to design, build and test a paper clip picker-upper using available materials at school (e.g., magnets) and home.  Some designs may involve robots and toy cars, for example, students have at home, and they are welcome to bring them to school as approved by Mr. B. (i.e., the design is viable!). Students should not go on a shopping spree for this project, instead be creative with materials already at hand. Here are some criteria they’ll consider during the process: simplicity to use, surface type (desk, floor), collection capacity (# paper clips), ergonomics (body position), and number / ‘cost’ of magnets in the device (the cost is made-up, but will get them thinking about the eventual market for such a device,  as real manufacturers would).

This week:

Math -  Fractions: understanding the numerator and denominator; identifying and modeling fractions greater than one; comparing unit fractions (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  finish SBAC practice performance task; practice argument writing.

Word Study - R-controlled vowels.

Science - February climate review. Magnet design challenge

Vermont history - Begin partner work reading about the Abenaki, leading to a poster presentation about their culture.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (4/3).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

This is the time of year when the dim Little Dipper juts to the right from Polaris (the Little Dipper's handle-end) during late evening. The much brighter Big Dipper curls over high above it, "dumping water" into it. They do the reverse water-dump in the fall.

After nightfall, Orion is still well up in the southwest in his spring orientation: striding down to the right, with his belt horizontal. The belt points left toward bright Sirius and right toward orange Aldebaran and, farther on, the Pleiades.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Module 4 final assessment; begin Module 5 - Fractions; modeling dividing wholes into parts (see enclosed letter).

Writing -  practice complex reading/writing task from the SBAC.

Word Study - Practice with open (long) first syllables and closed (short vowel) syllables + quiz.

Science - continue Magnet inquiry #3 - magnetic force vs. gravity - cite data in analysis and engage in a ‘scientist meeting’. February climate review.

Vermont history - Finish Champlain and the Silent One, continue building a list of cultural features of the native peoples and the Europeans. Begin partner work reading about the Abenaki, leading to a poster presentation about their culture.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux. Next week: Pearl (3/27).

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - As assigned Monday - Thursday.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

Tuesday is the equinox. At 12:15 p.m. EDT the center of the Sun crosses the equator — both Earth's equator and the celestial equator, which Earth's equator defines. This moment marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Now that it's spring, the signature fall-and-winter constellation Cassiopeia (the ‘W’) is retreating downward after dark. But for skywatchers at mid-northern latitudes Cassiopeia is circumpolar, never going away completely. Look for it fairly low in the north-northwest these evenings. It's still standing nearly on end.

January 03, 2023

This week students will be polishing and selecting pieces to share during the Writer’s Celebration on March 22.

This week:

Math -  The area model of multiplication, continued - finding the unknown (see enclosed letter)..

Writing -  Edit and polish reports; practice complex reading/writing task from the SBAC.

Word Study - Practice with open (long) first syllables and closed (short vowel) syllables + quiz on Friday..

Science - Magnet inquiry #3 - magnetic force vs. gravity. Also January climate review.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. We are building a list of cultural features of the native peoples and the Europeans.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Monday: L11, #2; Tuesday: L12, #3 & 4; Wednesday: L13, #2 & 3, Thursday, L14, #2.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance

Just after twilight fades away this week, bright Sirius stands due south on the meridian. Sirius is the bottom star of the equilateral Winter Triangle. The Triangle's other two stars are orange Betelgeuse (Orion's shoulder) to Sirius's upper right, and Procyon to Sirius's upper left.

January 03, 2023

A new room!  More to come as we get settled in….

This week:

Math -  Area as square units and two dimensions.

Writing -  Adapt our reports on Vermont flora and fauna into poetry.

Word Study - Words with open (long) first syllables, then closed (short vowel) syllables.

Science - Magnet inquiry #1 - testing the force of multiple magnets, and #2 - Push and pull. Also January climate review.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. Research on early Native American customs to be performed in skits.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (2/20).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Lesson 5 (pp. 23 -24).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Third week of February

Moose mothers keep their offspring with them throughout their first winter / Breeding  season for raccoons and skunks / Time to bring pussy willow shoots indoors for a preview of spring / Northern winters are hard on opossums. They don’t store enough fat to get through the winter, and when they go foraging they often get frostbitten ears and tails / Red-breasted nuthatches and chickadees cache food for only a short time; usually they retrieve it within a day.

January 03, 2023

We welcome new Barnet student Phil Campos to our classroom!  We’re also excited to move to our new (larger) classroom next week at the far end of the Primary Wing!

This week:

Math -  Finish Module 3 with multi-step problems; final assessment on Tuesday. Begin Module 4: Multiplication and Area (see enclosed letter).

Writing - Finish and share research paper on winter adaptations by Vermont flora and fauna:

Word Study - Words with open (long) first syllables.

Science - Magnet inquiry #1 - testing the force of multiple magnets.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. Research on early Native American customs to be performed in skits.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux. Next week: Pearl (2/13).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Pattern Sheet 2 (multiples of 4).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Second week of February

Breeding season for red foxes peaks in February. The male’s urine smells skunky / The algal component of lichens comes to life on warm winter days and photosynthesizes / Great horned owls are incubating eggs, often in the open where snow may cover the female as she sits on the nest / Look for the paired tracks of fishers zigzagging along wooded edges and in the woods / Buds of male aspen flowers and other catkin-producing trees sustain ruffed grouse in winter.

January 03, 2023

Please help third graders remember to have regular shoes to wear inside at school.

This week:

Math -  Multiplying by factors of ten; multi-step problems.

Writing - Quick, focused research paper on winter adaptations by Vermont flora and fauna: Taking notes in one’s own words and arranging them in a coherent way.

Word Study - Words with silent letters; quiz on Friday.

Science - Research on magnets.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. Research on early Native American customs to be performed in skits.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts. Next week: Lemieux (2/6).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Workbook pages 99-100.  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Word Study - If indicated with an asterisk here, you need to retake the quiz on the sounds of c,g and ch. A word list is provided (focus on asterisked words) to practice spelling and usage.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

First week of February

February 2: In Europe, badgers were believed to forecast the weather. Early settlers, finding no badgers here, resorted to the groundhog / Chickadee songs that help establish their breeding territories are common now / Honey bees may venture forth on warm days / Balsam firs can deal with massive amounts of snow. Their tapering shape allows them to shed snow when the load gets heavy / Coyote prey is scarce now and carrion is an important part of their diet.

January 03, 2023

This week Ms. Angel and Nurse Ruth will give lessons focusing on disabilities.

This week:

Math -  Multiplying by 0 and 1; patterns in the multiplication table; multi-step problems.

Writing - Quick, focused research paper on winter adaptations by Vermont flora and fauna: Taking notes in one’s own words and arranging them in a coherent way.

Reading - Literacy groups only on Wednesday this week (b/c of health/guidance classes).

Word Study - Words with silent letters.

Science - Research on magnets.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. Research on early Native American customs to be performed in skits.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Roberts (1/30).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Workbook pages 87-88.  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Fourth week of January

White-footed mice cache food to avoid prolonged exposure to cold weather / Carpenter ants are clustered and motionless inside big logs or trees. You might find them if you are splitting sub-standard firewood / Red crossbills’ beaks are large enough to open white pine cones. The smaller-billed white crossbills extract seeds from the smaller cones of hemlock, spruce, and fir / Bear cubs are born. Each of the two or three babies weighs in at 0.4 to 0.7 pounds.

January 03, 2023

Last week third graders completed the STAR assessments in reading and math for the second trimester. We also picked the best day of the week for our snowshoe walk!

This week:

Math -  Multiplication and division with units of 9; the distributive property. Mid-module assessment today.

Writing - Quick, focused research paper on winter adaptations by Vermont flora and fauna: Taking notes in one’s own words and arranging them in a coherent way.

Reading - New literacy groups start today.

Word Study - Practice with sounds of ‘c’, ‘g’, ‘ch’. Quiz on Friday.

Science - Workshop by the Montshire Museum on magnetism; review December climate data.

Social curriculum - Ms. Roy will give a workshop on respecting personal space.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (1/23).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Pattern Sheets 14 & 15 (both multiplying by 9).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Third week of January

Snow fleas are easy to see against the snow but are nearly invisible on dark ground. Any warm day now would be a good time to look / Aquatic frogs need to be in oxygen-rich water in the winter and can’t bury themselves in mud, which is what turtles do. Frogs are likely to be on top of the mud / If a January thaw compresses the snow, rodent tracks will be revealed /  Look for goldencrowned kinglets hanging from hemlock cones and hovering at the tips of twigs.

January 03, 2023

This week we begin a science unit on forces and motion with a focus on magnetism and gravity.  This is an inquiry unit, which means students will be learning the steps that scientists take to test questions: experiment planning, making strong predictions (using the word ‘because’), data gathering, tabulation and analysis, review of assumptions, and further questioning.

This week:

Math -  Multiplication and division with units of 8; use of parentheses in equations, the associative property. Mid-module assessment on Friday.

Writing - Quick, focused research paper on winter adaptations by Vermont flora and fauna: Taking notes in one’s own words and arranging them in a coherent way.

Word Study - Practice with sounds of ‘c’, ‘g’, ‘ch’.

Science - Workshops by VEEP and Montshire Museum on magnetism; review November and December climate data; snowshoe hike on Wednesday to study winter habitats (snowshoes provided).

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux. Next week: Pearl (1/16).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Pattern Sheets 11 & 12 (both multiplying by 8).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Second week of January

Hibernating black bears reabsorb nitrogen from their urine and use it to build new cells / Short-tailed shrews stay in their warmly-lined nests eating hoarded food when it’s cold. They forage under the leaf litter during warmer times / Whitetailed deer will remain yarded up beneath hemlock boughs on south-facing slopes when snow is deep.

January 03, 2023

The Vermont Economics unit interview project is due next week.  Please let me know if you need any assistance or have any questions.

This week:

Math -  Multiplication and division with units of 6 and 7; use of parentheses in equations.

Writing - Finish and share the official opinion piece on resilient river systems.

Word Study - Sounds of ‘c’, ‘g’, ‘th’, and ‘ch’.

Science - Work on and share poster project showing vulnerable and resilient rivers; properties of snow; review climate data.

VT economics - Complete the interview project at home.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts. Next week: Lemieux (1/9).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

VT Economics - Students will interview a family member or friend who runs or works for a local business.  Responses to the interview form will be used to fill out a ‘money cycle’ for that business.  Completed money cycle due January 8.

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Pattern Sheets 7 & 8 (both multiplying by 7).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

First week of January

Winter finches – siskins, redpolls, pine grosbeaks, crossbills – arrive in New England when spruce and fir trees in eastern Canada have low seed production / Crows scatter across the land in search of food by day, but gather in large groups at night / Shaking the straight stalks of mullein will release a shower of tiny black seeds on the snow / Mink tracks along streams often disappear as the animal takes to the water in search of fish, crayfish, or insects.

January 03, 2023

Have a festive and warm holiday vacation!

This week:

Math -  Multiplication and division with units of 6 and 7. See enclosed letter.

Writing - Draft and revise the official opinion piece on resilient river systems.

Word Study - Study days of the week & months of the year and 15 selected ‘no-excuse’ words. Quiz on Wednesday.

Science - Work on poster project showing vulnerable and resilient rivers.

VT economics - Discuss the interview project.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. After break: Roberts (1/2).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

VT Economics - Students will interview a family member or friend who runs or works for a local business.  Responses to the interview form (enclosed) will be used to fill out a ‘money cycle’ for that business (also enclosed).  Completed money cycle due January 8.

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Pattern Sheets 5 & 6 (both multiplying by 6).  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Third Week of December

The swollen, black, finger-like forms of the fungus called dead man’s fingers persist through the winter / The sterile fronds of Christmas ferns used to be harvested for Christmas greens. The tips of fertile fronds are now withered and brown and not so pretty / Wild turkeys will forage in apple and crabapple trees when snow is deep / Snowshoe hares use the same main trails over and over in winter; sometimes they pack the snow to be ready for a quick escape.

January 03, 2023

We are beginning a short unit in social studies on economics that builds on our knowledge of Vermont’s geography and natural resources to answer the question: how do Vermont’s natural resources influence its citizens and their economic decisions?  We’re using the construct of a money cycle (product -> market -> bank -> natural resources -> costs of production -> product) to understand how Vermont-based businesses operate.  Our first example was the maple sugar industry.  Next we’ll look at a diversified farming operation.  Students will have the homework assignment of interviewing a Vermont business owner or worker and filling in a money cycle diagram for that business.  More details to follow.

Fidget policy:  Squeezable fidgets are allowed as long as they (1) are only squeezed to aid attentiveness, (2) are not a distraction to others (e.g., no twirly fidgets), and (3) are not shared or traded with other students.

This week:

Math -  Begin Module 3 on multiplication and division with units of 0,1, 6-9, and 10. See enclosed letter.

Writing - Draft the official opinion piece on resilient river systems (tied to our science unit).

Word Study - Revisit days of the week & months of the year, plus other ‘no-excuse’ words..

Science -.Stream-table modeling of stream conditions; work on poster project showing vulnerable and resilient rivers.

VT economics - Study the economics of farming.

This is our teaching apprentice Jake Mead’s last week with us. We wish him well!

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Covered. Next week: Pearl (12/19).

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Unfinished Sprint 17.  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

December 13-14: The multicolored Geminid meteor show is the best and most reliable

of all the showers. This year the moon will not interfere / The winter constellation Orion can be seen in the southeastern sky / December to March is a good time to look for bald eagles fishing in open water below dams. These huge birds can live for over 30 years in the wild / If it’s suddenly silent at the birdfeeder, there might be a sharpshinned hawk in the neighborhood.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Review the addition and subtraction algorithms; final unit assessment on Thursday.

Writing - Draft and revise a practice opinion paper, focusing on topic sentences heading each paragraph and effective transition phrases. Next come the official opinion piece on resilient river systems (tied to our science unit).

Word Study - Days of the week & months of the year: spelling and sequence (quiz on Friday).

Science -.Stream-table modeling of stream conditions; work on poster project showing vulnerable and resilient rivers.

VT geography - Begin short unit on Vermont’s economy (the ‘money cycle’ as it relates to Vermont industries: e.g., farming, maple syrup, skiing, quarrying).

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Covered. Next week: Lemieux (12/12). More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - (1) Unfinished Sprint 14.  (2) In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

This Week at a Glance from Sky and Telescope Magazine

Once the Moon is well up in the east, look to its right or lower right for Betelgeuse. The rest of Orion extends farther right or lower right.

December 7: Earliest sunset of the year (if you're near latitude 40° north). By the time of the solstice and shortest day on December 21st, the Sun actually sets 3 minutes later than now. But the Sun doesn't rise its latest until January 4th. For these slight discrepancies, blame the tilt of Earth's axis and the ellipticity of Earth's orbit.

The five brightest stars of Cassiopeia are usually called a W, but late these nights Cas turns over to become a wide M, very high in the north.

January 03, 2023

We have adjusted our schedule to have lunch and recess with the younger crowd (K-2) in part to help the third graders grow their leadership skills. Lunch is now at 11:30 and recess is at noon each day.

This week:

Math -  Rounding to the nearest hundred; reviewing the addition and subtraction algorithms (see enclosed 2-sided letter).

Writing - Produce a new ‘small moment story’ about Thanksgiving.  Begin developing ideas for our next major writing piece: an opinion paper on resilient river systems (tied to our science unit).

Word Study - Days of the week & months of the year: spelling and sequence (quiz on Friday).

Science -.Stream-table modeling of stream conditions; take notes on Irene video After the Flood.

VT geography - Review assessment.  Begin short unit on Vermont’s economy (the ‘money cycle’ as it relates to Vermont industries: e.g., farming, maple syrup, skiing, quarrying).

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts. Next week: All set. More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Healthy bear cubs now weigh at least 75 pounds and will soon follow their mothers into

winter dens / Beavers are becoming more active / Raccoons are headed for their winter

quarters; sometimes shared with several other raccoons / Porcupines are mating. One –

never more than one – little porcupine will be born in the spring / Pileated woodpeckers

may be eating both wild and cultivated grapes / Meadows and fields are withered and brown – or perhaps covered with snow.

January 03, 2023

Have a warm and familial Thanksgiving!

This week:

Math -  Rounding to the nearest ten.

Writing - Produce a new ‘small moment story’ from scratch in two days: quality over quantity!

Word Study -

Science -.Review of October climate: actual vs. the norm.

VT geography - Assessment.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Roberts (11/28). More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Nov 17-18: The moon will be nearly new and won’t get in the way of the Leonids meteor shower as it peak. Partridgeberries are red and many birds and mammals are said to eat them. However, you find plenty of these fruits in the spring, too, so they may not be such a preferred food. Ruffed grouse are enlarging their shoe size in preparation for winter. They grow little fringes along each side of each toe to keep them from sinking into the snow.

January 03, 2023

On Thursday, educators and students from other schools will visit Barnet to see how we incorporate the outdoors into our social and academic curricula.  Our class will demonstrate our methods to observe the weather, study forest ecology, and assess streams.

This week:

Math -  Mid-module assessment (calculations using weights and volumes), STAR assessment, rounding to the nearest ten (see enclosed letter).

Writing - Polish ‘small moment stories’ (excerpted from the weather narratives). Typing practice. Introduction to parts of speech.

Word Study - Days of the week & months of the year (sequence and spelling).

Science -.Stream geomorphology, continued, with viewing of The Last Irene and note-taking on the causes and mitigation of flooding. Review of October climate data. ECO session on Wednesday will involve more ‘beaver engineering activities’ (i.e., building a dam, critiquing our work thus far).

VT geography - Study Vermont’s physiographic regions in terms of human use.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Pearl. Next week: Bailey (11/21). More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Unless indicated here,  students will bring home Sprint sheets to finish filling out (untimed).

In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Weights and volumes (metric units) and a review of place value, continued.

Writing - Share (with first and second graders audience!) and critique our Weather Narratives. Writing partners will provide feedback on clarity and plot. Typing practice. Introduction to parts of speech.

Word Study - Long vowel sounds review; quiz on Thursday.

Science -.Stream geomorphology workshop at the Montshire Museum on Wednesday.  Presentations on stream readings on Monday. Continue to watch Leave it to Beavers and take notes on the ecological  role played by beavers (a ‘keystone species’).

VT geography - Groups will present their hypotheses using our map resources on the reasons Vermont’s population centers are located where they are. Study Vermont’s physiographic regions in terms of human use.

Nuts and Bolts

Chaperones are still welcome for the field trip to the Montshire Museum of Science on Wednesday (leave 9:15, return 12:30 - in time for the second field trip for some students to see the performance in St J.).

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Lemieux (Hall). Next week: Pearl (11/14). More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Students will bring home Sprint sheets to finish filling out (untimed).

In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

January 03, 2023

Outdoor clothing: On the next several Wednesdays, we will be outside exploring streams.  The temperatures will start to chill down, so proper clothing will help ensure the comfort of our young scientists.  At the very least they should have sturdy footwear to explore the streambanks (that might get a little wet and muddy), and it would be beneficial to have mud or rain boots to actually go in the water.

This week:

Math -  Weights and volumes (metric units). See enclosed letter.

Writing - Finish drafting the Weather Narrative. Focus on editing. Writing partners will provide feedback on clarity and plot. Typing practice.

Word Study - Long vowel sounds, continued.

Science -.Stream geomorphology (we’ll watch Cloud Brook change with all the rain we’re getting!).  Continue to read Beaver Year and keep a timeline of a beaver’s life cycle; watch Leave it to Beavers and take notes on the ecological  role played by beavers (a ‘keystone species’). Continue making weather forecasts.

VT geography - Groups will present their hypotheses using our map resources on the reasons Vermont’s population centers are located where they are. Study Vermont’s physiographic regions in terms of human use.

Nuts and Bolts

Field Trip to the Montshire Museum of Science on November 8. Please return the permission form by this Friday. Chaperones are welcome!

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Roberts; next week (11/7): Lemieux (Hall). More families are welcome!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Students will bring home Sprint sheets to finish filling out (untimed).

In general: practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

The Eureka Math Tips for Parents sheet (page 2) has activities to do at home.

January 03, 2023

Beginning this week is an integrated unit that will blend the study of river geomorphology with extreme weather events (floods, using Irene as a case study, including learning notetakiing with the videos The Last Irene and After the Flood) as well as beaver ecology (read aloud Beaver Year, by Irene Brady, and watch PBS Nature's Leave it to Beavers).  The culminating project will be 'designing' a flood resilient river (through group posters, in tandem with the stream tables provided by the Montshire Museum as a model of each group's design).  We have some nice examples of geomorphology out our door with Cloud Brook and the Stevens River, and I'd like to use the next six weeks (before it gets too cold) to explore, sketch and predict what's happening with those waterbodies.

This week:

Math -  Working with elapsed time using analog clocks and number (time) lines.

Writing - Finish drafting the Weather Narrative, with individual conferences. Check for use of commas; correcting run-on sentences. ‘Explode the moment’ for feelings and setting. Writing partners will provide feedback on clarity and plot. Typing practice.

Word Study - Begin the next round of spelling and usage of vowel sounds..

Science -.Read Beaver Year and keep a timeline of a beaver’s life cycle; watch Leave it to Beavers and take notes on the ecological  role played by beavers (a ‘keystone species’). Continue making weather forecasts.

VT geography - Groups will develop and present an hypothesis using our map resources on the reasons Vermont’s population centers are located where they are.

Nuts and Bolts

Teaching Apprentice Jake Mead is a student at LSC who is spending time in our classroom this fall.  If this letter is initialed, please return the form ASAP to allow him to videotape himself when he teaches lessons.

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  The current count is four families signed up!  This week the Baileys have it covered with applesauce.

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Poster presentations of group work on a multi-step problem. Final Module 1 assessment on Wed. Begin Module 2: Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure, starting with time (see enclosed letter).

Writing - Continue drafting the Weather Narrative, with individual conferences. Use of commas; correcting run-on sentences. Learning to ‘explode the moment’ for feelings and setting. Typing practice.

Word Study - Partners practice spelling and usage of vowel sounds. Dictation on Friday.

Science - Exploration hike to find signs of winter. Review forest structure data and make predictions. Possible lab on apple varieties.

VT geography - Use road maps of Vermont to conduct a scavenger hunt for various features. Develop an hypothesis using our map resources on the reasons Vermont’s population centers are located where they are.

Nuts and Bolts

Teaching Apprentice Jake Mead is a student at LSC who is spending time in our classroom this fall.  If this letter is initialed, please return the form ASAP to allow him to videotape himself when he teaches lessons.

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  The current count is four families signed up!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts for 15 minutes three times per week: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request. On IXL, work on any of the skills in the first two columns of choices.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  The last lessons of Module 1: The distributive property, using tape diagrams, number bonds, and arrays. Final assessment likely early  next week.

Writing - Narrative writing, to be connected with our weather unit, using I Survived: Hurricane Katrina 2005 as a mentor text.   Draft the beginning (character and setting details) and the middle (the main problem occurs), and anticipate how the story will end. Learning to ‘explode the moment’ for feelings and setting. Typing practice.

Word Study -  vowel sounds; partners practice spelling and usage.

Science - Climates of the world. Review forest structure data and make predictions.

VT geography - Use road maps of Vermont to conduct a scavenger hunt for various features.

Nuts and Bolts

Teaching Apprentice Jake Mead is a student at LSC who is spending time in our classroom this fall.  If you haven’t done so, please return the form ASAP to allow him to videotape himself when he teaches lessons.

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  We only have two families signed up!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts: (1) complete Pattern Sheets 16 and 21.  Practice skip counting by four or five (depending on the sheet) orally before timing your child for two minutes on each sheet.  Indicate how far s/he got in 2 minutes and have him/her finish the sheet without being timed.  Return the sheets when complete.

(2)The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  The distributive property. See enclosed parent letter.

Writing - Narrative writing, to be connected with our weather unit, using I Survived: Hurricane Katrina 2005 as a mentor text.  Research weather information to include in the story.  Draft the beginning (character and setting details). Learning to ‘explode the moment’ for feelings and setting. Typing practice.

Word Study -  vowel sounds; practice with anagrams.

Science - Weather lore.  A lab on what makes a  fruit (vs. a vegetable).  Forest ecology lab on forest competition.

VT geography - Vermont’s counties, cities and towns.

Nuts and Bolts

Teaching Apprentice Jake Mead is a student at LSC who is spending time in our classroom this fall.  Enclosed is a form to allow him to videotape himself when he teaches lessons.  Please return it at your earliest convenience.

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  We only have two families signed up!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (recorded on the log and signed by an adult and returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts: The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition, subtraction and multiplication facts, or I can send home worksheets by request.

January 03, 2023

This week:

Math -  Multiplying by units of 2,3 and 4. Using tape diagrams to represent division. See enclosed parent letter.

Writing - Narrative writing, to be connected with our weather unit, using I Survived: Hurricane Katrina 2005 as a mentor text.  Research weather information to include in the story.  Draft the beginning (character and setting details). Learning to ‘explode the moment’ for feelings and setting.

Word Study -  vowel sounds; practice with anagrams.

Science - Make a complete weather observation and forecast; continue exploration of cloud types and formation.  Forest ecology: factors that affect tree growth, including a second field lab studying tree associations (tree i.d. tips included).

VT geography - River systems, watersheds and topography.

Nuts and Bolts

Teaching Apprentice Jake Mead is a student at LSC who is spending time in our classroom this fall.  Enclosed is a form to allow him to videotape himself when he teaches lessons.  Please return it at your earliest convenience.

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  We still just have one family signed up!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (recorded on the log and signed by an adult and returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts: (1) complete Pattern Sheets 11, 12, and 15.  Practice skip counting by two, three or four (depending on the sheet) orally before timing your child for two minutes on each sheet.  Indicate how far s/he got in 2 minutes and have him/her finish the sheet without being timed.  Return the sheets when complete.

(2) The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources for practicing addition and subtraction facts, or I can send home worksheets by request.

January 03, 2023

Given our warm weather recently (and into the near future at least), students have been thirsty and frequently asking to get drinks at the water fountain.  Staying hydrated is important, but the requirement to send folks one at a time takes forever and impinges on instructional time.  Some students already have water bottles, but I strongly encourage everyone to have a water bottle at school each day. Thanks!

This week:

Math -  Using the array model to break up multiplication problems into easier parts. Using tape diagrams to represent division. See enclosed parent letter.

Writing - Narrative writing, to be connected with our weather unit, using I Survived: Hurricane Katrina 2005 as a mentor text.  Learning to ‘explode the moment’ for feelings and setting.

Word Study -  consonant blends and digraphs revisited, vowel sounds; practice with anagrams.

Science - Make a complete weather observation and forecast; further exploration of cloud types and formation.  Forest ecology: factors that affect tree growth, including a field lab studying tree associations (tree i.d. tips included).

VT geography - River systems and topography.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  Thanks BillyJo Roberts for starting us off this week!

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (recorded on the log and signed by an adult and returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts: start with addition and subtraction. Do related sets of facts at a time, for example, adding or subtracting 3. The IXL and Prodigy sites are good online resources.

January 03, 2023

In addition to digging into the various subjects in earnest last week, we practiced the five essential listening skills, which you are welcome to model at home! (1) face the speaker, (2) voice resting (wait for the speaker to finish), (3) hands fidget free, (4) eyes on the speaker and (5) ears really listening (i.e., thinking about what is said, asking clarifying questions).

The last 30 minutes of math each day is a choice time call ‘Math Menu.’  Menu promotes a co-teaching format among classroom teachers, special educators and math specialists. Intervention and enrichment are done in the classroom as much as possible. Menu time is geared toward:

• • exposure to the curriculum in various formats

  • project-based learning

  • problem-solving

  • additional practice

  • review of foundational skills, often through games

Students are motivated and engaged by the activities during Menu time.  They have two weeks to fulfill their ‘contract’ of activities, before starting again.

This week:

Math - Continue Module 1: Properties of Multiplication and Division, with units of 2-5 and 10; using the array model to break up multiplication problems into easier parts. See enclosed parent letter.

Writing - Narrative writing, to be connected with our weather unit, using I Survived: Hurricane Katrina 2005 as a mentor text.

Word Study -  consonant blends and digraphs; practice with anagrams.

Science - Make a complete weather observation and forecast. Forest ecology: factors that affect tree growth, including a field lab studying the environment of individual trees.

VT geography - Vermont and Waterford  in context.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  Once a critical mass of folks sign up, we’ll start the rotation.

Book order manager - is anyone interested in taking this on?  Let Mr. B. know.

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (recorded on the log and signed by an adult and returned the following Monday).

Math - Practice facts: start with addition and subtraction. The IXL site is a good online resource. In addition, students will complete Pattern Sheets 9 and 10.  Practice skip counting by two orally before timing your child for two minutes on each sheet.  Indicate how far s/he got in 2 minutes and have him/her finish the sheet without being timed.  Return the sheets when complete.

January 03, 2023

Math homework will be increased to every night Monday through Thursday.  Given 20 minutes of reading every night, the remaining ten minutes of a third grader’s nightly homework time shall be spent doing a complete job on a particular problem or problems.  The goal is quality, not endless hours doing many problems.  A good solution reflects the student’s thinking, any relevant information from the problem, a number sentence, and a word sentence that contains the answer with units. An example is provided as a reference.  This week’s problems are listed below.  They should be done that night and turned in the next day in the maroon folder.

This week:

Math -  The area model of multiplication (see enclosed letter)..

Writing -  Share poems; practice complex reading/writing task from the SBAC.

Word Study - Practice with open (long) first syllables and closed (short vowel) syllables + quiz.

Science - Magnet inquiry #2 - Push and pull. Also January climate review.

Vermont history - Read aloud and discussion of Champlain and the Silent One, about Champlain’s voyage to Lake Champlain and the conflict between the Abenaki and the Iroquois. Research on early Native American customs to be performed in skits.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - This week (Tuesday): Bailey. Next week: Roberts (3/13).

½ Birthdays - If your child has an August birthday, s/he is welcome to celebrate it this month!

Homework

Reading - Either specific reading group assignments, or 20 minutes of free reading every night (all reading is recorded on the log each night and signed by an adult to be returned the following Monday).

Math - Monday: p. 36, #2 & 3; Tuesday: p. 42, #3 & 5; Wednesday: Lesson 8 pattern sheet.

Natural History Notes by Virginia Barlow, Northern Woodlands Magazine

Fourth week of February

If you see one brown creeper spiraling up a tree, look for another following it, perhaps part of their pre-breeding behavior / Common redpolls are erratic migrants, and when they show up they are often in large, chittering flocks, happy to find your birdfeeder / On warm days look for stoneflies perched on rocks near clean rivers and streams. They will mate and the female will lay eggs back in the water / Spring is near: time to clean out the bluebird houses.

January 03, 2023

We are now in Week 3 of the new school year!  We have spent the last two weeks getting reacquainted, developing and practicing classroom norms, and beginning to think about what it means to be a third grader.  In third grade, the academic expectations begin to ramp up, as we learn to back our claims with evidence in every subject area.  This weekly newsletter will keep you up-to-date on what is going on in our classroom and will also be available on our class web page, which is linked to the Barnet School site - under Academics).

A science unit that we will study all year is Weather and Climate, with the following essential questions: (1) What regulates weather and climate? (2) What is typical weather in different parts of the world and during different times of the year? (3) How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies?  We’ll become practiced weather observers and forecasters, and take a field trip to the Fairbanks Museum later in the fall. During the fall ‘field season’, when we can get outside and utilize the amazing natural resources on the school property, we’ll also study Interdependence, with the following essential questions:(1) What happens to ecosystems as the environment changes? (2) What is biodiversity, how do humans affect it, and how does it affect humans? (3) How do organisms grow and develop?  We’ll focus on observational skills and nature journaling, forest and beaver ecology, and how beavers can influence flooding cycles in rivers.  In social studies, we’ll start off with Vermont Geography accompanied by learning mapping and map-reading skills.

This week:

Math - Continue Module 1: Properties of Multiplication and Division, with units of 2-5 and 10; factors and arrays, division as the missing factor. Introduce math menu contracts (more on this next week).  See enclosed parent letters.

Literacy groups - Begin this week..

Writing - Introduction to Chromebooks and Google Docs; typing practice

Word Study -  anagrams.

Science - Observing the weather: sky (& satellite imagery), wind, temperature, barometric pressure, precipitation (& radar); making predictions, focusing on cloud types. Forest ecology: factors that affect tree growth (deciduous vs. coniferous forests).

VT geography - Vermont and Waterford  in context.

Nuts and Bolts

Snack rotation - I would like to have families join a rotation to provide class snack on Tuesdays of each week.  Once a critical mass of folks sign up, we’ll start the rotation.

Homework

Unless otherwise assigned specifically by their reading teachers, third graders will be expected to read every day for at least 20 minutes.  The reading material can be just about anything: it’s the exposure to words that counts.  Success in school is directly related to the amount of words children are exposed to (both orally and visually).  I strongly encourage families to read together and discuss what you read. A reading log will be sent home each week to be filled out by the student (and initialed by an adult) and returned on the following Monday.  The other regular homework will be to study math facts, which form the basis of all their other math work. This will take several forms, including on-line practice. Beyond that, there will be occasional special projects (usually related to science and social studies) that should be fun to do at home and where students will have a week or two to complete.

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