Thursday, September 14, 2017 Inch&Miles, Place Value, Technology & Debate, Pooping in Space and Student Led Conferences

Is is really Thursday, and I am just updating the website now? We have been moving forward this week... Inch and Miles We continue to put forth progress in creating our pyramid slide presentations. The students should complete their presentations by early next week. Place Value -- 2017 version We continue to plug away with the place value process. Students are being challenged to understand the concept of how the value of a number increases by ten as it moves left on the number line (1's, 10's, 100's, 1000's, 10000's, etc..) and they decrease by ten as it moves to the right on the number line (1's, 1/10th's, 1/100th's, 1/1000th's, etc.....) Students have their first "real" test returned to them. They are to correct and analyze the problems that they missed on the test, have you sign the test result page and return this to me by Tuesday. Technology and Counterpoints Our reading during the day has focused on the concept of technology impact combined with the idea of counterpoints. So the phrases pros/cons are being discussed. We also have discussed idioms and different types of expressions. Feel free to throw out frequent idioms or point them out when you use them around the house. We have also had fun discussing how many people misuse the phrase "literally" versus figuratively. On a related note, we continue beta testing a language arts program that the district is considering purchasing. It is a humungous improvement from our now 12+-year-old adopted program. Today, the company, Wonders, sent a teacher out to teach a lesson using all of the tools available in the program. It is definitely modern, uses technology and has many collaborative situations built into the program. Therefore, if your kids tell you about "Mrs. Moore" teaching today, it was our guest lecturer. Science: Outerspace and the Challenges Living w/out gravity We had a spirited question and answer session regarding the challenges of our human digestive system when there is no gravity around. NASA's Space Poop Challenge How Stuff Works -- bathroom in space Goals and Studen Led Conferences Shortly, your son or daughter may approach you regarding goals you believe they need or for ideas. We will discuss it in class however sometimes they turn into the adults they love and whom they know will have opinions regarding the subject.
6 Characteristics of Top CEOs
Four Qualities that successful CEOs have
7 personality traits CEOs need
The schedule will come out later tonight.

Homework:

Reading and Reflection:

“At least” 30 minutes of reading Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening. Then complete the weekly reflection questions and reading journal. (video, type it out or handwrite it out)

Math:

Zearn.org and Eureka Math

Thursday evening: Take notes and complete Zearn.org Module 1 Lesson 12

Complete Module 1 Lesson 11 homework pages if not completed

in class.

IXLs Due Friday (“at least to 80” and GP = Graph Paper in math notebook):

Divide by powers of ten (5-J.1)	GP
Decimal division patterns over increasing place values (5-J.2)	GP
Convert decimals between standard and expanded form (5-G.5)
Equivalent decimals (5-G.6)

Brainpops (due on Friday -- movie and quizzes):

1. Information Privacy
2. Media Literacy Assignment
3. Ethics Assignment
4. Digital Compass Game

Is it Thursday already? 9/7/2017

Inch and Miles, Success and Character Education
We completed all 15 of the blocks to John Wooden's Pyramid of Success. Students began their first real group project today. They will be explaining in their own words what each of the 15 blocks means to them. They will also explain what some of Coach Wooden's quotes mean to them. 

Camp Survey and Plea for Donations..
We explain the little dance that we do where we can not explicitly say paying $300 is mandatory while also explaining that if we don't collect enough "donations," then we can not feasibly and realistically go to Outdoor Education Camp. I love bureaucracy and governmental solutions -- our legislators so often display transcending nuance crafting laws that I'm sure had the best intentions at some point. On a positive note related this issue, PFC does have some limited scholarships for families that would like donation assistance. Plus, the school is willing to set up any interest-free payment plan. In an ideal world, every student would attend this exceptional and life altering experience. So the school/PFC will work with you to make it happen!! We also make our case why you want to be a chaperone -- where the kids will remember you for a life time since for many kids you will be their first "mom" or "dad" in an away from home environment. Please do NOT send money in yet rather just send in your survey responses!!

Ms. Quon fits right in
If you son or daughter come home mentioning Ms. Quon, she is our student teacher through December. She is with us Monday-Friday. She is a local, and this is her first semester at teaching credential (technically + a summer session).

First the 30 minutes of reading + the Zearn.org 
We had a discussion about how to prioritize homework.  The reading every weeknight is a non-negotiable and just needs to happen. Then the Zearn.org is the basis of our math lessons, and then we bang out and work on our homework. Falling behind on Zearn means your son or daughter is allegedly working on a homework assignment figuratively blind since they have not yet had a chance with Zearn.org to interactively learn the lesson.  It is like attending a book club trying to answer questions about the book that you have not read yet. 

If you ever need more time on the IXLs, Brainpops, or the weekly journal, just reach out to me. While no one desires weekend homework, these are not as high priority as the reading minutes and the Zearn.org

Brainpop -- fixed for the kids but not for my account
All but one student has successfully logged into Brainpop. The have fixed the students' issues. I still can't see or change their passwords, so I'm hoping your son or daughter do not lose their passwords anytime soon. 

Place Value Lessons
Multiplying and Dividing by 10, 100, 1000 by moving back and forth through the place value chart seems to be working fine. The lesson on metric conversion is still a work in progress. So we will practice that some more. Tonight's lesson, #7, in Zearn.org is waaaay different than anything you were taught in elementary arithmetic.  It involves converting ones into tenths and/or converting tens into tenths. Heck, it involves converting tens into hundredths. It makes it easier for us to create number lines, find "mid-points" and determine when to round up or round down. Just like that, Eureka math has killed off: bunny hops when multiplying by 10,100 or 1000; killed off "look to the right, if it is four or less then you let it rest" when you round and killed off imperial measurements. Spoiler alert but your "Please Excuse Your Dear Aunt Sally" will eventually reach a similar demise. What has a higher kill rate? Eureka math or Games of Thrones? 

Weekly Reading Journal and Reflection Questions
Here is the video where I publically embarrass myself in the kickoff video. 

We met Ms. Quon, Brainpop not yet fixed, & more metrics

Circle Time:
We had a special circle time where we could get to know our student teacher, Ms. Quon. We also spent time sharing out how everyone tried to address the record heat days on Friday afternoon and Saturday. 

Brainpop Update 
Quickly, all the students who couldn't log in had their passwords reset to a common password. So everyone should be able to sign in and use Brainpop.
They told me that they fixed the teacher bug that I discovered, however, I can no longer sign into my classroom account. Therefore, I am unable to assign work nor see the user names of my students. 

Multiplying or dividing with 10s, 100s, 1,000s and the metric system
We are converting with metric length. Therefore, we are with transferring between millimeters, centimeters, and meters. 
We also had some fun taking competitive Kahoot.com quizzes regarding the metric system. We did a quiz where they worked independently, and then they did a quiz where they worked as a collaborative team.  I was so so proud of how the teams worked well together, supported each other and no one became upset or critique anyone when they got a question wrong. This class does a great job of helping each other. 

Homework -- 
It is a 20% shorter week for homework if you consider I only give homework on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. However, there are still four IXLs and four Brainpops due by Friday, therefore, the kids will need to organize and how they break down their responsibilities on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We discussed this as a class after lunch however they still should be strongly encouraged to not leave most of their IXLs/Brainpops until Thursday evening.