Week of September 12–16

Week of September 12–16

We are working on defining what makes “beautiful work” and the importance of revision. We have made physical representations, and the students are working on presenting their work.

We have also been studying the systems that society requires in order to best function and meet its members’ needs, and what happens when a part of that system breaks down. Students are analyzing the systems and creating a skit to share their information and demonstrate their suggestions. We have also been reading newspapers and researching how this applies to current events as well as decision making. The students have decided to write to the city as well as their representatives to share their suggestions, which we will begin working on next week. We will also be building upon this to look at community planning today as well as examine the ways people lived during periods of time throughout history.

The students have taken a math assessment. We will begin working on skills next week.

We have created our class constitution and are now ready to finalize and ratify it.

We have begun writing fiction stories and are working on critiquing and building a safe environment to share our work. Soon, we will be working on grammar based on the students’ writing.

This week we set up the science lab and made the room our own. It has been great to have two classrooms.

Supplies:

Students need to bring in and have in class each day several composition books or spirals and a free reading book, as well as a few pens and pencils.

Assignments:

Students were assigned to research their topics and bring in a newspaper or magazine article. They were also asked to figure out what supplies their family would need for 72 hours in an emergency, and make a checklist of whether or not they have those supplies.

Announcements:

Back to School Night is Thursday from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Have a good week!

Diana and Lisa