Viewing: May, 2013
May 29, 2013
Upcoming Dates
Here are some important notes for the next two days:
Thursday
TBS Transition Day (Dress appropriately for the weather!)
Spring Concert and Open House (Kids MUST arrive by 6:30pm. Families are invited to the concert, starting at 7:00pm. Please plan to stay for Open House in the classrooms after the concert!)
Friday
Decathalon (Wear sneakers and your gr. 4 shirts)
Spirit Day (Wear funny, mismatched shoes)
World No Tobacco Day (Wear Blue)
Yup! Three activities that each ask you to dress up in a special way! How’s that for a fun challenge?! 🙂 Are you up for it, gang?
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 28, 2013
My Growing Family
Hello families! First, let me take this opportunity to express my belated appreciation for the beautiful handprint artwork (that you see hanging in Charlie’s new bedroom) and for the birthday celebration that you surprised me with! I always appreciate your kind gestures, big and small! (…and Charlie appreciates the artwork; so much, in fact, that he keeps trying to give high-fives to the kids’ hand prints!)
I think most of you know that Charlie will be a big brother any time now! My family is eagerly awaiting our new baby’s arrival, and I’d like to give you a preview of what the next few weeks will be like in our class. When Baby Moss comes, I will take a brief leave to be with my family. I expect to be out between one and two weeks. If Baby Moss does not come early, my last day will be on Wednesday, June 5th. During my absence, Mrs. Nori will be teaching our class. She has subbed for me several times this year alone, and has worked in my classroom for many years. She knows our class routines well, and she is very familiar with my expectations. She covered my leave when Charlie was born in 2009, and she has my complete confidence. I am leaving detailed plans for her so that meaningful instruction will continue during my absence.
In the event that Baby Moss comes today, tomorrow, or Thursday, please know that TUSS presentations will be delayed until I return. Additionally, because our open house activities are directly tied into many of the technology-focused presentations, if the baby comes early and I am not able to set up the computers for the 15+ tech-based presentations, our class’ open house night will be postponed. Students will still come to school for the spring concert, and they are invited to remain for the ice cream social, if they have RSVP’ed for the event. In the event that this happens, I will tentatively schedule our class’ TUSS open house night for Tuesday, June 18th. But again, this is only in the event that Baby Moss arrives early, which is not likely. I do expect this Thursday’s open house evening to go as planned.
Thank you in advance for your flexibility over the next few weeks. While I will be in regular communication with Mrs. Nori and Mrs. Deming during my absence, I appreciate your understanding that I may not quickly reply to emails so that I can focus on my family. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 27, 2013
May 22, 2013
Number the Stars Survey
Students, please complete this SURVEY about your experience with Number the Stars.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHM0YU1sNUV5TE5NcnpkYlN3NjhrQkE6MA
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 21, 2013
Student News: Math Videos
Last week, we opened the Computer Station as an option for CCLS activities. One of the choices kids have at the Computer Station is to write a short article for the class website. Here is a quick article from 12 and 7!
Last week (5-16-13) we made a video on how to divide decimals as a class. Here are some opinions on the video : 7 says, “The video is very helpful but it is hard to learn right away.” 12 says, “The video is very helpful.” As 7 said, it is hard to learn right away so I recommend doing the problems along with it. I also recommend watching the video.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 16, 2013
Dividing Decimals
Looking for help with tonight’s homework? Look no further! Here is a video we recorded together in class today!
Posted in Learning Resources|By Jon Moss
May 13, 2013
May 9, 2013
Update on Number The Stars Program
Good evening! Tomorrow is the last day that the theater educators from the Hartford Stage will be with fourth grade classes teaching lessons about Number the Stars, and I wanted to give you an update on how those activities have been going. Emely, the Theater Educator, has been doing a wonderful job helping the kids to understand what takes place in Number the Stars. Her activities focus much more on the events in the book than they do on specific details about the Holocaust in general, which helps to keep the activities appropriate for kids.
Monday’s lesson focused primarily on dramatic terms and activities to help the kids to get prepared for the rest of the week. On Tuesday, the kids were introduced to the character of Ellen Rosen, a young Jewish girl living in Copenhagen, whose life has changed because of the Nazi presence. The kids learned a bit about what was happening during the Holocaust, and particularly how it affected Ellen’s relationship with her non-Jewish friend, Annemarie. These programs tend to progress through key parts of the book, so Wednesday’s activity focused on a section that took place later on in the novel, where Ellen’s family learned that they must leave in order to avoid being captured by the Nazi soldiers. The kids learned that Annemarie’s family willingly accepted Ellen to stay with them, in hopes of protecting her, while Ellen’s parents sought protection elsewhere. As they had in previous days, the kids participated in some dramatic activities to act out some of the conversations and situations that the young girls found themselves in.
Today’s activities were the most dramatic and revealing. This morning, the kids were invited to role-play what it would be like for them, playing the role of Ellens parents, to say goodbye to their daughter who was staying with another family for her own protection. This was a very dramatic activity for the kids, as they had to explain to Emely, who was playing the role of Ellen, their daughter, why they could not stay with her, and why it was not safe for her to come with them. They did a wonderful job thinking about what the parents would actually say to their daughter in that situation, and they showed their understanding of what they had been taught on previous days.
The final activity from today, however, was the most emotional, and, I think, eye-opening for the kids. By moving desks and chairs, our class was transformed into a train traveling out of Denmark. A Nazi soldier, again played by Emely (the theater educator), boarded the train and began to interview the passengers (the kids in our class). The kids were all assigned different roles, such as being a member of a Jewish family, being a member of a group of non-Jewish colleagues who were traveling for business, and other various roles. As they were questioned by the Nazi soldier, the kids did a very impressive job sticking to their characters as they tried to prove that they should not be targets of the soldier’s investigations. As really happened in history, the soldier identified many people, Jews and non-Jews, that she thought needed to be taken off the train. Passengers (the kids) were forced to quickly think on their feet and to come up with explanations to try and save themselves and their companions. This sparked a rich discussion later on as we discussed what the kids were thinking about during the activity.
There is no doubting that this is a very realistic activity, and some of the kids had an emotional reaction, along with both of their teachers, and other participants. One of the challenges in teaching kids about the Holocaust is helping them to develop a frame of reference. Here, fortunately, the kids in our class do not generally have any basis for understanding the concepts of genocide, hatred, and Anti-Semitism. We work very hard to give the kids an understanding of what happened, and an ability to relate to the experiences of people who lived during that time, while not putting the kids under undue stress.
Following these activities, the kids and I always have follow-up conversations, and I encourage kids to share their feelings and their concerns. I always reassure the students that these are events that happened long ago, and that they are safe here in their homes, in Connecticut. When the kids share how sad it is to learn about this, I remind them about the importance of learning about these historical events, among other reasons, so that we can make absolutely sure that nothing like this ever happens again.
Some of the kids may have come home and started discussions about these activities. I encourage you to continue to have these discussions with your children, as I try to avoid going into some of the more graphic details with kids. Students are explicitly asked to avoid discussing these topics during lunch and recess so that they can benefit from having an adult to facilitate the conversations.
If your son and daughter seems concerned or stressed by what they’ve learned, I encourage you to remind them, first and foremost, that their feelings are understandable and valid! I never tell kids “not to be upset” because the material we are learning about is, in fact, upsetting. It’s understandable for kids to feel upset and saddened by the events, but if they are afraid, I remind them that these are events from long ago, and that they are safe in their own communities. I also remind them that the police in their community are very different from the Nazi soldiers who patrolled the streets in Copenhagen, and that the police officers in their town are trustworthy, safe people who really are there to help and protect them.
Tomorrow will be the last day of the role playing activities. They will learn about some of the later events in the text, and at the end, the students will receive copies of the novel. This week’s activities will serve as a framework for when we read the novel together.
Please continue to be in touch with me if you have any questions as we continue this important unit.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
May 8, 2013
NTS – Day 3 Discussion Topics
We had a very thoughtful conversation about the Holocaust this morning. It was a serious conversation about some very mature topics, and I compliment you for how respectfully and maturely you ALL participated in our discussion. I know some of you still have questions, and I want you to know that we will definitely continue talking in class, in addition to these online discussion groups.
Today, we are trying something new! I have posted three different discussion topics for you. But you have choices about what to do. All three of these relate to the sleepover that Annemarie and Ellen are going to have.
FIRST, log on to your class website account. (Step two won’t work unless you log on. That’s a safety feature.)
SECOND, click HERE to see the different Number the Stars discussion topics. Today, there are three: They are called Ellen’s Fears, Conversations, and Ellen’s Parents.
THIRD, choose which two topics interest you the most. Post your ideas in response to the questions asked in two different topics. As always, be sure to watch your grammar, and be sure to support your responses well.
If you have any questions, please email me. I hope you enjoy the new choices you have for tonight’s homework!
Posted in Homework Assignments|By Jon Moss
May 7, 2013
NTS – Living during a time of war?
While Emely was in our class today, you all discussed what it would sound like to grow up during a time of war. Listening to your cacophony of wartime noises was bone-chilling! Can you imagine what it would be like to grow up during a time of war?
This evening, you will discuss how your childhood would be different if you lived in a warzone. What would you not be able to do? What challenges would you face? How would life be different for you? Be specific in your ideas, and be sure to proofread before posting.
When you comment on other people’s messages, be sure to add your own ideas. (Don’t just say something like “Yeah, I agree.” or “Right!” or “Good job, 24!”
Your assignment is to post ONE original idea and to respond to AT LEAST one other person’s comment.
Posted in Homework Assignments|By Jon Moss