Viewing: September, 2018
September 28, 2018
Why Read 2018
Our class did a TERRIFIC job performing at today’s Town Meeting!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
September 24, 2018
Starting Homework
Hello, families! Today, we’re kicking off our homework routines. They’re quite a bit different from past years, but I strongly believe we’re improving the learning process for kids in making these changes. Each week, students will receive a single math assignment. It is intended to be completed over multiple nights and will cover a variety of topics that we’ve taught in prior weeks. The idea is that the concepts on the homework aren’t BRAND new and, instead, are ones with which students have had a good amount of practice. (We all know how frustrating it is for students – and families – when they bring home a worksheet based on the day’s challenging lesson, and come home thoroughly baffled! That doesn’t help anyone! By basing the week’s homework on past weeks’ skills, ones they’ve practiced and applied, I’m hopeful that students will feel more confident and proficient.) When there’s something on the homework that I expect will be unfamiliar to parents, I will do my best to send out a video to help families understand the strategy we’re using in class. Tonight, for example, you’ll see two items that involve renaming numbers. (2,900 = __ hundreds, for example.) Here is a pair of videos to bring you up to speed on the strategy I’ve taught students.
Homework for reading and writing will take more of a varied form. Sometimes, it will be an activity directly tied to a skill we’re working on in class. For example, this week, students will be asked to keep track of the thoughts they have as they read. (We’ve been working on this a lot in class.) Other times, students will be given an assignment tied to the book they’re reading at home. Or their homework may set the groundwork for an upcoming lesson.
Remember, students always have free-choice reading for homework (around 30 minutes), and they should always take time to practice those often-elusive math facts. Stay tuned for ideas on both of these responsibilities.
If you ever have any questions about homework or anything else, please feel free to contact me!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
September 6, 2018
2018-2019 Curriculum Night
Hello, families! Thank you for joining me for my very long (sorry) presentation this evening! I hope you found it helpful! If you weren’t able to join us in the classroom, you can join us from the comfort of your own home! Here’s a recording of the session for you to enjoy:
At the end of the session, my computer decided that I’d gone on long enough and that it was time for me to wrap it up. But the only thing we missed was a slide telling you to visit our class website (which you’ve done, if you’re reading this) and to thank you for coming! So… thanks for coming, both in person and virtually! 😀
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss