New Experiences!

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today many students had a new experience while practicing our Word of the Day: Symphony.

I played an example of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in class.The students kept asking for more!  They were introduced to Mozart's 39th Symphony, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, and John Williams conducting a symphony of the Star Wars theme.  Many students now want to learn how to play instruments such as the violin, harp, flute, and trombone.  One even wants to learn how to be the conductor!  It was a great discussion and conversation that I hope continues at home.

Math on the other hand was an up and down experience.  First down, then up.  :-)  Now that we are on our addition and subtraction unit, students were told to show their work on their homework.  Only 10 students did that.  :-(  I wanted to see if students knew how to carry.  I am also seeing that students still do not want to use good sentences to answer the extended response.  I am looking for more than one sentence.  Usually that ONE sentence includes the answer but no explanation on how they got the answer.  Please, please, please, help me!  Close to 50% of the PARCC (formally ISAT) math test will involve writing. I really need my students to start following my directions and explain their answers.  There are only a few who even give it a fair try.  Again, their sentences should include not just their answer, but how they got they answer.  However, on the upside, after a short review on subtraction, I told the students that I will be giving them one of two different assignments.  Some will get worksheet 9, while others will get worksheet 93.  I was pleasantly surprised when a good majority of the students asked if they could do both!  I do appreciate that initiative.

So . . . . Tonight's Homework
Spelling: Unit 7 workbook pages 45 and 46
Math: Worksheet 9 or Worksheet 93  (Remember, if they have both, it's because they asked for it. . . . and no extended response tonight.  Yeah!)

Thanks for your patience and understanding!