High Ability Update

Since word ladders are great for building students' decoding, phonics, spelling, and vocabulary skills, we spent more time on them. Word ladders require the students to examine sound-symbol relationships closely. This kind of analysis helps children learn to decode and spell accurately. Word ladders help extend students' understanding of words and concepts. So even though word ladders feel like fun puzzles/games, they are providing practice with essential literacy skills:)

I've been feeling confident that the students have a good grasp on our geometry material, so I gave them a few "quizzes" to check in. Other than me reading/explaining directions, the students completed their quizzes independently. A couple of them were excited to work alone versus whole group, partners, or small groups. They did amazing on their quizzes! They definitely have a good grasp on our HA geometry material.

Author's style was our focus again this week. While continuing to examine the work of Patricia Polacco, we dug deeper than last week. The students observed things about her books that they hadn't already noticed. They are so excited to read another book by Katie DiCamillo!

While discussing patterns & strategies, we finished our multiplication chart. We answered a think deeply question that revisits using relational thinking to solve a subtraction problem that would otherwise require borrowing.

We dove a little deeper into linking verbs. Am, is, are, was, and were are the main five I'm striving to ingrain in the students. This week, we sang our linking verb song and practiced locating them in a tall tale. Going beyond those five, we've discussed how some verbs can act as different types of verbs based on context. For example, smell. In the following sentence, smelled is an action verb: The dog smelled his bone. In the following sentence, smelled is a linking verb: The doll smells like strawberry shortcake.

Time for a check-up! Students worked independently to complete check-ups on the base 3 system/place value. Students that finished early worked on some Sudoku puzzles. From what I've seen thus far, they all did very well on the test. Look for the graded check-ups to go home next week.

Students continued working on their biography research projects. They are challenged by the questions, because they cannot look up the answers. The questions require the students to interpret what they've read. It is taking these students out of their comfort zone to make so many inferences. The students may use biography.com as a resource if they'd like. Biography.com is the only online resource they are permitted to use. Please ask your student whether he/she brought home their HA biography materials (only a few were instructed to work on this outside of class). Thank you for your support:)

We continued solving problems using logical reasoning and problem-solving strategies rather than solving them algebraically. Some students are finding they like a particular strategy more than they initially thought they would They are realizing that some algebraic word problems lend themselves to particular strategies. As they are getting more comfortable with using a logical reasoning approach or strategy, their foundations of algebra are getting stronger:)

Email: kapeterson@duneland.k12.in.us
Location: Jackson Elementary School, North 400 East, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3680