CLASS DISCUSSIONS: ALWAYS UNEXPECTED DELIGHTS

It has been the most challenging, fast paced year yet....and I'm only two weeks in. Don't get me wrong....I'm loving it. The exhaustion we all feel at the end of the day, is a good feeling because we know we are working hard. We are being productive and stretching our minds daily.

One of the reasons I love teaching reading so much is because it opens such great avenues for discussion in class. We have had such great discussions this week, I thought I'd take a moment to highlight them.

While discussing the connections between our two protagonists (Kira from Gathering Blue and Katniss from The Hunger Games), we also began to see some real world connections as well. We were able to expand our discussions to science and social studies this week in a really interesting way. We discovered that with each passing generation, our cultures and societies change, of course, but also remain eerily the same. We were able to discuss diversity and the importance of it within a culture. We talked about the control of the two governments within our books and how we need to have diversity so that we are not controlled. In a society, competition eliminates control. Why else would we need ten different banks in a five mile radius? The lightbulbs began turning on. I was able to see realization on my students' faces. It was a great thing.

During these discussions, one student told how his father was a soldier, and has been stationed overseas. He explained to us some of their customs, where his father was. He even told us about the "man dress" that men wear. He said his father had brought one home. Well, we couldn't let him off the hook. I joked with him, and told him we'd love to see him wear it to school. The next day, he brought it in for a delightful demonstration. What a great treat it was to have this as part of our learning experience. As you can see from one of the pictures below, the students are much more interested in learning from their peers than they are from me :)

Here's to a great week of discussions....and to many more to come!

OBVIOUSLY IT'S MORE EXCITING TO LEARN FROM PEERS....

WRAPPING THE MAN DRESS

THE MAN DRESS CAN BE WRAPPED TO KEEP THE HEAD COOL

THE MAN DRESS HAS MANY FUNTIONS. HERE IT IS A SHELTER FROM RAIN

AIR CONDITIONED PANTS HE CALLS IT

CLASS DISCUSSION: CULTURE AND SOCIETY WITHIN OUR NOVELS

CLASS DISCUSSION: CULTURE AND SOCIETY WITHIN OUR NOVELS

CLASS DISCUSSION: CULTURE AND SOCIETY WITHIN OUR NOVELS

Hit the Ground Running

Hit the ground running indeed! Easing the students (and ourselves for that matter) back into the swing of things was not even an option. Our first week back to school has been full steam ahead to say the least. In reading classes, we have been reading and discussing two different novels simultaneously. We have been learning how to conduct literature circles with Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue and book clubs with The Hunger Games. The students are making some great connections and seeing many similarities between Kira and Katniss's two worlds. Next week, we will be working on an art project to depict those similarities. Photos to come. In science this week, the students visited the lab to create 3D models of plant and animal cells. The students brought in various types of candy to use for their cell constructions. Our plan is to continue in our vigorous pursuits to strengthen our minds and expand our knowledge. What wonderful things we are experiencing and learning every day. 



Working on number arrays in Mrs. Lanke's classroom




Eager to hear about the day's science lab in Mrs. Holland's classroom




Answering some thought provoking quesstions in groups in Mrs. Carollo's class




Diving into reading for pleasure in Mrs. DuBose's class



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS



LAB DAY: EDIBLE CELLS

A Note from Lois Lowry

Students,
As you know, your summer reading book was by the author Lois Lowry. We will continue our author study on Wednesday of her and continue throughout the year. She is an amazing author. Past students have enjoyed many of her books, but the one that always seems to be the favorite is a book titled The Giver. I contacted Ms. Lowry to tell her how much we always enjoy her stories. She tried to post her comment to our blog, but was having trouble. She decided to email me a copy of what she wants you all to know. Below, is her response:


Hi, Kids:
I'm so glad to hear from your teacher that you are enjoying my books! The book called SON will be published in October and will make a quartet... four books... out of what was THE GIVER trilogy. The baby, Gabe, is the center of this book, along with the young girl- her name is Claire- who gave birth to him. But Jonas and Kira are there as well. I hope you like this one as well.
When I was your age, reading was my very favorite past time. Actually, it still is.
Lois Lowry


Well, there you have it! Three cheers for Lois Lowry! How amazing it is that she took time to write to you! See you all on Wednesday. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about this.

And May the Odds Be EVER in Your Favor

We believe that the fifth grade at Madison Crossing is a TEAM, but we will hold you accountable as an individual.  We believe that learning should be fun, but we will not be easy on you. We believe you will succeed, but we will challenge you. We believe in respect, but realize that respect is a two way street. We believe everyone has a special talent, and we will find yours. We believe in guiding and helping you along the way, but we will expect you to become independent in your learning. We believe in collaborative learning, knowing you have much to share.

Wednesday begins the 2012-2013 school year! We have worked as a team diligently over the summer break to prepare ourselves for you to arrive. There is a lot to accomplish this year. It will not always be easy, but easy isn't what we want. We are confident that you will progress and grow so much this year. We look forward with great anticipation to watching your journey of growth.

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year. "And may the odds be EVER in your favor!"

Science Fun Day January 2012

Mel Lanke - Math & Science

Natalie Carollo - Language Arts & Social Studies

Lisa Holland - Math & Science

Amy DuBose - Language Arts & Social Studies

A Letter to My New Students

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.” ― Oscar Wilde


Dear students,

I have spent all summer reading as much as I could get my hands on to prepare myself for you to enter my classroom. Your principal (my boss :0) had me read a great book on education. I started with that one because I figured I'd get my "homework" out of the way. One chapter in, I was hooked. It didn't feel like homework at all. It motivated me and inspired me to be the best teacher I can be for you this school year.

After completing my "educational" book, I decided it was time for a trip to Barnes and Noble to check out some bestselling fiction books to sink my teeth into. I have several friends who had been recommending that I read The Hunger Games trilogy. I had ignored them for almost a year because I just hadn't had the time during school to do much reading for my own pleasure. Since I hadn't seen the movie, and I knew it was a book I'd probably enjoy, I bought book one. I came home, settled myself down in my comfy cozy reading chair and began. The next day I had finished book one and was quite depressed that the story was over. See, when I find a good book, I don't just read the words....I enter the world....I live there. My next mission was to, of course, finish the next two books. This took about a week.

From there, my summer reading has taken on a life of its own. I have found a theme I enjoy. You'll find that it is a theme running throughout each book we will read in 5th grade. I am so excited to take you on a journey with me this year. With each book we read (and we will read a LOT), we will enter into a new world, a new experience. So strap on your gear.....It's going to be a great adventure!

Looking forward to getting started,
Mrs. DuBose

Forget About Old Fashioned Homework

Students,
Below you will find two links. Your assignment is to complete each game. If you get an answer wrong, begin again until you get it correct. Don't just guess, if you do not know. Make wise decisions based on what we have discussed in class. Happy clicking....


Simple, Compound, or Complex:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/sensort/index_pre.html
Figurative Language - Fling the Teacher:
http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/tech/fling3.html


One final step before completion: Post a comment below to let me know you have finished and what you thought of the assignment. I'll be checking on your progress in class

Is Sarcasm a Literary Device, Mrs. DuBose?

This school year is certainly taking on a life of its own. We are all exhausted at the end of each day. This is a very good thing, though. We are working so hard and so diligilenty to make learning real and purposeful. One activity that has been added to our weekly agenda is something called text mapping. Since I came across the website for it, I have been anxiously awaiting for just the right time to introduce it to my students. This was our first week to try it out. It was certainly a success! Through it, the students are able to see all of the elements and devices of literature which are embedded into real stories by real authors. I have found that if students do not see the purpose or reality of what they are learning, they will soon forget it. With text mapping, the students get to see that what we learn in class is actually used by authors in stories they love. If you haven't heard of the text mapping project check it out. It's a great way to visually lay out a variety of literary elements into one lesson. www.textmapping.org

I can sense that this group of students is progressing in such a profound way. They are making connections everyday, and really working hard to prove themselves. I am so proud of what they are accomplishing on a daily basis. Last year, I had a section of my classroom wall dedicated to "Best Quotes of the Day." I did not have space for that this year, but I heard a comment from one of my sweet friends today in class that surely would have made the cut. He asked me if sarcasm was a literary device. The reason I found this so delightful was because previously in the week as I was planning for this text mapping activity and searching the text for literary devices, I came across many passages of sarcasm. I highlighted those to discuss with the class. After deliberating for a moment, I decided to not discuss sarcasm as something an author uses. Not because, authors don't use it to create great stories, but moreso because it just didn't fit with the specific elements we have been discussing. When my student found those sarcastic passages today and asked why they weren't considered literay devices, I chuckled and told him my story. We have a great time collaborating in class. I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me. We are a family of learners just breaking the surface! I am blessed beyond measure to share these experiences with such a great group of students. Loving what I do everyday, makes everyday great!

Below are a few snapshots from today as the students worked in groups to create their text mapping "scroll."

Morgan Phillips is reading our non-fiction connection, TOYS. We are becoming THIEVES in our non-fiction reading this year. Check out non-fiction literature cirlces (thieves) on google for more information. We love it!

Taylor Cutrer enjoys Toys, by Henry Holt. It is a perfect connection to our
 fiction novel, Holes, and our upcoming Invention Convention

Group 1 is working hard during a "text mapping" activity to locate literary devices within our Holes text.

Group 3 searches for devices such as irony, flashback, foreshadowing,
sensory details, and figurative language within their scroll.