All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, September 20, 2019 – A HARD HABIT TO BREAK…
The band Chicago was onto something! One of the most challenging aspects of growing up and growing intellectually is to develop strong, healthy habits of mind in regard to both academics and behavior. Even harder though, is “unlearning bad habits,” that have become so repetitive and rote that a person no longer realizes they are doing them. It’s so important though to try to break the bad and build the good because, as the following line from a poster in my class illustrates: Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your CHARACTER…
Good habits of mind in academics, while not a breeze to develop, are a bit easier to implement than behavior habits because they are more concrete and mindful: Learn your math facts; stop and think about a math problem and identify the steps to solving it; organize your time, space and materials; use proper mechanics as you draft and also pause your drafting frequently to edit and revise; read, read, and read some more — stopping just enough to help develop strong ideas around what you’ve been reading; pick books that will challenge and inspire you to become a lifelong reader. These are all things that students come to school expecting to learn, and most pick up these good habits at some point in their school career.
Behavior, however, is a much more difficult area in which to break bad habits and build better ones. This year, I am really pushing the kids to think about their behaviors and, as needed, to start to make positive adjustments. I find a good percentage of sweet, kindhearted students at Ox Ridge have, despite their generally good character, developed some “bad habits” when it comes to talking, following the rules, listening to teachers, listening to directions, etc.
Our Ox Ridge Code ends with the line, “Respectful to all,” but because of some rote and repetitive habits, students can repeat behaviors they know are disrespectful to the adults, the school rules, and the learning community without meaning or wanting to. Truth be told, being asked to change bad habits and re-develop better ones can be daunting, exhausting, and can add to the overall learning curve of being a 5th grader. This is where they (and I) need your help.
We have been having discussions in class about this. In one such lesson, I asked for an honest show of hands of those becoming more aware of times they were being disrespectful but did not change their behavior and/or repeated that behavior again in the future. Many hands went up. I then asked who among them would be open to the help of teachers and parents in talking about and making positive change in their behavior habits. All hands went up (even those who I consider having already developed good habits). This tells me that your kids – wherever they are on this behavior continuum, recognize their behaviors as either respectful or disrespectful, but may need some guidance in breaking bad and building good, or maybe they just want to share their observations of behaviors here at Ox Ridge. It would be great if you could help them self-reflect. Please ask them about how they and others behave in school and encourage their honest assessment of themselves. Ask them to share some instances of both respect and disrespect that they or others show to the adults, the rules, and the learning community and suggest some alternatives. It’s important that these discussions be non-punitive, so that kids can be honest with you and with themselves. When kids put voice to their actions, they see themselves more clearly and can start to make those positive changes that result in strong habits of mind and lasting good character.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, September 6, 2019 – THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRIANGLE…
In order for a child to achieve maximum success in school, there needs to be a triangular relationship in place between the parents, their child and the teacher. Parents need to feel comfortable working with their child — giving constructive feedback and tips, offering opinions on the quality of work, etc. Their children need to be open to such feedback and welcome it as an opportunity for growth – not give push-back and attitude to parents. And of course the teacher needs to give and receive feedback to and from the parent AND the child in order to serve the needs of the student and family best. Students seem to take feedback and advice naturally from their teachers here at school, but often times they don’t see their parents in quite the same light…
In class, I have had this talk with your kids. After this talk, they should understand the following: That nobody loves you more than your parents; that your parents are your first, last and best teachers; that your parents MADE YOU and/or CHOSE YOU, so therefore your efforts make them proud, or your lack thereof infuriates them; that parents HAVE DONE FIFTH GRADE ALREADY, and they hold a crystal ball into your future that shows what it takes to survive and thrive; that having parents care enough to spend time on your academic & personal growth and development is a precious gift to be seen as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden. Therefore, when you decide you’d like to be a resource for them at home, THE KIDS ARE NOT TO GIVE YOU LIP…ATTITUDE… EYE ROLLS, TEETH SUCKS or any other such thing resembling DISRESPECT! Of this they should Capeesh…
Having said that, it’s also important for parents to realize that, in order for their child to become more independent, what was fine for parents to do in second grade is no longer okay in fifth. Guide your child, but let him or her make mistakes. MISTAKES ARE JUST KNOWLEDGE WAITING TO HAPPEN! Let him leave his homework folder or instrument at home and have him face The Wrath of Watson for missed homework. Let her struggle a bit with time management at home before you offer to help her…
But when you do offer, your kiddo should be open to your time and attention without complaint. If lip, attitude, eye rolls, teeth sucks or any other such thing resembling disrespect start to make their way into your world at home, simply close the triangle and let me know. With that triangle now secure and strong, they have nowhere to hide…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, September 3, 2019: A TEACHER’S POST-LABOR DAY THOUGHTS: THEY WERE WORTH THE WAIT…
It’s now Day 5 – the Curtain has lifted and the show has begun! And let me tell you, these kids were worth the wait. Despite the necessary droning on by me regarding all the new routines, procedures, etc., the kids have been engaged, are practicing how to listen well the first time, are asking thoughtful questions of me and of each other, and are increasing their stamina for classroom life. But this week is all about dipping our toes in the pool…
The school pool, that is. Believe me when I tell you that I will challenge your kids this year. But the best way to maximize those challenges is to set them up for success and ease into new expectations one item at a time. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on building a loving, supportive classroom family, learning how to listen well the first time (ask them about “listening with your eyes,” and “ask a friend who listened” strategies), and setting up/using processes and systems for getting work done and staying organized. Finally, a major focus is in asking students to become more reflective about their behaviors and examining how, to be respectful, they need to moderate their behavior for the setting and act differently as a member of a community than they would as an individual at home. An idea our class has explored, related to building and maintaining respectful communities, is that of The Model Citizen. Feel free to ask your child about what it means to be a Model Citizen in any community.
Now to some Factoid Info –
· The “Homework At a Glance” Page in the pink bar above shows nightly homework. Just click on the bright green box and it will pop up bigger.
· The “Parent Place and Student Resource Center” Page (also above) has some great info for parents as well as online copies of many important things the kids will need throughout the year. I do not give out extra copies of these things to kids if they lose them – they can print them from the blog page as needed. There are also docs for parents, such as my Open House Overview.
Your kids are awesome. I fall a little bit more in love each day with these Sweetlings, and I look forward to learning and executing all the ways in which I might help them become their best selves going forward. I have a poster on my door which we discussed as a class that says, “What is Popular is not Always Right…What is Right is not Always Popular.” And while I may not always be popular when asking them to step it up throughout the year, I know in my heart that I will be doing what is right for each of your children for their future success.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Thursday, August 29, 2019 – A TEACHER’S AUGUST THOUGHTS: ANTICIPATION!
Here are the DEEP THOUGHTS of a teacher at the end of August, just before school starts… With my summer tan in full bloom, it’s hard to believe that in a few short days, I’ll be meeting 17 new sweet souls and their families, with whom I’ll spend the next 10 months. These days just before the start of school are so interesting – and nerve-wracking. The mind goes wild with thoughts: Will they like me? Will they work hard for me and for themselves? Will we build a classroom family built on love and respect?
While I’m sure the answer will be a resounding YES!, these next few days are akin to the final dress rehearsal before Opening Night. The curtain has yet to rise, the show has yet to start, and the applause has yet to thunder in response to a magnificent performance. The mind is riddled with doubt, yet ecstatic about what possible triumphs lie ahead. And it dawns on me that it must feel exactly the same right now for my 17 sweet souls as it does for me…
But let’s flash forward to the end of the show. By June, the entire Cast of Characters in the Watson’s Winners Extravaganza will hit it out of the ballpark. They will win the Tony Award. They will receive a Standing O. They will become legendary in their awesomeness and fabulosity…
And so we look forward to the start of the show, knowing that by the end, the angst, the hard work and effort, and the joy and love shared by each supporting player will result in that MAGNIFICENT performance. Get ready to take a bow…
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, September 28, 2018 – A LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE UP TO…
We’re really getting going now! There is just so much to share, but I can’t (nor do you probably want me to) share it all in one post. So…below is an overview of what we’re up to with many of our endeavors in class. I’ve also added some attachments that give clear examples of the types of experiences your kids are having (or will be soon).
In writing we are drafting and crafting our Small Moment narratives, as well as conducting peer-editing (student-to-student feedback). We will begin publishing within the week. The purpose of the Small Moment is to learn specific techniques and writing strategies that effectively pause the plot and stretch the moment, as well as to learn how to embed a life lesson into the heart of a story. Each day, I have also been teaching lessons on conventions related to paragraphing and comma usage, which the kids can execute in their drafting and free-writing at home. Below are three items for your perusal: 1). a STRATEIES OF AWESOME WRITING poster that we’re using this year for all genres of writing; 2). the PEER EDITING FEEDBACK FORM, so that you can see what types of feedback kids are asked to give to and get from each other; and 3). a Small Moment mentor text, written by Yours Truly…
In math we’ve been dipping our feet deeper into the pool of double- (or more) digit multiplication. A reminder: STUDENTS WILL ULTIMATELY BE USING TRADITIONAL ALGORITHMS FOR LONG MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION, as these are most efficient when “executing” in math. The other models that we investigate and learn really do help students to see how it all works, and they can ultimately transfer that understanding to their efficient execution. But remember, you can help your child understand math however you see fit – THERE IS NO WRONG WAY!
In science and social studies, we have an overlying theme for the year: FORCE CAUSES MOTION, AND MOTION CAUSES CHANGE (ask your kids to show you the chant/dance). In science we are really getting into our unit on Earth’s Systems, and the kids have already discovered that our day-to-day life on earth is dependent on the interactions between systems of the GEOsphere (ground), BIOsphere (all living things), (HYDROsphere) (water and weather); and ATMOsphere (air and wind). Through field study and simulations, we are examining how each sphere interacts, affects, and is affected by the other spheres, as well as by human impact, in creating both positive and negative changes to various biomes, ecosystems, and communities…
In social studies, we have embarked on our study of “The Roads That Led to America.” We start this story back in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages. Students become quite knowledgeable about life during the Middle Ages, and how the religious forces behind the Crusades caused a movement of people, goods and ideas. This motion created knew economic and intellectual forces and led to great change – the burst of learning known as The Renaissance, which further led to the Age of Exploration, which ultimately lead to America’s discovery, settlement and colonization (all HUGE CHANGES). Below are some documents related to an upcoming project, called THE ROADS THAT LED TO AMERICA, which involves using nonfiction sources to gather research and take notes, and then to weave those notes in creating historical fiction and expository writing pieces.
Well, that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed your snapshot into our classroom world, and there will be other snapshots to come. My next post will be devoted primarily to HABITS OF MIND. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, September 7th, 2018 – A TEACHER’S AUGUST THOUGHTS: ANTICIPATION!
Here are the DEEP THOUGHTS of a teacher at the end of August, just before school starts… With my summer tan in full bloom, it’s hard to believe that in a few short days, I’ll be meeting 21 new sweet souls and their families, with whom I’ll spend the next 10 months. These days just before the start of school are so interesting – and nerve-wracking. The mind goes wild with thoughts: Will they like me? Will they work hard for me and for themselves? Will we build a classroom family built on love and respect?
While I’m sure the answer will be a resounding YES!, these next few days are akin to the final dress rehearsal before Opening Night. The curtain has yet to rise, the show has yet to start, and the applause has yet to thunder in response to a magnificent performance. The mind is riddled with doubt, yet ecstatic about what possible triumphs lie ahead. And it dawns on me that it must feel exactly the same right now for my 21 sweet souls as it does for me…
But let’s flash forward to the end of the show. By June, the entire Cast of Characters in the Watson’s Winners Extravaganza will hit it out of the ballpark. They will win the Tony Award. They will receive a Standing O. They will become legendary in their awesomeness and fabulosity…
And so we look forward to the start of the show, knowing that by the end, the angst, the hard work and effort, and the joy and love shared by each supporting player will result in that MAGNIFICENT performance. Get ready to take a bow…
A TEACHER’S POST-LABOR DAY THOUGHTS: THEY WERE WORTH THE WAIT…
It’s now Day 6 – the Curtain has lifted and the show has begun! And let me tell you, these kids were worth the wait. Despite the sticky heat and the necessary droning on by me regarding all the new routines, procedures, etc., the kids have been engaged, are practicing how to listen well the first time, are asking thoughtful questions of me and of each other, and are increasing their stamina for classroom life. But this week is all about dipping our toes in the pool…
The school pool, that is. Believe me when I tell you that I will challenge your kids this year. But the best way to maximize those challenges is to set them up for success and ease into new expectations one item at a time. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on building a loving, supportive classroom family, learning how to listen well the first time (ask them about “listening with your eyes,” and “ask a friend who listened” strategies), and setting up/using processes and systems for getting work done and staying organized. Finally, a major focus is in asking students to become more reflective about their behaviors and examining how, to be respectful, they need to moderate their behavior for the setting and act differently as a member of a community than they would as an individual at home. An idea our class has explored, related to building and maintaining respectful communities, is that of The Model Citizen. Feel free to ask your child about what it means to be a Model Citizen in any community.
Now to some Factoid Info –
· The “Homework At a Glance” Page in the pink bar above shows nightly homework. Just click on the bright green box and it will pop up bigger.
· The “Parent Place and Student Resource Center” Page (also above) has some great info for parents as well as online copies of many important things the kids will need throughout the year. I do not give out extra copies of these things to kids if they lose them – they can print them from the blog page as needed. There are also docs for parents, such as my Open House Overview and the 5th Grade Supply List.
· Speaking of that, below is a link to both the 5th Grade Supply List, and the Homework Planner from Success By Design. Please use the list and link to order these items for your child if you have not already done so.
5th Grade Supply List 2018 – 2019
Homework Planner: https://successbydesign.com/shop/student-planners/elementary-school-student-planners/2020d-build-character-build-community-block-format.html
Your kids are awesome. I fall a little bit more in love each day with these Sweetlings, and I look forward to learning and executing all the ways in which I might help them become their best selves going forward. I have a poster on my door which we discussed as a class that says, “What is Popular is not Always Right…What is Right is not Always Popular.” And while I may not always be popular when asking them to step it up throughout the year, I know in my heart that I will be doing what is right for each of your children for their future success.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRIANGLE…
In order for a child to achieve maximum success in school, there needs to be a triangular relationship in place between the parents, their child and the teacher. Parents need to feel comfortable working with their child — giving constructive feedback and tips, offering opinions on the quality of work, etc. Their children need to be open to such feedback and welcome it as an opportunity for growth – not give pushback and attitude to parents. And of course, the teacher needs to give to and receive feedback from the parent AND the child in order to serve the needs of the student and family best. Students seem to take feedback and advice naturally from their teachers here at school, but often they don’t see their parents in quite the same light…
In class, I have had this talk with your kids. After this talk, they should understand the following: That nobody loves you more than your parents; that your parents are your first, last and best teachers; that your parents MADE YOU and/or CHOSE YOU, so therefore your efforts make them proud, or your lack thereof infuriates them; that parents HAVE DONE FIFTH GRADE ALREADY, and they hold a crystal ball into your future that shows what it takes to survive and thrive; that having parents care enough to spend time on your academic & personal growth and development is a precious gift to be seen as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden. Therefore, when you decide you’d like to be a resource for them at home, THE KIDS ARE NOT TO GIVE YOU LIP…ATTITUDE… EYE ROLLS, TEETH SUCKS or any other such thing resembling DISRESPECT! Of this they should Capeesh…
Having said that, it’s also important for parents to realize that, for their child to become more independent, what was fine for parents to do in second grade is no longer okay in fifth. Guide your child but let him or her make mistakes. MISTAKES ARE JUST KNOWLEDGE WAITING TO HAPPEN! Let him leave his homework folder or instrument at home and have him face The Wrath of Watson for missed homework. Let her struggle a bit with time management at home before you offer to help her…
But when you do offer, your kiddo should be open to your time and attention without complaint. If lip, attitude, eye rolls, teeth sucks or any other such thing resembling disrespect start to make their way into your world at home, simply close the triangle and let me know. With that triangle now secure and strong, they have nowhere to hide…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Thursday, June 14th – ROCKIN’ THE REV! Now on the Colonial Game Show Network!
First, I want to thank all of you “Fence Sitters” for time– and place–shifting to Faneuil Hall in May of 1775, and for listening intently to our “Two Sides to Every Story” Debate. Between the costumes, props, accents and IMPROVISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, it was a truly memorable event, and having you all there made it extra special.
Today (Thursday, June 14th), we held our ROCKIN’ THE REV! Game Show! We’ve been preparing for this interactive Quiz Bowl for quite a while, with the students boning up on their Colonial/Revolutionary trivia. I must say that I AM VERY IMPRESSED and your kids showed AN AMAZING amount of knowledge! The competition is based on both individual preparedness and team support — students were expected to know their factual knowledge (worth a higher point value), but they were also given the opportunity to consult with their teams (for fewer points).
The “contestants” (aka your kids), addressed questions about major events and a bevy famous Revolutionary Peeps, including but not limited to:
· Samuel Adams, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Francis Marion, Nathanael Greene, John Paul Jones, Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, Lafayette, Thomas Paine, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, Molly Pitcher, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allan and James Madison.
There were 90 questions, each worth up to 2 points, for a maximum score of 180 points. Contestants were responsible for gaining and showing knowledge in the following categories:
· The 13 Colonies, The French & Indian War, The Stamp Act, Life Before the War, The Boston Tea Party, The War Starts, Who Were the Patriots? Ben Franklin, George Washington, The Continental Congress, The Continental Army, The Declaration of Independence, Famous Battles, The Hardships of War, Valley Forge, Help from Europe, The Battle for the Sea, The War in the South, Heroes, Native Americans, African Americans, Famous Women, Traitors, Weapons & Technology, The American Flag, The Siege of Yorktown, The War Ends, The Treaty of Paris, Independence, and Life After the Revolution.
The Tournament Results are as follows:
· Fourth Place with 139 points: The Victory von Steubens
· Third Place with 144 points: The Concord Conquerors
· Second Place with 146 points: Flexington & The Concord Graps
· First Place with 152 points: Washington’s Winners
There was also a Tournament MVP AWARD, which went to one student (voted on by the class) who showed obvious effort in Preparation, Knowledge, Sportsmanship and Spirit.
First Runners Up was: GRACE SANDOVAL!
The MVP Award went to… PHOEBE BRYAN!!
We certainly were guilty of enjoying some healthy competition and camaraderie! It was quite a day – full of learning but also full of fun. Feel free to ask your kids what some of the questions were to see how well you can…ROCK THE REV!
I look forward to seeing you all at our Moving Up Ceremony and/or our Last Day Class Festivations! Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, March 2, 2018– Hello, Yeah, It’s Been A While… Fab Feature Articles, and a Colonial Exposition…
Hello Friends – As England Dan and John Ford Coley once sang, It’s been such a long time, and I really do miss your smile. I know that I haven’t written in a while, but we’ve just been so BUSY! I apologize for my absence, but here’s the latest with what we’ve been up to and how you can get in on the action. Oh, and in case you want to hear that song I referenced, the link is below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0Knw7O5r4
In WRITING news, recently the kids finished their Feature Articles, and these spectacular pieces are posted on the Blog, under the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ ). I invite you to scroll down to the Feature Article Section and check out these FABULOUS articles. The kids will soon be reading each other’s pieces and responding in the Comments Section, so you can check those out as well. The topics they chose to explore are mature and sophisticated, and I am impressed by the range of issues that our kids are concerned about, as well as the PASSION with which they argued their points. I hope you will be as well…
CUE THE COLONIES EXPO! Lastly, don’t forget to come and enjoy a visit into the past with the Watson’s Winners “OUR MOVE TO THE COLONIES” EXPO on Thursday, March 29th. It begins at 1:30. The kids will be in costume and will display an artistic expression of who they are as a colonist. I have gone over possible wardrobe and visual options with each of them and am trying to get them to take the lead on this, rather than emailing you directly to organize (increasing self-responsibility here). However, if your child does not mention this to you in the next few days, you might bring it up to them. Feel free to email with any questions. In the next two weeks, I will be posting their Colonial Letters on the blog (see link above and scroll to just below Feature Articles). In case time gets tight at The Expo, you can read them there. Speaking of, here’s the general flow of the event:
You will tour the exhibition, read their letters, see their artwork and ask the colonists questions about themselves, their time and place, and their reasons for choosing to settle in the colony they did (sample questions will be provided to you). After your tour through the past, duets, trios and one quartet of Colonists will perform songs they wrote themselves (with tunes that come from the 21st Century), that weave information about their colony and themselves into the song. Every Colonial Family will leave with a songbook that contains the lyrics for each song.
The event should last about an hour. We hope you can come!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, December 20th, 2017– A Day at the Improv, The Santa Interviews and Seasons Greetings…
THERE’S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON! Last week, The Company of Watson’s Winners was immersed in historical improvisational performances entitled, A Day at the Improv: Having Conversations. It was a sold-out show! Some of the paparazzi pics can be seen by clicking on this here link to the Watson’s Winners Work Page: https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/
As you know, our over-arching theme in social studies and science is “Force Causes Motion, and Motion Causes Change.” We began our study of American History with the Middle Ages in Europe and Asia, simply as a way for the students to understand how history is an ongoing cycle of cause and effect. Example: The religious forces of the Crusades caused a massive movement of people, goods and ideas, which in turn created great change ~~ the death of the feudal system and advent of The Renaissance. As the intellectual and economic forces in that era grew stronger, a movement of explorers in search of trade routes led to the discovery of the Americas (massive change). More religious and economic forces caused settlement and colonization, and this is where we are now – just past Jamestown and Plymouth.
Previous to this, students completed another culminating piece called The Roads That Led to America. This was Google-based, with Google Drive and Chromebooks utilized throughout. Students used the many websites on my blog, our library research sites, and others they found to research, take notes and make inferences related to the ideas above. They then wove their notes and inferences into “essays in disguise,” writing in different historical voices/characters within each era (they also used babynames.com, historical map images for exact locations, Google translate and websites related to formal/middle English vocab, also on my blog). They then drafted and published their essays in disguise. READ THE STUDENT BOOKS by clicking on the following link to the Watson’s Winners Work Page: https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/
For this Improv project, which was also Google-based, students honed in on the life of one historical character from the eras above (Middle Ages through Crusades, Renaissance, Exploration, Settlement) and investigated that character’s life through the lenses of particular questions (see project guidelines: ). They then wrote a first-person “Faux Autobiography” (narrative nonfiction) in the voice of this person, again focusing on the big picture ideas that they researched. Once they “had become their characters” by writing and re-reading their pieces, we conducted a two-part event (with props, costumes and accents) called “A Day at the Improv,” in which by turns two seemingly random people from history were be picked out of my Tiffany Bag and had to hold an improvisational conversation in front of the audience – with the goal of finding out more about each other, but also finding the connections, similarities and differences and historical impacts that they each possess ~~ and seeing the cause and effect aspect of history. Audience members participated after each performance. After all performances were complete, we hosted a post-performance “Mocktail Reception,” at which students mingled in character and held more conversations with each other, all while enjoying some post-performance FESTIVATIONS!
Speaking of FESTIVATIONS, I cannot believe that the Holiday Break is upon us. The Company of Watson’s Winners are UBER EXCITED to perform our adorable and fun play, The Santa Interviews, for you ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22nd. CURTAIN RISES AT 12:15 SHARP! We think you’ll enjoy the show…
During this special time of year, it is my fervent hope that you and your family get to take some time and unwind, just to relax and enjoy each other and the dear ones in your world. These are trying times that we live in, and it seems more important than ever that we spend time each day doing the things that really matter with the people who matter most to us. My greatest wish though is that, in the weeks, months and years ahead, our world will become a place in which the love, peace and fellowship of being one humanity will be extended to and felt by all. Enjoy the rest of your Holiday Season!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, December 8th, 2017 – A View from The Front Porch, Watson’s Winners Work! And Science-y Stuff…
YOUR KIDS ARE BLOGGERS! Please go to the FRONT PORCH: THE HOUSE OF READING AND WRITING Page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/front-porch-the-house-of-reading-and-writing/) to check out the kids blogging about their reading. From this point on, students will be posting their Reading Responses to the Front Porch Page to share their critical thinking around the books they’re enjoying. They will also reply to each other’s ideas. This is a great way for parents to have a sense of how their own child (as well as a typical fifth grader) thinks and writes. I invite you to read this section frequently and give feedback to your child as you see fit.
IT’S TIME TO SHARE THE WORK! Also, please go to the SHOWCASE: WATSON’S WINNERS WORK! Page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/) to check out our students in action. First you will find each student’s unique Small Moment story, written earlier in the fall. Writing a Small Moment teaches a writer to “pause the plot” – to stop the action and use unique vocabulary and figurative language to describe the setting, add some sensory details, or share any internal thinking of the characters. Writers also learn how to embed a life lesson or theme into their story, so that the reader can understand what the story is REALLY about. We hope you enjoy!
Below the Small Moments you will find our Whole-Class Halloween story for 2017 – NIGHT TERRORS… This was another great writing exercise, in that the story had a brief and open-ended beginning, and each student was asked to write an entry that extended the story (using only their knowledge of the last two entries written). When their bit was complete, they tapped the shoulder of the next student on the list and it grew from there. (We just squeezed this activity in between all the other subjects…)
In our first social studies unit, we were hard at work on informational writing with our Narrative Nonfiction Books, entitled, The Roads that Led to America, which can be found below Night Terrors. In writing and designing these digital books, students conducted extensive research and told the story, from multiple historical perspectives, of feudal life and how feudalism gave way to The Renaissance through the catalyst of The Crusades. The expanded world unleashed by the Renaissance then led to an Age of Exploration, which led to the discovery of The Americas. The goal of this project was for students to understand the never-ending cycle of cause and effect that drives the engine of history, and how one driving FORCE (ex: religious, political, economic, natural), causes a MOTION (ex: movement of people, goods and/or ideas), which results in great CHANGE (ex: new events and eras begin). And as the song says, “One Thing Leads to Another…”
In exciting Science news, below the Roads to America you will find pics of our science partners and some of their work in action. The kids are holding their flat models of how Earth’s systems interact in a setting, delineating between the geosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. They are also holding their “Beanie Babies,” the beans they resurrected from the Ox Ridge garden while testing whether or not the beans had died or were just dormant. In the background are their Science Journals which contain the scientific processes for the QUESTS and INVESTigations we are involved in this year.
In the fall we went on several field studies – we searched for signs of life; we examined how earth’s systems interact cyclically in the Ox Ridge garden, and we learned to document observations of plant growth with and without the presence of dirt (the geosphere). We learned about variables and controls (or constants), as well as direct vs. inverse proportionate relationships.
We then pondered how earth systems interact with space systems, and are currently embarked on a study of how the sun, the moon and the earth interact to cause: day & night, a year, the four seasons, and the phases of the moon.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 – THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRIANGLE…
In order for a child to achieve maximum success in school, there needs to be a triangular relationship in place between the parents, their child and the teacher. Parents need to feel comfortable working with their child — giving constructive feedback and tips, offering opinions on the quality of work, etc. Their children need to be open to such feedback and welcome it as an opportunity for growth – not give pushback and attitude to parents. And of course the teacher needs to give to and receive feedback from the parent AND the child in order to serve the needs of the student and family best. Students seem to take feedback and advice naturally from their teachers here at school, but often times they don’t see their parents in quite the same light…
In class, I have had this talk with your kids. After this talk, they should understand the following: That nobody loves you more than your parents; that your parents are your first, last and best teachers; that your parents MADE YOU and/or CHOSE YOU, so therefore your efforts make them proud, or your lack thereof infuriates them; that parents HAVE DONE FIFTH GRADE ALREADY, and they hold a crystal ball into your future that shows what it takes to survive and thrive; that having parents care enough to spend time on your academic & personal growth and development is a precious gift to be seen as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden. Therefore, when you decide you’d like to be a resource for them at home, THE KIDS ARE NOT TO GIVE YOU LIP…ATTITUDE… EYE ROLLS, TEETH SUCKS or any other such thing resembling DISRESPECT! Of this they should Capeesh…
Having said that, it’s also important for parents to realize that, in order for their child to become more independent, what was fine for parents to do in second grade is no longer okay in fifth. Guide your child, but let him or her make mistakes. MISTAKES ARE JUST KNOWLEDGE WAITING TO HAPPEN! Let him leave his homework folder or instrument at home and have him face The Wrath of Watson for missed homework. Let her struggle a bit with time management at home before you offer to help her…
But when you do offer, your kiddo should be open to your time and attention without complaint. If lip, attitude, eye rolls, teeth sucks or any other such thing resembling disrespect start to make their way into your world at home, simply close the triangle and let me know. With that triangle now secure and strong, they have nowhere to hide…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, September 6th, 2017 – A TEACHER’S AUGUST THOUGHTS: ANTICIPATION!
Here are the DEEP THOUGHTS of a teacher at the end of August, just before school starts… With my summer tan in full bloom, it’s hard to believe that in a few short days, I’ll be meeting 19 new sweet souls and their families, with whom I’ll spend the next 10 months. These days just before the start of school are so interesting – and nerve-wracking. The mind goes wild with thoughts: Will they like me? Will they work hard for me and for themselves? Will we build a classroom family built on love and respect?
While I’m sure the answer will be a resounding YES!, these next few days are akin to the final dress rehearsal before Opening Night. The curtain has yet to rise, the show has yet to start, and the applause has yet to thunder in response to a magnificent performance. The mind is riddled with doubt, yet ecstatic about what possible triumphs lie ahead. And it dawns on me that it must feel exactly the same right now for my 19 sweet souls as it does for me…
But let’s flash forward to the end of the show. By June, the entire Cast of Characters in the Watson’s Winners Extravaganza will hit it out of the ballpark. They will win the Tony Award. They will receive a Standing O. They will become legendary in their awesomeness and fabulosity…
And so we look forward to the start of the show, knowing that by the end, the angst, the hard work and effort, and the joy and love shared by each supporting player will result in that MAGNIFICENT performance. Get ready to take a bow…
A TEACHER’S POST-LABOR DAY THOUGHTS: THEY WERE WORTH THE WAIT…
It’s now Day 4 – the Curtain has lifted and the show has begun! And let me tell you, these kids were worth the wait. Despite the sticky heat and the necessary droning on by me regarding all the new routines, procedures, etc., the kids have been engaged, are practicing how to listen well the first time, are asking thoughtful questions of me and of each other, and are increasing their stamina for classroom life. But this week is all about dipping our toes in the pool…
The school pool, that is. Believe me when I tell you that I will challenge your kids this year. But the best way to maximize those challenges is to set them up for success and ease into new expectations one item at a time. Our focus over the next two weeks will be on building a loving, supportive classroom family, learning how to listen well the first time (ask them about “listening with your eyes,” and “ask a friend who listened” strategies), and setting up/using processes and systems for getting work done and staying organized. Finally, a major focus is in asking students to become more reflective about their behaviors and examining how, in order to be respectful, they need to moderate their behavior for the setting and act differently as a member of a community than they would as an individual at home. An idea our class has explored, related to building and maintaining respectful communities, is that of The Model Citizen. Feel free to ask your child about what it means to be a Model Citizen in any community.
Now to some Factoid Info –
· The “Homework At a Glance” Page in the pink bar above shows nightly homework. Just click on the bright green box and it will pop up bigger.
· The “Parent Place and Student Resource Center” Page (also above) has online copies of many important things the kids will need throughout the year. I do not give out extra copies of these things to kids if they lose them – they can print them from the blog page as needed. There are also docs for parents, such as my Open House Overview and the 5th Grade Supply List.
· Speaking of that, the pre-ordered kits only provide what is common to all classes, but do not include a few things specific to each of us. In the next week or so (if you haven’t already), please pick up the following: A 2nd marble hardcover journal; a 2nd spiral notebook; a 3-pack of Pentel (or similar) 0.9mm mechanical pencils. Thanks!
And so this (almost) ends my post. Your kids are awesome. I fall a little bit more in love each day with these Sweetlings, and I look forward to learning and executing all the ways in which I might help them become their best selves going forward. I have a poster on my door which we discussed as a class that says, “What is Popular is not Always Right…What is Right is not Always Popular.” And while I may not always be popular when asking them to step it up throughout the year, I know in my heart that I will be doing what is right for each of your children for their future success.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, June 6th – ROCKIN’ THE REV! Now on the Colonial Game Show Network!
First, I want to thank all of you “Fence Sitters” for time and place shifting to Faneuil Hall in May of 1775, and listening intently to our “Two Sides to Every Story” Debate. Between the costumes, props, accents and IMPROVISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, it was a truly memorable event, and having you all there made it extra special.
Today (Tuesday, June 6th), we held our ROCKIN’ THE REVOLUTION! Game Show! We’ve been preparing for this interactive Quiz Bowl for quite a while, with the students boning up on their Colonial/Revolutionary trivia. I must say that I AM VERY IMPRESSED and your kids showed AN AMAZING amount of knowledge! The competition is based on both individual preparedness and team support — students were expected to know their factual knowledge (worth a higher point value), but were also given the opportunity to consult with their teams (for fewer points).
The “contestants” (aka your kids), addressed questions about major events and a bevy famous Revolutionary Peeps, including but not limited to:
· Samuel Adams, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Francis Marion, Nathanael Greene, John Paul Jones, Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, Lafayette, Thomas Paine, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, Molly Pitcher, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allan and James Madison.
There were 90 questions, each worth up to 2 points, for a maximum score of 180 points. Contestants were responsible for gaining and showing knowledge in the following categories:
· The 13 Colonies, The French & Indian War, The Stamp Act, Life Before the War, The Boston Tea Party, The War Starts, Who Were the Patriots? Ben Franklin, George Washington, The Continental Congress, The Continental Army, The Declaration of Independence, Famous Battles, The Hardships of War, Valley Forge, Help from Europe, The Battle for the Sea, The War in the South, Heroes, Native Americans, African Americans, Famous Women, Traitors, Weapons & Technology, The American Flag, The Siege of Yorktown, The War Ends, The Treaty of Paris, Independence, and Life After the Revolution.
The Tournament Results are as follows:
· Fourth Place with 142 points: America’s Heroes
· Third Place with 154 points: The Studs of Saratoga
· Second Place with 155 points: The Midnight Corndog Riders
· First Place with 161 points: The Swamp Fox Fighters
There was also a Tournament MVP AWARD, which went to one student (voted on by the class) who showed obvious effort in Preparation, Knowledge, Sportsmanship and Spirit. There were two Runners Up: AYLA SCHENCK and KELLY NEUNER
The MVP Award went to… SADIE STAFFORD!!
We certainly were guilty of enjoying some healthy competition and camaraderie! It was quite a day – full of learning but also full of fun. Feel free to ask your kids what some of the questions were to see how well you can…ROCK THE REV!
I look forward to seeing you all at our Moving Up Ceremony and/or our Last Day Class Festivations! Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, April 26th – I NEVER LET MY SCHOOLING GET IN THE WAY OF MY EDUCATION! (And also an invitation to our Road to Revolution Improv Debate on MONDAY, MAY 22nd at 2:00)…
The quote above is but one of many great quotes by the infamous American author and humorist, Mark Twain (nee Samuel Langhorne Clemens). In class we are learning about the man, his life and works, and enjoying the story of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. As you know, the Mark Twain House is one of the tours on our Hartford Trip (Fri. April 28th). This author study – with a focus on Twain’s look into American life and the vernacular style in a pre-Civil War Mississippi River town is so enriching to the kids’ literary world. To learn more about Mark Twain, click on the following PBS link: http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/
And while I’m sharing, here are two more Twain quotes for you to enjoy!
· Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society…
· Always tell the truth. This way, you never need to remember anything…
So we finished off the SBAC testing on Tuesday morning. Not a walk in the park, but your kids were extremely well prepared to face challenging 5th to 7th grade level concepts and extended problems. They were armed with killer strategies and strong habits of mind to be impressive readers and mathematicians. And honestly, that is what is most important! I’m not going to lie – in peeking over shoulders, I saw some problems that more than pushed the limits of what a 5th grader should be expected to know or do, based on the Common Core Standards. Fair? No. Worth worrying about? Also no. Using effective problem-solving strategies regularly and having solid habits of mind to do one’s best is the ultimate goal, and I feel your kids have already met or exceeded that one.
Getting back to our Hartford trip – in preparation, we are learning about the three branches of government (federal and state comparisons), and will soon be delving more into Connecticut history, facts and folklore. The kids love learning these interesting tidbits about their home state, as well as becoming more involved with how our government works. As the year winds down and we immerse ourselves in the Revolution, we will really get into The Declaration of Independence. Finally, we will get to know The Bill of Rights and The U.S. Constitution with some mock trial work.
(Here’s a link to a most famous Connecticut legend: The Legend of The Leatherman: http://www.ghostvillage.com/legends/leatherman.shtml )
And last but not least, PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY, MAY 22ND AT 2:00 PM (in Room 118) for our last Day at the Improv Event: THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION – A TWO-SIDES-TO-EVERY-STORY IMPROVISATIONAL DEBATE. We need you to play the role of Fence Sitters! (Don’t worry, it’s a spectator role, not a speaking part…)
Nearly one-third of colonists during this time were Fence Sitters – those who were neither Tories nor Patriots and who often vacillated between the two perspectives. It is our hope that you can come and observe the Debate (which is set in May of 1775 at Faneuil Hall in Boston, just days after Lexington and Concord), so that by the end you might form an opinion in favor of one side or another, or decide we should avoid war altogether!
Here’s a list of attendees (chosen and being portrayed by your kids)!
Patriots: — Patrick Henry, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Sam Adams, Horatio Corndogsmith (from the Sons of Liberty), Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, a (previously) wealthy Colonial Tea Merchant, and John Hancock
British/Loyalists (Tories) – A Soldier who was present at the Boston Massacre (aka The Incident on King Street), British Tax Officer Andrew Oliver, A prominent British Customs Official, King George III, and Parliamentarians Charles Townshend & George Grenville
Your kids are very busy gathering all of their knowledge and facts around the issues leading up to Revolution – from the Proclamation of 1763 to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, to boycotts, The Sons & Daughters of Liberty, tarring and feathering and the Townshend Acts, to the Boston Massacre, to the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party (referred to then as The Dumping of the Tea), to the First Continental Congress and Lexington & Concord. They are formulating arguments that both defend and deny the Patriot/Rebel and Tory/British Loyalist perspectives. Lots of JUICY stuff here!
In prepping for the event, we will also address the protocols around debate and the art of public speaking in general.
While the kids will be prepared with crafted arguments, The Debate will start to take on a “life of its’ own” once it gets going, and characters will start improvising as they respond to each other. It will last for about an hour, and will feel like a play or performance. It would be great if the kids could resurrect their colonial wear from our Colonies Expo, or perhaps they will need to make some modifications based on who their character is above…
PLEASE RSVP TO BY FRIDAY, MAY 19TH. Thanks, and hope to see you there!
Signed –
The Reverend Moses Mather, Congregational Minister from Middlesex Parish, CT and Moderator of the Debate
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017– Hello, Yeah, It’s Been A While… Fab Feature Articles, and a Colonial Exposition…
Hello Friends – As England Dan and John Ford Coley once sang, It’s been such a long time, and I really do miss your smile. I know that I haven’t written in a while, but we’ve just been so BUSY! I apologize for my absence, but here’s the latest with what we’ve been up to and how you can get in on the action. Oh, and in case you want to hear that song I just referenced, the link is below…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0Knw7O5r4
In WRITING news, several weeks ago the kids finished their Feature Article Slide Shows, and they are posted on the Blog, under the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ ). I invite you to scroll down to the Feature Article Section and check out these FABULOUS articles. The kids are will soon be reading each other’s pieces and responding in the Comments Section, so you can check those out as well. The topics they chose to explore are mature and sophisticated, and I am impressed by the range of issues that our kids are concerned about. I hope you will be as well…
CUE THE COLONIES EXPO! Lastly, please come and enjoy a visit into the past with the Watson’s Winners “OUR MOVE TO THE COLONIES” EXPO on Friday, March 24th. It begins at 2:00. The kids will be in costume and will display an artistic expression of who they are as a colonist. I have gone over possible wardrobe and visual options with each of them, and am trying to get them to take the lead on this, rather than emailing you directly to organize (increasing self-responsibility here). However, if your child does not mention this to you in the next few days, you might bring it up to them. Feel free to email with any questions. I will be posting their Colonial Letters on the blog (see link above and scroll to just below Feature Articles). In case time gets tight at The Expo, you can read them there. Speaking of, here’s the general flow of the event:
You will tour the exhibition, read their letters, see their artwork and ask the colonists questions about themselves, their time and place, and their reasons for choosing to settle in the colony they did (sample questions will be provided to you). After your tour through the past, duets and trios of Colonists will perform songs they wrote themselves (with tunes that come from the 21st Century), that weave information about their colony and themselves into the song. Every Colonial Family will leave with a songbook that contains the lyrics for each song.
The event should last about an hour. We hope you can come!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, December 21st, 2016– The Roads that Led to America, A Day at the Improv and Seasons Greetings…
THERE’S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON! Last week, The Company of Watson’s Winners was immersed in historical improvisational performances entitled, A Day at the Improv. It was a sold-out show! Some of the paparazzi pics can be seen by clicking on this here link to the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work Page:
As you know, our over-arching theme in social studies and science is “Force Causes Motion, and Motion Causes Change.” We began our study of American History with the Middle Ages in Europe and Asia, simply as a way for the students to understand how history is an ongoing cycle of cause and effect. Example: The religious forces of the Crusades caused a massive movement of people, goods and ideas, which in turn created great change ~~ the death of the feudal system and advent of The Renaissance. As the intellectual and economic forces in that era grew stronger, a movement of explorers in search of trade routes led to the discovery of the Americas (massive change). More religious and economic forces caused settlement and colonization, and this is where we are now – just past Jamestown and Plymouth.
Previous to this, students completed another culminating piece called The Roads That Led to America. This was Google-based, with Google Drive and Chromebooks utilized throughout. Students used the many websites on my blog, our library research sites, and others they found, in order to research, take notes and make inferences related to the ideas above. They then wove their notes and inferences into “essays in disguise” writing in different historical voices/characters within each era (they also used babynames.com, historical map images for exact locations, Google translate and websites related to formal/middle English vocab, also on my blog). They then drafted and published their essays in disguise. READ THE STUDENT “PICTURE BOOKS” by clicking on the following link to the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work Page:
For this Improv project, which was also Google-based, students honed in on the life of one historical character from the eras above (Middle Ages through Crusades, Renaissance, Exploration, Settlement) and investigated that character’s life through the lenses of particular questions (see project guidelines: A Day at the Improv!).
They then wrote a first-person “Faux Autobiography” (narrative nonfiction) in the voice of this person, again focusing on the big picture ideas that they researched. Once they “had become their characters” by writing and re-reading their pieces, we conducted a two-part event (with props, costumes and accents) called “A Day at the Improv,” in which by turns two seemingly random people from history were be picked out of my Tiffany Bag and had to hold an improvisational conversation in front of the audience – with the goal of finding out more about each other, but also finding the connections, similarities and differences and historical impacts that they each possess ~~ and seeing the cause and effect aspect of history. Audience members participated after each performance. After all performances were complete, we hosted a post-performance “Mocktail Reception,” at which students mingled in character and held more conversations with each other, all while enjoying some post-performance FESTIVATIONS!
Speaking of FESTIVATIONS, I cannot believe that the Holiday Break is almost upon us. The Company of Watson’s Winners are UBER EXCITED to perform our adorable and fun play, The Santa Interviews, for you ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23rd. CURTAIN RISES AT 12:15 SHARP! We think you’ll enjoy the show…
During this special time of year, it is my fervent hope that you and your family get to take some time and unwind, just to relax and enjoy each other and the dear ones in your world. These are trying times that we live in, and it seems more important than ever that we spend time each day doing the things that really matter with the people who matter most to us. My greatest wish though is that, in the weeks, months and years ahead, our world will become a place in which the love, peace and fellowship of being one humanity will be extended to and felt by all. Enjoy the rest of your Holiday Season!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Monday, November 21st, 2016 – Blogging, Boomerangs, the Beauty of Light and a Bounty of Thanks…
YOUR KIDS ARE BLOGGERS! Last week we officially began our rollout of digital camaraderie, with your kids communicating via the blog in an impressive way. Using Pages in the above menu bar – The Front Porch: The House of Reading and Writing Page (because front porches are where people gather to chat), and the So Whataya Think About? Page, students will now be writing and sharing their thinking around the books they’re reading, the historical eras they’re discovering, and/or the current events that affect and shape their lives. They will be asked each week to generate their own well-thought out posts, and then comment as well on those of others in a thoughtful and respectful manner. I invite you to check out their blogging on a regular basis. Simply click on to the above-mentioned pages and then scroll down to the bottom to the comments section. I am very impressed so far, and I hope you will be as well…
Boomerang Folders to went home last week. Don’t feel rushed to check out the work and sign the folder – you still have to me to peruse, sign and return it via your child by Wednesday, and remember the work stays at home.
In exciting Science news, we are beginning our new unit on Light and the Human Eye. Last week students built pinhole cameras and we’ll soon be investigating with them. They will discover something totally unexpected! As the unit goes on, students will use mirrors, lenses, prisms and color filters to learn about the three ways light can be controlled (reflection, refraction, and absorption), as well as about the spectrum of visible light (remember our dear old friend, ROY G. BIV?) Well if not, here’s a link to a fun little song about the guy…
- The ROY G. BIV Song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf33ueRXMzQ
In social studies, we are now at 1620. This week in class we will be acting as Separatists, on the eve of boarding the Mayflower, who are being asked to prioritize no more than 10 items from a list of supply options most crucial for survival in Virginia. We will then have a Separatist town meeting to debate the merits of the different choices and come to an understanding of what should be loaded on the very small Mayflower for the good of the colony. But first some backstory on what the kids have recently discovered…
The settling of Jamestown in 1607 was nearly a disastrous failure, much like its predecessor Roanoke, but by 1619, it was a thriving colony thanks to the cash crop of tobacco. Seeing such success, the despised Separatists in England sought and received a charter to settle in America, hoping to make a pilgrimage to Virginia and obtain religious freedom for themselves. However, the Mayflower was blown off course by the harsh November gales, and the Pilgrims landed on the shores near Cape Cod in a place called Massachusetts. After a winter of death, starvation and disease, the Separatists began to see their own colony thrive due to the crucial aid and friendship they received from Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit, and the other local Wampanoags. To show their true appreciation, the Separatists invited the Wampanoags to their annual harvest feast of Thanks-Giving (such a day was a common custom back in England).
So finally and fittingly, I’d like to say how thankful I am to spend my days with your children. They have worked hard this autumn season and have grown in so many ways since the end of August. I am proud to know them. In this world we live in, it is so necessary to take the time to pause and reflect on our blessings and to just enjoy being together. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, November 1st, 2016 – Small Moments, Night Terrors, Sound Challenge Paparazzi, and Boomerangs…
IT’S TIME TO SHARE THE WORK! Please go to the SHOWCASE: WATSON’S WINNERS WORK! Page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ ) to check out our students in action. First you will find each student’s unique Small Moment story. Writing a Small Moment teaches a writer to “pause the plot” – to stop the action and use unique vocabulary and figurative language to describe the setting, add some sensory details, or share any internal thinking of the characters. Writers also learn how to embed a life lesson or theme into their story, so that the reader can understand what the story is REALLY about. We hope you enjoy!
Below the Small Moments you will find our Whole-Class Halloween story for 2016 – NIGHT TERRORS… This is another great writing exercise, in that the story has a brief and open-ended beginning, and each student is asked to write an entry that extends the story (using only their knowledge of the last two entries written). When their bit is complete, they then tap the shoulder of the next student on the list and it grows from there. (We just squeezed this activity in between all the other subjects…)
In exciting Science news, students just presented their Sound Challenges, and you can get a sneak peek at them thanks to the pics we posted! It was a sold-out event and we had two intensive days in which the students played the roles of Teachers, Learners and QUESTioners in every stellar performance. The Paparazzi were swarming as you can see…
Finally, I’d like to introduce a new (and hopefully monthly) work-sharing process – THE BOOMERANG FOLDER! This feature falls under the Watson’s Winners Family Communication Category. I’ve been collecting a sampling of student work across the curricula – some scored/graded/commented on, some just clean samples of things they did over the last month or so. Sometime this week or next, each of your kids will bring this work home in his or her “Boomerang Folder” – so named because it goes home…and then it comes back! The contents is meant for you to look at and keep (so THE WORK DOES NOT COME BACK TO SCHOOL). There is a chart inside as well that just asks you to date and sign to confirm you’ve seen the work. There’s also a brief space for comments or questions if you’d like to write something (not that you have to, but you can). Your child will then bring the folder back to school by the due date and we’ll keep it here to fill up again. My goal is to have this become a monthly event, so that, between this folder and the work samples on The Blog, parents can see a splash of their child’s work in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies (yes, all subjects if possible – but the timing may not always be right to catch every subject every month). Here’s to starting new traditions!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, October 5th, 2016 – A LOOK AT TODAY AND TOMORROW…
We’re really getting going now! There is just so much to share, but I can’t (nor do you probably want me to) share it all in one post. So…below is an overview of what we’re up to with many of our endeavors in class. I’ve also added some attachments that give clear examples of the types of experiences your kids are having (or will be soon).
In writing we are drafting and crafting our Small Moment narratives, as well as conducting peer-editing (student-to-student feedback). We will begin publishing within the week. The purpose of the Small Moment is to learn specific techniques and writing strategies that effectively pause the plot and stretch the moment, as well as to learn how to embed a life lesson into the heart of a story. Each day, I have also been teaching lessons on conventions related to paragraphing and comma usage, which the kids can execute in their drafting and free-writing at home. Below is a poster that all the kids are using this year, which outlays the types of strategies they’ll use, not just for this genre of writing, but for future genres as well. I’ve also attached the peer-editing form, so that you can see what types of feedback kids are asked to give each other, and a mentor text of a small moment, written by Yours Truly…
In math we’ve been dipping our feet deeper into the pool of double- (or more) digit multiplication. A reminder: STUDENTS WILL ULTIMATELY BE USING TRADITIONAL ALGORITHMS FOR LONG MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION, as these are most efficient when “executing” in math. The other models that we investigate and learn really do help students to see how it all works, and they can ultimately transfer that understanding to their efficient execution. But remember, you can help your child understand math however you see fit – THERE IS NO WRONG WAY!
In science and social studies, we have an overlying theme for the year: FORCE CAUSES MOTION, AND MOTION CAUSES CHANGE (ask your kids to show you the chant/dance; there will more about this in future posts). In science we are really getting into our unit on Sound, and the kids have already discovered that sound starts with a FORCE at the source; the vibration is the MOTION or pathway of the sound; and the sound itself is the CHANGE. We recently explored an investigation which asked kids to discover the relationship ship between the length (and ultimately speed) of a vibrating object and the sound’s pitch. Using home-made “instruments,” students learned the following terms: directly proportional, inversely proportional, vibration, pitch (vs. amplitude), among other terms from past investigations. We are now moving on to how sounds travel through solids, liquids, and gases, and what changes occur in each medium…
In social studies, we are about to embark on our study of “The Story of America.” We start this story back in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages. Students will become quite knowledgeable about life during the Middle Ages, and how the religious forces behind the Crusades caused a movement of people, goods and ideas. This motion created great change, leading to The Renaissance and the Age of Exploration, which ultimately lead to America’s discovery, settlement and colonization (a HUGE CHANGE). Below are some documents related to an upcoming project, which involves using nonfiction sources to gather research and take notes, and then to weave those notes in creating historical fiction and expository writing pieces.
Well, that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed your snapshot into our classroom world, and there will be other snapshots to come. My next post will be devoted primarily to our reading lives. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Friday, September 23rd, 2016 – I’M SO GLAD WE HAD THIS TIME TOGETHER…
Much like my post about the start of school, Open House Night can be the cause of some angst and pre-show jitters. I always want to bring my A-Game to teaching each and every day, and presenting in front of nearly forty Senior Watson’s Winners is no exception.
So I thank you for the huge turnout last night. It was clear to me that your kids and their educational/personal growth are priorities for you. But more than that, the warmth and friendliness in the room gladdened my heart tremendously. This speaks volumes to the type of people and parents you are, and your apples have dropped right down under your trees. Yes, I talked about how kids in general need to feel more optimistic about how they see opportunities in school. Yes, I talked about how following the rules of the community shows strength instead of weakness. But by and large your kids know the importance of school, and they know how to treat each other with warmth and kindness. I thank you for that…
Some of you were asking about the music playing with the slide show I ran in the beginning of the night. The song is Cat Stevens’ “Child for a Day,” one favorite from my youth. I love the song because it reminds us that, in the blink of an eye, children grow up and we have such a short time to help and guide them along the way. I hope to use my 10 months with your kids to do just that.
Also below is my “Official Open House Slide Show” overview of 5th grade curriculum, how things work, etc. (which you’ll note I didn’t use). Feel free to download this and keep it as a reference if you’d like. Speaking of curriculum, as we start to really get into the swing of things, my posts will contain more specifics of classroom happenings and topics learned throughout the different subjects. I hope you will find this helpful. Again, I thank you for a memorable Open House Night, and for letting me share a “slice of life” with you and your kids.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Monday, September 12th, 2016 – THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRIANGLE…
In order for a child to achieve maximum success in school, there needs to be a triangular relationship in place between the parents, their child and the teacher. Parents need to feel comfortable working with their child — giving constructive feedback and tips, offering opinions on the quality of work, etc. Their children need to be open to such feedback and welcome it as an opportunity for growth – not give push-back and attitude to parents. And of course the teacher needs to give to and receive feedback from the parent AND the child in order to serve the needs of the student and family best. Students seem to take feedback and advice naturally from their teachers here at school, but often times they don’t see their parents in quite the same light…
In class, I have had this talk with your kids. After this talk, they should understand the following: That nobody loves you more than your parents; that your parents are your first, last and best teachers; that your parents MADE YOU and/or CHOSE YOU, so therefore your efforts make them proud, or your lack thereof infuriates them; that parents HAVE DONE FIFTH GRADE ALREADY, and they hold a crystal ball into your future that shows what it takes to survive and thrive; that having parents care enough to spend time on your academic & personal growth and development is a precious gift to be seen as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden. Therefore, when you decide you’d like to be a resource for them at home, THE KIDS ARE NOT TO GIVE YOU LIP…ATTITUDE… EYE ROLLS, TEETH SUCKS or any other such thing resembling DISRESPECT! Of this they should Capeesh…
Having said that, it’s also important for parents to realize that, in order for their child to become more independent, what was fine for parents to do in second grade is no longer okay in fifth. Guide your child, but let him or her make mistakes. MISTAKES ARE JUST KNOWLEDGE WAITING TO HAPPEN! Let him leave his accordion folder or instrument at home and have him face The Wrath of Watson for missed homework. Let her struggle a bit with time management at home before you offer to help her…
But when you do offer, your kiddo should be open to your time and attention without complaint. If lip, attitude, eye rolls, teeth sucks or any other such thing resembling disrespect start to make their way into your world at home, simply close the triangle and let me know. With that triangle now secure and strong, they have nowhere to hide…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, September 6th 2016 – THEY WERE WORTH THE WAIT! (Plus some factoid info for you…)
It’s now Day 3 – the Curtain has lifted and the show has begun! And let me tell you, these kids were worth the wait. Despite the ridiculous heat and the necessary droning on by me regarding all the new routines, procedures, etc., the kids have been engaged, are practicing how to listen well the first time, are asking thoughtful questions of me and of each other, and are increasing their stamina for classroom life. But this week is all about dipping our toes in the pool…
The school pool, that is. Believe me when I tell you that I will challenge your kids this year. But the best way to maximize those challenges is to set them up for success and ease into new expectations one item at a time. Our focus over the next two weeks will be on building a loving, supportive classroom family, learning how to listen well the first time (ask them about “listening with your eyes,” and “ask a friend who listened” strategies), and setting up/using processes and systems for getting work done and staying organized. Finally, a major focus is in asking students to become more reflective about their behaviors and examining how, in order to be respectful, they need to moderate their behavior for the setting and act differently as a member of a community than they would as an individual at home. An example of this you can talk about with your child is The Columns of Respect and Disrespect. In class we talked about how every action we do (or say) can fall into one of two columns: Respect or Disrespect, and that they should visualize these two columns in their heads. At fifth grade, it’s time to think more about this and ask yourself which column certain habitual behaviors fall in, and decide, “How can I move that behavior out of the Disrespect Column and into the Respect Column?”
Now to some Factoid Info –
· The “Homework At a Glance” Page in the pink bar above shows nightly homework. Just click on the bright green box and it will pop up bigger.
· The “Parent Place and Student Resource Center” Page (also above) has online copies of many important things the kids will need throughout the year. I do not give out extra copies of these things to kids if they lose them – they can print them from the blog page as needed. There are also docs for parents, such as my Open House Overview and the 5th Grade Supply List.
· Speaking of that, the pre-ordered kits only provide what is common to all classes, but do not include a few things specific to each of us. In the next week or so (if you haven’t already), please pick up the following: A 2nd marble hardcover journal; a 2nd spiral notebook; a 3-pack of Pentel (or similar) 0.9mm mechanical pencils. Thanks!
And so this (almost) ends my post. Your kids are awesome. I fall a little bit more in love each day with these Sweetlings, and I look forward to learning and executing all the ways in which I might help them become their best selves going forward. I have a poster on my door which we discussed as a class that says, “What is Popular is not Always Right…What is Right is not Always Popular.” And while I may not always be popular when asking them to step it up throughout the year, I know in my heart that I will be doing what is right for each of your children for their future success.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Thursday, September 1st, 2016 – ANTICIPATION…
With my summer tan in full bloom, it is hard to believe that today and in the days ahead, I’ll be meeting 19 new sweet souls and their families, with whom I’ll spend the next 10 months. These days just before the start of school are so interesting – and nerve-wracking. The mind goes wild with thoughts: Will they like me? Will they work hard for me and for themselves? Will we build a classroom family built on love and respect?
While I’m sure the answer will be a resounding YES!, these next few moments are akin to the final dress rehearsal before Opening Night. The curtain has yet to rise, the show has yet to start, and the applause has yet to thunder in response to a magnificent performance. The mind is riddled with doubt, yet ecstatic about what possible triumphs lie ahead. And it dawns on me that it must feel exactly the same right now for my 19 sweet souls as it does for me…
But let’s flash forward to the end of the show. By June, the entire Cast of Characters in the Watson’s Winners Extravaganza will hit it out of the ballpark. They will win the Tony Award. They will receive a Standing O. They will become legendary in their awesomeness and fabulosity…
And so we look forward to the start of the show, knowing that by the end, the angst, the hard work and effort, and the joy and love shared by each supporting player will result in that MAGNIFICENT performance. Get ready to take a bow…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Monday, June 6th – ROCKIN’ THE REV! Now on the Colonial Game Show Network!
First, I want to thank all of you “Fence Sitters” for time and place shifting to Faneuil Hall in May of 1775, and listening intently to our “Two Sides to Every Story” Debate. Between the costumes, props, accents and IMPROVISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, it was a truly memorable event, and having you all there made it extra special.
On Friday June 3rd, we held our ROCKIN’ THE REVOLUTION! Game Show! We’ve been preparing for this interactive Quiz Bowl for quite a while, with the students boning up on their Colonial/Revolutionary trivia. I must say that I AM VERY IMPRESSED and your kids showed AN AMAZING amount of knowledge! The competition is based on both individual preparedness and team support — students were expected to know their factual knowledge (worth a higher point value), but were also given the opportunity to consult with their teams (for fewer points).
The “contestants” (aka your kids), some of whom came in with creative costuming, competed as famous Revolutionary Peeps, including but not limited to:
· Samuel Adams, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Francis Marion, Nathanael Greene, John Paul Jones, Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, Lafayette, Thomas Paine, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, Molly Pitcher, Betsy Ross, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allan and James Madison.
There were 90 questions, each worth up to 2 points, for a maximum score of 180 points. Contestants were responsible for gaining and showing knowledge in the following categories:
· The 13 Colonies, The French & Indian War, The Stamp Act, Life Before the War, The Boston Tea Party, The War Starts, Who Were the Patriots? Ben Franklin, George Washington, The Continental Congress, The Continental Army, The Declaration of Independence, Famous Battles, The Hardships of War, Valley Forge, Help from Europe, The Battle for the Sea, The War in the South, Heroes, Native Americans, African Americans, Famous Women, Traitors, Weapons & Technology, The American Flag, The Siege of Yorktown, The War Ends, The Treaty of Paris, Independence, and Life After the Revolution.
It was a VERY CLOSE RACE, with only SIX points separating the teams in the end. The Tournament Results are as follows:
· Fourth Place with 155 points: The Lafayette Legends
· Third Place with 157 points: Nathan Hale’s Corndogs
· Second Place with 159 points: The Bunker Hill Buddies
· First Place with 161 points: Win Men, Win!
There was also a Tournament MVP AWARD, which went to one student (voted on by the class) who showed obvious effort in Preparation, Knowledge, Sportsmanship and Spirit. The Award went to… RYAN HAPGOOD!!
We certainly were guilty of enjoying some healthy competition and camaraderie! It was quite a day – full of learning but also full of fun. Feel free to ask your kids what some of the questions were to see how well you can… ROCK THE REV!
I look forward to seeing you all at our Moving Up Ceremony and/or our Last Day Class Festivations! More on that in my final blog post. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, March 15, 2016– The Miraculous Mr. Zezima, Fab Feature Articles, and a Colonial Exposition… Hello Friends – I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your thoughts, prayers, patience and well-wishes as I’ve dealt with my father’s health crisis. We went from near death, through neurosurgery, making progress, having setbacks, and making more remarkable progress. After nearly three months of difficult days, 43 of which were spent in the hospital and rehab, we brought my father home on Saturday to the house he and my mother built in 1964. While he has more recovery ahead, he will make that recovery amid the stunning scenery of the lake and woods. He’ll snuggle with his cat, Sophia Loren, sit at his desk and handle his legal work, get back to emailing friends, and generally feel a part of the world again. Oh, and he’ll celebrate his 89th birthday on March 21st. Again, I cannot tell you what all of your concern and care has meant to me and all of us Zezimas. My heart is full…
In WRITING news, several weeks ago the kids finished their Feature Article Slide Shows, and they are posted on the Blog, under the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work page (https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ ). I invite you to scroll down to the Feature Article Section and check out these FABULOUS articles. The kids are currently reading each other’s pieces and responding in the Comments Section, so check those out as well. The topics they chose to explore are mature and sophisticated, and I am impressed by the range of issues that our kids are concerned about. I hope you will be as well…
CUE THE COLONIES EXPO! Lastly, don’t forget to come and enjoy a visit into the past with the Watson’s Winners “OUR MOVE TO THE COLONIES” EXPO on Wednesday, March 23rd. It begins at 2:00. The kids will be in costume and will display an artistic expression of who they are as a colonist. I have gone over possible wardrobe and visual options with each of them, and am trying to get them to take the lead on this, rather than emailing you directly to organize (increasing self-responsibility here). However, if your child has not even mentioned this to you, it might be time to bring it up to them. Feel free to email with any questions. I posted their Colonial Letters on the blog (see link above and scroll to just below Feature Articles). In case time gets tight at The Expo, you can read them here. Speaking of, here’s the general flow of the event:
You will tour the exhibition, read their letters, see their artwork and ask the colonists questions about themselves, their time and place, and their reasons for choosing to settle in the colony they did (sample questions will be provided to you). After your tour through the past, duets, trios and quartets of Colonists will perform songs they wrote themselves (with tunes that come from the 21st Century), that weave information about their colony and themselves into the song. Every Colonial Family will leave with a songbook that contains the lyrics for each song. Just to tease you, here is the cover page that lists the songs and groups:
· Our Move to the Colonies Songbook Cover
The event should last about an hour. We hope you can come! Many of you have already responded, but if you have not confirmed yet that you are indeed coming, please do so this week!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 – Moon Journals, Feature Articles, & Moving to the Colonies (and even a Parent Expo on the horizon)… Lots of FUN things are happening in class! Below are some highlights in science, writing and in social studies…
MOON JOURNALS ARE COMING! Even as we are winding down our study of light and the human eye, we are gearing up for our investigations into the Sun-Moon-Earth relationships. The four main goals are for students to understand the processes, causes and effects of day and night, an earth year, the changing of the seasons, and the movement/phases of the moon. Of course, our overarching theme comes in big time here – FORCE CAUSES MOTION, AND MOTION CAUSES CHANGE.
To further kids understanding of and connection to the moon and its phases, we will begin moon journaling! This project combines scientific thoughts and data, art and creative writing. Due to the home nature of this and the feature article project, we will be putting a hold on weekly reading blogs, free write logs and word study homework through February. And here’s a blank copy of both the project and the moon’s phases, so that you can see for yourself what it’s all about…)
In compelling Journalism news, the students have been hard at work writing their first and second drafts of their argumentative/persuasive pieces – or Feature Articles. They have chosen a wide variety of topics to passionately argue for. These include: the dangers of social media and over-use of technology; the greed and inhumanity behind elephant poaching; the perils of smoking; the evils of heroin addiction; the inequality between men and women in professional sports; the decline of the airline industry; and many more. Next week they will be given a copy of their second drafts to turn into a slide show that will be shared on our blog, on the Showcase: Watson’s Winners Work page. To catch a glimpse of last year’s crop of stories (which will soon be replaced with your kids’ articles), click here: https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ . Also, below is the Feature Article Rubric, so you know how sophisticated and compelling these pieces are.
In social studies, we are “Meeting the Babies and Watching Them Grow,” which means we are learning about each of the thirteen colonies and seeing how they change and develop over time. We very much use a family metaphor in relating the colonies to their parent country, from their beginnings all the way through the Revolution. At first the colonies are in their infancy and need/rely on their parent; they then grow and develop, and start to become more independent of their parent. As the colonies reach their “tween and teen years,” tensions build to the point of rebellion. At this point though, we are just learning about the similarities and differences of each colony and region (New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies). Soon students will be choosing and further developing made-up but realistic personas of Europeans contemplating various moves to the colonies. Based on these personas, each student will then write a letter to a (fake) family member, defending their choice of a “good” colony for them, and rejecting the “bad” colony, which the family member thinks is better (this is a comparative/argumentative essay in disguise). After these letters are done, we will then group up to write songs about the different colonies, using modern day tunes (SEE LINKS BELOW). Once these are well-honed, we will be holding a “Move to the Colonies Expo,” in which parents will be invited come and tour the “booths” and learn from students who will be dressed in their colonial characters. Students will display a visual at their booths that represents their life in their colony (this will be the only home element to this project). They will also share their letters and defend their reasons for choosing the colony (and also answer questions you pose to them which will be provided to you). And finally, we will perform our songs! This fabulous event will likely be in March and I will give plenty of notice once we get further afoot into the classwork. By the time we have this Expo, we will have moved on to the Road to Revolution in the actual classwork, but we still want to share with you all that we learned and experienced about Colonial America. Stay tuned…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2015 – A Day at the Improv and Seasons Greetings… THERE’S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON! Yesterday and today, The Company of Watson’s Winners was immersed in historical improvisational performances entitled, A Day at the Improv. It was a sold-out show! Some of the paparazzi pics are below…
As you know, our over-arching theme in social studies and science is “Force Causes Motion, and Motion Causes Change.” We began our study of American History with the Middle Ages in Europe and Asia, simply as a way for the students to understand how history is an ongoing cycle of cause and effect. Example: The religious forces of the Crusades caused a massive movement of people, goods and ideas, which in turn created great change ~~ the death of the feudal system and advent of The Renaissance. As the intellectual and economic forces in that era grew stronger, a movement of explorers in search of trade routes led to the discovery of the Americas (massive change). More religious and economic forces caused settlement and colonization, and this is where we are now – just past Jamestown and Plymouth.
Previous to this, students completed another culminating piece called The Roads That Led to America. This was Google-based, with Google Drive and Chromebooks utilized throughout. Students used the many websites on this blog, our library research sites, as well as others they found to research, take notes and make inferences related to the ideas above. They then wove their notes and inferences into “essays in disguise” writing in different historical voices/characters within each era (they also used babynames.com, historical map images for exact locations, Google translate and websites related to formal/middle English vocab, also on my blog). They then drafted and published their essays in disguise.
For this Improv project, which was also Google-based, students honed in on the life of one historical character from the eras above (Middle Ages through Crusades, Renaissance, Exploration, Settlement) and investigated that character’s life through the lenses of particular questions (see project link, below). They then wrote a first-person “Faux Autobiography” (narrative nonfiction) in the voice of this person, again focusing on the big picture ideas that they researched. Once they “had become their characters” by writing and re-reading their pieces, we conducted a two-part event (with props, costumes and accents) called “A Day at the Improv” in which by turns two seemingly random people from history were be picked out of my Tiffany Bag and had to hold an improvisational conversation in front of the audience – with the goal of finding out more about each other, but also finding the connections, similarities and differences and historical impacts that they each possess ~~ and seeing the cause and effect aspect of history. Audience members participated after each performance. After all performances were complete, we will hosted a post-performance “Mocktail Reception,” at which students mingled in character and held more conversations with each other, all while enjoying some post-performance FESTIVATIONS!
(And here’s a blank copy of the project, so that you can see for yourself what your kids had to do to prepare for these performance days.) A Day at the Improv!
Speaking of FESTIVATIONS, I cannot believe that we have just finished Day 75 and that the Holiday Break is upon us. (For those able to attend, our Class Party is Wednesday the 23rd from 11:30-12:15, and parents are welcome to join us.) During this special time of year, it is my fervent hope that you and your family get to take some time and unwind, just to relax and enjoy each other and the dear ones in your world. These are trying times that we live in, and it seems more important than ever that we spend time each day doing the things that really matter with the people who matter most to us. My greatest wish though is that, in the weeks, months and years ahead, our world will become a place in which the love, peace and fellowship of being one humanity will be extended to and be felt by all. Enjoy the rest of your Holiday Season!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Monday, November 23rd, 2015 – Blogging, Boomerangs, the Beauty of Light and a Bounty of Thanks… YOUR KIDS ARE BLOGGERS! Last week we officially began our roll-out of digital camaraderie, with your kids communicating via the blog in an impressive way. Using Pages in the above menu bar – The Front Porch: The House of Reading and Writing Page (because front porches are where people gather to chat), and the So Whataya Think About? Page — students are writing and sharing their thinking around the books they’re reading, the historical eras they’re discovering, and/or the current events that affect and shape their lives. They will be asked each week to generate their own well-thought out posts, and then comment as well on those of others in a thoughtful and respectful manner. I invite you to check out their blogging on a regular basis. Simply click on to the above-mentioned pages and then scroll down to the bottom to the comments section. I am very impressed so far, and I hope you will be as well…
Look for Boomerang Folders to come home to you next week (most likely on Monday, 11/30). Don’t feel rushed to check out the work and sign the folder – you have a week to peruse, sign and return it via your child, and remember the work stays at home.
In exciting Science news, we are beginning our new unit on Light and the Human Eye. Last week students built pinhole cameras and investigated with them. They discovered something totally unexpected! Ask them to tell you what that was, and how the human eye works in much the same way. As the unit goes on, students will use mirrors, lenses, prisms and color filters to learn about the three ways light can be controlled (reflection, refraction, and absorption), as well as about the spectrum of visible light (remember our dear old friend, ROY G. BIV?) Well if not, here’s a link to a fun little song about the guy…
- The ROY G. BIV SONG! — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf33ueRXMzQ
In social studies, we are now at 1620. Today and tomorrow in class we will be acting as Separatists, on the eve of boarding the Mayflower, who are being asked to prioritize no more than 10 items from a list of supply options most crucial for survival in Virginia. We will then have a Separatist town meeting to debate the merits of the different choices and come to an understanding of what should be loaded on the very small Mayflower for the good of the colony. But first some backstory on what the kids have recently discovered…
The settling of Jamestown in 1607 was nearly a disastrous failure, much like its predecessor Roanoke, but by 1619, it was a thriving colony thanks to the cash crop of tobacco. Seeing such success, the despised Separatists in England sought and received a charter to settle in America, hoping to make a pilgrimage to Virginia and obtain religious freedom for themselves. However, the Mayflower was blown off course by the harsh November gales, and the Pilgrims landed on the shores near Cape Cod in a place called Massachusetts. After a winter of death, starvation and disease, the Separatists began to see their own colony thrive due to the crucial aid and friendship they received from Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit, and the other local Wampanoags. To show their true appreciation, the Separatists invited the Wampanoags to their annual harvest feast of Thanks-Giving (such a day was a common custom back in England).
So finally and fittingly, I’d like to say how thankful I am to spend my days with your children. They have worked hard this autumn season and have grown in so many ways since the end of August. I am proud to know them. In this world we live in, it is so necessary to take the time to pause and reflect on our blessings and to just enjoy being together. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 – Small Moments, Night Terrors, Sound Challenge Paparazzi, and Boomerangs… IT’S TIME TO SHARE THE WORK! Please go to the SHOWCASE: WATSON’S WINNERS WORK! Page above (or click https://cwatsondps.wordpress.com/about-2/ ) to check out our students in action. First you will find each student’s unique Small Moment story. Writing a Small Moment teaches a writer to “pause the plot” – to stop the action and use unique vocabulary and figurative language to describe the setting, add some sensory details, or share any internal thinking of the characters. Writers also learn how to embed a life lesson or theme into their story, so that the reader can understand what the story is REALLY about. We hope you enjoy!
Below the Small Moments you will find our Whole-Class Halloween story for 2015 – NIGHT TERRORS… This is another great writing exercise, in that the story has a brief and open-ended beginning, and each student is asked to write an entry that extends the story (using only their knowledge of the last two entries written). When their bit is complete, they then tap the shoulder of the next student on the list and it grows from there. (We just squeezed this activity in between all the other subjects…)
In exciting Science news, students just presented their Sound Challenges, and you can get a sneak peek at them thanks to the pics we posted! It was a sold-out event and we had two intensive days in which the students played the roles of Teachers, Learners and QUESTioners in every stellar performance. The Paparazzi were swarming as you can see…
Finally, I’d like to introduce a new (and hopefully monthly) work-sharing process – THE BOOMERANG FOLDER! This feature falls under the Watson’s Winners Family Communication Category. I’ve been collecting a sampling of student work across the curricula – some scored/graded/commented on, some just clean samples of things they did over the last month or so. Sometime this week, each of your kids will bring this work home in his or her “Boomerang Folder” – so named because it goes home…and then it comes back! The contents is meant for you to look at and keep (so THE WORK DOES NOT COME BACK TO SCHOOL). There is a chart inside as well that just asks you to date and sign to confirm you’ve seen the work. There’s also a brief space for comments or questions if you’d like to write something (not that you have to, but you can). Your child will then bring the folder back to school by the due date and we’ll keep it here to fill up again. My goal is to have this become a monthly event, so that, between this folder and the work samples on The Blog, parents can see a splash of their child’s work in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies (yes, all subjects if possible – but the timing may not always be right to catch every subject every month). Here’s to starting new traditions!
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 – A HARD HABIT TO BREAK… The band Chicago was onto something! One of the most challenging aspects of growing up and growing intellectually is to develop strong, healthy habits of mind in regard to both academics and behavior. Even harder though, is “unlearning bad habits,” that have become so repetitive and rote that a person no longer realizes they are doing them. It’s so important though to try to break the bad and build the good because, as the following line from a poster in my class illustrates: Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your CHARACTER…
Good habits of mind in academics, while not a breeze to develop, are a bit easier to implement than behavioral habits because they are more concrete and mindful: Learn your math facts; stop and think about a math problem and identify the steps to solving it; organize your time, space and materials; use proper mechanics as you draft and also pause your drafting frequently to edit and revise; read, read, and read some more — stopping just enough to help develop strong ideas around what you’ve been reading; pick books that will challenge and inspire you to become a lifelong reader. These are all things that students come to school expecting to learn, and most pick up these good habits at some point in their school career.
Behavior, however, is a much harder area in which to break bad habits and build better ones. This year, I am really pushing the kids to think about their behaviors, and to start to make some positive adjustments. I find a good percentage of sweet, kindhearted students at Ox Ridge have, despite their generally good character, developed some “bad habits” when it comes to talking too much, not always following the rules, not listening to teachers, not listening to directions, etc. They seem to feed off each other in this regard, and tend to repeat behaviors they know are disrespectful to the adults, the rules, and the learning community. Our Ox Ridge Code ends with the line, “Respectful to all,” but because of some rote and repetitive habits, many students repeatedly show disrespect to the adults here without meaning or wanting to. It is a larger issue we’re dealing with, but being asked to change bad habits and re-develop better ones can be daunting, exhausting, and can add to the overall learning curve of being a 5th grader. This is where they (and I) need your help.
We have had many discussions in class about this. In one such lesson I asked for an honest show of hands of anyone who was becoming more aware of times in which they knew they were being disrespectful, but did not change their behavior and/or repeated that behavior again in the future. Most hands went up. I then asked who among them would be open to the help of parents and teachers in talking about and making positive change in their behavior habits. All hands went up (even those who I consider to have good habits already). This tells me that your kids – wherever they are on this behavior continuum, recognize their behaviors as either respectful or disrespectful, but need some guidance in the breaking bad and building good category, or maybe they just want to share their observations of behavior here at Ox Ridge. “Back in our day,” we had some pretty harsh and broad-reaching consequences for misbehavior no matter the setting; but in today’s world, the focus is less on harsh realities and more on self-reflection – getting kids to see the value of the positive and the true consequences of the negative. Because I know that the 20th century is gone forever (heavy sigh), I am embracing this approach and using discussion and self-reflection to help your children. It would be great if you could do the same. Please ask them about how they and others behave in school and encourage their honest assessment of themselves. Ask them to share some instances of disrespect that they or others show to the adults, the rules, and the learning community. When kids have to put voice to their actions, they see themselves more clearly and can start to make those positive changes that result in strong habits of mind and lasting good character.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
All the Big Doings in Class!
Wednesday, September 30th, 2015 – A LOOK AT TODAY AND TOMORROW… We’re really getting going now! There is just so much to share, but I can’t (nor do you probably want me to) share it all in one post. So…below is an overview of what we’re up to with many of our endeavors IN CLASS (none of which are homework, but there could definitely be applications of in-class learning at home). I’ve also added several attachments that give clear examples of the types of experiences your kids are or will soon be having.
In writing we are drafting and crafting our Small Moment personal narratives and conducting peer-editing (student-to-student feedback). We will begin publishing within the week. The purpose of the Small Moment is to learn specific techniques and writing strategies (ex: figurative language and sensory description) that effectively pause the plot and stretch the moment, as well as to learn how to embed a life lesson into the heart of a story. Each day, I have also been teaching lessons on conventions related to paragraphing, comma usage and sentence structure, which the kids can execute in their drafting and free-writing at home. Below is a poster that all the kids have taped inside their writing journals, which outlays the types of strategies they’ll use, not just for this genre of writing, but for future genres as well. I’ve also attached the peer-editing form, so that you can see what types of feedback kids are asked to give each other, and a mentor text of a small moment, written by Yours Truly…
Morning Has Broken my Slumber…
In math we’ve been dipping our feet deeper into the pool of double- (or more) digit multiplication. A reminder: STUDENTS WILL ULTIMATELY BE USING TRADITIONAL ALGORITHMS FOR LONG MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION, as these are most efficient when “executing” in math. (Expect double-digit homework starting next week.) Attached is the Unit 1 Family Letter though, which gives a few examples of how we reinforce the efficient models with creative thinking in number sense. These other models do really help students to see how it all works, and they can ultimately transfer that understanding to their more efficient model. But remember, you can help your child understand however you see fit – THERE IS NO WRONG WAY!
In science and social studies, we have an overlying theme for the year: FORCE CAUSES MOTION, AND MOTION CAUSES CHANGE (ask your kids to show you the chant/dance; there will more about this in future posts). In science we are really getting into our unit on Sound, and the kids have already discovered that sound starts with a FORCE at the source; the vibration is the MOTION or pathway of the sound; and the sound itself is the CHANGE. Attached are several “snapshots” of the investigation we explored yesterday, which asked kids to discover the relationship ship between the length (and ultimately speed) of a vibrating object and the sound’s pitch. Using home-made “instruments,” students learned the following terms: directly proportional, inversely proportional, vibration, pitch (vs. amplitude), among other terms from past investigations.
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