Company in the Classroom!

We have been extremely lucky to welcome some special guests into our classroom to enhance our learning!

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Two scientists/teachers visited us to teach the children about ocean mammals as well as the food chains and webs of these mammals. The children were able to see and touch a whale rib as well as an actual whale vertebra. The class “became” a food web with the help of yarn and great imaginations. Finally, they tested the effectiveness of whales that eat with their teeth (toothed whales) versus baleen whales. Ask them about this at home! What a great way to learn!

Cape Cod Canal Presentation: One of the Cape Cod Canal park rangers, Mr. John Pribilla, came to school to teach the children about the history of the canal in preparation for our visit to the Canal Visitor’s Center in Sagamore on May 20^th. The children learned about why the canal was and is important, about August Belmont (who started the construction in 1909) and the problems his company encountered during the process. They learned about the canal’s importance as a waterway and its uses as a recreational facility. We can’t wait to go to the Visitor’s Center and learn much, much more!

Cross-Age Science Teaching (CAST): Teams of eighth grade students came three times during the months of April and May to teach our class about electricity. Each eighth grader was assigned a group of third graders to work with over the course of the three visits. They worked amazingly well together! The third graders learned about safety in regards to electricity as well as circuits, conductors and insulators and much more. They built motors to spin colorful paper discs, used batteries to light a light bulb and created their own circuit boards that would light up when a question was answered correctly. The third graders were attentive, enthusiastic and thrilled with their creations! It was definitely a “win-win” situation for all involved!

MCAS: Round 2- Math

This week, on Wednesday, May 8^th and Thursday, May 9^th, your child will be taking his/her first Math MCAS test. These two days will test your child’s math skills.  The test will include answering multiple choice questions, short answer questions and even Math open response questions (“O.R.Q.s”).

The children have been learning and practicing math skills, strategies and important math vocabulary since the beginning of the year.

A friendly reminder of the best ways to prepare your child for the test:

1. Beginning tonight (not just the night before please), have your child go to bed early each night so he/she will be well rested on the MCAS days.
2. On the MCAS days, have your child eat a well-balanced breakfast before coming to school. We will not be able to have morning snack at our usual time.
3. Please be sure that your child arrives on time to school on each of these days.

During the week of MCAS testing there will be no written homework. Instead, please encourage your child to continue reading and to play outside. Finally, please know that I have taken the time to explain to the children that despite the focus right now on MCAS, that it is just one small part of their education. I have assured them that if they are well rested, have breakfast and most importantly, try their best, they will do well. I am, and will continue to be proud of their effort and accomplishments! Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Ms. Sawyer 

This week, on Wednesday, March 20^th and Thursday, March 21^st, your child will be taking his/her first English Language Arts/Reading MCAS test. These two days will test your child’s reading comprehension skills.  The test will include answering multiple choice questions, short answer questions and open response questions (“O.R.Q.s”).

A friendly reminder of the best ways to help your child prepare at home for the test:

1. Beginning tonight (not just the night before please), have your child go to bed early each night so he/she will be well rested on the MCAS days. Research has shown that students who lose even one hour of sleep can perform two years below their usual capabilities.

2. On the MCAS days, have your child eat a healthy breakfast (that includes protein) before coming to school. Students who have breakfast feel better, focus better and perform better on academic tasks.

3. Please be sure that your child arrives on time to school on each of these days.

Finally, please know that I have taken the time to explain to the children that despite the focus right now on MCAS, that it is just one small part of their education. I have assured them that if they are well rested, have breakfast and most importantly, try their best, they will do well. I am, and will continue to be, proud of their effort and accomplishments!      

Thanks for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Ms. Sawyer J        

The ANSWER Strategy

Get a "behind the scenes" look at our review lesson of the ANSWER strategy.

MCAS Myth Busters!

MCAS season is almost upon us and we are busy getting ready! Over the course of this year, and all of his/her years at Mullen-Hall, your child has been working hard each day to learn as much as he or she can!  The thought or mention of MCAS, though, causes most children (and many adults) to feel apprehensive and uncomfortable. The children hear things on the bus, on the playground and in the cafeteria that aren’t always accurate, which, in turn, leads to more anxiety.

So, to help ease the anxiety, today I spent some time in class dispelling the “Myths of MCAS”.     

Some of the things I told them that we then discussed:

*You have learned everything that you need to learn to do well on the MCAS. I shared some specific examples.

*You want to do your best so you feel proud of yourself but not worry so much that you give yourself a stomach ache. 

*Your score on the MCAS does not have anything to do with your report card grades.

*Your score on the MCAS does not have anything to do with “getting to go to fourth grade”.

*The test is given on two days in March (Reading/ELA) and two days in May (Math). It takes about 2 hours on each of these days.

*We will use our privacy screens during the test so that everyone has a personal, private space.

*We will have a healthy snack and do SmartMoves before we start. We will have a “fun” snack when we are finished. MORE INFORMATION ON SNACKS WILL BE COMING HOME SOON.

*You should eat a healthy breakfast (that includes protein) on the mornings of the test and go to bed early each night, starting a week before!

They had a chance to talk about it as a class and ask any questions that they had. We will revisit any areas of concern that may arise but we will not be focusing on it exclusively, as this will surely cause anxiety as well! As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

             

Thanks, as always, for your continued support!

Until Next Time,

Ms. Sawyer J

"Bring Your Instrument to School Day"

On Friday, Team 202 had our first ever "Bring Your Instrument to School Day"! Many children participated and we were treated to beautiful music played on flute, recorders, keyboard, electric guitar, violin and even iPads! It was clear that the children had put a great deal of time and effort into practicing the songs they shared. It was great! Well done, musicians!

XtraMath Expert!

Congratulations to our latest addition expert, Kailei! She has passed the addition facts portion of XtraMath. That's no easy accomplishment! Way to go!! 

I know that you can all achieve this    

if you keep trying! 

Also- A special thank you to Kailei for being so patient while waiting for me to post this to the blog. Thanks Kailei! :)