2nd-Grade News
In 2nd-grade classrooms, we will begin the year using selections from the Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program. Our focus for the first several sessions will be having students explore and explain sequencing, cause and effect, implications, basic literary elements, inferencing, and general themes and concepts, based on some fable, short story and poetry selections that students will be reading.
We will also be building "mental math" skills by playing some math games that loop from one student, to every student in the classroom, and back to the beginning student.
3rd-Grade News
Our 3rd-graders have begun working with Touchpebbles stories, part of the Touchstones Discussion Project curriculum. Typically, students meet together at the beginning of our class time as we introduce a topic or theme for discussion, break into small groups to problem solve or reach a conclusion, and then rejoin the larger group to share outcomes from their small groups. Next, we read a folktale or fable, and tie together our theme with what we have read. As they practice critical reading skills, students will learn to clarify their thoughts and improve speaking skills through the small-group and whole-group discussions. With just a few ground rules for conducting group discussions, this dynamic encourages students towards deeper questioning, making inferences, determining their own opinions, and respecting the opinions of others.
We are beginning math this year with some critical thinking puzzlers that combine geometric shapes and patterns with visual logic, as we explore what it means to have congruent figures and contiguous parts.
We are beginning math this year with some critical thinking puzzlers that combine geometric shapes and patterns with visual logic, as we explore what it means to have congruent figures and contiguous parts.
4th-Grade News
Our 4th-graders continue with the Touchstones Discussion Project curriculum as part of their literacy study each week. We started with a discussion about taking advice from others, feeling sometimes that we may not want the advice of others, and encouraging someone to take our advice when we feel they may be headed towards trouble. A folktale about a magic pillow that made a young man willing to accept the advice of an older, wiser man provided some interesting interpretations and discussion.
We had fun with an addition puzzler involving a strangely constructed house at 15 Addition Avenue. Students found a strategy for solving the puzzle, and many found a second solution. Students will also be continuing our Hands-On Equations program which reinforces how to evaluate equations and begin solving for variables.
Electives Courses
Beginning in late September, our 4th-grade students will all have an opportunity to participate in Electives Courses, taught by wonderful volunteer parents and teachers here at Venable. We are looking forward to offering these courses again this year, after the positive response we had last year. During eight consecutive Friday mornings, students will be engaged in problem solving and reaching conclusions on topics of interest, some of which will include: our criminal justice system, interior design, acting, conservation, environmental science, urban planning, public speaking, photography, and the writing process. Through these electives, students will make connections among what they are learning in the classroom, their interests, and possible career choices in the future.
We had fun with an addition puzzler involving a strangely constructed house at 15 Addition Avenue. Students found a strategy for solving the puzzle, and many found a second solution. Students will also be continuing our Hands-On Equations program which reinforces how to evaluate equations and begin solving for variables.
Electives Courses
Beginning in late September, our 4th-grade students will all have an opportunity to participate in Electives Courses, taught by wonderful volunteer parents and teachers here at Venable. We are looking forward to offering these courses again this year, after the positive response we had last year. During eight consecutive Friday mornings, students will be engaged in problem solving and reaching conclusions on topics of interest, some of which will include: our criminal justice system, interior design, acting, conservation, environmental science, urban planning, public speaking, photography, and the writing process. Through these electives, students will make connections among what they are learning in the classroom, their interests, and possible career choices in the future.