Conferences and more!

Conferences are coming up soon!  

Sign up for a conference by clicking here.  We can absolutely accommodate any family needing a virtual conference. Please select a time on the form and then email us letting us know you would prefer a virtual meeting. Thanks!

Wizards' Traditions

Each Friday we combine our Homerooms for Morning Meeting. The tradition is for the students to share a joke.  It is a great way to end the week. There is lots of laughter and it's a way for students to practice their public speaking skills in a low-stakes way.  My favorite joke last week..."What is the leading cause of dry skin?"  Answer: Towels:) 

Geography Club

A small group of students advocated starting a Geography Club during WIN on Fridays. The first meeting had only 4-5 participants. The second week they met, after some advertising, they had a much larger turnout!  It is so heartwarming when we see our students take on leadership roles. It's even more exciting when we see them following their passions! 

Geography Club meeting last Friday

Advertising around the classroom:) 

Social Studies

We are nearing the end of our Map Skills unit.  Students participated in an Escape Room style activity where they had to answer map questions based on their learning and then solve puzzles to get a code.  One student said, "It was stressful but in a fun way."  This is one of my favorite activities to do because they get minimal direction from me and have to really problem-solve as a group to achieve a common goal. Plus, they were reviewing for their final assessment. WIN-WIN

Language Arts

We are finishing up our read-aloud of The Benefits of Being an Octopus.  Next Wednesday, March 22nd Ann Braden, the author will be at CBMS talking to our students about the book.  If students have their own copy of the book, there will be an opportunity to get it signed by her! 

The students are doing an excellent job of using their comprehension skills.  They have identified the various plot events that contribute to the rising action in the novel. We've had lots of discussions about how the protagonist in the book is evolving and what is causing her to change. There is a litany of skills they are developing through this book. I am so impressed at their ability to defend their thinking with relevant evidence.  I can tell you that the skills they now possess, many of them did not exhibit at the beginning of the year. They've had SO MUCH growth this year! 

Math

During this short week we have arrived at the algorithm for multiplying any two fractions.  Students built their conceptual understanding using models while looking for patterns.

Science

We are well into our unit of why Mt. Everest is both moving and increasing in height.  This week, we looked as earthquake data form around the globe to look for correlations between mountains and earthquakes.  

Team Time

Most weeks we offer a block of time for team activities.  During this time students learn the valuable skills of cooperation, communication, conflict resolution, listening, following directions, focus and more.  Board games are part of the rotation of games and activities we do during this time.