Updates and announcements

I hope everyone had a productive week! Based off Ms. Vaughn’s and my conversations with you all, it sounds like packets are going smoothly. We will be doing packets for one more week, then moving to Google Classroom.

Packets can be turned in through Google Classroom once we get it up and running, so hold onto them for now.

Please have students sign in and complete Xtramath everyday. If you do not have their login information, I can get that to you. 

This week’s packets can be done almost completely on a separate sheet of paper. If your child is able to read the passages on a device, only a few pages need to be printed.

We are going to hold our first Zoom video meetings with the class! On Tuesday at 1:30, we will have a show and tell with the whole class. Students can share a pet, their garden, or something they’ve been working on (to give a few examples). Students can expect to meet Cosmo, Gustav, and Miss Priss as part of my show and tell. On Friday at 1:30, I will lead a math tutoring session. These Zoom meetings will be about a half hour in length. I will send the link invitations later today both through email and posted on my blog.

 Miss Priss supervising one of my Zoom meetings

Gustav supervising my work (he is unimpressed)

 Cosmo slacking on the job (he's a terrible supervisor)

 Gustav enjoying some freshly laundered towels (which now need another laundering...)

 Half of our beautifully landscaped yard (!!!) (the weeds have already started growing back)

 The other half of our yard...We are from the northwest and love seeing green things, so we let the little weeds go for a little too long.

My converted work space (usually our teaching studio and my practice room)

My violin and an alto trombone on the couch where parents usually sit during private lessons (I can't seem to get all the trombones we have out of my work space at the same time...)

Our week in learning

In Literature, students will continue reading “Wrinkle in Time”. Students will read through chapters 3 and 4, identify vocabulary words, write summaries, and complete journal entry #2 on Friday.

In Grammar, students will answer questions about historic texts and scientific and technical texts. Students will also apply their knowledge of nonfiction texts and analyze informational texts.

In science, we are continuing our study of the skeletal system. Students will read about the job of the skeleton and fill out a diagram to help them locate major bones. A fun and optional additional activity would be playing Simon Says using the bones (for example, Simon says touch your patella.) Students will also learn about the four different kinds of movable joints, as well the importance of healthy bones and what they can do to keep their bones strong as they grow. 

This week in History, students will read about the goal of the Union to capture the Confederacy’s capital, Richmond, as well as the tactics and shortcomings of General McClellan. Students will also learn about the Emancipation Proclamation and a shift in the northern mindset following the Proclamation. You and your child may access our textbook online at https://www.coreknowledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CKHG_G5_U11_CW_SR.pdf

In math, students will interpret line plots, calculate the volume of three-dimensional figures formed with visible cube units, and calculate the volume of three-dimensional figures with given dimension values.