January 7, 2022

Students got hot chocolate on our Wednesday morning walk

 Good Evening,

  I hope all of you have had a great start to your New Year.  It was great to get back to work and the students seemed psyched too.  We also welcomed a new student (but a Waitsfield Family) to our classroom.  Rowan Richards, a 1st grader, has joined our classroom.  Many of the students have been in class with Rowan in previous years. We all are psyched to welcome Rowan back to Waitsfield.  

This week we continued writing opinion pieces.  Our focus was learning how to write a counter argument or how to disagree with someone, in a respectful way.  Our discussion focused on how you need to use evidence and fact.  To get this writing started, the students each had to choose the item that they liked the least, from their collection.  They then had to make an argument why that items was their least favorite and provide reasons why.  

First grade math had students playing a Cat and Mouse game that focused on using the inequality symbols of greater than and less than.   We also introduced a timed math activity that works on fact fluency.  This is a 1 minute activity that kids do each day.  Ms. Figdor had this to say about 2nd grade math:This week we launched unit 4 on measurement. Each student started by measuring the distance across the classroom heel-to-toe footsteps.  Of course the results varied widely, due to the fact that we all have different size feet. This led to a discussion of using standardized measures such as rulers and yardsticks. During the next few weeks we will be learning about the US standard measurement system. After the initial discussion about measurement tools the second graders  explored feet. They used feet to measure different objects around the room. Then, we moved on to learn about yards. Students discovered that it takes three feet to equal a yard. After measuring the same distance across the room students, discovered that it takes fewer yards to measure the same distance. Next week we will be making our own “inchworm rulers.”

Yesterday the students had a chance to share the game they created during our coding unit. I used a rubric to score their games and their ability to use codes to create a game. After they shared, each child had a chance to try out their classmates games. This concluded our coding unit. I will use next week to wrap up our geography unit. Mr Cadwell will start a new social studies unit the following week.

Speaking of Mr. Cadwell, he has joined us full time during this semester (college semester). We are very fortunate to have him in our classroom and working with our students this year. Mr. Cadwell has great energy and is looking forward to learning from and working with your children.

Wednesday marked the 1st day of our Winter Sports Program. I want to thank you all for having your children being well prepared for the afternoon on the mountain. The students did a great job of getting ready and helping each other. Before we headed to the mountain, we watched the video, that WES made,

NOTES:

*Please make sure to send your child's homework bag back each day. I will not send the bag home on days that we have the winter program.

*We are good on paper towel and toilet paper tubes. Thank you for all of the donations from everyone.

That is all for now. I hope you all have a great week.

Peace,

Mr. Young