Greetings Families,
It is hard to believe that there are only two more weeks of the quarter. The past couple of weeks have been hard as a class. More and more students are finding it difficult to control some of their behaviors. Come to find out, it is a trend in the school and a trend that has been the case for the past few years. We have now lived together as a class for long enough that we don't always stay on our best behaviors. Just like a real family, the students are starting to bother each other more than they had been.
As we go through the last couple weeks of the quarter, I'm doing what I can to encourage virtuous behaviors. We've spent some time reading books over the past couple of weeks to help us reflect on noble living and thinking. If you would like, ask your child about the books we are reading. Last week, we read about the right time to do good, who is the most important, and what is the good thing to do. Today, we read about having a gonna-get-it-done attitude--a growth mindset.
I also mentioned the negative impact of sugar earlier this quarter when I changed the permitted snack foods. Here is an article that Ms. Conforti referenced about the negative effects of sugar for children.
Here are the lessons for this upcoming week.
Lessons
Writing/Grammar: This week, students will be reviewing grammar concepts they have learned throughout the year. They are also reviewing and making corrections to older papers they have written this quarter.
History: Students learned about the Battle of Saratoga today and how that victory led to the spirits of the soldiers and nation improving. However, life wasn't nice and easy for the Continental Army following the major victory. Instead, they had to endure Valley Forge throughout the winter. Nonetheless, the trials of Valley Forge did a great deal of good.
There is an open-notes quiz on Friday. Here are the review questions:
It is hard to believe that there are only two more weeks of the quarter. The past couple of weeks have been hard as a class. More and more students are finding it difficult to control some of their behaviors. Come to find out, it is a trend in the school and a trend that has been the case for the past few years. We have now lived together as a class for long enough that we don't always stay on our best behaviors. Just like a real family, the students are starting to bother each other more than they had been.
As we go through the last couple weeks of the quarter, I'm doing what I can to encourage virtuous behaviors. We've spent some time reading books over the past couple of weeks to help us reflect on noble living and thinking. If you would like, ask your child about the books we are reading. Last week, we read about the right time to do good, who is the most important, and what is the good thing to do. Today, we read about having a gonna-get-it-done attitude--a growth mindset.
I also mentioned the negative impact of sugar earlier this quarter when I changed the permitted snack foods. Here is an article that Ms. Conforti referenced about the negative effects of sugar for children.
Here are the lessons for this upcoming week.
Lessons
Writing/Grammar: This week, students will be reviewing grammar concepts they have learned throughout the year. They are also reviewing and making corrections to older papers they have written this quarter.
History: Students learned about the Battle of Saratoga today and how that victory led to the spirits of the soldiers and nation improving. However, life wasn't nice and easy for the Continental Army following the major victory. Instead, they had to endure Valley Forge throughout the winter. Nonetheless, the trials of Valley Forge did a great deal of good.
There is an open-notes quiz on Friday. Here are the review questions:
1) What was a loyalist?
2) How did women support the war effort?
3) What happened to Nathan Hale?
4) Why were the victories at Trenton and Princeton important?
5) What did Steuben give Washington at Valley Forge?
Literature: The students continue to explore sea life with Nat in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch.
Math: The next unit of study in math will focus on adding and subtracting decimals. This should be a pretty easy unit because they've actually already been doing this. The most important thing is to line up the decimals. After the chapter test on Wednesday, students will start learning about multiplying decimals. For this, you don't worry about lining up the decimals. Instead, you multiply like regular. The only thing is you have to move the decimal over as many spaces as there are spaces behind a decimal in the original numbers.
Poetry: Students have one more week to memorize "Paul Revere's Ride."
Greek and Latin Roots: Roots 70-72 will be assessed this week. Students will then take the Greek and Latin roots test next week over roots 1-75.
Science: In science, students are working on a compare/contrast paper on two natural events that shape the Earth's surface. They should also be studying their study guides for the test next Thursday.
Spalding: The regular Spalding regiment will be in place next week since we will have Spalding all five days.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
Best,
Michael Naaktgeboren