Sharing Setting Fixed!

The links in the previous math update have been fixed.  Thanks to all of you who tried to look at the links.

Math News

In 5th and 6th grade math we are well into our study of number theory: factors, multiples, prime and composite numbers, even and odd numbers, square numbers, common factors, common multiples, and prime factorization.  See this link for 6th grade content for our first unit.  See this link for 5th grade content.

Homework has begun and we are in our third week of assigning homework in math.  Please expect one assignment per week.  All assignments will be posted on Schoology at the beginning of the week.  Please see the link below for more information on helping your student with math homework.

Math Homework:  How parents can help

Thanks for your continued support and please contact us with any questions or concerns,
Melinda Anderman & Stefi Clymer

Ms. Anderman's email:  manderman@wwsu.org
Mrs. Clymer's email:  Sclymer@wwsu.org

Keeping track of homework, iblock, and more...

What is iBlock?
The "i" in iblock stands for individual.  iBlock is a 30 minute block that happens each day and is focused on the specific needs of individual students as determined by a combination of local assessments, teacher observation and student voice.  Each iBlock session will last 6 weeks.  iBlock groups will be taught by school-wide staff and will be small and focused.  Examples of areas of focus for the first session include

• math reasoning and strategies
• reading comprehension and fluency
• geography skills
• spelling
• multiplication fact fluency
• foreign language

If your student has needs outside of their assigned session 1 group, we will do our best to meet those needs during a different 6 week session.`

How is your student keeping track of assignments?

With the move to one-to-one devices, CBMS no longer orders assignments books for students to purchase.  We recognize that learning to manage deadlines and being organized is a skill that many middle school students are learning and that the development of these skills is essential for success. During team time today we got organized!

5th Graders
All 5th grade students have been supplied with a homework folder and a two week calendar where they will be writing their assignments.  If you have a 5th grader, please ask to see their folder and yellow paper calendar.

6th Graders
6th graders were given options, but are still required to have an organizational strategy for keeping track of deadlines and upcoming events.  6th graders can use the any of the following:

• homework folder/two week calendar option
• their own assignment book
• online google calendar
• Schoology calendar

We strongly encourage you to check in with your 6th grader to see which option they chose.

Science Begins!

This was our first week following our normal schedule, which meant we started science classes!  Ms. Anderman is teaching Earth and Space.  Mrs. Houston is teaching Robotics and Mrs. Michael will be teaching Processes that Shape the Earth. The students will rotate by trimester though each teacher and unit.  

Science begins...

After watching videos of eclipses, moon phases, and seasons,
students created drawings about why they thought these events occur

Students predicted the size and distance of the sun from
earth in scale and were surprised to realize how large the sun is
compared to earth and how far, far away it is!

In Mrs. Michael's class we explored the Scientific Method by experimenting with Skittles.  After this introductory lesson, students will design their own candy experiment by changing variables.

Check out this cool time lapse video Jack made of his group's experiment. 

Observing

Documenting

Recording data & observations

Everyone has a task based on our job cards

Discussing results

ROBOTICS...

Getting ready for Robotics

Taking inventory of ALL those pieces!

Organizing

Teamwork!

Now that we are following our normal schedule, we will keep doing Team Time on Thursday mornings throughout the year.  Ask your Wizard about our Team Kahoot!  Students had to put to the test all that they learned about each other during the first weeks of school.  Please be sure to check out the link to our schedule on the sidebar and stay tuned for more happenings on Team Wizards.

Week one as a Wizard

My it was a busy and successful first week on the Wizards' wing! It was great to see our returning Wizards and to welcome the new ones.  We saw a lot of smiling faces and happy Wizards.  Although students had L.A, Math, and Social Studies in the afternoon, we spent each morning as a team.  We began the day with a team meeting and finished with a team building activity.  Students in Ms. Anderman's and Mrs. Clymer's math class focused on group activities and reflection that led to students creating expectations for our team called Our Wizard Pledge for Success.  There was a lot of thoughtful conversation and reflection about how we can work together this year and help one another be successful.  Here are some highlights from our first week together:

We built group puzzles without talking and thought about what we need from one another to complete a group task.

We worked together to find the Lonesome Llama.   We had to use our ability to describe, observe, and cooperate to find the llama's home.

We enjoyed some team building activities outside.
This one is called "Continuum" and  helps the kids find common interests.

"Peek a Who"--A game for practicing names.

The 6th graders created and presented skits for the 5th graders about how we treat our Chromebooks.

We played Human Bingo and learned a lot about each other

These smiling faces say it all! 

"Team Tally" allowed for some interesting discussions:)

We met new people, found common interests and learned each other's names

We learned that a lot of Wizards can speak another language, one of us can juggle bowling pins, and a lot of us camped in Vermont this summer.

Things these two young ladies have in common...
They do not have middle names and they both speak a second language.

Working cooperatively to brainstorm expectations for all those comfy chairs that they love so much.

Would you believe the 5th graders mastered their lockers by mid week?




Students had to line up by middle names. All of the pairs below share the same middle names...

Will won an intense game of Biggest Fan, which is a spin off of Rock, Paper, Scissors.