Literature Circles

Over the past several weeks, we have been learning about accountable talk and the discourse of an effective learning environment.  To help us, we have created several speech bubbles/talk stems to help us communicate effectively through active listening, building on the ideas of others, learning how to disagree respectfully, elaborating and clarifying ideas, and supporting our thinking with evidence.  

Over the next two days, we will be having literature circle discussions as we analyze two poems.  We will be using the fishbowl protocol.  Half of the class will be discussing our first poem while the second class observes and then provides feedback.  The next day the roles will be reversed.  

I will be using the Harkness discussion method to collect data that I can share with the students.  During their discussion, I will be listening in.  I am not an active participant but will jump in to address misconceptions or to guide the discussion if absolutely needed.  I am so excited to listen in to the students as they continue analyzing poems.  

Figurative Language

We have been learning about Figurative Language over the past two weeks.  We have had a great time exploring what each device is, identifying where authors and poets have utilized them to create images for their readers, and analyzing the impact these images have on the written word.  We have been collecting our observations on a Thinking Map.  

Digital Citizenship PBL

Students have been collaborating on the Digital Citizenship PBL (Project Based Learning.)  After our launch day, we broke into teams and brainstormed apps students have used on our campus.  Each team selected an app that they wanted to explore further.  

One thing the students felt that they needed to understand is what the rules are for each app.  We discussed what terms of service were and then students formulated research terms to help us locate more information for each app.  

We also have explored several presentation apps that they might use to share their knowledge.  

Many groups have moved on to storyboard their presentations.  

Special thank to Mrs. Hollis who has been collaborating with our Minecraft group as they complete their project.  

We will be presenting to Mrs. Bernero and Mrs. Hollis to share our learning soon.  

The Center for Learning and Innovation

Today we visited the school Center for Learning and Innovation.  What a wonderful resource this will be for us this year.  There are so many wonderful books, spaces to collaborate, and technology tools for learning.  

Launching our First PBL

Today we launched our first PBL (Project Based Learning.)  Our driving question is:  How can we, as digital citizens, teach others how to to use technology safely and responsibly?  

Our entry event was watching a video invitation from our principal Mrs. Bernero and our wonderful facilitator of learning Ms. Hollis.  

After viewing the video, the driving question, and the rubric for the project, we recorded our Knows and Need to Knows using Padlet.  I am excited to see where the students go with this and will post more details about our project soon.  

You can learn more about Project Based Learning here.  

Character Traits

This week we have been learning how to use textual evidence to infer character traits.  As we have been reading a chapter A Package for Mrs. Jewls, we have been focusing on one of the main character's Louis and how his actions and words reveal clues about his characters.

We also have been taking notes about Auggie and Via Pullman as we have been reading the book Wonder aloud.  As we read, we have discussed the difference between emotions and character traits.  We have noticed that as the story progresses, Auggie seems to change. We are learning that in some stories and biographies, the main character undergoes a significant transformation as a result of an event or interaction with another character.

We have extended our conversations to how our words and actions reveal things to people in our lives.