Newsletter 31.03.17

Good Afternoon,

A few quick notes for you from the Chameleon class. 

This week in Writers workshop we finished watching and analyzing the film Inside Out, we then ended this project by beginning to write a review of the film. I was amazed that children hadn’t seen many reviews before and children enjoyed giving their opinions and perspectives on the film.  

In readers workshop, I have been conferencing with children to see how they are at analyzing non-fiction texts. I have used the rubric which I showed to children in the previous week and then presented them with a text to read, asking them four questions, each related to a different part of the rubric. Some children have done very well with this and it has shown me that some still need some practise. After the Easter break we will be completing readers workshop assessment using this rubric and leveled piece of non-fiction writing.

In math, we continued to get into our groups and work on the measurement project. Children have taken to this project incredibly well and all seem really excited that they are going to making and then selling their recipes. Groups have now discussed the total cost of their recipe and even started calculating the prophet that they could make. This project will take place on Thursday 27^th April. We would really like some parent volunteers to help out on the day as each group will need their own adult supervision. If you are able to help on that day please contact me.

This week in science we continued to talk about the changes that happens to our bodies as we grow. Children were incredibly mature when discussing this. We also went on to discuss the menstrual cycle and how babies are conceived within the uterus. The children were incredibly interested by this. On Thursday we also split the classes up into boys and girls, the boys came into class with me and Mr MacLeod and the girls went with Miss Marczuk, in this space they were given the opportunity to ask questions that they couldn’t ask before.

Letters have come home regarding the circus week which will take place after the holiday.

Important Dates:

-          April 3^rd – 14^th Easter Break

-          April 17^th – 23^rd Circus week

Here is an overview of the areas of study we will focus on throughout the next week:

The first week back after break will be a very interesting one, we have the circus group in training children in different groups therefore there won’t be many opportunities that week for full class teaching.

During the time that children are in class we will be working on some problem solving and studying skills that can help children to manage their time better as they receive more work. As well as this I will continuing to conference with children regarding readers workshop.

Having the circus in is an amazing opportunity for the children of Phorms and I think the Chameleons in particular are going to be getting a lot out of it.

German:

Liebe Eltern der Chamäleon-Klasse,

in dieser Woche haben wir nochmal die Inhalte der Klassenarbeit wiederholt und die 4. Klassenarbeit geschrieben.

Ich wünsche Ihnen und Ihrer Familie schöne und erholsame Feiertage!

Herzliche Grüße

Agnes Fojcik

Have a wonderful break, I hope the weather is nice for all of us and we return feeling rested and ready to take on the last term in Grundschule!

Sincerely,

Mario Civico and the entire Chameleon team.

Newsletter 24.03.17

Good Afternoon,

A few quick notes for you from the Chameleon class. 

After all the work we’ve been doing in writing over the past 12 weeks, writers workshop has taken a little bit of a back seat this week. Within the sessions we have been completing a film study related to Inside Out. The conversations we’ve been having have been incredibly deep and the content links rally well to puberty, which has been taught in science. Below you will also find the grade breakdown for the Persuasive letters.

1	2	3	4		Average
4	14	3	0		1,95

In readers workshop, Mrs Petschick and myself have been completing some ORT reading assessments with children, it’s clear to see that children are getting better at reading and comprehending these texts.  Also we have been completing work related to reading workshop skills. Within the newsletter email today you will find a rubric that we have been using with children, this was given out during the week, it is specifically for children to show understanding as they are reading non-fiction texts. We will continue to use this next week.

In math, we started the week by looking over the assessment and discussing questions that pupils found tricky. I then introduced the idea of profit to the class through a card collecting game in which children has either buy or sell cards for different prices in order to make the most profit. This led to the introduction of the large measurement project. This project consists of children being in groups of 4 or 5, they will choose a recipe to make that is within budget (10€ for the group) and then plan out a day in which they will go shopping, create and then sell their treat. Children seemed incredibly excited about this project and I really look forward to seeing how it will turn out. We do not have an exact date for this project yet however we are speculating it will be held in the second week back after the April break (24^th – 28^th). We will require parent helpers for this, so if anyone is interested in assisting with this project please let me know. I will inform you of an exact date as soon as possible.

This week in science we continued to talk about the changes that happens to our bodies as we grow. Children were incredibly mature when discussing this and it was great to see pupils baby pictures, these led to interesting discussions about the changes our body goes through. I then went on to discuss all the changes that happen during puberty and once again, children showed excellent self-regulation.

Important Dates:

-          April 3^rd – 14^th Easter Break

-          April 17^th – 23^rd Circus week

Here is an overview of the areas of study we will focus on throughout the next week:

English:

In writers workshop we will continue to watch and discuss the film Inside Out.

In readers workshop, I will continue to read pieces of non-fiction with children and then conference with them using the rubric which was included in the newsletter email.

Math:

In this final week on the term we will be continuing to plan out the project, looking at how far they will travel, what timings they are assigning to each of their steps. I will then meet with each group separately to discuss how their day will go and if they have a feasible plan.

Science:

Next week in science we will finish up our current unit by talking about periods in more detail, looking at the menstrual cycle and getting hands on with different ways to deal with having a period. We will also cover the scientific facts of conception in terms the sperm meeting the egg and developing into an embryo.

German:

Liebe Eltern der Chamäleon-Klasse,

in dieser Woche haben wir weiterhin Übungen zum Textverständnis und zu den Satzgliedern durchgeführt.

Nochmals zur Erinnerung: Die 4. Klassenarbeit zum Thema Textverständnis findet am Mittwoch, den 29. März 2017, statt.

Ich habe den Schülern aufgetragen ihr pinkes Flex und Flora Heft sowie ihren roten Schnellhefter einzupacken. Im Flex und Flora finden Sie auf den Seiten 30-35 Erklärungen und Übungen zu den Satzgliedern. Die Aufgaben wurden bereits bearbeitet und besprochen. Gerne können Sie diese nochmals wiederholen. Ebenso die Texte, die im Unterricht bearbeitet wurden (roter Schnellhefter).

Im Anhang finden Sie zusätzliche Übungen zu den Satzgliedern, falls noch weiterer Übungsbedarf besteht. Sollten bei diesen Übungen noch Fragen aufkommen, können wir dies noch am Anfang der kommenden Woche im Unterricht klären.

Da in der nächsten Woche schon die Klassenarbeit ansteht, schreiben wir das nächste Lernwörterdiktat erst in der zweiten Woche nach den Osterferien.

Ich wünsche Ihnen ein erholsames Wochenende!

Agnes Fojcik

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mario Civico and the entire Chameleon team.

Newsletter 17.03.17

Good Afternoon,

A few quick notes for you from the Chameleon class. 

I would like to start this newsletter with a huge thank you to each of the Chameleon’s for working so hard on their persuasive writing over the past 9 weeks. It has been amazing to see their writing grow and improve to the point it is at now. I’m certain they would be able to persuade almost anyone of anything with all the skills they’ve learnt during this process. Also thank you to the parents who were able to make it in for our writing celebration on Friday, it was brilliant to see children proudly presenting their letters.

We looked closer at the readers workshop conferences and developed some skills that will help during the conferences that take place in class.

In math, we started the week by continuing to review the core concepts that would appear on the assessment. Children showed that they had improved in a number of different areas that were weaknesses before. This led up to the test which took place on Thursday. I have shown children their grades however they will not get their papers back until Monday. Once they come home please take a look over the assessment and sign on the front page.

Grade breakdown.

1	2	3	4		Average
7	6	6	2		2,14

This week in science we began to discuss the different stages of human life, this will lead into puberty and the changes that happens to us which will be taking place next week.

Important Dates:

-          April 3^rd – 14^th Easter Break

-          April 17^th – 23^rd Circus week

Here is an overview of the areas of study we will focus on throughout the next week:

English:

Over the next week I will be completing a film study, this looks at the film Inside Out and many of the skills that we have taught in both readers workshop and writers workshop can be used when looking at other types of media. Inside Out also links incredibly well to our sexual health and bodily changes topic taking place in science.

This week in reader’s workshop we will be continuing on with key skills of reading and developing what is needed for the reading workshop conferences. As well as this I will be completing unseen text reading assessments. 

Math:

Starting next week we will begin to plan out a large measurement project that is intended to take place the second week back after the Easter break. As well as that we will focus in on some small areas of study such as 3D shapes and reading bar charts and graphs.

German:

Liebe Eltern der Chamäleon-Klasse,

in dieser Woche haben wir zur Vorbereitung auf die Klassenarbeit weitere Texte zu den 7 Weltwundern gelesen. Dabei wurden die Lesestrategien des Leselotsen (s. letzten Newsletter) eingeübt. Anschließend haben die Schüler Fragen zu den Texten beantwortet.

Desweiteren haben die Schüler verschiedene Übungen und Aufgaben zu den Satzgliedern bearbeitet.

Wie bereits im letzten Newsletter angekündigt, schreiben wir in der letzten Schulwoche vor den Osterferien die 4. Klassenarbeit (Thema: Textverständnis und Grammatik/Satzglieder). Die Klassenarbeit findet am Mittwoch, den 29. März 2017, statt.

Die Lernwörter dieser Woche sind Wörter mit ie/i (siehe Anhang).

Ich wünsche Ihnen ein erholsames Wochenende!

Agnes Fojcik

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mario Civico and the entire Chameleon team.

Newsletter 10.03.17

Good Afternoon,

A few quick notes for you from the Chameleon class. 

Steadily over the week in writer’s workshop children have finished their published persuasive letters, some even handing them early. It’s been really good to see children getting to the end of this unit and having a well written letter to send. I’ve also seen a change in their self directed learning during this unit, children are now able to use their writing partner effectively and ask me for support without just asking me for an answer or solution. Now that these are finished I would like to hold a writing celebration on the afternoon of Friday 17^th for children to share the work they’ve done. This will run from 14:15 until 15:00 after which you are welcome to take your child home if your wish.

We also came to the end of our reader’s workshop research unit based around natural disasters and extreme weather. Children presented the information in their groups to each groups individually which was a difference take on the presentation format that we normally follow.

We started the week with a short review check in to see how children were with the four areas that will be assessed on Thursday 16^th, these areas on Time, Money, Weight and Length. From this check in I informed children of the current areas that they needed to focus on, then, throughout the week, children could choose a station to work at based upon their needs. During these lessons myself and Mrs Petschick met with small groups and individuals to conduct mini-lessons again.

I finished up watching children’s science presentations this week. I really couldn’t believe the amount of detail that some children went in to.

Book week has been a great success! Children from the Chameleon class have been reading copious amounts in the evenings, which is wonderful! As well as that each class has been able to experience a different teacher, for a short time in the afternoon, as they are read a story by them. 

Important Dates:

-          13^th March English final published persuasive writing due

-          16^th March Formal Math assessment

-          17^th March Writing Celebration 14:15 – 15:00

Here is an overview of the areas of study we will focus on throughout the next week:

English:

Over the next week I will be meeting with children regarding their persuasive letter, we will discuss the grade that your child has got. Assessments will then come home to be signed and returned. Whilst I meet with children they will be completing a movie studied based around the book and film, James and the Giant Peach. I will also be using some science lessons to meet with children to ensure I get through everyone within the week. On Friday at

This week in reader’s workshop we will be focusing on the key areas and questions that I ask during conferences. This will prepare children for when we complete reader’s workshop assessment conferences.

Math:

Leading up to Thursday, we will be continuing to review measure.  I want to make as many children feel completely ready for the test as I can.

German:

Liebe Eltern der Chamäleon-Klasse,

diese Woche haben wir uns mit Lesetechniken beschäftigt. Dazu haben die Schüler einen Leselotsen erhalten (s. Anhang). Die Anwendung der Lesestrategien wurde in Texten zu den 7 Weltwundern eingeübt.

Zudem wurde das mehrteilige Prädikat besprochen. Die Lernwörter dieser Woche finden Sie ebenfalls im Anhang (Wörter mit Pf/pf).

Zu ihrer Information der Notenspiegel der 3. Klassenarbeit (Leserolle):

Note	1	2	3	4	5	6	Notenschnitt
Häufigkeit	7	12	2	-	-	-	1,76

Die 4. Klassenarbeit wird in der letzten Woche vor den Osterferien (27.03.-31.03.2017) geschrieben. Das genaue Datum wird im nächsten Newsletter mitgeteilt. Die Arbeit wird einen Textverständnisteil sowie einen Grammatikteil enthalten.  Dabei sollen die Schüler Fragen zu einem Sachtext beantworten. Thema des Grammatikteils werden die Satzglieder sein (Subjekt, Prädikat, Akkusativobjekt, Dativobjekt, Ergänzung der Zeit, Ergänzung des Ortes).

Viele Grüße

Agnes Fojcik

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mario Civico and the entire Chameleon team.