Learning Styles, Six Thinking Hats and The Twits

This week, as part of our Unit of Inquiry, (UOI) we were focused on how we, as individuals, learn best.  As well,  we considered how the choices we make affects our learning.  For example, through our classroom experiment, we know that some of us are visual learners, some learn kinesthetically, some are auditory learners while others learn best by reading/writing. Still, we all know that while most of us have a predominant style of learning, we learn by a combination of the learning styles.  The students were very intuitive about their learning styles and held many discussions with their peers. Later in the week we turned our attention to how we solve problems.  Using Debono's Six thinking Hats, the boys and girls solved a fictitious problem, (which they thought was real at the time), and they approached the problem from different perspectives.  Being aware of learning styles and their approach to problem solving lays solid foundation for knowing themselves and healthy work habits.

We continued reading aloud Raold Dahl's The Twits. The students have been clarifying details about the character traits of the Mr. and Mrs. Twit, the setting, and sequencing the events of the story.  As well, this past week the students began to work in their assigned levelled reading groups. They chose their readers.  Once they finish reading their books, they will complete a book report.  Students will be put into spelling groups next week.  We use a program called Words Their Way, which allows students to focus on learning areas of spelling which they find challenging.

In Math this week, we continued with our work with place value, knowing that in the number 27 for example, their are two 10s and 7 ones.  This is part of an area in math referred to as Number sense.  

Finally this past week we introduced the iPads to the class.  The students will be using their iPad frequently to support their learning.  I shared a folder where your child will begin to upload their learning.  The students will be learning how to research digitally--from the perspectives of internet safety, ethical behaviour and copyright issues.

All the best!

Mr. Shawn