Investigating and Reporting

Hello 3P parents;

This week has been very busy.  The kids have been working on many math and language projects associated with the Unit of Inquiry, How We Organize Ourselves.  One highlight this week was to put the events of the earth into perspective, such as when the continents merged, and when dinosaurs, mammals, insects and humans emerged.  We are plotting the various events on a large earth timeline. It is wonderful to see little light bulbs going on when they make connections and have "ahaaaaa" moments. 

In language have been learning about the features of reports, such as including charts, pictures, labelled diagrams, fact boxes etc, with our writing. As a practice, the children created a report about a subject of their choice.  After the break they will write a report about a specific subject related to our central idea for our Unit of Inquiry.  They continue to read aloud in their reading groups, do book reports and to work on their spelling.  This week we began our new cursive writing program. While it will be new to some, others will benefit from practice.

In math this week we have been doing problem solving, including learning to make calculations, including identifying which number operation is best to  use.  We have learned that multiplication is "repeated addition." For example, we have been calculating how many seconds in a day and a week.  Some students have calculated many seconds they have been alive.  Learning to tell time is a process for many.

UN day is the first Saturday after we return, (October 21st).  It promises to be one of the best days on the calendar.  Be sure to sign up for the UN Parade here.  Also remember that there is no school on the Monday and Tuesday following the break. Teachers have professional development those days, but there is no school for students.

Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to students and parents for the kind teacher's day gifts.  If you are travelling over the fall break, I wish you safe travels.  If  you are staying at home in Tashkent, I wish you a relaxing time with your families.

Mr. Shawn