All the news that’s fit to blog

There was a great energy in the classroom today, with many of the students quite enthusiastic about the presidential election results. It really is something special to see students so engaged with what is going on around them politically. To funnel that enthusiasm towards learning today, I brought a large stack of newspapers into the classroom. (I actually had to go to 4 stores to get enough copies, it seems that more people than usual were interested in reading about such a historic occasion.) We spent a little time acquainting ourselves with the newspaper format and layout, and then the students got an opportunity to peruse several sections and read some articles pertaining to the different people and issues from the election yesterday. I’m working on getting copies of the newspaper more often to keep students updated on current events, so you can soon look forward to having them come home with smudgy newspaper ink on their fingers and critical thoughts about current events on their minds.

Homework:

1. Language Arts: Vocabulary identification and story. Students will identify words as comparatives or superlatives and then write a story with six vocabulary words in it.
2. Mathematics: Study Link page 57 – Angle Measures
3. Reading: Read for 20 minutes and write in your pink reading log.

Mr. Weis

Election Day

I just finished my last conference and am running out the door to go vote, so I will keep it short and sweet. In vocabulary we spent some time discussing the differences between superlatives and comparatives. In reading, we worked in reciprocal teaching groups and read an article about the elusive Bigfoot. In mathematics, we got our feet wet with protractors and students made some great connections and reached some good levels of understanding about vertexes, angles and degrees.

In the afternoon we spent some time discussing the election process and exploring the rather odd workings of the electoral college. The only homework I gave tonight was for students to spend some time having a discussion with an adult about the election. Feel free to share as much or as little about your personal political opinions, but please take some time to at least have a discussion about your feelings about voting and elections. I believe it is our civic duty to pass on to young people our thoughts and experiences, both positive and negative, about how democracy is put into action in this country and how the process has personally affected us (again both in positive and negative ways.) I’d encourage students to check out multiple news sources, TV, Internet, Radio and Print to learn about the election results and get a comprehensive view of the process. Thanks!

Homework:

1. Have a discussion about voting and the election with an adult and get a signature.
2. Read for 20 minutes and write in your pink reading log.

Mr. Weis