September 18th, 2018

Reminders:
-Photo Day was today, look for more information about ordering in the next week or two
-Welcome Breakfast tomorrow at 8AM, on the compound weather permitting
-Conferences are Thursday and Friday this week.  If you were unable to book, and would like to arrange an alternate time, please email Ms. Varner or Mr. Tollestrup
-Early dismissal Thursday and no school Friday

Homework:
Check out the new links under the "Math- Resources" tab. There are sites to review concepts from last year and some games to practice our current work on integers

Humanities: 
-Have a conversation at home about "Why is the heart a symbol of love and caring?"
-Make sure that your reflection on "Not Quite Narwhal" is completed in your Humanities book

Updates:
Math: 
We began our year by tackling different Math problems using logic and reasoning. Using our Problem Solving Template (see link under "Math Tasks") we worked to pull key information, develop a strategy, and justify our answers.

We have now started reviewing how to order and sort positive and negative integers.  We are starting to explore strategies for adding and subtracting these numbers. (see the Extreme Temperatures activity under "Math Tasks")

Humanities:
We started the year off by analyzing Current Events.  Students were encouraged to begin by identifying the basic information (Who, What, Where, When, Why) and then start to consider the scope of the event, the stakeholders, and identify possible bias.  This investigation of Current Events will continue throughout the year.

As a part of our investigation into Identity, we are exploring "Language & Symbols". The students are being asked to critically examine how language and symbols change over time and how they reflect the cultural traditions/values.