Schema

The Gold Rush philosophy on reading instruction is centered around Thinking Strategies (not the best website, but one that is a quick snapshot of the strategies).  This is a way of thinking in all areas of curriculum, but gone into depth in the area of reading that authors such as Stephanie Harvey, Ellin Keene, and Anne Goudvis have written extensively on over the last decade.

We began the year talking about "metacognition."  The students can tell you that as readers, they think about their thinking as they read, not merely make it through the book.  This is the basis for all other strategies, as they are specific ways to think about their reading.

Our first area of focus is Schema.  Schema, put simply, is background knowledge.  As students read they recognize information that they already knew from their experiences and add to their knowledge base of information.  (Ask your kiddo to tell you about the metaphor of a little man running around in their head finding files.)  As a fifth grade learner, we take this a step further by asking not only what schema did they already have and what is new schema, but by adding "how was your schema modified as you read?"  This can mean clarifying information that they may have been wrong about or by forming knew opinions and thoughts on what is being presented.

We have spent the last two weeks on this strategy mostly with our non-fiction science reading and with our Scholastic News magazines.

Digger Dash

Your kiddos have voted on and chosen a team name for our Digger Dash!  We will be the Nyan Cats (so funny).  Mrs. Richesson has graciously offered to work on our banner and help organize flair for our kiddos.  I'm wondering if you would be willing make a $5 donation to help offset some of the cost?  This is by no means mandatory, but would be appreciated.  Please send in any donations throughout this week.  Thanks again!!

Please click here to see the PTO website to get more information on the Digger Dash.

Fall Conferences

Fall conferences are coming up.  Please use this website to sign up for selected times.  The scheduler does limit our times to only school wide times, but I am also available the whole week of Sept. 29th before school and after (8:15, 8:30, 8:45 and 4:00, 4:15. 4:30, & 4:45).  If one of these times works better for you, please feel free to email me and I can schedule you in.

Teamwork and Collaboration

As a way to analyze the connections between multiple texts, construct a broader theme, and annotate higher level texts, we read three different articles/blogs on teamwork:

A Great Metaphor for Teamwork from Steve Jobs
The Importance of Teamwork - Something I Learned from My Teenage Son
The Goose Story - Teamwork

Reading, annotating, and discussing these three articles brought a great understanding of what it means to be a team and why it's necessary to work with groups.  This also ties into several of our expected outcomes on Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication.  As a fifth grader, our goal is to have kids be able to listen to a different point of view, understand it, and either rebut it or perhaps change their thinking.

Please feel free to have these conversations at home and/or read the articles yourself! =)