Leaf Peepers

This week Mosaic students spent time thinking about their hopes and dreams for the future and then set goals for what they could do today to achieve these goals. We were inspired by Lori Heller's beautiful book Someday. Students brainstormed ideas, planned their writing using drawing and/or graphic organizers, then drafted and created art to accompany their text. Next week they will type up their pieces and they will hang in our space as a reminder of our hopes and dreams for the year.

 We also thought a lot about what it means to live a literate life and used Patricia Pollacco's book Thank You, Mr. Falker as a mentor text that got a lot of rich conversation going. The students then used a jigsaw technique to create posters about how readers choose books, why they abandon books, what readers think about and talk about, and what it looks like to "fake" read. These anchor charts are full of amazing strategies and habits that third graders already know about and use. We will learn more literacy skills and strategies over the course of the year and watch our charts and our reading grow!

 Mathematicians are working on building their fact fluency for addition and subtraction. We have introduced work place games that allow them to practice in a lively hands-on way. We have also discussed strategies for addition and subtraction and practiced what it looks like to represent our math thinking in numbers, pictures, and words. Heard in class this week, "It's an easy fact, but what's hard is explaining what I'm thinking in my brain!" That is the challenge, but something that all mathematicians are expected to do!

 We used our Chrome books this week to learn how to use Google Drawing tools and Read and Write for Google to create meaningful sentences. We had a few technical glitches and are figuring out how to work the track pad, but the students are savvy and have persevered!

 We ended the week with our first Four Winds Nature Studies activity. This year we will be learning about ecosystems. Today the focus was on producers and consumers and we explored how leaves play a pivotal role in the food chain.

 Just a reminder that picture day is on Wednesday, September 28th. Enjoy the beautiful first signs of fall.

Ask about:

• What subtraction strategies do you use? 
• Do you like to show your math thinking in numbers, pictures, or words?
• How do you choose a new book? What makes you abandon a book?  
• 
  

Fondly,
Jess and Liz

Make Your Mark

Wordsmiths practicing a
buddy sort during
Word Study time

This week we started to learn the routines of our Word Study block. Students learned about the different types of sorts and practiced the routines and expectations in partnerships. We use the Words Their Way word study program which focuses on different word patterns. Every Monday the small groups analyze the pattern, make observations and sort them by their sound/symbol relationship. Then the students practice reading, writing, and sorting the words in different ways throughout the week. They keep a resource notebook and create reflective statements about what they notice in the pattern and how it can help them as a reader or a speller. For example, this week we looked at the difference between short o words like sock and long o words like home. Students noticed that almost all of the words with a long O ended with an e. This can help us as spellers and as readers when we come across words with long and short sounds.

We also reviewed the addition table and learned different ways to encourage fact fluency. Students learned how to play a game called Make The Sum, where they are aiming for a target number and combine different numbers in as many possible equations as possible. Next week we will review our strategies for single digit subtraction facts. We also introduced students to Moby Max, an online math practice site that targets instruction based on students' individual goals and development of mathematical skills. This will eventually be something that your mathematician may want to work on at home for additional practice.

Building our Fact Fluency
through Work Place
games

Students wrote acrostic name poems this week and we read several different books picture books and students identified the SMART message in each one and wrote about how the character showed that characteristic. They also brainstormed how they could show that SMART trait at WCS.

It was nice to meet many new families and visit with returning Mosaic members at Curriculum Night. Please know that we are always here to answer any questions that may come up for you and your family.

Students of the Week reporting
live at Mornings With Mosaic
Team Meeting

Just a reminder that school pictures are on Wednesday, September 28th. Order forms went home last week in your students' yellow folder.

Ask About....

• Friday Workshops: What are they? How do you get to go? 
• Morning Meeting: What activities do you do? 
• What is Reading Stamina? How do you read long and strong? 

  

  Students mark their mark for Dot Day 2016
  during our Friday Workshop Time

A SMART Start

Pattern Block Creations

Brain Break

The Mosaic team is off to a SMART start at WCS. During our first few days together we have gotten to know each other, our team, and the new school. In math we have thought about how we can be a community of learners who support each other and we had fun exploring the different math materials that the Bridges program uses for hands on exploration. We used this video starring some of our old friends to launch the concept of growth mindset. This will be a focus for us not only as mathematicians, but in all areas of learning.

In literacy we have shared books that are special to us and have practiced choosing "just right" books and building our reading stamina during independent reading.

Reading Long and Strong

Next week we will begin word study, write poetry, explore our Chromebooks and begin our Hopes and Dreams. Thanks to all of you who made it to our Mosaic Dessert Social. It was nice to meet new families and welcome back familiar faces, too.

We hope to see you on Thursday night for our Curriculum Night. We will meet in the Mosaic wing from 6:30-7:30. If you are unable to make it on Thursday we will be sure to link our presentation in next week's blog.

 Ask your child...
* What does S.M.A.R.T. stand for? What are brain cells?
 * What's GO NOODLE?
 * How do you choose a Just Right book?