Wow -- one week away!

Hello everyone!

We had a great day today! Tonight, please complete the Band/Music declaration form and return to me by Monday. This is important!

For Sports Day: in addition to being well hydrated, it would be great if we could be well shaded! Please bring a hat, and if anyone has extra lawn umbrellas or little tents kids could sit under to provide a break from the sun and heat, we would really appreciate it! 5G will have their own area to congregate in as our home base.

Students must come to school on Monday and Thursday of next week in Number One - keep it sharp, 5G!

Parents must r.s.v.p. by tomorrow to Mrs. Vickerstaff for the Graduation Ceremony on Thursday - please be sure to do this! :)

---end of key information---
---beginning of Ms. Gretzinger philisophical rant---

Today, our discussion focused on successful student skills for Grade 6 and characteristics of strong students, subject by subject.

Strong math students have the basic multiplication facts memorized, are able to think algebraically (by having two components of a three part equation, they can use addition/subtraction or multiplication/division to solve), make diagrams, label their work, organize using charts and double check their work. They strive to make their work the best it can be by organizing, underlining the answer to stand out, write meaningful sentence anwsers and double check their math (not glancing over the page to see if each question was completed).

Strong readers think critically while reading, question bias, and are able to hold several pieces of information in their minds to make a new idea. To determine what you believe, and why you believe it - you must be a strong reader! Often, strong readers could read a paragraph and then summarize the main idea in a concise sentence.

Strong writers use outlines and other organizational tools to set up their ideas in a logical and pleasing way. As it is an art, students master the skill of adding imagery, similes and metaphors to their writing in an engaging (not overwhelming) manner. These tools draw their reader in to connect to the idea. Strong writers add additional information through critical research to really shine.

Strong studiers learn through doing. When studying simple machines, for example, they could build a model using basic materials like rulers and erasers to understand the idea. Strong studiers know that studying need not happen while sitting at a desk - often the world around them can provide moments to reinforce their learning. They read their notes (including the active reading summarizing sentences), write and understand definitions and practice possible short answers questions. They could ask ten test-like questions of themselves and answer them with flair. When studying, students could create meaningful songs, rhymes or acronyms that will help to stir their memory. Overall, strong studiers understand the big picture of the concept, so that they could apply to any new question rather than memorization.

Academic success is important - that's a given!

But just as important are the characteristics of strong HUMANS.

That will be the focus for next week's discussion!