Advanced Learning Newsletter

Past Steps:

• What's in a game
• Game-Storm (game element) brainstorm
• Introduction to multiplication strategies (array, repeated addition, equal groups/picture, number line)
• Introduction to area/box model for multi-digit multiplication

Current Steps:

• 1x2 digit and 2x2 digit multiplication using area/box model (IXL 3rd Grade T.5)
• Setting up area model to solve 1x2 digit (IXL 3rd Grade T.6)
• Introduction to Google Docs
• Writing Game Rules in Google Docs

Next Steps:

• Complete rules document on Google Docs
• Create at least 20 problems centered around multiplication and division
• Create answer key for problems (solving all to find products/quotients)
• Create game board drafts/final draft
• Create game pieces
• Create game cards

Past Steps:

• Defining, identifying, analyzing, and creating different types of figurative language (similes, metaphors, idioms, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and personification) through a variety of activities
• Completing Figurative Language Scavenger hunt for review

Current Steps:

• Idiom illustrations: Choose idiom phrase, explain figurative meaning, literal meaning, and illustrate the figurative meaning
• Simile and metaphor color poems (6 lines of poetry created around a color of students' choice utilizing similes and metaphors) Ex. Pink is cotton candy at the county fair
• Introduction to Canva Design program
• Creating a Canva Design with poem and visuals

Next Steps:

• Creating figurative language book pages (Define, example, illustration)
• Compiling student pages into our Figurative Language Reference Book
• Cataloging our books at school libraries so they will be available for students to check out

Past Steps:

• Launch event-adjusting trail mix recipe
• Fraction introduction/review
• Equivalent fractions with modeling

Current Steps:

• Finding equivalent fractions using multiplication and division
• Introduction to unit fractions
• Composing and decomposing fractions into unit fractions
• Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators
• Adding and subtracting mixed numbers with like denominators
• Selecting no bake recipe for our cookbook
• Typing original recipe in Google Docs template
• Quizziz Review Game-Last AL Session before break

Next Steps:

• Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators
• Adjusting our no bake recipes (doubling, tripling, halving)

Past Steps:

• Defining, identifying, analyzing, and creating different types of figurative language (similes, metaphors, idioms, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and personification) through a variety of activities
• Completing Figurative Language Scavenger hunt for review
• Introduction to Adages
• Adage fill in the blanks/analysis

Current Steps:

• Adage analysis: select adage to explore, research meaning, history/origin, make a real world connection, and illustrate the adage
• 50 Things Ideation Protocol to brainstorm inspirational products we can create with our chosen adages
• Introduction to Canva Design program, create a nametag to get to know program

Next Steps:

• Adage analysis for chosen phrases
• Product selection
• Product design
• Product production
• Adage analysis cards

Past Steps :

• Introduction to coordinate grid (4 quadrants, ordered pairs, x/y axis, plotting points, coordinate grid as map)
• Playground feature idea generation/selection
• Introduction to integers on a vertical number line (elevator model)
• Adding and subtracting integers
• Rough draft playground map on coordinate grid
• List ordered pair for each feature vertex

Current Steps:

• Final draft playground map on coordinate grid
• List all ordered pairs for each feature vertex
• Type ordered pairs in table (or other organized format) on Google docs

Next:

• Tinkercad designs (3-D digital models of playground features to be 3-D printed)
• Multiplying and dividing with integers
• Final presentation on Google Slides

Past Steps:

• Illustration selection (inspiration for story)
• Story snapshots
• Story Element Outline
• Setting Outline
• Fictional narrative vocabulary

Current Steps:

• Story Arc Outline
• Peer Feedback on outline/revision
• First Draft (Google Docs)
• Explore Canva Design Program (we'll be using this to create original illustrations)

Next Steps:

• Continued peer and teacher feedback
• Revision
• Final draft
• Illustration on Canva or hand drawn
• About the author write-ups and portraits
• Book publication

Past Steps:

• Decimal place value, ordering, and comparing
• Whole number multiplication with standard algorithm
• Decimal multiplication with standard algorithm
• Decimal dash activities (jumping jacks, speed challenges)

Current Steps:

• Whole number division standard algorithm (long division)
• Decimal division standard algorithm (decimal quotient with adding zeros, decimal dividend, decimal divisor)
• Decimal Dash Activity selection
• Data Table creation in Google Docs

Next Steps:

• Complete decimal dash trials, measuring distance and recording time (to the hundredths) for each
• Rates/Unit Rates
• Speed calculations for each person/activity using formula S=D/T (speed =distance divided by time)
• Data analysis (Comparing, ordering, totaling, and finding differences)
• Final Presentation

Past Steps:

• Podcast exploration (listening sessions/discussions)
• Topic ideation and selection
  
• Need to Know Questions (to drive inquiry)-student and peer generated

Current Steps:

• Research/notes
• Episode outline (to drive inquiry)
• Starting script writing
• WeVideo exploration (platform we will be using for audio)
• Canva (design website) for episode art

Next Steps:

• Script first draft
• Feedback/revision cycle (peer and teacher feedback)
• Script practice sessions
• Recording
• Editing/producing-adding sound effects, etc
• Episode art
• WUSD Podcast Channel Art competition (optional to participate)
• Publication on podcasting platforms

On December 17th we started our first Chess Clubs at Lincoln. The goal is to offer Chess Clubs at all schools eventually, schedules permitting! Interested 3rd-5th Graders filled out Chess Club applications and were all selected to join! Chess Clubs are open to all levels of experience. Each week students will have the opportunity to play with peers and develop their game. Every other week we will start with a strategy lesson so students can focus on that for the day. Strategy lessons may include openings, castling, piece development, and achieving a check mate for example. This week experienced players were able to break in our new chess sets and beginners worked with me to build their knowledge around pieces, moves, and understanding the game. To start our sessions we discussed expectations such as sportsmanship, chess etiquette (calm and quiet bodies), respect of materials, and productive use of time. Students shared what they felt each of those things looked and sounded like during chess club. We will meet each Tuesday during lunch recesses!

Each school enjoyed getting festive this week with holiday dress up days! Students and teachers took part in everything from Lumberjack Day to Christmas Character Day to Winter Sports Day. It was lots of fun to see the creativity and smiles brought by these spirit days!