As you are aware, Gold Rush is implementing the Benchmark Writing Workshop Curriculum in kindergarten through fifth grade. This curriculum aligns to the Benchmark Reading Workshop Curriculum that was adopted last year. This curriculum supports students in process writing, meaning it teaches students the steps to publish well developed pieces in a variety of genres. Mini lessons are aligned to state standards and focus on strategies for planning, drafting, editing, revising and publishing.
Students in all grade levels are continuing to write for extended periods of time with the new curriculum. They have also explored several genres at this point in the year. Primary students are currently focused on fiction and fairy tales. They are learning how to incorporate and elaborate on key story elements, such as characters, problem and solution and setting. First graders are taking their favorite characters and giving them new problems and placing them in new settings. Second graders are studying beloved fairy tales and creating their own.
Intermediate students are working on literary essays, which require them to analyze a piece of literature, craft a thesis statement and support their thinking with text evidence or research. Classes are analyzing the remarkable Panyee Football Club, who overcame significant challenges to win the championship. Click here to watch the video. Students’ thesis statements highlight the players’ resilience, drive and determination.
Students’ genuine love of writing is clearly evident in daily workshops. We look forward to sharing students’ body of work during spring conferences!
Students are currently learning how art can be used to create new inventions that solve real world problems. Art teacher Ms. Dazzio highlighted Leonardo da Vinci, who sketched ideas for inventions that were well before his time. She challenged fourth and fifth graders to identify a real world problem and sketch an invention. Students’ creativity and problem solving are shown through their diverse inventions! Students drew robotic dogs to chase geese out of their backyard, football helmets with extra padding to prevent concussions and spill proof mugs.
Students in the younger grades completed similar projects. They read a series of Chris Van Dusen’s books, including If I Built a Car, If I Built a House and If I Built a School to get ideas for their own car, house and school. As you can imagine, students' were highly creative.
We appreciate Ms. Dazzio for showing students the many ways art can transform the world.
