Anthony, Volume 32: April 20, 2015

Anthony and Braelyn using the Geoboards to express themselves. Maybe?

Nothing short of fabulous and always beyond amazing is how I would describe this week! Math is rolling smoothly as we tackle fractions in our new Investigations unit called "Different Shapes, Equal Pieces". Students are exploring fractions 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 this week. Next week, we tackle 1/3, 1/6, and 1/12. We are practicing using standard notation (numbers) to represent our pictorial representations. We may have even made a fractional quilt, showcasing our favorite ways to represent equivalent amounts using different fractions.

Our study of artifacts continues to challenge students and how they express themselves. On Monday (20 April) students are to bring in an artifact that:

• is important to them
• represents how they express themselves as a 4th grader
• can be represented with an object/thing
• can be easily researched (something they can find information on the Internet about)

If you can't bring in the artifact, like a bunk-bed, then you can take a picture of it and bring that in. Our discussions about construction - how things are made? and value - what some something is worth? led to creative and diverse opinions and arguments during our factory-made vs. hand-made artifact debate. Students had to pick a side, which objects do they believe have better advantages - factory-made objects or hand-made objects. Ask you child about it. It was spectacular!

As for book clubs, we are developing wonderful, deeper meaning questions. We have been practicing asking opinion questions, like "Why do you think he/she did...?" Judgment questions, like "Do you think Marty did the right thing when he didn't return Shiloh?" and putting yourself in the character's shoe's questions, like "Would you do the same thing as...?" Each student is answering the questioner of day's deeper meaning question with a written response in their Reading journal. That's all for now. Enjoy the week!

This is a special announcement from the Secondary Service Council:

This Sunday starting at 10:00 am at the school, TIS will be hosting the first ever Plov cook-off between the two mahallas surrounding the school. 

For your 10 000 cym ticket you will get two plates of plov (served around midday) and a drink and you will get to decide which of the plovs is tastier by casting your vote.

As well as plov, there will be dancers and singers as well many games to play including a slip and slide (bring your swim suit). This is a great family day out. We hope to see as many people out to support this event and come together as the TIS community to support our local area.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance (recommended) from Mr Botir in the main office at the school.

Thanks,

Service Council Team at TIS

Owler: Anthony

Homework:
Monday:

• Please read over, sign, and return Samarkand field trip information and permission slip. We only need the permission slip returned please
• Please bring in your artifact for your final project. We will be sketching it Tuesday!

Tuesday: Math Activity - Evaluating Expressions
Wednesday: Reading response: We read "Thank you, Mr. Faulker" by Patricia Polacco today and focused on how the author used objects to help tell her story. In your blue Reading Journal, please write a response using the steps below. Your answer should be in a paragraph and at least 5 complete sentences. We will share our responses for brain work Thursday morning!

Thursday: IXL Math Grade 3 Understanding Fractions Choose one-three from the following activities- S.1-S.8
Friday

 Fractions can lead to many wonders... right, Reagan and Na Yeon?

 Ms. Magda led a super discussion about artifacts and ways to study them.

 It's Reading Month! Sevinch made an awesome bookmark for the contest.

 Factory-made vs. Handmade Debate

 We've gone a little Geoboard happy:)

 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 & 1/3, 1/6, 1/12 & combinations of them!

 Playing a game to help build our attention to detail (construction is an element of objects after-all)!

 Rocking out during book clubs and discussing what's really going on in our stories.

Thanks to the PTO for putting together the Career Day assembly. We now have 50 doctors/pilots/diplomats/secret agents. They must be dreaming really BIG!