Important Reminders:
Jan. 26 - Homework Due HC 35
Jan. 26 - Spend 15 minutes creating some wares (if you need to!)
Jan. 26 - Middle School Talk (MLC)
Jan. 27 - Weslandia Packet Due
Jan. 27 - Auction Art Project
Feb. 1 st- Optional Storyline Commercial Due!
Feb. 2nd - Homework Packet Due
Feb. 3rd - No School
Feb. 14 Valentine's Day Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Make your box at home-can't wait- OPTIONAL)
All is well in Storyline land! Students have created their personas, begun businesses, and carved out a
generally tax-free life in our simulated Colonial Boston! Our social studies learning is progressing at a
heavy rate. Students have so far learned about the spark of the beginning of the American Revolution,
when colonists had fits when their molasses was taxed (tariffed in 1733). This saw the beginning of
smuggling, and the desire for independence- a concept students are really starting to grasp!
We've also learned about the life of the sometimes insane King George the III, the French-Indian War
(stateside), and the general lifestyle and economy of a colonial city! This content has provided a
backdrop for our first major writing assignment in Social Studies-the Autobiography of a colonist.
Today we will be learning about Thomas Hutchinson, one of the first Colonial Governors to impact
greatly, the New England Colonies.
Have you seen the homework? We are currently in the throes of a division unit- the initial lessons gave
students the opportunity to explore the tried and true division algorithm (my favorite!), as well as more
modern methods of breaking the dividend of the division problem into manageable chunks
(multiplication menus of known fact families). This initial content serves as warm-up for the second half
of the unit involving fraction understanding, which is division.
We will have reading groups this week, on Thursday morning from 10:00 to 10:50 (Scott Foresman
Anthologies). And, look for the next book report project coming home this week along with homework.
The projects and writing elements will be modified from the last version.
There will be no school this Friday. It is our report card planning day. The report cards will reflect our
second quarter academics only. Please email me with any questions. The report cards will be sent home
the following week.
The website has been updated with current art projects and happenings. Soon it will have a picture of
our incredible auction project. Adrienne Haigerty has done such a wonderful job with this beautiful piece
of artwork, as well as a phenomenal job instructing students using this type of media. We owe her
greatly for her time and efforts!
Please email me with any questions regarding class our our impending camp trip. I will soon update our
website with all things camp related!
Sincerely,
Brian
