F-R-I-D-A-Y

That's how you spell the last day of the school week!

Speaking of spelling: we had our second spelling test this morning. Overall, the class did a terrific job. We will have spelling tests every other week throughout the year.

This morning, in our Finally it's Friday groups, students were given three different tasks to accomplish: First, based on Old Yeller, they had to come up with reasons why certain places are named what they are named. For instance, Yellowstone National Park. (in Old Yeller, there were locations named "The Salt Licks" and "Birdsong Creek"). Then they had to list names of places in the Arizona area that were probably named for what is near or around them. Then, each group had to invent their own names for places, i.e. our school, etc. This kind of exercise always encourages creative thinking.

Next, each group was charged with the task of exploring the Scientific Method by way of just two rubber bands. Also an exercise in creativity, this activity was another way to reinforce practice of the Scientific Method. As I have explained to the students, the Scientific Method certainly is not the only way to learn about science - and certainly won't be the only way we learn about science in Sixth Grade. However, it is an important method to know and can be used in application to science and, actually, to all of our school subject matter and life in general.

The third part of today's group work consisted of creating a group book entitled WHAT WE KNOW. Each member of the group had to have a hand in writing about what we have learned in Room 503 over the last three weeks. Students had to rely on their memory (and the memory of their fellow group mates) to piece together pages of all that they have taken in during this beginning phase of school.

Group work is a wonderfully enriching and challenging way to work. There are always those who take the lead and always those who hold back. There is always someone prepared and willing to get the job done, and typically someone who has difficulty even getting started. Personalities clash, ideas clamor to be heard and it can be quite chaotic. However, it can be revealing, empowering, exciting and a very fun way to learn.

As our Finally it's Friday groups continue through their semester-long journey together, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics change (or remain the same, as a case or two may be), how the students wrestle with challenges and embrace differences and what kind of learning takes place.

At any rate, it was a very full Friday morning, and I am sure the students, like Ms. Veenstra and myself, are ready for some much needed R & R.

Thanks to those of you who were able to make it out to Curriculum Night, I hope you found it insightful. For those of you who weren't able to make it, please let me know if you would like me to email you the Sixth Grade Overview so you will have a clearer picture of what we are doing in Room 503 this year.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman