The homework is, there is no homework!

Except reading log!

 

We started out our day going over our math quiz….

 

oh wait…Mr. Potter forgot the math quizzes on his desk at home.

As well as all of the other quizzes, homework, and letters.

I am quite disappointed in myself.

 

So we actually went over our multiplication and talked about moving from our area model into the method that uses shortcuts (the standard algorithm).  We will slowly transition into this as the quarter progresses.

 

Next, we got into pairs and handed out tons of money!  We then played the roles of banker and boss, and took turns paying our employees their hard-earned wages.  Students were given a certain amount of money, and asked to split it among a group of people equally.  They utilized the bankers to make exchanges to ensure they could break up larger bills.  We will continue doing this for the week as we practice division, and we work to explain the standard algorithm for this mathematical process as well.

 

In Science we talked some MORE about plants!  We talked about how plants have veins (called xylem and phloem)  similar to how human beings and animals have veins.  We got off on a tangent as we had to learn why our veins look blue/purple when our blood is red, and learned that our skin tends to reflect more red light than blue.  As such, the deeper the vein is in your skin, the less red light is reflected because less red light is actually making it to the vein.  The blue part of the spectrum penetrates deeper, and thus is reflected more easily.  The surrounding skin also reflects more red light, increasing this effect of the veins appearing blue when contrasted with the surrounding skin.  It was a pretty neat thing for us to learn!

 

In Language Arts, we actually talked at great length about the writing process, and the stages that a writer goes through when producing a piece.  We did a little exercise involving play-doh, where we worked through the pre-writing to drafting to final steps in a parallel method with sculpting.

 

So, there is no homework as I felt bad for forgetting all of these things at home, and told the students this would be my “I’m sorry”.  They simply need to read for 35 minutes and get their reading log signed.

 

I will be out of the classroom tomorrow as I have a math training to attend at another school.  We will have a substitute and there WILL BE HOMEWORK!

 

Have a good one!

 

-Mr. Potter