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Numbers Make Modern Life Possible...
Math – Let’s join in to help our children overcome frustration to succeed. Thanks to Mrs. J. Leigh who drew my attention to an article published on Edutopia (www.edutopia.org). Some educators at Rutgers University found that allowing students to struggle with challenging math problems can lead to dramatically improved achievement and test scores. They found that there is a healthy amount of frustration that is productive, and there is a satisfaction after one has struggled with it. How did it go with 4th – 8th grades from September to November?
Mathematics was born when people first started counting. It began with numbers. Numbers make modern life possible. Oh how I wonder what would have happened if there were no numbers. And so it was with the 4th – 8th grades: many of our students have seen the relevance of learning estimation and have believed they are capable of doing it. Many have overcome the belief that there is always one right answer and one right procedure for obtaining it. And so in the 4th and 5th grade, students can now round whole numbers, round decimals to required places, estimate sums and differences, add and subtract whole numbers and decimals, and remember the basic multiplication facts. We continue estimating products and quotients; multiplying by one-digit and two digit numbers, divide by one-digit divisors and later by two-digit divisors.
The 6th-8th grades worked through fractions – fraction concepts and operations on fractions. This subsequently leads us to working percent problems and other problems using real life situations.
I support the authors of this publication that “motivation is a key aspect of achievement that we often ignore in math; it’s the missing link. We need to provide kids with conceptually challenging math problems in an emotionally safe environment, and the teacher plays a critical role in that. Let our kids view frustration as an opportunity for success instead of an indication of failure.
Edward Gembeh, Math Teacher 4th – 8th grades
A Relay? In the Library?...
The AISF library progresses all the time—check us out! With several new shelves, poufs, and a carpet, our shelving and seating areas have expanded into the entrance alcove. We not only have more shelf space, but also 124 new books so far this school year! At the same time, we’ve done away with 20-year old acquisitions no one wants to borrow.
One of the library’s goals this year is to ensure that everyone—not just some of the students—is doing lots of free-choice reading from the library. Preschool parents, please borrow books regularly from the library so you can read to your children every night at home. There are so many personal and academic benefits to establishing, early in life, a habit of settling down to a good book every single day.
The second goal is to improve our students’ library location skills. How can I find what I need in the library? We held a Fiction Find Relay with the 4th and 5th graders last week to check how well our instruction is working. Two teams lined up on the carpet, and the first in each line was given a slip of paper with the name, author, and call number of a book. That person had to run to find the book on the shelf and bring it back for the second person, whose job was to re-shelve the book in the correct place. The third person in line was given a new slip of paper, and so on. This was the second time we held the relay, and we saw good progress—it was close, but the 1’s won!
The AISF library progresses all the time—check us out!
Jackie Leigh, Library Staff
Kindergarteners & 1st graders...
K/1 is most happy to welcome two new students, Bupe Lwamba and Jove Nally, as well as a new volunteer, Ms. Maureen. The class has been quite busy over the past month. Kindergarteners are very excited to begin reading. They also are working on understanding numbers beyond ten.
First grade students are refining their growing reading skills and are working on comprehending the significance of place value in our number system. In addition, the class has been investigating the effects of gravity, exploring solids, liquids, and gasses, and has been using maps and globes to better understand the world’s geographic features.
Sue Palmer, Kg-1st grade teacher
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Taking Journal writing to another level…
“Oranges, bananas, Sierra Leonean apples, papayas, coconuts, avocadoes, mangoes, peanuts, pineapples, eggplants, watermelons….You should eat these so that you are strong and healthy...” Gordon
“Healthy foods are important because they make you grow without being sick. Healthy foods can give you energy to be able to exercise. Exercise is important because it helps you be in good condition, so you can do anything you want to do like school work and chores….” Norman
“Healthy foods such as whole-grain rice contain natural substances. Eating foods with sugar and fats are not good. It causes you to have diseases such as diabetes. Eating too much of the same food is not good. It causes you to get only one kind of nutrient and then you will start to dislike it...” Russell
“Healthy food can help you read without any fatigue…” Ebrahima
“Some people eat a lot of candy but also exercise. They may be in shape but, still should eat fruit and vegetables so they can live longer…’ Patrick
Healthy foods are pasta, hummus, fish, chicken…I call healthy foods brain foods because they makes you smart, energetic, and alive in school…Breakfast is very important because it gets you going in the morning and you feel alive…” Jandeh
“I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have any sugar because you need some sugar, but just enough … Eating healthy can make you more focused in school…” Yankaday
“… Water is also an important drink for you. If you get dehydrated, you should drink a lot of water….Carrots give you strong eyes; broccoli and beans give you strong bones and a healthy body…” Jasmijn
“.. food that come from plants and trees are not just the only ones, you can eat fish, beef, pork…If you are a vegetarian, I’m very sorry for talking about animals… eating unhealthy could cause you to have cholesterol problems and heart disease” Mazmoon
Duro Harleston
Language Arts Grade 4-8
I am so excited about all the brilliant writing going on my classroom; my students are even more excited than I am. Ms. Harleston, “Can we read our journals?”... “What are we writing for journal today?”…. “I’d like to redo my journal... I feel I can do a better job…” and so on… Let me share some of the students’ writing, (I had their permission, of course) from the journal prompt:
November is Good Nutrition Month! What in your opinion are healthy foods? Explain the importance of healthful eating.
“Not everyone likes healthy foods, but I’m sure everyone has at least one like salad or a healthy sandwich…Instead of eating pizza, try a scrumptious apple or a mouthwatering fruit salad. You could always eat pizza and instead of having cake or ice-cream for dessert, have fruit…” Zeinab
“In my opinion fruits and vegetables are healthy. For example oranges, peaches, pears, broccoli, lettuce, and cucumbers. I think that if you eat healthy foods everyday, it will be easier for you to run or to play. …” Rosi
“I think that mangoes, orange, and grapes are healthy. I think this because they have a good rate in the food pyramid. They give you lots of nutrition and energy….” Gaby
“…fruits, poultry, fish, and vegetables. The reason why eating healthy is important is because you will have a balanced diet. You will be stronger than you really are. Besides that, they are also very tasty….” Kudzai
“…..carrots cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, and meat. All of these things have proteins and vitamins and they make you have more energy. If you eat them, you will be healthy, strong, and smart. You will have a bright smile and have good life...” Neyata
“Banana is healthy for you because it increases your intelligence and makes you stronger…another healthy food is apple, it has vitamins and there is the saying “An apple a day will keep the doctor away...” Keith
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