Monday/Tuesday, June 8/9, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

I forgot to blog yesterday!
We are winding down the year. This week will be the last full week and last of assignments. We will meet every day at 10 am for those who can make it. Today, Ms. Lamb and Ms. Roberge will attempt a virtual tour of Ottawa.
Wednesday is our talent show.
Thursday reflections of Aurora
Friday - maybe a trivia contest? Maybe a student led virtual tour? We shall see.
Monday - our final meet of the year

Computers start to be returned on Monday afternoon

Monday 6/15- (1-5)

Wednesday 6/17- (7-4)

Thursday 6/18- (8-12)

As for work this week, there are three assignments on seesaw, post your passion project, post a book recommendation and post your reflection (by Thursday please.) Ms. Lamb and Ms. Roberge will be completing report cards by Friday. Report cards will be strictly narrative comments in LA and math only.

Be well.

Song of the day

Friday, June 5, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Next week. Here is a tentative schedule for activities next week. Math will also have an activity to wrapt things up.

The plan is to meet daily - we think at 10 am

Monday passion project share (begin reflection work)

Tuesday virtual field trip ottawa

Wednesday talent show

Thursday reflections

Friday? Ideas folks?

Monday, June 15th special wrap up

We will share on padlets and email now as we seem to have run out of our free seesaw account.

Song of the day

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Friday schedule

Hi Aurora!
Here is a note from Mrs. Thompson.


Social Issues Projects should be finished and on the padlet https://mmuusd.padlet.org/catelamb/fftw2u6izut2a55j. If not done, you may still work on them Friday and over the weekend. Post when complete.

A note from Mrs. Thompson in the library:
Hello all!

The books are finally in and can be picked up on Tuesday, June 9th.  I've proposed 8-2 pm, curbside outside of the gym (just like last time.)

More info will be in the Raider News tomorrow!

We will celebrate our projects tomorrow at CPR at 10 am. Come even if you aren't finished.

song of the day

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Thursday schedule
Friday schedule
Hello Aurora!
Today is big work day. We have projects on our social issue due on Friday. We will have a share posting on Friday and a share meet at 10 am at CPR. It is okay to post a work in progress, so don't over stress about it being perfect.

There is a math lesson today as well, so check the math doc.

We are quickly approaching the end of the year. We will find out more information today about the last week (June 15, 16, 17) when we have to turn in computers. Look here for more on that tomorrow.

Get to work Aurorian students!


Song of the day

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Wednesday schedule
Thursday schedule

Hello Aurora!
We are well into project week. Kids should be using the articles for evidence and creating a slide show, journal entry, video talk or whatever their choice was. The important part is describe the situation and perspectives. Use evidence from the articles

We had many great meets today starting with CPR. I'm very excited and impressed with people's projects and understandings.

Please contact me with any questions. I'm here.

song of the day

PS - there's math too - check the doc

--

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video The Carpenters - Top Of The World -- HQ Audio -- Lyrics

The Carpenters - Top Of The World -- HQ Audio -- Lyrics

Monday, June 1, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Monday schedule
Tuesday schedule
Wednesday schedule
Good morning!

My communication was a bit murky this morning. There are no more book meets on Monday Wednesday. We will all meet tomorrow in our subject groups. To their credit, many showed up at regular Monday meets to find me not there. Sorry about that.

Here are the meets for tomorrow. Everyone should also have an invite.

Racism and Implicit Bias

10:00

Gender and Sexuality Norms

10:30

Disabilities 11:00

Climate and Conservation 11:30

Family Issues 12:00

Immigration 12:30

It's project week. The projects will be around the topics above. Everyone has access to this padlet of articles and has been reading and note taking. If you are starting today, go with what you have. Try to read at least three articles before starting the project. Here is the project link and the padlet link.

Projects
Padlet of articles

The math focus of the day is I can divide two decimal numbers using fractions.

See the math document for more details.

Song of the day

Friday, May 29, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Monday schedule
Tuesday schedule
Hello,
It's hard to believe we are at the end of May! We have officially finished our "assignments" for LA and have moved into final project week. Here are the project choices. (click the link)
Students should have told me their topic by today as I am setting up meets for Monday based on the groups. The choices are from here. (click the link)

On Monday, we will have meets to discuss and begin working on projects by completing a plan sheet. Students are expected to read the articles from the padlet above (we have been working on this for a couple of weeks - but if students haven't started - there is still time - you may just have more work to do next week than expected.)

Math has a last big week of learning to divide decimals. It will be a quick review.

Ms. Roberge and Ms. Lamb are meeting today to plan our week of fun virtual trips, talent shows, games and more for our last week and a half of school.

Have a great weekend.

song of the day

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Friday Schedule
Monday schedule

Hello,

There's not a lot of news today. We had a great game break scavenger hunt. We will game again on Tuesday.

We have CPR tomorrow at 10

j

Today was commonlit day. Tomorrow is choose a project day and finish up your articles. It's also catch up day.

Next week is project week. We will present next Friday on seesaw.

Check your math document for math.

song of the day

--

Catherine Lamb

Team Aurora

Browns River Middle School

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) "Takin' Care Of Business" 45rpm

Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) "Takin' Care Of Business" 45rpm

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Thursday schedule
Friday schedule

Hello Aurora,

We had book meets today. Not very many kids showed up. We did have a good talk though and I shared with those in attendance that I am not returning to BRMS as a classroom teacher next year. I am leaving to pursue my dream of reopening the National Writing Project in Vermont (if you have any great higher ed connections, let me know) and working as a writing and social studies literacy consultant. It has been my great privilege to teach this class.

Math continues the study of decimals. 

Song of the day

--

Catherine Lamb

Team Aurora

Browns River Middle School

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hello Aurora,

Here is today's schedule

Wednesday

Thursday

I hope you had a wonderful long weekend. We are beginning the big wind down for sixth grade. Next week we will work on a project for our padlet subject, then we will organize some virtual field trips and group fun.

Today we looked at some rights and power of native tribes and the environment, namely the Mattaponi River.  When you read/listen to me read the article, think about who has power (I'd say both sides have some.) Also, think about what we learned about water in fifth grade.

We had CPR today at 9 and game break at 12:30. Both were great. Next game break is planned for Thursday. Time tbd. As for book meets, we will do them all tomorrow (Wednesday). I will combine the groups. Look for those links in tomorrow morning's email.

Song of the day

Friday, May 22, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hi Aurora,
Tuesday schedule (Note - this will be updated sometime closer to Tuesday)

Happy Friday and Long Weekend to Come,

We had cpr today at 10. We got to hear a lot of great summer activities Aurorians have been up to.

Here is the list of work from this week that hopefully was completed. If not, that is why we have catch up day.

Here is your list from LA this week:

Monday - notes from Free At Last and note on power PLUS one article from your padlet choice (notes and power)
Tuesday - Constructed response food and friendship in Free At Last PLUS one article from your padlet choice (notes and power)
Wednesday - journal entry of your choice based on the videos PLUS one article from your padlet choice (notes and power)
Thursday - commonlit Free At Last (consider Tuesdays response for the last question) PLUS one article from your padlet choice (notes and power)
Friday - free write day or write about your topic from the padlet

Math today: do your exit ticket, check in on what you missed for the week.... GO ENJOY OUTSIDE!!! 

It's been quite the week of beautiful weather. This weekend looks like it will be stellar too. 

We have one more week of "regular" irregular classes, then we prepare for wrap up with a final project related to our padlet study (or studies) and some virtual field trips and group fun.

song of the day This reminds me of our India study

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Friday schedule
Monday NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

Hello Team,
Happy summer!

Luckily, LA was on the light side today, and tomorrow is catch up day. I hope everyone got some good outside play time today.

We have CPR tomorrow at 10.

We continue to multiply those decimals in math. Make sure you are showing up for help sessions or reaching out to Ms. Roberge if you get confused.




song of the day

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Thursday schedule
Friday schedule

Hello Team,

Today we had our Wednesday book meets. Remember to contact your teacher if you miss a meet. We can connect with you one on one.

It's easy to get lured outside this week, which is a wonderful thing. Consider doing your school work early. You can do it later in the evening, but you might not find your teachers until the next day.

For those of you who missed ordering books, Mrs. Thompson ordered a couple for you. You will receive notice in a week or so that you can come and pick them up.

Remember, next Monday is Memorial Day and we will not hold "classes" that day. Enjoy your long weekend.

We have CPR on Friday at 10 am. Tomorrow is commonlit day.

song of the day

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

We had a delightful CPR this morning. It is always rewarding to hear each others' voices and be together.

Ms. Lamb hosted a game break today. We played 5 second rule and it was pretty fun. We will definitely meet again soon. Check your email for links.

Parents should have received a letter regarding next year with a link to "My Child as a Learner" survey. Let us know if you did not receive this.  Also, check out the weekly river raider which comes to email on Fridays.

This week we study noting power in our reading (both fiction and nonfiction.) We also continue with our nonfiction reading with an eye toward power and perspective.

In math we move to multiplying decimals. 

The streets are reopening. Dance safely

Song of the day

Monday, May 18 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Tuesday schedule
Wednesday schedule

Hello Extended Aurora Families,

I hope you are enjoying the warm weather and staying safe.

Today, several of us met for book meets. Remember, you can always join another if you miss, and it's easy to forget. Contact Ms. Lamb to set up a new time.

Ms. Roberge has numerous exciting and enlightening activities on the math document. It is linked on the schedule, so check it out.  Remember, Ms. Roberge and Ms. Lamb are always here to set up meetings with anyone who is having a question or problem. Do not hesitate to contact us.

We continue to look at social issues in our Social studies/LA combo class. Students are now reading non-fiction articles and thinking about power, something good readers do. We are also talking about power in our fiction books, which students are still expected to be reading.

Also, a reminder that we are taking attendance. There are numerous ways to be "present." Attending a meeting, doing your assignment, email Mr. Nick in the morning, emailing either teacher during the day all count as being in attendance.

Song of the day

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Wednesday schedule

Thursday schedule

Good morning!

We have CPR at 9. I hope you can make it. Here is the link meet.google.com/ngq-nqxv-vzv

We have more LA than usual on Monday and Tuesday this week. This is prep for the next two weeks, so it will lighten up. Today we choose an area of study from the padlet, fill out the google form to indicate our choice, watch my note taking demo, read your first article and take notes.

REMEMBER - the point of this is to identify PERSPECTIVES of the author and the people in the article.

Small groups meet for math projects today. Check your time.

This is a perspectives cartoon...

Today's demo article is about the Equal Rights Amendment...so

song of the day

Friday, May 15, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Monday schedule
Tuesday schedule
(remember, these schedules won't be updated until the night before)

Happy Friday!

We had another great CPR today. Ms. Lamb is planning some game meets next week. Kids will get links via email if they want to join.

It occurred to me that on Fridays, I should send a list of work from the week in case kids need to use it for catching up. Here is this week's list.

1) Notes from "Women Who Spoke Up" using my form on Monday

2) fill out the google form AND post notes from your first chosen article on Tuesday

3) post a note or doc or explanation using claim, evidence reason comparing Clara Lemlich and Mary Jones Wednesday - maybe another article of notes

4) do commonlit.org and another article from your choice - post your notes under the new assignment spot for your topic

That's it for this week's have tos. There are a bunch of video lessons and optional things as well and a read aloud book on Monday.

There is now a hub on seesaw for each category of study on the padlet. You may put your notes there. I am enjoying looking at your notes on perspectives. Keep them coming.

Math - I can't wait to see your projects!

Enjoy seeing people at a safe distance and wash your hands often

Song of the day I want to be where the people are.

--

Catherine Lamb

Team Aurora

Browns River Middle School

Thursday, May 13, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hello Aurora!

Friday schedule

Monday schedule

Today in LA it is commonlit Thursday. Complete the assignment. Read one more article. Post your notes on what are the important points AND what PERSPECTIVES do you notice.

Parents, please remember that you too can reach out to us if you are stressing out about school. We might not be able to help you, but we can tell you, whatever you are doing is good enough.

In math, there are math meetings today and/or get your math project done.  It is amazing how much we can get done at our quick meetings. If you cannot attend, or forget (understandable), please contact us and we can set up something else (join another meeting or talk to us one on one.)

Song of the day throwback Thursday

--

Catherine Lamb

Team Aurora

Browns River Middle School

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Thursday schedule
Friday schedule

We had book meets today. These are very valuable small group meetings to review lessons and talk about books and our current reading. If you miss, please contact Ms. Lamb. We can set up another meeting.

Today for LA, we write a comparison of Clara (from the read aloud and Women Who Speak UP) and Mary from Women Who Speak Up and the video I posted on Seesaw. This will ready us for tomorrow's commonlit.org assignment. 

Students are now reading on a subject from our choices. Each day, students will read at least one article, summarize/note take on the main points and then identify the perspectives represented. The most important thing is to read with an eye toward the perspectives of both the author and those being written about.

Mathematicians, you are still working on projects and decimals.

It's easy to get down right now,  One thing that helps is joining meetings. We meet for CPR on Tuesdays at 9 and Fridays at 10. Ms. Lamb and Ms. Roberge have small group meetings on other days. You can also call us anytime on hangouts. We are hanging on the computer between 9 and 11 daily.

Song of the day 

Monday, May 11, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Tuesday schedule
Wednesday schedule

This week we move in LA from stories to nonfiction. We will choose an area of social issue to study tomorrow. I will be using women's issues to model. The commonlit article of the week is" Women Who Spoke Up" There may be a lot of women's issues featured in the song of the week. Feel free to send suggestions of songs, videos or memes.

Three are book meets today and Wednesday. See your regular schedule for times and meet links.

Visit the flipgrid on today's math document and get ready to do some DECIMALS!

Song of the day

Friday, May 8, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Happy Friday!

Monday schedule
Tuesday schedule

We start a new LA/Social Studies unit on Monday. We will research a social issue by reading several articles and writing a short constructed response.

Today was the National History Day awards ceremony. The big winners were Mrs. Thompson as teacher extraordinaire winning the Shelburne Museum Award. Abe won first place in his category of single performance and Haley won first place for historical paper.  Annie also won a special women's history award for her paper on suffragettes.  Although our other fabulous group of Alcatraz escapees did not win due to the abundance of competition, they had a fabulous performance that they worked on very cooperatively.  Congratulations to all. This was an extraordinary exercise in perseverance and the love of history (and competition.) Well done contestants.

Have a great weekend.
Song of the day.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Friday schedule
Monday schedule

Hello Aurora,

Today was a light day for LA and a good day to catch up.  Students should have completed commonlit assignment. Friday will be writing prompt day.





Song of the day

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hi all,

Here is Thursday's schedule and Friday's schedule

Today we had some great book meets. Anyone who misses one (easy to forget) can contact me to set up another time. Thursday is commonlit.org day I put the link in the schedule and on seesaw. Remember to answer the final question using claim, evidence and reasoning.

I continue to be very impressed with the work I am seeing in LA and the thoughtful conversations we have when we at book meets. This is so hard for all of us. We miss each other and we are stuck in our houses. 

I want you to know that you inspire me. I will continue to work on my lessons. Currently I'm trying to learn to put a little video of myself talking on a slide. You have that to look forward to next week. Keep up the good work (and check out each others' work on seesaw..it's inspiring.)

Parents, you inspire me too. I have one college kid at home and that is quite enough to manage. I don't know how you do it with two or three elementary, middle, high school kids.  Whatever you are doing, it's a great job. Give yourself a pat on the back.

Next week, we will do a little research on social issues.

Song of the day

--

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Wednesday schedule
Thursday schedule

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The sun is out, and that counts for a lot.

We had a lovely CPR this morning. We are still trying to think of ways to be more social as class and keep the whole distance learning thing interesting.  Let us know if you have any great ideas.

We are still having some impressive work going on, but I'm noticing about a 25 out of 35 responses on any given day.  With my remedial math skills, that is about 2/3 or 67% participation. Let's see if we can bring that up. I am searching down my missing 10 little by little. I miss you queridos.

Today, we wrote what we fancily call "constructed responses" using claims, evidence and reasoning. We are getting better and better at this. Tomorrow, we will revisit our notebooks and a new poem.

Math continues on the math document. I'm not sure what it is. I better attend a math get together so I know what to write.

Song of the day

Monday, May the 4th be with you

Team Aurora has a new blog post!



Here is Tuesday and Wednesday schedule

This week in LA we are working on noticing perspective of characters along with review claims, evidence and reasoning when we write responses. We almost have everyone on commonlit.org, but a few of us are still working on that.

We have CPR Tuesday at 9 and Friday at 10 am. Today we had some book meets, and we have some more on Wednesday.

I have run out of things to blog. I shall go try to think of something and write it tomorrow.

song of the day

Sunday, May 3, 2020 (Supposed to be Friday)

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hello,

Looks like I forgot to post on Friday. I thought it, but never wrote it.

Here is Monday schedule and Tuesday schedule

It's getting harder to keep up our energy, so we are looking in to more ways for us to connect. More on that as we figure it out.

Books should be coming in this week and getting sorted. May 12 was the expected "ready" date for pick up.

Math will be needing to get some materials out too, so look for that update soon.

Song of the day

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Friday schedule

Hello Aurora,

Today's LA work was on Commonlit. Many of us are struggling with getting on to this site. I am in touch with commonlit. We will work on this more on Friday.

Song of the day I'm feeling spacy today

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hello,

Here is tomorrow and Friday's schedule.

We have CPR Friday at 10 am.

On Thursday, students will be working on Commonlit.org. This was supposed to be set up last Thursday (most of us did, but a few did not.) If this happened, students can just click on the link in the assignment on seesaw. Contact Ms. Lamb with any questions or problems.

Math is on the math document, per usual. 

song of the day (you need to watch the video to get the full effect)

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Hello Aurora,

Today we noticed several of us are having a bit of hard time getting back into the swing of things, particularly with math completion. We will keep reaching out to students when we don't hear from them.

Also, a reminder to all, we are now taking attendance. Mr, Nicholson is helping with this and will start sending out a daily email for kids to reply to. If Mr. Nick doesn't hear back from you (students), Ms. Lamb and Ms. Roberge will check to see if we have heard from you by attending a meeting or responding to an assignment or email. Otherwise, we will count you as absent and then we will try to find you to make sure you are okay.  It's okay to not get your work done (if you must), but please stay in contact. We will help you get back on track.

We had book meets today and will have more tomorrow. If you missed your time, I have sent an email to see if you can join tomorrow, or set up a personal time with me. Please check your email.

Here are the schedules for the next few days.
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

song of the day

My new shopping outfit

Monday, April 27, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!
Monday schedule
Tuesday schedule
Wednesday schedule (remember, the docs aren't updated until late the night before or early in the morning of)
Hello again! It's back to the "regular" irregularities of this school year.

I missed everyone, even if just in box on line presence. I hope you all had some great time away from your computer last week.

Today, we will get together for a CPR meet at 10:00. All of the Monday book meets are moved to Tuesday.

Please go to seesaw to see the Monday LA assignment and google docs to see the math.

Notes from our CPR meeting: We are now taking attendance. Students should try to make evidence of "being here" daily by emailing one of us, completing work (we can see if you did work, and that means you are "present"), or attending a meeting like CPR, math help or Book Meets.

Also, we will have a "sort of" report card. This will reflect something like - great work!, some work, no work. (More on this as it becomes clearer to us)

Song of the day

Just because

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv2VQloqhw4

VACATION! April 20 - 24

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

A special note from Ms. Roberge....

Happy vacation week!

We know it feels different this year, especially for many who had trips planned. 

We decided to put together a document of ideas so that you had something to do/look forward to, if you need it. There are also some tech free options to choose from.

All of these are great for the whole family! Vacation week document

I will also be sending out the invites for Tuesdays and Thursdays lunch bunch. 

I will be holding them from 12-1 on those days. These are optional and just some ideas to keep you connected over break. 

The weather seems mostly beautiful for the week, so I am incredibly grateful for that! 

We will try to add to our list of ideas throughout the week. If you have ideas, please share so I can add them too!

From Ms. Lamb

A few kids did not manage to get onto the Commonlit.org site. This is required by our districts, so it would be super cool if kids got on this week, but we can work on it next Monday if you are trying to "disconnect" for the week.

Happy vacation. Please try to disconnect in some way.

Song of the day

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Good Morning!

Friday's schedule

In LA, we spent the day trying to get onto this website commonlit.org.  At the time of this writing, 23 of us managed to log in and 9 managed to do the assignment. The hard part was getting in and getting the right class and getting the assignment. I appreciate everyone working on this. This was a dictate from MMUUSD, which is why we weren't on already and why it is hard to get on from a distance. Please contact me if you continue to have problems.

Math, of course, is all on the doc on google classroom. I hope you have your crazy hair on.

Good Morning!

Vacation is almost here. We will try to post an optional vacation schedule that will have some fun links on it. Look for that tomorrow.

.

Song of the day (thanks for introducing me to these, Aoife

.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

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Today was pajama day. Tomorrow crazy hair. Friday colorful.
Thursday schedule
Friday schedule



Book clubs met today. Anybody that missed their meeting will get an email to set up another time when we can chat about books. I also sent a video to everyone that was not there. Check your email.



Song of the day

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Team Aurora has a new blog post!

Wednesday schedule
Thursday schedule

We had CPR this morning at 9. We had fun trying out our Nod extension for raising hands and clapping and laughing.  Our next CPR will be Friday at 10.

The math folk have a spirit week. We have some delightful pictures we are sharing daily. Monday was Red and Black and gratitude day. Today was silly sock day. We share photos on a site Ms. Roberge shared with all. Ask your student for a peek.

Today, we have a new story for LA. We are still thinking about characters and how they relate to each other and maybe why they relate that way. It kind of feels like a psychology class, because we could think all the same things about how we behave and relate to each other.  We will continue thinking about this story tomorrow

I think we need to have a talent show. I'm thinking maybe the week after vacation. I posed the idea at CPR today and we will think about it over vacation. This will be totally voluntary, of course.  Some of us will be needed just to be the audience, so no pressure.  Show offs need love too.

Song of the day

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