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

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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