Hungering. Whispering. Creating. Searching.

The hunger for Homeless Bird was insatiable today. Students were ready to read immediately and reluctant to stop when time was up. As we near the end of this text, the author has us all hooked. What will happen to Koly in the end. As readers, when we find ourselves completely enveloped by the story, we must ask ourselves what is it that the author did to capture and hold our attention? This analytical approach enables us to understand the story more deeply and consider techniques we can use ourselves as writers.

Part of the reason for a premature pause in reading was our first practice for Saturday’s performances. At 9:30 a.m., students from Grades 2-5 gathered in the CAC for our first run though. Of course, being in a new venue with additional performers cause a few bumps. Thankfully, with a compete team of teachers and student problem solvers, we worked out the wrinkles and will try again tomorrow.

Our first performance of one of our songs, though, was a huge hit. Shhh…

In math, we continued our work on our fraction posters. Using the fraction circles and a variety of other multiple sources, students wrestled with the concept and worked hard to document thinking.

After music this afternoon, we headed to the library for another lesson about text and graphic features. Working with our research partners, we used the clues provided to comb through the nonfiction texts and find examples of each feature.

Multiple Sources


As you look through nonfiction texts and even websites, notice the variety of text and graphic features used. Consider why the author incorporated these and who they help you understand and interpret the text.

 

 

Mission… Possible!

Today, students had their first opportunity to experience a lesson planned by Mrs. Wilson. Continuing with our Math-Mania mode for Wednesdays, Mrs. Wilson had prepared a set of problems, which students worked in thinking groups to solve. In 20-minute intervals, students rotated through the series of stations, digging more deeply into division with each problem. With a focus on communication skills and open-mindedness, students worked well in teams to dissect the scenarios, identify a plan for problem solving, and evidencing their thinking in concretely, pictorially, and abstractly.

After recess, Mrs. Wilson took time to reflect on and debrief the lesson. Immediately, Zinnah declared, “This wasn’t Mission Impossible, this was Mission Possible!”

Home Learning for March 9-13 (Week 26)

  1. Read for at least 30 minutes each night.
    • Check out the new reading choice board for scholarly, agentic readers.
    • Reflect on your reading:
      • on Seesaw.
      • by completing the online reading log OR one on paper (Copies are available in class).
      • by having a thoughtful conversation with another reader.
  2. Option: Use the Pobble 365 prompt to inspire your writing.
        • Use lined paper from your binder OR the Google Doc in your Google Classroom.
  3. Reflect back on your Week 25, and complete the “Reflection: Learner Profile & Approaches to Learning” form.
  4. Explore the recommendations on IXL.com. These connect directly to what we have been learning in class.

**A Scholar has a goal: This week we:

    • answered 890 IXL questions.
    • spent 4 hours 32 minutes on IXL.
    • made progress in 38 IXL skills.

Announcements

  1. Library is scheduled weekly on Thursdays.
  2. P.E. is scheduled weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.
    1. Come dressed to SWIM – swimsuit, towel, dry clothes
    2. Bring a water bottle
  3. Check your lunch card balance weekly.

Coming Soon

Below is a list of upcoming events of which to be aware.

  • March 14 – TASOK Arts Festival: Expressions (Students need to be at school at 10:30 a.m.)
  • March 20 – P.E. Swim Lesson Viewing – 12:30 p.m. (TASOK pool)
  • March 20 – Assembly (Grade 1) – 2:30 p.m.
  • March 23-April 3 – Spring Break
  • April 17 – PYP Exhibition
  • April 18 – TASOK Gala
  • April 29 – Student-led Conferences

Condor Sports

  • March 19-21 – MS Mozambique Soccer Tournament
  • Apri l5-18 – SAISA Soccer Tournament
  • April 22-25 – SS Soccer Tournament
  • April 25 – ES Basketball Tournament

We’re on Twitter!

Follow TASOK @TASOKinshasa

Follow TASOK PYP @TASOKPYP

Follow Fourth Grade @Scholarsare

Hashtag #TASOK

 

Learner Profile Trait of the Month – RISK-TAKER

**Check back later in the week for additional homework related to in-class discussions and activities.

 

Home Learning for March 2-6 (Week 25)

  1. Read for at least 30 minutes each night.
    • Check out the new reading choice board for scholarly, agentic readers.
    • Reflect on your reading:
      • on Seesaw.
      • by completing the online reading log OR one on paper (Copies are available in class).
      • by having a thoughtful conversation with another reader.
  2. Option: Use the Pobble 365 prompt to inspire your writing.
        • Use lined paper from your binder OR the Google Doc in your Google Classroom.
  3. Reflect back on your Week 24, and complete the “Reflection: Learner Profile & Approaches to Learning” form.
  4. Explore the recommendations on IXL.com. These connect directly to what we have been learning in class.

**A Scholar has a goal: This week we:

    • answered 578 IXL questions.
    • spent 4 hours 38 minutes on IXL.
    • made progress in 25 IXL skills.

Announcements

  1. Library is scheduled weekly on Thursdays.
  2. P.E. is scheduled weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.
    1. Come dressed to SWIM – swimsuit, towel, dry clothes
    2. Bring a water bottle
  3. Check your lunch card balance weekly.

Coming Soon

Below is a list of upcoming events of which to be aware.

  • March 2-6 – NO ASAs
  • March 4 – TASOK Color Run, 4:00 p.m.
  • March 14 – TASOK Arts Festival: Expressions (Students need to be at school at 10:30 a.m.)
  • March 23-April 3 – Spring Break
  • April 17 – PYP Exhibition
  • April 18 – TASOK Gala
  • April 29 – Student-led Conferences

Condor Sports

  • March 7 – SS Sports Afternoon
  • March 19-21 – MS Mozambique Soccer Tournament
  • Apri l5-18 – SAISA Soccer Tournament
  • April 22-25 – SS Soccer Tournament
  • April 25 – ES Basketball Tournament

We’re on Twitter!

Follow TASOK @TASOKinshasa

Follow TASOK PYP @TASOKPYP

Follow Fourth Grade @Scholarsare

Hashtag #TASOK

 

Learner Profile Trait of the Month – RISK-TAKER

**Check back later in the week for additional homework related to in-class discussions and activities.

 

Letters of Gratitude and Reflection

After a week of reflection and drafting, students took time today to write their letters of gratitude to their teachers with whom they worked last week. An unprecedented amount of care and concentration went in to writing the letters neatly. Once complete students found creative ways to decorate the front of the cards in ways that reflected their ideas about I Love to Read and Write Week. What a wonderful way to end the week!

 

Home Learning for February 24-28 (Week 24)

  1. Read for at least 30 minutes each night.
    • Check out the new reading choice board for scholarly, agentic readers.
    • Reflect on your reading:
      • on Seesaw.
      • by completing the online reading log OR one on paper (Copies are available in class).
      • by having a thoughtful conversation with another reader.
  2. Option: Use the Pobble 365 prompt to inspire your writing.
        • Use lined paper from your binder OR the Google Doc in your Google Classroom.
  3. Reflect back on your Week 23, and complete the “Reflection: Learner Profile & Approaches to Learning” form.
  4. Explore the recommendations on IXL.com. These connect directly to what we have been learning in class.

**A Scholar has a goal: This week we:

    • answered 730 IXL questions.
    • spent 4 hours 38 minutes on IXL.
    • made progress in 25 IXL skills.

Announcements

  1. Library is scheduled weekly on Thursdays.
  2. P.E. is scheduled weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.
    1. Come dressed to SWIM – swimsuit, towel, dry clothes
    2. Bring a water bottle
  3. Check your lunch card balance weekly.

Coming Soon

Below is a list of upcoming events of which to be aware.

  • February 28 – Trimester 2 ASAs End
  • February 28 – SS Counseling Workshop, 8:00 a.m.
  • March 4 – TASOK Color Run, 4:00 p.m.
  • March 14 – TASOK Arts Festival: Expressions (Students need to be at school at 10:30 a.m.)
  • March 23-April 3 – Spring Break
  • April 17 – PYP Exhibition
  • April 18 – TASOK Gala
  • April 29 – Student-led Conferences

Condor Sports

  • February 21 – Swim Meet
  • March 7 – SS Sports Afternoon
  • March 19-21 – MS Mozambique Soccer Tournament
  • Apri l5-18 – SAISA Soccer Tournament
  • April 22-25 – SS Soccer Tournament
  • April 25 – ES Basketball Tournament

We’re on Twitter!

Follow TASOK @TASOKinshasa

Follow TASOK PYP @TASOKPYP

Follow Fourth Grade @Scholarsare

Hashtag #TASOK

 

Learner Profile Trait of the Month – CARING

**Check back later in the week for additional homework related to in-class discussions and activities.

 

Relax. Rehearse. Reveal. Relax.

Today, unlike the rest of the week, we began with a bit of a break from teaching.

Some scholars started their day SUPER excited about participating in the swim meet. With swim suits, swim caps, googles, and towels in hand, the set of seven swimmers headed up to the pool, where they got to see their names freshly and proudly painted on a brightly colored sign.

    

After French, the rest of our curious crew ventured over to MS4 where we got to see some thinkers and problem solvers in action. Grade 8 students have been working on an inquiry into structures and bridges. Part of their assessment was to design a Rube Goldberg machine. This was a great connection to our unit of inquiry! During our short time in the room, we witnesses several groups of students testing our their machines. Some did not work at first, but students engaged in collaborative problem solving and persisted until solutions were found.

Multiple Source

Rube Goldberg

Back in the room, after recess, we shared a read aloud of the book Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day by Jennifer George. We are grateful to Mr. Hopkins for letting  us borrow the book.

From MS4, we wandered over to the pool to support our classmates. We found a spot in the shade and cheered on the swim meet participants. It was so exciting to see all the bucket-filling happening on the sidelines and amongst the swim team members. High fives and hugs abounded.

Thank you to the parents who came to help with time keeping and bucket-filling. Your support was beyond appreciated.

 

After the meet, swimmers jingled and jangled their way to the lunch room, most wearing medals for their efforts during today’s swim meet. Congratulations!

Podium photo credit: Ms. Paula

This afternoon was spent in the CAC for our final practice before this afternoon’s assembly. With the collaborative story complete, many students received new lines that they had to practice and present. We also added some props – the cushions from the library that Ms. Kraft kindly let us borrow. Students were extremely focused during this afternoon’s practice and shared a very professional presentation this afternoon. Ms. Kraft commented afterwards about how impressed she was that each speaker had taken the feedback shared yesterday and made noticeable adjustments. What a wonderful way to show growth and development as learners and leaders.

The following photos are credited to Ms. Paula. Thank you for sharing!

When our assembly was over, students jumped right in to clean up. Script cards, library books, and red cushions all got whisked away with hardly any direction at all. True leaders!

Check out the Prezi that accompanied our assembly presentation.

You can also view our script cards.

 

Feedback  from Teachers

I just wanted to thank you for the huge amount of work you and your students have put into this week. It was a really special experience for the 4th graders to lead our learning, and the children really enjoyed it. I worked with my class today to write a final poem and most of them were able to include aspects such as rhyme, alliteration, similes and descriptive language. Many thanks to your students for introducing us to these! (I’ve put our posters back in your classroom. If your 4th graders wanted to see them next week they’d be very welcome!)

Today’s assembly was lovely too. Your students spoke with such clarity and confidence.

Thanks so much!

Rae Cordon

Grade 1 Homeroom Teacher

 

A huge thank you goes out to your Grade 4 students who have spent the past four days with us. Their time has been hugely appreciated and they have taken it very seriously. They have all acted their age and shown courage and independence. In particular, Alex was a great coordinator and team leader.

Well done Grade 4’s.

Best,

Tommy Sheldrick

K1 Homeroom Teacher

Setting Up the Structure

Despite the short day, we managed to pack in a full set of lessons today. We had lessons in Grade 3, 2, K, K1, and 1. All teaching teams moved on to their next lesson, which was either the second or third in the series.

Day 3 – Structure

Once sorted and selected,

Precisely placed pieces must be.

To paint a powerful picture

Order and structure are the key.

For the third lesson, students worked in their poem-building teams to put words in an order that painted a word picture. They had their puzzle pictures glued on the paper, but the challenge was to enable others to see that picture without looking at it. This was a big challenge and required communication, open-mindedness, and thinking.

Each team got a bag filled with words. As we had done previously in class, learners worked together to sort those words into categories or groups of related words. Then, they thought about how the words might be able to go together to create lines of the poem. Of course, some lines were not complete, so students had to fill in spaces with other smaller words.

Teaching teams presented the follow example as part of their lesson. Students might have the following words in their bag:

pretty          light

The group might decide these two words work well together, but they didn’t quite create a line, so… they could write in some words to complete the thought

A pretty pink light glowed

Day three stretched teaching teams, as they really had to know how to prompt, guide, and question learners through the process of sorting and piecing together like a puzzle. Unlike a puzzle, though, there were no built in picture clues or one right way to make the pieces fit. Since poetry was new for most grades, this was quite a challenging lesson.

Grade 3

Grade 1

 

While teaching teams were out, the groups that stayed behind practice their third or fourth lesson. Both required a great deal of knowledge and understanding in order to support other learners.

Working on Word Choice

Our second day of I Love to Read and Write Week was equally busy. More teaching teams were on the schedule, some teaching the first lesson, others moving on to the second lesson about word choice.

Day 2 – Word Choice

This puzzle’s pieced together

With meaning, shape, and sound in mind.

Each word is chosen carefully,

Search. The perfect one you’ll find.

The second lesson invited students to examine the words brainstormed inspired by the image in day 1 and choose 1 on which they wanted to elaborate. Using the Frayer Model structure, students worked together to show thinking about ONE of the words we used to describe the picture. On their big puzzle posters, students used the space for day 2, which was divided/split into sections. Each space was labeled with the following:

 

  • Related words (These include prefixes, suffixes)
  • Synonyms / antonyms (These are word that mean the same or opposite.)
  • Rhyming Words (These are words that have the same ending sound)
  • Describing Words (These are words or phrases that can be used to show not tell)

Using a sample Frayer Model, teaching and support team members guided learners through the process of expanding their word choice. Depending on the word chosen, this proved somewhat challenging for some groups.

 

Grade 3

Kindergarten

 

Day 1: Brainstorming Structure

Day 2: Frayer Model Structure

As was true yesterday, we had another buddy reading session, today in Grade 3. And, we also practiced our assembly again in the CAC. At the end of the day, as we worked on volume and expression, we got a glimpse of a portion of the Prezi that would be shared with the audience.

 

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