WEEKLY LETTER, WK 42/43

HOMEWORK

• Math Packet: Subtraction. Due: Next Thursday, the 26th.
• This is harder subtraction, something we call "Close Subtraction", because the numbers are fairly close to one another, within a difference of 10-20. We have not gone over this yet, and I have given the homework as a diagnostic of what they can do, in their heads, with subtraction. There is no step-by-step method that shoould be used for this... they should simply be able to see the close difference in their heads. Follow the speech bubble emerging from the "knight" at the beginning of the page, to see how the kids must show their work (show how they think).
• Swedish Homework Due Tomorrow

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• I have been lucky enough to have been invited by the Swedish Environmental Ambassador Mrs. Annika Markovic to attend an informal consultation on October 25th in relation to the Rio + 20 conference ...as she stated...

This could be an opportunity for you to keep track of what the Swedish government is planning, to meet with people engaged in this process and to provide us with input from your children.

Others invited are  non-governmental organisations such as Naturskyddsföreningen, Greenpeace, Rädda barnen, Kvinna till kvinna, Forum Syd, SOS barnbyar, Diakonia etc.

                                                          Wow! I am very excited.

• UN Day, on Monday. Good Luck, Samira and David, our Class Council Reps!

The Un Day plan is as follows:

1.)             Present what Rio+20  project/s the class is presently working on…

(for example: 3E is working with a sister school in Sao Paulo and comparing our cultures and climates)

2.)             Present any ideas we have for possible future events, projects, activities that could be showcased at the Rio+20 Conference (as we have several representatives that will be physically present at the conference)

(for example: some student suggestions included:

-pledging not to use a car for two days in the spring

-collecting refundable  cans and bottles in one’s neighborhood and donating the refunds to a charitable organization

-making “recyclable” crafts to sell at the Christmas Bazaar, and donating profits to a charitable organization

-Creating a pen pal project with another school that is working with Rio +20

-Getting other schools to be involved in the process by writing letters, meeting, etc)

• HALLOWEEN!!! NEXT FRIDAY!!!
• Only 20 krowns worth of candy may be brought by each student...healthy teeth!
• Not too much blood on the costumes, please. Some is always fun, though ;)
• No guns or camo/soldier outfits... sensitvity issues
• "BEST COSTUME CONTEST" AWARDS!! Judge: ME!
• Spooky Tunnel Expeditions!!!! Oooohhhhhhhh!!!
• Scary Stories in the Classroom!!! Aaaahhhhh!!

WEEK IN REVIEW

MATH:

-Subtraction of close differences in the head... this is the bases of subtraction and I really want to "hit it home" with the kids.
-Subtraction Methods: We will start with what we call "written mental math"...
          ex. 368-135= think (300 - 100; 60 - 30; and 8 - 5)
... this is easy when the digits in the left hand number are ALL larger. But, if we move on to...            
                           335-168, we have to think another way.
                                 300-100=200
                               the difference between 30 and 60 is -30
                                the difference between 5 and 8 is -3
                                 200-30-3=167

I will explain it all in the LPP we post, but subtraction itself is a big concern amongst teachers and parents in Sweden... there are so many methods that work, and so few that really teach the "sense" of subtraction... the theory behind subtraction. It is time consuming to learn the above methods, but it teaches the foundations. By the end of next term, I will move on to...
                                                335
                                              - 168
                                              _____

... with borrowing.

READING/WRITING

 -Free Writing: A Halloween Story
 -Vocab Test, A SUCCESS!
 -Grammar Practice: Fixing a boring story (with too many "and then and then and then"), using adjectives, combining boring sentences/shortening run-on sentences; working on the meaning behind a "full sentence"
-Writing: Paragraphs (The Map Fact Text)

SO:

-Map Fact Text
-Treasure Hunt postponed to week 43
-"Maps" LPP finished!

NO:

Exploring our oceans, learning about the water cycle and how humans affect our Earth's water supply.


Ok... that's all, folks. Thanks for reading...