Test Prep Huddle!

In order to prepare ourselves for Tuesday and Wednesday's Stanford Test, we did a few "mini tests" today.  The students practiced taking timed tests as we worked a page or two at a time.  When they finished each page, we stopped to review each missed problem, together.  It was a great way to get in all of the useful tips, like using the process of elimination, going back to a problem in the section that you are unsure of if you have extra time, and so on.  We worked through three mini tests throughout the day.  At the end of the day, we all huddled together in a tight little pile, around around the person next to us.  This was a time for reassurance.  No nervousness, no jitters... We are going with friends and everyone will do just fine!  They decided that they wanted to wear their class shirts to Sharpsburg on Tuesday, for the test.  I am confident that our little group will go in there more comfortable and more prepared than they would have been just last week!

Grammar-  We are ending the school year with review lessons.  Today, we reviewed the different types of verbs, nouns (common and proper), and pronouns.  There are only a few more lessons in the workbook!  Once we are through with those, we will use our knowledge to play some fun review games!

Reading/Writing- We are almost finished with Hamlet!  It was an AWESOME reading day today, as the kids were thrilled to learn that all of those times they have seen people stand up, holding up a skull, and talking in funny fancy language... they are reciting Hamlet!  Oh, the fun they had standing up, hand raised tall, and reciting, "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio".  After reading the next few pages, we worked a little on their summaries of the story.  This is a huge paper that they have been working on... and we are so close to being finished with them!  But... I am realizing that they may not be able to finish them, and do them justice, by the end of class.  This was an assignment that they took off with... each of them.  They are longer and more detailed than I ever dreamed they would be, and I do not want to cut them short.  And so... We will continue to work on them in class.  But, once school has ended, they can revise then and polish them up, make a video reading their prose, and post them for everyone to see!  They could be simple... just reading it in front of the camera, they could be in costume, they could draw pictures... but we all would love to hear their final masterpiece!  Technology, the lack of a rigid educational environment, and the value these awesome parents place on education, give us the option NOT to have to compromise on the quality of our work!


Math- After reviewing our long division sheets from yesterday, we had a big math review with our standardized testing practice test.  Like before, we stopped after each page to review any missed problems together on the board.  There were a couple problems that looked daunting to the entire class.  However, I was able to show them a great trick.  Look at the answers given.  Then, if you do not know how to work the problem out the traditional way, plug each probable solution into the problem.  Just find the one that works out!  One of the kids looked at me as if I had just handed her a magic code!  Success!


Agriculture Workshop, Day 3-  Today's class began with a big discussion on our little chickies.  They are on day 14 of development today... and going strong!  I am hoping not to have to move the incubator again, as they will be going into "lockdown" on Monday, and should hatch on Thursday.  I don't want to shake them up!  After learning how these little guys will position themselves in the egg, "pip" into the airsac, and then "pip" and "zip" themselves out of the shell, we candled a few.  With all 17 or so children in a dark room, we held the eggs up to the light and saw moving little embryos inside.  I reminded the class not to "count their chickens before they hatch", but it's so hard!


Social Studies- The kids showed off their posters today.  They have been working on a poster to illustrate an amendment to the Constitution.  The results were great!   I love that they are able to get excited about showing off their work to their peers, and have supportive, positive, classmates who think that posters about amendments are "cool"!


Science- We split science up into two classes this week.  The physics lecture was on Tuesday, and the Lego robotics activity was today.  The students continued to put their new-found knowledge of cams and levers to use as they worked, as a group, to make a drum-playing monkey!  Yet again, they did an amazing job of taking turns and working together.  They went in a circle, each completing a step in the directions.  They troubleshooted, discussed, and resolved conflicts better than a lot of adults can!