The Gift in the Giving

If you have any questions about whether or not your volunteer efforts make an impact, have a look at the student reflections below. Our holiday fundraising effort to buy gifts for an Oakland refugee mother and her five children was a resounding success. The gifts – see the pile in the photo below – will be delivered to Jewish Family and Community Services in Walnut Creek and will then be delivered to the family. In addition to the presents the mother requested for her children, we made enough money for seven hundred dollars of Target gift cards, where she can buy food, housewares, clothes and whatever else she needs this holiday season. Some of you volunteers went big, so a big thank you to all my AMAZING parent gift purchasers, street vendors, singers, bakers, etc. It takes a village.

Also note the complex emotions expressed below – it’s really important to consider the full range of sentiments that arise for both giver and receiver in this kind of endeavor. I was blown away with the depth of understanding these reflections revealed. And check out some of the lifelong goals students have for civic engagement and service. Beautiful, beautiful. Nice to feel some hope every once in a while!

 

Spanish meets civic engagement

Nichos are a traditional Mexican folk art form that  are commonly used to honor loved ones  or historical figures the past.  Although Nichos are often seen during Día de Los Muertos, Nichos are pretty common place year around. Nichos generally tell a story and are adorned with bright colors and vibrant colors decorations.

The Nichos done by the students of The Berkeley school were inspired by Latin American Bingo, ‘Loteria’.  Each student chose a Lotería card to construct a visual story and theme using concepts drawn from the Nicho.

 

Plane Table Mapping

The students spent multiple days last week learning how to use math to make accurate plane table maps of the playground. Very much like the surveyors we sometimes spot on road crews, they used spotters (straws) taped to protractors to site landmarks, had a pacer measure the distance, and then triangulated the relative distance between the various parts of the playground. They standardized their paces by counting the number of paces in one hundred feet, then they found actual distance between landmarks with a little math, then chose an appropriate scale for their maps. They also had fun naming different parts of the playground after themselves, just as those egocentric explorers loved to do. They are polishing their final drafts this week and the maps should be on display later this week. Overheard: “I didn’t know you could use math for making maps!” Also, “I love math now!” It’s amazing how connected all the academic domains are when you get down to it.

Reader’s Theater

If that wasn’t enough for you, students have took a break from their second round of reading groups to practice reading fluency by reading scripts together in an activity called Reader’s Theater. Basically, students do repeat readings of a scripts to practice pronunciation, annunciation, volume, tone, etc. They love it, so much that they don’t even know we are tricking them into becoming better readers. Have a great week all.

Homework

Math

  • 5th graders have to play a division game with their parents! (In your packet, you’ll need a paperclip.
  • 4th graders: 2-sided worksheet due Wednesday

Making Inferences Worksheet: due Wednesday

Wordly Wise (access through Google Classroom and use the log in with Google option on your home device. If you do not have access to one, I am happy to make you photocopies!)

  • Parts 4,5,6 on Monday, 7 on Tuesday, 8,9,10 on Wednesday, 11,12 on Thursday

Secret Pals this Week! Everyone has a secret pal, and should make a card or drawing for their pal for Tuesday. Nothing fancy, just don’t write your name on it – it’s a secret! Then it’s a book, then a treat, then a present under 10 bucks. Have fun!