Classroom News!

Writer’s Workshop

After researching the social hierarchy of a Chinook village, your child wrote a biography page for their Chinook character that included a name (based on Chinuk Wawa “Chinook Talk” ), their social status within the clan, and clothing. 

Having created their character, the students are now bringing them to life by writing a narrative in which their Chinook person is the protagonist.

First, we used prewriting activities to focus and generate ideas for writing our narratives.  Students used their Chinook narrative graphic organizer/planner to sketch, plan and recount the

1. Opening setting and characters

2. Middle events or happenings

3. Ending events and conclusion

From this organizer and planner, students have been composing their first draft (drafting) over the past 3-4 workshop sessions.

This week, we’ll be working on extending and reworking their writing (revising), and then editing and proofreading their work (editing).   We may send the editing portion home as Thanksgiving-break homework depending on how far we get by Thursday. 

We’ve also been learning how to make effective signage – we're working on making posters for our upcoming Tribal Heritage Night (see below)!

Reader’s Workshop

This week we’ve been using our read-aloud, Kutkos Chinook Tyee, as a mentor text to get ideas for our own Chinook narratives.  We’ve also been focused on Native Myths, reading titles like Storm Boy, Raven Returns the Water, The Chinook Origin Myth, and more.  We’ve searched for the themes embedded in these stories and found some amazing connections between the myths, and to our own scientific understandings of nature.

As our Chinook salmon eggs began hatching into alevins this week (so magical and exciting!), we dug into some nonfiction to learn more about this important stage in the life cycle.   After reading two different texts about the alevin stage, students compared and contrasted the most important points and key details presented in each source.  

 Math

This week we continued to focus on double-digit subtraction.  So far the kids have developed and practiced four strategies: the standard algorithm (aka borrowing or regrouping- the way that most of us learned), using Base Ten pieces, subtracting away “chunks” at a time, and using an open number line.

Here is a video I made for you and your child to review these different strategies- I highly recommend watching it together for a quick review:

Eventually, we encourage all kids to go for that borrowing algorithm (most efficient) - but we don't want to push it if they're not ready.   I am encouraging them to solve the problems two ways in order to check work and solidify conceptual understanding.

Chinook

We read and researched nonfiction texts to learn about Chinook social roles, Chinook words, and the types of clothing worn depending on seasonality or social standing.  

We had an amazing field study visiting the Cathlapotle Plankhouse on the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge!  It was a huge learning experience for our kids to compare and contrast what they had learned thus far about Northwest Coastal Indian homes, what they had built from mere shoeboxes here in the classroom – with this life-size plankhouse replica erected by the Chinook Nation.   There were many “a-ha!” moments, many connections made to their prior knowledge, and many new questions evoked.   We completed a giant Venn-diagram here in the classroom reflecting on the similarities and differences.

We also learned that we will be co-hosting a Tribal Heritage Night here at Sauvie Island Academy on Thursday December 12!   The kids are VERY excited that members from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will visit and teach in our classroom, as well as co-hosting the evening educational event open to the public. 

Wapato Field Study

It was a wet one last week!   Students practiced their Core Routine of the Secret Sit-Spot (building stamina for sitting quietly and mindfully, honing nature observation skills).  Students also worked in groups recording observations and data from different habitat areas in the park.  We also learned more information about indigenous uses of some native plants with a short, student-led “each one teach one” hike.  

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Have you confirmed your conference time?  If not, call the office to schedule time with me as soon as possible.  I look forward to meeting with you!  During our time together, we will discuss your child’s academics (emphasis on reading and math) and behavior - looking at their strengths, needs, and suggestions for action both at school and at home.

Important Things Coming Up...

Nov. 21  - Chief Lelooska Field Trip (sack lunches needed)

Nov. 25-26 - Parent-Teacher Conferences (no school)

Nov. 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)

That’s it!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Asa