Newsletter: May 3rd

Here's a photo of our son, Muluken, and daughter, Harper, just
before the Blythewood HS Prom last Saturday. It really doesn't seem
that long ago they were 2nd and 3rd graders at CFI. Now
they're both very close to heading off to college (with two younger
siblings right behind them).

Dear Families,

I hope you're all doing well as the South Carolina heat begins to settle in and the school year winds down. It's crazy to think we only have about five weeks left. Having the film crew here earlier this week was such a rush because it allowed me to see these kids through someone else's eyes and really take notice of all the ways they've grown socially and academically. Just as with parenting, it becomes all too easy to lose sight of growth when you're with someone every single day. Change often happens slowly and when we're not mindful to take notice we miss so much. These past couple of days in front of a camera have really helped to bring all this into focus (cheesy pun intended).

Here's a sampling of what we've been up to lately...

In math we recently explored 3-D shapes.

The kids worked to identify the number of faces and edges on
each as well as to draw them. 

They also played a game where someone placed a shape behind their backs
and they had to rely on their sense of feel to identify which one it was.

In science we've been exploring solids, liquids, and gases.

This has included many demonstrations and experiments. In this photo we are
watching to see how quickly different liquids evaporate.

As you all know, we also used our new knowledge of conductors and
insulators to engage in an "Insulator Challenge."

The kids were tasked with designing and building an insulator
that would keep two pieces of ice frozen for as long as possible.

Every 90 minutes we weighed our ice in grams.

We also sketched what it looked like as it changed over time and recorded
its decreasing weight.

In reading we've been working to interact with non-fiction news articles.

Part of this work called on us to identify the important information in each article
that was pertinent to the theme or topic of the article. 

We also stopped along to the way to write over the text or in the margins
detailing what we were thinking, feeling, and wondering as we read.

These thoughts fueled discussions about the articles with classmates.

Here's a pic of the film crew that hung out with us for a few days. The kids were excited
because they were going to be in a "movie." I tried to explain to them it'd be an online
video for teachers. Not quite the same but still a very cool experience. There were
two cameramen, a sound technician, a producer, and two editors. We really were
under a microscope. Of course, the kids did beautifully!

They also interviewed a number of students about their experiences and thoughts from
this year as well as the persuasive speeches they're planning now. 

A few days ago the kids launched new book clubs. This fun structure always
begins with an opportunity to browse a number of books and decide which ones
they'd most like to read.

Once their decisions were made they grouped up with the others who made the same
choice and planned out their daily reading over the next week or so. Each day they begin
by building a discussion around yesterday's reading. This calls on them to
collaboratively construct meaning from the text. They love the social
aspect of book clubs.

In writing we are now working on opinion writing. After a short fiction aspect
of this genre we then transitioned into planning and writing persuasive speeches.
A smaller version of the advocacy projects our CFI 5th graders do, these speeches
have called on us to also work as researchers to learn more about each of our topics.
The kids' choices of topics are really diverse and strong. Most had no trouble finding
something they felt passionately about.

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And finally, here's a few pics from Wednesday's rally at the Statehouse. I saw many
of our kids and families there. This is a picture of me and my wife, Tricia.

And this is Richland 2 Board Member Dr. Teresa Holmes out supporting
our teachers and schools. There were a number of Board members out there as well
as our superintendent. It was a powerful day, for sure!