Elementary

K/1st: Week of 11/4

“This leaf looks like a beetle’s wing-shields!” This week in Our Big Backyard… Alphas learned that Austin is in a very special place in Texas. We knew that Hyde Park was built on Blackland Prairie, but we learned that when we go west of here, once we get to Shoal Creek, we hit rocky hills that are the edge of the Edwards Plateau. This is an important land feature that helps explain how we have so much water here—water drains downhill, and we live downhill! Water attracts all kinds of living things and Austin used to have all kinds of […]

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Kindergarten children play outdoor game at micro school.

2nd/3rd: Week of 11/4

Math – This week was chock-full of practicing math facts and playing math games, with a sprinkling of logic puzzles. The first year Betas learned to use a number line to help them subtract and reviewed subtraction strategies. The second year Betas did a great job of working together and supporting one another. Reading – Our book clubs are making progress, and not just in terms of page numbers! Groups are learning what it means to read together (much patience is built here), and to respectfully disagree with each other when discussing content. Book club really is a foundational piece

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Second grade student focuses on math cards at private school in Austin.

4th/5th: Week of 11/4

General News ELA Update Wowee! Gammas are on a roll with reading! Most people are halfway through their first book and a few folks have even moved on to trying out a second, or even third, genre! The enthusiasm for reading and creative writing remains off the charts in ELA Gammaland. On Monday we went over our P&P and talked about how, as readers, we should always be monitoring our thinking as we read. We are using emoji this week to help us keep track of our thinking while we read. We will also be practicing citing examples from the

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Fourth grade students wear head gear as they use computers at project based elementary school.

K/1st: Week of 10/28

This week in Our Big Backyard… We Alphas knew that Austin-soil depends on our native grasses and forbs to build it up, as well as to HOLD ON TO IT with its long root systems to prevent it from eroding. We knew that grasses produce seeds – and so do forbs – and in fact – that’s one of their big purpose in life – to reproduce! We remembered that when we went and collected the Lindheimer Muhly grass seed, the grass grew up and out like a fountain, with the seeds at the top. That’s because when it’s ready

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display of kindergarten curriculum on board at project based school.

2nd/3rd: Week of 10/28

Halloween Thank you all for making our spooky day so yummy and special! Math Ms. Andrea’s math group applied 3 strategies to solve triple addend problems: choose any two, make and 10, and make a double. These Betas have it down! We had a discussion about the = symbol, & its meaning. We also learned a new game using a die to roll for each addend and 10 frames to fill up to determine our sum. We reviewed our addition strategies like doubles, near doubles, counting on, zero facts, and making a 10. We’ve learned so many tricks to help

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Two second grade students read together at GT school.