We have started off the year with a Week of Inspirational Math. Each day, students were presented with open, creative, and visual mathematics lessons. Jo Boaler, a professor of mathematics education at Stanford, developed these mindset videos and accompanying activities. Jo Boaler developed the following is a list of positive norms for math class.

• Everyone can learn math to the highest levels
• Mistakes are valuable
• Questions are really important
• Math is about creativity and making sense
• Math is about connections and communicating
• Math is about learning not performing
• Depth is more important than speed

To learn more about Jo Boaler and mathematical mindsets visit the website https://www.youcubed.org/
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We investigated the death of Mr. Blueduck in class on Friday.

We are currently exploring the elements of inquiry: observation, inference, conclusions. 
We will be doing our initial inquiry benchmark the week of September 12th. Everything will be done in class and will let both the students and I know what their current understanding is of the inquiry process.
After the benchmark, we begin our exploration of the properties of matter. Look for pictures of our class in the near future!

8 Blue will be attending Teamworks for our team building field trip on September 29. Please have your child bring in a check for $5.00 made out to the "Oak Activity Fund," and read the waiver and click the link to sign it on the parent portal:

schools.shrewsburyma.gov/oak/Teamworks-Participant-Waiver-Registration-Form1.cfm

The beginning of the year in ELA is all about community building and getting to know each other! Towards the middle of September, we will start our first unit which is a blogging unit that will run throughout the year. Stay tuned for more information. Below is the ELA Course Description and Policies. Please review the document and contact me if you have any questions.