Pondering, Preschool, and PARTitioning

Our second reading of A Song for Cambodia caused us to ponder Arn’s experience more deeply. Before rereading, though, questions were posed about the book’s genre. Is it fiction or nonfiction? If fiction, is it realistic or historical? If nonfiction, is it narrative nonfiction? How can we tell?

Today, we also spent a bit more time talking about the foreword and the afterword, each containing important historical information that made us yearn for more information. What keywords could we use to find out more about this story and whether or not it is true? What other factual information related to the setting (time and place) would help use better understand this story? What kinds of multiple sources would be most helpful? Lots to think and wonder about…

Prior to recess, we headed over to preschool for our first meeting with our buddies in the new year. Everyone was excited to reconnect through play and painting, creating and counting, reading and relaxing. We were extremely grateful to Mr. Matthew and Mrs. van der Merwe for hosting us this week.

                                   

As we continued to build our understanding of more complex multiplication, we applied our work with extended facts to a new model for solving problems. By decomposing factors and PARTitioning area models (a.k.a. the partial product box), we were able to efficiently and effectively solve multi-digit problems. In the days ahead, it will be important to save our ideas, so we can apply them in increasingly complex situations.

 

 

 

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