September 26, 2011
It's TRUE!
Tomorrow we are celebrating successfully reaching our "Soaring with Pride" goal of 28 stickers!! We set this goal together the first week of school and are very excited to be celebrating! Tomorrow your child may wear his/her pjs, bring a pillow and/or blanket, and a stuffed friend. We will lay around the room while doing our work tomorrow! I know what you're thinking right now..."Mrs. Wills is nuts!" I think you might be right! I'll post pictures this weekend. Wish me luck!
September 20, 2011
Happy Thursday!
so much to share...so little time...
First of all...a HUGE thank you to AJ's mom and meemaw...they worked on something for our class while meemaw was visiting...and now we have classroom cushions!! These cushions are one of the things the kids can use their tickets for...and boy, have they been earning tickets! I have a cute picture of two of our friends on the cushions from yesterday that I will post later!
Secondly...Scholastic book orders are due Monday. Every month I will send home a Scholastic book order. Jessie's mom has offered to organize and mail the orders for us...thank you, Mrs. Kilgore! Ordering books is totally optional...whenever you choose to order books, our classroom gets points that I can apply to free books for the classroom...so as we get closer to holidays, think about placing an order! If you have any questions, throw me an email.
Now...onto the academics!
Did you know that your children are creating travel brochures? Applying the knowledge gained from Unit 1 in Social Studies (climate, physical geography, natural resources, mapping, directions), the kids have been diligently working on a final product...a travel brochure! The goal of this brochure is to entice people to visit and inform possible tourists about one of the 50 states in our country! I can't wait for you to see them!
The research needed to make the brochure integrated Language Arts indicators, too! The students needed to skim complex text to find the main ideas of passages...we used non-fiction literature and an online database to search for information.
The kids have continued working on during reading strategies while reading their novel...we have focused mainly on making inferences. The kids are improving as we move through each chapter...
In writing, the kids are working on creative pieces and taking their piece through the writing process. We have students at all different stages of writing right now...and we should have some published pieces in the near future. Writer's Workshop is twice a week, but it's certainly not the only time the kids are writing. Directed writing assignments take place in all aspects of the curriculum. Writer's Workshop is the place where the writing process and the six traits of writing are directly instructed.
Phew...teaching math is both exhilarating and exhausting!! We have kids at many different levels, so I am constantly using flexible groups in the classroom. We moved from numeration and understanding place value with big numbers to adding, subtracting, and estimating with larger numbers. Every lesson has a math warm up...a challenging problem to get the kids focused and engaged in math...we then have some sort of concept mini lesson, followed by group work and independent follow-up. We also focus on writing in math. It is important to reinforce that your children need to be using many details in their math writing to help describe how they solve problems, show multiple strategies, and use whatever tools necessary. REMINDER...if your child brings home an assignment that is too hard...that is MY mistake...please encourage your child (maybe show them this blog) to turn in the paper with a note from you...this helps me know where gaps are that I'm unaware of. I realize in a perfect world, I would recognize all the gaps...but that is not always the case. I provide a perfect world 4/5 days a week...HA! Just kidding.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend. Reminder...next week is a little nutty...we have off on Thursday and then a 2 hour early dismissal on Friday.
First of all...a HUGE thank you to AJ's mom and meemaw...they worked on something for our class while meemaw was visiting...and now we have classroom cushions!! These cushions are one of the things the kids can use their tickets for...and boy, have they been earning tickets! I have a cute picture of two of our friends on the cushions from yesterday that I will post later!
Secondly...Scholastic book orders are due Monday. Every month I will send home a Scholastic book order. Jessie's mom has offered to organize and mail the orders for us...thank you, Mrs. Kilgore! Ordering books is totally optional...whenever you choose to order books, our classroom gets points that I can apply to free books for the classroom...so as we get closer to holidays, think about placing an order! If you have any questions, throw me an email.
Now...onto the academics!
Did you know that your children are creating travel brochures? Applying the knowledge gained from Unit 1 in Social Studies (climate, physical geography, natural resources, mapping, directions), the kids have been diligently working on a final product...a travel brochure! The goal of this brochure is to entice people to visit and inform possible tourists about one of the 50 states in our country! I can't wait for you to see them!
The research needed to make the brochure integrated Language Arts indicators, too! The students needed to skim complex text to find the main ideas of passages...we used non-fiction literature and an online database to search for information.
The kids have continued working on during reading strategies while reading their novel...we have focused mainly on making inferences. The kids are improving as we move through each chapter...
In writing, the kids are working on creative pieces and taking their piece through the writing process. We have students at all different stages of writing right now...and we should have some published pieces in the near future. Writer's Workshop is twice a week, but it's certainly not the only time the kids are writing. Directed writing assignments take place in all aspects of the curriculum. Writer's Workshop is the place where the writing process and the six traits of writing are directly instructed.
Phew...teaching math is both exhilarating and exhausting!! We have kids at many different levels, so I am constantly using flexible groups in the classroom. We moved from numeration and understanding place value with big numbers to adding, subtracting, and estimating with larger numbers. Every lesson has a math warm up...a challenging problem to get the kids focused and engaged in math...we then have some sort of concept mini lesson, followed by group work and independent follow-up. We also focus on writing in math. It is important to reinforce that your children need to be using many details in their math writing to help describe how they solve problems, show multiple strategies, and use whatever tools necessary. REMINDER...if your child brings home an assignment that is too hard...that is MY mistake...please encourage your child (maybe show them this blog) to turn in the paper with a note from you...this helps me know where gaps are that I'm unaware of. I realize in a perfect world, I would recognize all the gaps...but that is not always the case. I provide a perfect world 4/5 days a week...HA! Just kidding.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend. Reminder...next week is a little nutty...we have off on Thursday and then a 2 hour early dismissal on Friday.
September 16, 2011
TGIF!!
That's always a popular phrase after a five day week! We accomplished so much...where to begin?
Math
After taking the numeration quiz, we moved into adding and subtracting large numbers, estimating, and problem solving with those big numbers. I've been working with two groups...splitting the kids in half in order to get to know them better as mathematicians...this time has proved very valuable. It has also been worthwhile as I analyze their Quarter One pretests and figure out who needs to learn what! We will follow up next week with more subtraction, we will take fact tests, and we will move into multiplication and division...that should take most of the rest of the month for sure!
Language Arts
We are in full swing with Writer's Workshop...and we have amazing authors!! I have introduced the drafting, peer conference, and revising stations...this coming week the kids will be introduced to the editing, and teacher conference stations. Each station helps your child reassess their writing and each station has a different focus on one or two of the six traits of writing. The kids are so busy following directions at each station, they hardly notice how many times they're reading their drafts and making changes...it's AWESOME!!
This week our focus in reading was on making an inference. And I was so pleased with their inference skills! During reading time we have split into three groups, again, so I can get a feel for their ability to discuss the story and make inferences. I am really enjoying getting to know your kids as learners.
Word Study
I am making this its own category this week...because I realize you may need some clarification...
On Monday your kids took a pretest with a focus...homophones...then, based on the results of the pretest, your child made his/her own list based on his/her own needs...this list was approximately 10 words and it was put on a sheet of paper called the "Word Study Contract".
Homework on Mondays is always "do something creative with your words IN YOUR SPIRAL" (the 'in your spiral' part will make sense soon)...this can be writing the words in bubble letters, writing the words in pyramids, writing the words in rainbow letters, etc...
On Tuesday and Wednesday your child's homework is 10 MEANINGFUL sentences...5 a day, or if they choose, all 10 on one of the two days...these sentences have to be turned in...in order to be considered 'meaningful' they must use excellent word choice, be interesting, and use the word study word properly...you will see this develop as the year progresses...
On Thursdays the kids are charged with studying...I would like them to do this anyway they'd like, but I did show them the website, "Spelling City" where they can type in their words and then play games and take a pretest...
On Friday the kids will take a test...they do this with a partner, since there are 28 different lists in the classroom...and now...back to the spiral...some kids will leave the word study lists at home...if this happens, the spiral is the "back up list"...
The process sounds crazy, but it is actually a very organized way for each child to have a list that is just right for them...please email me if you are confused on any night and I am happy to help!
Social Studies
We are continuing with Unit 1...we have been discussing physical geography, climate, and natural resources of different regions. We started with Maryland, and now each student has chosen a different state to research. We have used non-fiction texts and Culture Grams, an online research portal, to collect information about their state. This coming week they will work on creating a travel brochure...a document that will entice others to visit their state!
Miscellaneous
Whether we like it or not...the grades have arrived...
Today the kids brought home two grades...one on a reading paper and one on a math quiz...as I explained to the kids...anytime a student scores a C or below, they should have the paper signed and then return that paper to me. Then the student and I will talk about what he/she can do to improve the grade. If your child does very poorly on a quiz...then they may not have been ready for a quiz...I take responsiblity for that. I want them to do some extra practice and have another opportunity to improve. Again, any questions...please email me.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend...enjoy your families...and the wonderful weather!!
Math
After taking the numeration quiz, we moved into adding and subtracting large numbers, estimating, and problem solving with those big numbers. I've been working with two groups...splitting the kids in half in order to get to know them better as mathematicians...this time has proved very valuable. It has also been worthwhile as I analyze their Quarter One pretests and figure out who needs to learn what! We will follow up next week with more subtraction, we will take fact tests, and we will move into multiplication and division...that should take most of the rest of the month for sure!
Language Arts
We are in full swing with Writer's Workshop...and we have amazing authors!! I have introduced the drafting, peer conference, and revising stations...this coming week the kids will be introduced to the editing, and teacher conference stations. Each station helps your child reassess their writing and each station has a different focus on one or two of the six traits of writing. The kids are so busy following directions at each station, they hardly notice how many times they're reading their drafts and making changes...it's AWESOME!!
This week our focus in reading was on making an inference. And I was so pleased with their inference skills! During reading time we have split into three groups, again, so I can get a feel for their ability to discuss the story and make inferences. I am really enjoying getting to know your kids as learners.
Word Study
I am making this its own category this week...because I realize you may need some clarification...
On Monday your kids took a pretest with a focus...homophones...then, based on the results of the pretest, your child made his/her own list based on his/her own needs...this list was approximately 10 words and it was put on a sheet of paper called the "Word Study Contract".
Homework on Mondays is always "do something creative with your words IN YOUR SPIRAL" (the 'in your spiral' part will make sense soon)...this can be writing the words in bubble letters, writing the words in pyramids, writing the words in rainbow letters, etc...
On Tuesday and Wednesday your child's homework is 10 MEANINGFUL sentences...5 a day, or if they choose, all 10 on one of the two days...these sentences have to be turned in...in order to be considered 'meaningful' they must use excellent word choice, be interesting, and use the word study word properly...you will see this develop as the year progresses...
On Thursdays the kids are charged with studying...I would like them to do this anyway they'd like, but I did show them the website, "Spelling City" where they can type in their words and then play games and take a pretest...
On Friday the kids will take a test...they do this with a partner, since there are 28 different lists in the classroom...and now...back to the spiral...some kids will leave the word study lists at home...if this happens, the spiral is the "back up list"...
The process sounds crazy, but it is actually a very organized way for each child to have a list that is just right for them...please email me if you are confused on any night and I am happy to help!
Social Studies
We are continuing with Unit 1...we have been discussing physical geography, climate, and natural resources of different regions. We started with Maryland, and now each student has chosen a different state to research. We have used non-fiction texts and Culture Grams, an online research portal, to collect information about their state. This coming week they will work on creating a travel brochure...a document that will entice others to visit their state!
Miscellaneous
Whether we like it or not...the grades have arrived...
Today the kids brought home two grades...one on a reading paper and one on a math quiz...as I explained to the kids...anytime a student scores a C or below, they should have the paper signed and then return that paper to me. Then the student and I will talk about what he/she can do to improve the grade. If your child does very poorly on a quiz...then they may not have been ready for a quiz...I take responsiblity for that. I want them to do some extra practice and have another opportunity to improve. Again, any questions...please email me.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend...enjoy your families...and the wonderful weather!!
September 12, 2011
Happy Monday?!?!
Obviously, I'm having a hard time building up the routines, too! When I woke my children up this morning, all three asked for more time to sleep...I think they're still struggling getting into the school routine...as am I, since this is the SECOND time in a row I did not blog on Friday or Saturday....
Well, let me tell you about our week last week...
First of all, it was wonderful seeing so many of you at Back to School Night! If you were unable to attend, a manila folder should have come home last week with some important information in it...as well as a volunteer form. If you are interested in being a classroom volunteer, I need that form back ASAP, please! I also need the blog PHOTO permission form so that I can start photographing the FRONT of your child! ;-)
I also want to thank you for getting your children to school so promptly! They are supposed to unpack, copy their agenda, complete the Daily Language Assignment, and be ready to roll at 8:35...hard to do if you're rolling in at 8:30, so thank you!!
We are working on Before and During Reading Strategies in Language Arts right now. As a class, we are reading a book titled Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet. It is written by Andrew Clements, and is a really engaging book! I have been talking to the kids about how they are strong readers, and that they use strategies while they're reading and they're not even aware they're using the strategies! We spent some time comparing fiction and non-fiction and we used those books to talk about good reading strategies BEFORE you read a text. This coming week we will continue with During Reading strategies while reading their own novel in school, and at home.
In Writing we have begun using the Writer's Workshop model. Even kids who do not choose to write for pleasure end up enjoying Writer's Workshop...and these kids are off to a great start! I can't wait for you to see the ideas they are coming up with. Speaking of ideas...that has been our focus and we've created lots of different ways to record ideas for writing in our Writer's Notebooks.
In Social Studies we've immersed ourselves in maps...cardinal and intermediate points, grid systems, etc...and now we're going to use those skills as we identify national landmarks and symbols all over our country. The kids are enjoying this unit and will be researching a particular state and making a brochure in class that will be a culminating project of all that is learned!
In Math we've continued our numeration unit and we have had fun playing a game called "The Digits Game"...this game is fantastic and is one you could play at home. Let your child be the "teacher" and you be the student. Use your logic and deductive reasoning to identify the correct number...they ask to play it everyday! They just love it! We are heading into the unit addition and subtraction of bigger numbers. We will be applying the skills and working to persevere when solving problems!!
This past week I had a student that spent a huge amount of time on homework because it was hard. I got an email from the Mom alerting me to this...and I am SOOO thankful. Please, if your child is ever spending 45 minutes on a particular assignment, STOP THEM, write me a note, and I will work with your child to make sure the assignments are more appropriate for their learning. I really appreciate that line of communication.
Have a great week...I will REALLY try to post Friday or Saturday at the latest!
Well, let me tell you about our week last week...
First of all, it was wonderful seeing so many of you at Back to School Night! If you were unable to attend, a manila folder should have come home last week with some important information in it...as well as a volunteer form. If you are interested in being a classroom volunteer, I need that form back ASAP, please! I also need the blog PHOTO permission form so that I can start photographing the FRONT of your child! ;-)
I also want to thank you for getting your children to school so promptly! They are supposed to unpack, copy their agenda, complete the Daily Language Assignment, and be ready to roll at 8:35...hard to do if you're rolling in at 8:30, so thank you!!
We are working on Before and During Reading Strategies in Language Arts right now. As a class, we are reading a book titled Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet. It is written by Andrew Clements, and is a really engaging book! I have been talking to the kids about how they are strong readers, and that they use strategies while they're reading and they're not even aware they're using the strategies! We spent some time comparing fiction and non-fiction and we used those books to talk about good reading strategies BEFORE you read a text. This coming week we will continue with During Reading strategies while reading their own novel in school, and at home.
In Writing we have begun using the Writer's Workshop model. Even kids who do not choose to write for pleasure end up enjoying Writer's Workshop...and these kids are off to a great start! I can't wait for you to see the ideas they are coming up with. Speaking of ideas...that has been our focus and we've created lots of different ways to record ideas for writing in our Writer's Notebooks.
In Social Studies we've immersed ourselves in maps...cardinal and intermediate points, grid systems, etc...and now we're going to use those skills as we identify national landmarks and symbols all over our country. The kids are enjoying this unit and will be researching a particular state and making a brochure in class that will be a culminating project of all that is learned!
In Math we've continued our numeration unit and we have had fun playing a game called "The Digits Game"...this game is fantastic and is one you could play at home. Let your child be the "teacher" and you be the student. Use your logic and deductive reasoning to identify the correct number...they ask to play it everyday! They just love it! We are heading into the unit addition and subtraction of bigger numbers. We will be applying the skills and working to persevere when solving problems!!
This past week I had a student that spent a huge amount of time on homework because it was hard. I got an email from the Mom alerting me to this...and I am SOOO thankful. Please, if your child is ever spending 45 minutes on a particular assignment, STOP THEM, write me a note, and I will work with your child to make sure the assignments are more appropriate for their learning. I really appreciate that line of communication.
Have a great week...I will REALLY try to post Friday or Saturday at the latest!
September 6, 2011
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT...
Is tomorrow from SEVEN to EIGHT...I previously wrote it was a different time and I want to make sure I correct this...
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night from 7-8 pm!!
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night from 7-8 pm!!
September 5, 2011
Pictures from Week One...
So...you will notice that all of these pictures are either from far away, or of the back of your children...that is because I have not sent home the "permission to photograph" form yet...be looking for it at Back to School Night!
Back to School Night is this Wednesday evening from 7-8 pm...I hope you all can come and visit the classroom, hear about the curriculum, and see where your child spends over 6 hours a day! You will also have an opportunity to fill out a form to volunteer in the classroom or from home. I am in need of one or two room parents, so if you're interested in this task, please see me that evening!
Until then...enjoy the pictures...we had a week of amazing weather, so we tried to get outside for writing each day...the last photos are of your kids taking a math assessment...they use "privacy shields" to avoid "sightseeing"!! ;-)
Please forgive my tardiness...
I have to say...I think I have a lot of nerve using those words with you all!! Those are the EXACT words I DON'T want to hear from your kids, yet they were the first words out of my mouth!! ;-)
I do apologize for just getting to you now, but I wanted to do this post justice, and I have literally been on a baseball field the entire weekend!! Both of my boys were in the Essex Labor Day tournament this weekend, and I have to be back on the field at NINE am tomorrow morning for one of Connor's games.
Anyway...I know you did not check out the blog to read about mine or my children's weekends...so let me tell you about YOUR kids!!
WOW...what a week! You all have sent wonderful, delightful children to me...and I cannot begin to thank you!! I know many of you are thinking, "Is she talking about MY kid?" I am. My 28 students are fantastic...they're good listeners, excellent discussion participants, and overall awesome kids!!
SOARING WITH PRIDE
This is the theme for our positive behavior support system at Urbana . The students have reviewed the expectations and have been informed how they will be rewarded (classroom stickers and star student stickers) and how they will be reminded/what consequences they will face if those expectations are not met. "Think Sheets" are one of the ways we're asking kids to think about their actions. A think sheet is given after a warning...a silent warning. In my classroom that silent warning is a "Thinkman" card...this is a picture of the same "man" that is on the Think Sheet...it is supposed to warn the student that "I've asked you to stop that behavior and now I'm leaning toward giving you a Think Sheet." (I will go over this more at BTSN.) This positive behavior support will bring consistency throughout our school...our entire staff is involved and we like what we've seen the first week back!
Math
In Math this week we've been focusing on numeration and place value. We've been working on "really big numbers" and using many different ways to manipulate these numbers. The students have worked with a place value chart, had to read numbers aloud, shown their ability to write the numbers in expanded form, composed and decomposed the numbers, and found "really big numbers" of their own!! The kids also took a Quarterly pretest this week. The results of this test help me to structure the lessons and groupings for each concept in math. I will be scoring them this weekend and will spend the remainder of Quarter One covering fourth grade indicators and extending/enriching when appropriate.
Writing
I am so excited about writing this year. The kids spent all week making different types of entries into their "Writer's Notebooks." The concept behind this notebook is to give the kids a place to store their IDEAS...which happens to be the first writing trait we are focusing on. We are having so much fun putting different topics, lists, and memories into it! Some kids are writing full blown novels already!! Now that we have these notebooks set up, they are one of a few choices that kids have when they finish their classwork. Many kids are dying to take them home and work on them...I am allowing that...BUT please refrain from helping them "improve" their pieces. These pieces will be taken through all steps of the writing process and need to be their own work! Trust me, I know how hard it is to not help...but try not to, please!
Language Arts
I read a book this week called By My Brother's Side. It was a story written by Tiki and Ronde Barber and is about when they were young. It's a wonderful story that Mrs. Wright, our media specialist, recommended...we used it to discuss the Pillars of Character that our school recognizes: citizenship, caring, responsibility, respect, fairness, and trustworthiness. The kids worked cooperatively to define these six pillars. Next week we will dive into unit one which deals with reading strategies. We will be responding to literature and having class discussions... it's a great unit!
Social Studies
This past week we focused on maps and globes. This coming week we will be focusing more on grid systems and how they're used, maps of our state, and how important it is to be neat and correct when mapping!!
I have quite a few pictures to share with you from this past week...I will get them uploaded tomorrow when I return from Essex. I really need to hit the hay now.
I can't reiterate enough...thanks for sending me kids who are ready to dive in and get busy...we're going to have a great year!
I do apologize for just getting to you now, but I wanted to do this post justice, and I have literally been on a baseball field the entire weekend!! Both of my boys were in the Essex Labor Day tournament this weekend, and I have to be back on the field at NINE am tomorrow morning for one of Connor's games.
Anyway...I know you did not check out the blog to read about mine or my children's weekends...so let me tell you about YOUR kids!!
WOW...what a week! You all have sent wonderful, delightful children to me...and I cannot begin to thank you!! I know many of you are thinking, "Is she talking about MY kid?" I am. My 28 students are fantastic...they're good listeners, excellent discussion participants, and overall awesome kids!!
SOARING WITH PRIDE
This is the theme for our positive behavior support system at Urbana . The students have reviewed the expectations and have been informed how they will be rewarded (classroom stickers and star student stickers) and how they will be reminded/what consequences they will face if those expectations are not met. "Think Sheets" are one of the ways we're asking kids to think about their actions. A think sheet is given after a warning...a silent warning. In my classroom that silent warning is a "Thinkman" card...this is a picture of the same "man" that is on the Think Sheet...it is supposed to warn the student that "I've asked you to stop that behavior and now I'm leaning toward giving you a Think Sheet." (I will go over this more at BTSN.) This positive behavior support will bring consistency throughout our school...our entire staff is involved and we like what we've seen the first week back!
Math
In Math this week we've been focusing on numeration and place value. We've been working on "really big numbers" and using many different ways to manipulate these numbers. The students have worked with a place value chart, had to read numbers aloud, shown their ability to write the numbers in expanded form, composed and decomposed the numbers, and found "really big numbers" of their own!! The kids also took a Quarterly pretest this week. The results of this test help me to structure the lessons and groupings for each concept in math. I will be scoring them this weekend and will spend the remainder of Quarter One covering fourth grade indicators and extending/enriching when appropriate.
Writing
I am so excited about writing this year. The kids spent all week making different types of entries into their "Writer's Notebooks." The concept behind this notebook is to give the kids a place to store their IDEAS...which happens to be the first writing trait we are focusing on. We are having so much fun putting different topics, lists, and memories into it! Some kids are writing full blown novels already!! Now that we have these notebooks set up, they are one of a few choices that kids have when they finish their classwork. Many kids are dying to take them home and work on them...I am allowing that...BUT please refrain from helping them "improve" their pieces. These pieces will be taken through all steps of the writing process and need to be their own work! Trust me, I know how hard it is to not help...but try not to, please!
Language Arts
I read a book this week called By My Brother's Side. It was a story written by Tiki and Ronde Barber and is about when they were young. It's a wonderful story that Mrs. Wright, our media specialist, recommended...we used it to discuss the Pillars of Character that our school recognizes: citizenship, caring, responsibility, respect, fairness, and trustworthiness. The kids worked cooperatively to define these six pillars. Next week we will dive into unit one which deals with reading strategies. We will be responding to literature and having class discussions... it's a great unit!
Social Studies
This past week we focused on maps and globes. This coming week we will be focusing more on grid systems and how they're used, maps of our state, and how important it is to be neat and correct when mapping!!
I have quite a few pictures to share with you from this past week...I will get them uploaded tomorrow when I return from Essex. I really need to hit the hay now.
I can't reiterate enough...thanks for sending me kids who are ready to dive in and get busy...we're going to have a great year!
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Happy End of January
I’m learning that this blog doesn’t really fit into my life anymore...any extra time I have is spent working on enhancing instruction...and ...
