Best Foot Forward Friday!

The Lifelong Guideline focused on this week was Personal Best.

A few quotes shared:

• The sky's the limit when your heart is in it.
• If better is possible, good is not enough.
• To be a winner, all you need to give is all you have.
• Luck may sometimes help, but work always does.

Language Arts for All except First:  We finished up the pre-assessments for grades 2-4 this week.  A few missed a day due to a "Bullying Workshop" with Mrs. Harmison.  No worries about that pre-assessment.  It's time to delve into the instruction!  

Since this is the second week, I made sure to take time out for other things.  We used the Smartboard for the second half of HA with each class.  They always look forward to working with technology.  What makes it even more fun is that there are fewer students in here compared to a regular classroom which means more "hands on time" with the Smartboard!

Math for All:  Beside the Problem of the Day (POD), I'll spend a little time each week working on math facts with each grade.  We will eventually do timed tests to become a Math Master!  Again, some missed a day due to a "Bullying Workshop" with Mrs. Harmison.  We'll pick up where we left off.

Fourth Grade:  Pre-assessed the concept of change and writing.  We did a Smartboard lesson on synonyms and antonyms.  We bumped it up to sixth grade for the challenge of it.  After our writing pre-assessment we did a Smartboard activity where they had to match the prefix or suffix with it's meaning.  It was neat to watch the problem solving techniques with this one.  I demonstrated words with that suffix or prefix and soon they were coming up with their own words.  It was helpful in deciphering the definition, great job!  We had time to play "four corners" too.

Math started a unit on geometry which will lead up to making the oragami cube many have waited anxiously to make.  We started by viewing a PowerPoint which summarized many of the concepts we'll be working on in the next several weeks.  They were spot on with almost ALL of the vocabulary, wow!  I posted different riddles around the room for them to solve.  They walked around the room using the given vocabulary . . .they even found a mistake when we went over the answers, good for them! On the second day of math I chose to juggle two lessons.  I felt it was important for those who missed the previous day(due to a presentation), so they did the above while I started the second group figuring area with decimal places.  This is my biggest class by far and they did WONDERFULLY with so much going on.

Second Grade:  Pre-assessed the concept of connections and writing.  They really struggled with the writing which is fine.  It just let's me know what we need to work on.  They did a Smartboard lesson with commonly confused words also known as homophones.  For example, break and brake . . . your and you're . . . course and coarse.  We were able to clarify ones that were often mixed up and continued to be a problem for many.  I had them break the contraction up and put it in the sentence.  Did it make sense?  Hopefully now they've got it!  We also played "four corners".

Math:  We took two days to work on solving story problems which had two step calculations.  It wasn't easy for them at first, but we started to find our rhythm.  I even had one say . . . this is easy now that we've done so many!  This group learns in different ways, so I'm working with them to no shout out the answer.  I have some that are quick mental math calculators and others who need to see it and figure it out.  They are awesome and have had no problem adapting to their peers.  Wonderful to see!

Third Grade:  Pre-assessed informal text and writing.  Third grade had lots of experience with the prefixes and suffixes since there are only three in this group.  I really liked the teamwork shown by this group.  Although one person was up there at a time, they used a group effort to help each other through to the correct solution.  They too began coming up with words which used the prefixes and suffixes to help them with a solution.  Fantastic work!  Add in the fire drill on Tuesday and we only had time to do "Find It."  Fun!

Math:  Along with problem of the day, they worked on a mystery picture by solving multiplication math facts.  I have a wide range of where students are at on knowing their facts . . . some really know them well and others have to think a long time.  I have many tricks, songs and ways to help them remember them, so we'll continue to work on this.  If you have time at home, practice.  You can even break them down into knowing their 4's, then 5's, and so on.  This activity will continue next week!

First Grade:  This is the first grade to launch into the great lessons planned for the year.  We started by introducing The Graphic Alphabet, (great book).  The author/illustrator decided to design each letterform to become the word it represents.  Next, they were to match up "connection word pairs".  I placed different notecards around the room along with a stack of their pairs in the middle.  They needed to walk around the room finding the connection.  They loved this!!!!  We then discussed what makes a connection and also listed things that are not connected.  Since homework is optional in HA, I sent home an extra, short assignment.  If you have time to complete it, please do so to turn in next Monday, September 29th.  A few mentioned that they were done with it already.  They are to look for 4 connections they find in their home.  It'll just reinforce what we're doing here.  I totally understand if not.

(Note to self . . . don't take pictures of the ugly-corners-of-my-room, hehehe!)

Math:  We continued our work with graphing.  This week we had an exciting task to collect data first!  With only five in our class, more data was needed. We searched for Yost Staff so we could ask them what their favorite color was.  They were official with their clipboards and everything.  We took time for problem of the day which they LOVE!  They played four corners for the last minutes of class.

Each week just gets better and better!  We talk about the Lifelong Guidelines and Lifeskills which sets the tone plus they know what to expect and get right to work.  We're finding that we need to make the most of our time in here because it goes by quickly!  They are anxious to learn and do as much as possible.

Enjoy your weekend!
~Mrs. Koedyker

Feeling Good Friday!

Thankfully this was a more "normal" week since we had all of our campers from Goodfellow plus no early dismissal.  It was nice to get into a regular routine.

This week we focused on No Put Downs.  We got into some good discussions and had several activities for them to do during the week.

Several quotes shared this week:

• Only you can decide how you are going to act.
• Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
• If you can't say someting nice, Sh!  Say nothing.
• Never criticize someone else until you've walked a mile in his moccasins. (Native American Saying)

Language Arts for All:   We began pre-assessing each grade level before teaching. Even though I stressed and maybe even you stressed, that these are no big deal . . . no grades are taken . . .I could see that many of them still wanted to do well.  It's what they're used to!  Even though the assessments are time consuming and not fun for the students, it's such a great way to see where all of my students are starting out AND where I need to take them.
When they finished up with the last assessment for the week, I had them read a book somewhere around the room.  They enjoyed this.  
All grades except first will continue with the pre-assessments next week, but I will for sure break it up with a mini SmartBoard lesson or two.  They will be excited!

• First Grade's Theme is Signs and Symbols:  Connections for Making Meaning. They did a concept and persuasive writing pre-assessment.  First is finished with their pre-assessments!  Whooohoooo!!!!
• Second Grade's Theme is Connections of the Heart.  They did a grammar and concept pre-assessment this week.  Next week we will finish up with a pre-assessment of persuasive writing before digging into the lessons.  
• Third Grade's Theme is The Changing Faces of Story.  They did a pre-assessment of grammar and informational text.  We will finish up next week with a pre-assessment of concept and writing.
• Fourth Grade's Theme is Change-people have the power to make a difference.  They did a grammar and informational pre-assessment this week.  Next week we will finish up with a pre-assessment on concept and writing.

Fourth Grade:  We started off with a quick review of place value and expanded form.  I also reviewed "values" of a digit in a number.  We worked together using the doc cam and a die to plot how to make the biggest number.  They then paired up using "button buddies" to compete over who could make the biggest number.  Ask them who they played against and their strategy.  Our Problem of the Day coincidentally went with yesterdays lesson on place value. We then used the Smartboard to "Think, Pair, Share" using place value blocks.  I even threw a couple where they needed to re-group.  Couldn't fool them.  Love using technology!

Second Grade:  We "colored in the 100 chart" in math.  I gave them a total of fifteen math clues they were to color in.  For example, the numbers between 25 and 75 with a 5 in the ones place.  We did the first one together, talked and touched base as we went.  Then they spread out so I could see them figure it on their own.  It's not only a math activity, but a listening one too!  After our Problem of the Day, we followed up with a Smartboard lesson with a huge 100 chart.  Ask them what we did with the extra time we had.

Third Grade:  We discussed the various multiplication models . . . equal groups, array and number line.  We first did a cup and bean activity where they rolled a die.  They worked on their worksheet to show the ways to represent repeated addition and multiplication.  It took some a while to get that the cup equaled the number and the beans were how many times they added.  Many switched it up on the representation.  They will get the same answer, but according to the model, it's a certain way.  After our Problem of the Day, we used the Smartboard to show the array model.  With a roll of the die in a die they wrote a multiplication problem on the board.  Ask them what we did with our extra time.

First Grade:  We started off reading from the book Chrysanthemum.  We pointed out how her name has 13 letters which is HALF of the letters in the alphabet!  We then worked on graphing our names using sticky notes.  Ask them which letter had the most students. We then analyzed our data looking at our large graph displayed in our room before moving onto the Smartboard. They really enjoyed a number sequence activity.  They had to figure out the pattern.  It increased by ???  Then touch the board and drag the numbers to the right place.  They begged for more, but time was up!

I'm really enjoying your children!  They are excited when they enter our classroom and can't wait to find out what we're doing today.  That's priceless!

Now that we're underway . . . I usually alternate the pics from week to week. . . one week is LA and the next is Math.  

Have a wonderful weekend!
~Mrs. Koedyker

Give Me Five Friday!

Happy First Friday of HA!

We spent the entire first week doing team building activities.  It's so important for the students to relate to their peers and teacher before any real learning begins.  We will continue to build relationships over the school year.

I also shared a brief PowerPoint Presentation to introduce myself to my students.  I shared with them my previous teaching experiences, pictures of my family and some of my interests.  Plus we talked about the HA program and my expectations.

A small part, but yet a BIG part, of each and every day is discussing the Lifelong Guidelines and Lifeskills which are taught at Yost.  I've always taught using Lifeskills and know what an important role they play in setting the tone of our classroom climate.  My tree has a different Lifeskill listed on each of the leaves of the tree.

  

Each day, the students check in and read the welcome board message.  It will have them do a brief activity which stems from the Lifelong Guideline or Lifeskill, give them important information about the day and then we'll discuss a quote of the day.  It's to get them thinking about the Lifeskill and how it applies to them.

I like to share the quotes we talk about weekly.  With the way it's set up, I have LA on Mondays and Tuesdays, math on Wednesday and Thursdays, so different quotes may fall on different days.  

This week the focus was on Active Listening.  Although many of our activities in HA are student directed with me acting more as the guide on the side, active listening is critical.  They need to be respectful while listening to me and their peers.  Not much will get accomplished without this!  

• If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.

Fourth Grade:  LA-A few missed due to Camp Goodfellow which is fine.  I plan on doing something briefly next week to catch up those who missed.  We had fun with a name game where the students introduced themselves then acted out something they like to do.  It was fun because with each new person added, we had to go back and remember the previous students.  We also learned about the class through "Find the Fib" and "Did You Know BINGO".  Ask them how to play.  

For math, we started off with a problem of the day.  They use their white boards to figure the problem individually then I open it up for discussion at their learning club.  It's a quick way to review and maybe even teach a new skill.  We knocked the cob webs off a few brains when remembering how to multiply two digit numbers.  Then we did a community circle where we passed a ball of yarn around.  They each had to tell "what they like best about this school year so far."  Ask them what they like about school so far.  You can see our end result by the neat picture below.  I also had them "mill to the music".  This is where I play music while they walk around the room.  When the music stops, they find a partner by giving a high five, then I give them a topic to discuss.  So many interesting things we learned!  We only met once this week due to early dismissal.

Second Grade:  LA-Our first day was shorter than usual because students come right from specials.  We'll get into a routine, so that minimal time is lost. This group also did the name plus an action game.  This was a nice size group to do the "Did You Know BINGO".  We found lots in common with each other.  Ask them what they learned about someone in class.

Math-My math group went from 11 in LA down to 3.  I had them "Interview a Friend", so they could find out a little bit new about their classmates.  We then took the data and put it into a Venn Diagram where they could see similarities they shared.  We made sure to find something they had in common with each student AND something they all shared in common.  Ask them what that was.  On the second day we did "Fan and Pick".  It was another way to find out about each other.  They each had a job . . . Fan . . .Pick . . .Answer . . . Respond.  It's a fantastic way to keep everyone involved!

Third Grade:  LA-I have a small group of three, so after "Find the Fib" and the Name/Action game . . . they interviewed a friend.  They each asked the person to their left a series of questions.  Once all the data was collected, we worked together to fill in a Venn Diagram with three circles.  Each circle represented a student in the class.  They were able to see common interests they had with each student as well as a common interest they all had.  Ask them what they ALL had in common, it's a good one!

Math-We had a quick go at the Problem of the Day.  These are so priceless because it touched on a skill and I'm able to see who understands and quickly teach a mini lesson to those who may not understand.  Next we did "Milling to the Music".  When the music stops they are to hold their hand up indicating they need a partner, slap high five when they find one, then discuss the prompt I give them.  The following day we learned about each other from a "Did You Know Bingo!"  They walked around having classmates sign their Bingo board.  For example, went to the drive-in, has brown eyes, can play an instrument, etc.  Ask them which ones they signed their name under.

First Grade:  LA-It's nice working with this small group of three for LA.  We began by learning each others name by playing the name and activity.  They had to remember each persons name and act out the activity they like to do.  We also did a quick activity of "Finding the Fib".  Ask them what fib they put on their white board and what some of their truths they shared with us.  We ended our two days with "Interviewing a Friend".  Not all were happy to write so much, but it's something we'll be doing more of this year!

Math-When we have early dismissal, unfortunately this is the group that will miss.  I only got to see them on Wednesday this week.  We started off with a Problem of the Day.  It's a great site that posts a different problem each day by grade level.  They like it even more when they solve a grade or two up.  Next, they walked around getting to know their peers by playing a "Did You Know? BINGO"  They each took turns signing their names under the box that pertained to them.  Ask them some of the things they signed and what they learned about their classmates.

I've really enjoyed getting to know all the children this week.  I'm excited to dive into the new HA LA Curriculum which is new this year.  We'll start off by giving several Pre-Assessments to get a baseline knowledge of where the kids are and where we need to take them.  No worries, grades are not taken in High Ability and I will make sure to be clear with the students too.  Easier said than done, I know.  I truly think they'll be shocked to see how much they've learned when we take the Post-Assessments!  Awesome!

Math we have several great lessons that are planned according to state standards.  We will add and adjust several things we've done in the past.  Problem of the Day will remain constant each week.  Be patient, timed tests will be coming, but not for a while.

Have a great weekend and don't hesitate to email me if you should have any further questions.

Yours in Education,

~Mrs. Koedyker