Well Done Wednesday

Thanks for checking in on our HA Blog!

We had a short, yet productive week.  We focused on the LifeSkill of integrity.  I have some definite favorite quotes that I like to share, but having taught this last year . . . a few are saying, "We've already done this one!"  I'll try and pull some new ones that aren't as familiar to them, yet some are worth repeating especially because I have new students to the program this year.

From our morning/afternoon message, the learning clubs discussed different scenarios that go with integrity.  This sparked many good conversations!

Some of the quotes shared during the week were:

• Keep on doing what is right.
• Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does.  (Josh Billings)
• Only you can decide how you are going to act.
• Be honest with yourself, so you will be honest with others. (Bernard Baruch)

With the short week we only had math once this week much to the dismay of my students.  It's also funny when they start paying attention to which days the early dismissals fall on; calculating if it'll be LA or Math that misses. 

We are working around third grade's awesome study trip this week and next, so some may miss what we're doing in HA.  No worries.

Our new High Ability bulletin board is up!  Take time during conferences to see some of the awesome student work displayed.  I'll keep posting student samples throughout the year.  They are very proud when they see their work up there! It'll give them even more incentive to give their personal best on their work. Not all projects will present itself for display, but I will do my best to show all grades and both subjects.  For now, I have 2nd grade LA and 4th grade LA/Math.  Stay tuned . . .

Next Week: Unfortunately we will not have High Ability all next week.  I will be training the new Bailly High Ability Instructor.  Thanks for understanding!

Fourth Grade:  We continued our work in Greek and Latin root words.  They first worked in groups of three using "card companions".  Have them explain what this is.  They teamed up to define a root word then had to find four possible word choices using this root.  They then moved onto an independent activity defining a word from the Latin or Greek list of words.  I ended the week with an exciting technology lesson!  I created a matching game using our Greek and Latin Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes titled "It's All Greek to Me!"  They had to match the root, prefix or suffix with it's meaning.  They were able to use their Greek and Latin reference page.  They LOVED this and got really good at it by the end when I had to kick them out, hehehehe.

The origami cubes have gotten out of control!  I have parents stopping me saying that they are creating lots and lots of various sized cubes at home out of anything they can get their hands on . . . students stopped me Monday to find out if we were making them on Wednesday.  I love it, that they are loving it!  I suggested making them for a gift card container for birthday parties.  It's a neat and unusual way to package it.

Second Grade:  We read our Eldorado poem once again and took time to write in our reading journals. They had to write what the poem meant to them. Many were unsure of what to write, but I encouraged them to just write their thoughts with no worries about it being turned in.  Just journal!  Next, we read a second poem The Walrus and the Carpenter and did a compare and contrast activity using a Venn Diagram.  Te second poem was a bit easier to understand, but still used tough vocab.  Thanks to their help, I found a clip from Alice in Wonderland which refers to Lewis Carroll's poem and I showed it on our second day.  It made it easier to comprehend and follow.  This group is really stepping up to the plate and having some really good discussions about the two poems. Outstanding!  

To keep their math facts fresh, we played a fun subtraction war using a deck of cards.  Each had to flip two cards over, quickly subtract the two numbers, the won with the higher difference . . . won that round.  Afterwards we counted up the cards and the one with the most cards won!  I had them mix up partners since we now have an even number of students.  For a majority, their facts are not automatic.  We need to keep working on it, so they are.

Third Grade:  We continued our noun hunt in their myth book from last week. They used different colored highlighters to identify not only the nouns, but what type of nouns.  (person, place, thing, idea)  They transferred their highlighted words to a chart that separated them into the different categories.  It's such a neat way for them to practice their grammar as it's integrated into our unit of myths.  They also journaled their thoughts on myths.  We had time to work with the Smartboard.  I had them doing a synonym activity where they matched words except I took them up several levels.  We worked with fifth grade vocabulary!  You could see their problem solving skills at work as they narrowed their choices down.  Clever!

We are still working hard on our multiplication math facts.  They earn a different piece for each fact they pass which makes it fun!  They earn a place mat for passing x 2's, a napkin for x 3's, and their cone for x 4's.  Keep practicing at home.  There are many online sites which will actually time them.  We are currently working on x 4's.  Check with your child and see where they are.

First Grade:  My first graders worked on an independent activity where they had to choose a word from their Caesar Cipher lesson and find a connection to it.  It's a great chance for them to practice their writing and to bring the theme into focus.  They each took time coding their name before making a secret message for a classmate to decode.  They each came up with a Halloween message.  Ask them what theirs was.  This was a struggle in the beginning, but I'm so happy to see the smiles and excitement as they figured out their neighbor's message.  

Our math time was brief after we met for a school assembly.  After the problem of the day.  I had them pair up for an addition war.  They flipped two cards over to find the sum . . . the highest sum won the pile.  I shared with them little tricks to help them with mental math.  For example, 6 + 7 . . . think of it as a doubles + 1 fact . . . 6 + 6 = 12 then one more.  They also added 11's when they came to a face card.  We changed the ones digits around to make it easier.  11 + 8 . . . think of 18 + 1 more.  They really enjoyed this and since I had only boys today . . .there was a little bit of friendly competition.  It was cute to watch!

Have a nice fall break and I'll see you in November!

Yours in Education,
Mrs. Koeydker

Best Foot Forward Friday!

What's Happening in HA this week!

This week we focused on the LifeSkill of effort in our classroom.  On our morning/afternoon message during one of the LA classes, I posed the question for each Learning Club to discuss how Wile E. Coyote (cartoon character) shows effort.  I had to quickly expand that to any cartoon character because a majority of them had no clue who I was talking about!  By my final class of first graders, I figured out I should show a clip of the cartoon first before they could discuss. It was a great discussion non-the-less.  

Only three days next week due to Fall Break, so LA will meet regularly Monday and Tuesday, yet Math will only come on Wednesday.  My math groups were not happy to hear this and asked if I could switch it.  

Some of the quotes discussed were:

• The only place success comes before sweat is in the dictionary.
• You must do the thing you cannot do. (Eleanor Roosevelt)
• The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
• None of my inventions came by accident. They came by work. (Thomas Edison)

Fourth Grade:  A few finished up their interviews from the previous week while the others got right to work on their "Latin and Greek Word Elements".  We are taking time to understand where words come from and how they get their meaning.  Students are visiting a bookmarked website to get their information.  Although all of the answers are right there, they need to summarize or look within the paragraph for the answer.  They were stumped at first because it wasn't obvious, but once they found out they needed to look deeper . . .they were successful!  We are also breaking several words apart like repel, in order to decipher its meaning.  They are finding the definitions of a prefix, suffix and the root word.  Great High Ability thinking!

They were over the moon excited for the "extreme dot to dot" I gave them to take home last week.  I have more on hand, but we'll use them when we have extra time and not as an entire lesson.  Many asked for one for a friend, heheh. They are practically begging me for the next one, but we're going to wait.  We moved right into the much awaited oragmai cube.  We've been busy front loading and reviewing many geometry lessons leading up to this activity.  It's an activity that many took off with right away, but for others, it will take more time and patience.  Either way, we are all headed in the same direction!  I loved seeing how they helped each other out in their learning clubs.  It's always great to see their LifeSkills in action.  

Second Grade:  We finished up our conclusion sentence from last week.  They were very proud of the paragraph that we wrote using team effort.  It's not an easy task and the more they do it, the more proficient and independent they will become.  We then viewed a video clip of the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, Eldorado.  We used our "Reading Analyzer" to break the poem apart and help bring more meaning to the poem.  Second grade, analyzing poetry, can you believe it?!?!? They rock!

Second grade went on a problem solving scavenger hunt.  Various task cards were placed around the room for them to solve.  Some were one step and others were two.  I love this because the kids get to move around and do math, but also go at their individual pace.  They can take the time they need to solve the problem plus I'm able to touch base with all as I walk around the room. Fantastic!  We reviewed their answers afterwards and some were missed, so we will continue our work with two step problems.  All of my classes get very excited when they see random things taped to the wall hoping that it will be the activity for their class!  I had two finish quickly, so they were given the same extreme-dot-to-dot that my fourth graders worked on.  It was a BIG challenge for second graders, but I knew they can do it!    

Third Grade:  We worked briefly as a group to fill out our story map to analyze a myth. From there we moved onto a grammar lesson where they highlighted different parts of speech within a given myth.  I first showed a "Grammar Rock" video to get them thinking then we began our search.  They highlighted different nouns by color. (yellow were people, blue were things, etc)  This group really enjoyed doing this and we'll continue where we left off next week.

We've been hitting our facts really hard this year!  I'm going to make sure that everyone knows their multiplication facts up to 12 when they leave my class.  
We will do an awesome progression through their facts starting with x2's.  As they pass their math fact tests, they will build an ice cream cone.  Each part represents the fact that they've mastered.  I'm so excited about it!  We didn't do this last year.  This week we tested their x2's and x3's.  Many have earned their place mat and one his napkin already!  Once we get everyone to pass . . . we may even celebrate this big accomplishment!!!

First Grade:  My first graders were given a message they had to figure out.  It was tough!  I talked about how things need to connect when reading like sounds to letters and then words.  We pulled out our list of things that don't go together from a previous lesson and showed them how the mixed up message they were given needs to make sense in order for them to understand.  I showed them a Caesar Cipher Wheel that they were given to construct.  Depending on the directions, they were to turn the wheel "+7  Shift Cipher" .  The outer "real" letters will match up with the inner "cipher" letter.  It can get confusing and we'll keep practicing next week.  I appreciate their perseverance!

We began our subtraction math lesson by reading Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.  They each had a ten frame to work with while acting out the problems using buttons. They loved it!  Little did I know that they needed extra time to trade buttons.  It was too cute to watch.  Next, I put them in groups of two or three by using "button buddies" . . . of course.  (they can explain if you ask them)  Using their ten frame they rolled a die then subtracted.  Their task was to then find their answer somewhere in the room and bring it back.  They all finished and found their numbers.  Fun!  I knew my grandmother's button's would come in handy one day =)

Yours in Education,
Mrs. Koedyker

Friendly Friday

Hello!

As the students check in, they are greeted with a morning/afternoon message which gives them some direction and ties in with our LifeSkill for the week.

Our LifeSkill this week is Friendship.  We are going at a slightly slower pace than Mrs. Stillman.  Last week her focus was on Caring and Friendship and I'd like to take a full week for each in our classroom!

Some of the quotes shared during class:

• Destroy your enemy by making friends with him. (Abraham Lincoln)
• Friends are family you choose for yourself.
• The best way to have a friend is to be one. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
• Friends make life easier. For each other.

Fourth Grade:  We worked on writing a paragraph using our interview questions from the previous week.  The feedback I got was awesome.  One student took it very seriously and got into character as he was interviewing Mrs. Soliday.  He wished he would have known about it, he would have wore his suit.  Love it!  I modeled how to put them in a paragraph form.  It was a bit of a challenge to change their perspective to third person.  Most of their answers were written in first person since they wrote down exactly what the person said.  We didn't want to get into quotes at this point.  I'm going to display them in the hallway!  They interviewed Mrs. Soliday, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. C. Navarre and Mrs. P. Koedyker (my mother-in-law).  Thanks to them for their help.  It was great fun for all!

We continued our work with area and perimeter.  When figuring area, we did go above and beyond the fourth grade curriculum with multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers WITH decimals!  Most remembered from being in here last year, but it was new to a few.  Many caught on and then there were some who just weren't ready for it.  I had them go right into a challenging perimeter worksheet rather than get frustrated with the new concept.  Even within high ability, we have many different levels and I want to make sure I challenge everyone!  A few finished both, so I gave them an EXTREME DOT TO DOT.  It counts up very high and they were excited to get their hands on it.  I made sure everyone got one to take home.  Next week we'll take all of our geometry knowledge to start building oragami cubes.  They've waited for this for many years!  I want to get to facts, but we seem to be so busy in fourth this year.

Second Grade:  We shared our examples of how we grouped our connections and saw that some grouped them the same as us, but yet also heard some different ideas.  All were great and logical ideas.  We moved onto writing about connections using the "hamburger model".  This was something they were exposed to during the pre-assessments and many had no idea what to do.  We did this one together which brought on an audible sigh of relief from the class.  I have some great thinkers in here that helped add to our pre-writing model.  We were able to collaborate to write a great piece of persuasive writing.  We'll use the "hamburger model" consistently over the year, so they will become pros at it. 

We finished up adding 2 and 3 digit numbers before having a "subtraction war" using my "dice in a dice" (there's a smaller one inside).  We started with subtracting just using the one die (6-3=3).  Then we moved onto a two step problem where they were given two dice.  They rolled the dice, added the outside, added the inside, then subtracted the two numbers.  It was a lot of fun and brain power at work!

Third Grade:  We started off our lesson with a visualization activity.  They each relaxed on the floor with the lights off while I read.  They enjoyed this a lot!  We then moved onto reading from a book of myths.  Each got into this and wanted to know if they could get copies of the myths.  We discussed the various stories and did a Big Idea Vocabulary Map on what a myth is.  This activity was great because they included a definition, what it is and isn't plus a picture.  It will cover several of the multiple intelligence's  depending on how they learn.

Later in the year we will get into Math Masters where they take a timed test each week.  Since this is my second year in HA, I noticed that many did not know their facts last year.  They did not progress as they should have taking them weekly. This year, I've made it my mission to practice and teach them their facts before even getting to the timed tests.  It will get to the point where they are automatic as they should be.  I have SO many songs, stories, and ideas to help them remember.   I've even gone back to the vault to pull out some of the School House Rock videos that I learned with.  My two from last year really remember and are doing well.  It's my job to get the rest on board!  We did a neat SmartBoard lesson to work on their facts for the extra practice.  We focused on their 3's facts to go along with our "Three is a Magic Number" song.

First Grade:  First grade was SO excited to present their "Coat Of Connections".  They each practiced before with each other before we used the rubric.  We talked about speaking clearly, being prepared and looking at your audience.  The rubric was sent home even though grades are not taken in HA.  They did a great job and should be very proud of their hard work.  We only met once due to the early dismissal.  

We took time to fill in our "addition table".  They quickly found the patterns and were able to complete it.  Many really enjoyed this and liked seeing how it all went together.  We had to sing our doubles song while we did this.  Ask your son/daughter to sing it to you!  They ask to hear it all the time!!!!  The following day we did a SmartBoard lesson where they were given number clues.  As they faced a giant 100 chart, they had to fill in the numbers that applied to the clue.  (ten more than 47 or number with a nine in the ones and tens place)  This is something we do with the older grades individually, but as an introduction for first grade . . . it was great to use teamwork!  

Yours in education,
Mrs. Koedyker

Faithful Friday!

Hello!

We had another great week in High Ability.  This is the last week for the "Bullying Presentation" for the fourth graders. Some may have missed on a Monday or Wednesday this week, but we caught everyone up on what they missed and got right back to work.
Second grade math only met once this week due to a Study Trip To Sunset Hill Farm.

The LifeSkill discussed this week was Caring.  I'm going to attempt doing "Random Acts of Kindness" in High Ability, but only for third and fourth grade.  I've done it before when I taught third grade, yet this was in a classroom setting.  It was such a wonderful thing to see and it really took off, so I just have to attempt it again!  Each student has chosen a name from their LA or Math HA class.  (some may have two if in both)  I've given them suggestions to write a note, help them out, give them a pencil or something small . . . all done in secret.  No big gifts please!  It may be helpful for them to attach a small note (RAK) to let them know, so they don't try to return it when they find a brand new pencil in their desk and they know it's not theirs.  We will see how it goes and see how long we'll keep it going.

A few of the quotes shared:

• When you see a person in need, don't wait for someone else to help.
• A kindness done today is the surest way to a brighter tomorrow.
• There are no unimportant jobs, no unimportant people, and no unimportant acts of kindness.
• You cannot do a kindness too soon, but you never know how soon it will be too late. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Fourth Grade:  We started off the week with a lesson on connections and change.  They listed on butcher paper things that go together then categorized their list.  They really had to think to see what category they could fit under.  We continue to work on this, but took time out on Tuesday to interview our special guests.  We had 4 adult volunteers that each had to interview.  They had a set of questions to ask and record their answers.  They really enjoyed hearing the "life lessons" offered.  Did you ask them who they interviewed?  They will write up a paragraph from their answers.

We are still juggling many math lessons as the "Bullying Presentations" finish up.  This is such a great group that they are handling this extremely well.  They are all going at their own pace on different projects.  Everyone finished up the "Riddle Me This" Scavenger Hunt, so all are onto figuring area.  We even have some who have begun figuring the perimeter and area of paths.  These are shapes that have sides or part of sides missing, so they need to problem solve in order to find the answer.  This group eats up a good challenge!  We also did Problem of the Day.  I had hoped to get to math facts, but with the POD, RAK and all our math craziness . . . we ran out of time and believe it or not . . .I have my fourth graders for forty minutes, yet they are still mad when I tell them it's time to go, lol.

Second Grade:  This group was given the task of coming up with a way to sort pairs that go together.  After they cut out their pairs, they had to find common connections between them.  Some sorted them into four areas and others broke them down even more.  Each had different categories compared to their peers, but all made sense.  It was interesting to watch them work with their partner to decide how they would categorize them . . . teamwork at its best!  We will talk about how they sorted next week.

Sadly I only saw my second graders once this week due to their Study Trip to Sunset Hill Farm.  We worked more on adding 2 and 3 digit numbers since having a little trouble on our Two Step Problems from last week.  There was a little belly aching on how "hard" it was from a few, but they really did get the hang of it and were whipping out the answers like nothing.  I let them go at their own pace, so not all were in the same spot which is great for them!  We also did a round of subtraction flash cards to work on their speed plus Problem of the Day! 

Third Grade:  Love this little group of three.  I can push their thinking and really delve into the topic with such a small group.  All work well together and take whatever challenge I give them seriously to get the most out of our time together.  They came up with a bunch of examples of change and non-change.  Then they worked to group them together and categorize them.  They were able to generate a nice list of "change generalizations" that applies to all change.  Ask them about our non-change list.

They have figured out that their mystery puzzle (with a little help from Mrs. Stillman, lol) will have a Minecraft Theme.  They are working at their own pace too, so some are further along than others.  I'll send home what they didn't complete.  It helps if they know their multiplication facts, so we will take time each week to practice these!  I worked with small groups on their facts and even taught them some silly ways to remember them . . . ask them to show you!

First Grade:  My great group of three had a blast making their "Coat of Connections"  I shared the rubric with them up front (even though no grades are taken in HA), so they know what is expected.  They got right to work creating symbols that represented them and the things they enjoy.  They were also responsible for writing about what each symbol is and what it represents.  We will finish up and present next week and they are excited and can't wait to take them how to show you!!!

We wrapped up our surveys and graph work by analyzing our data.  I asked them several questions about their information.  Then we moved onto fact families while listening and grooving to (wish I had a video of this) "We Are Family!"  They did an activity of "Shake the Beans" where they had to pour out their beans.  The beans were red on one side, so they then made their fact family.  (4 red + 6 white= 10)  It was confusing to them at first, but they caught on.  I sent the beans home for them to do more practice if they wanted.  We also figured out Problem of the Day and worked on their addition facts.

I really do look forward to working with your child/children each week.  It is so wonderful to see their excitement for learning and to push their thinking . . . it's contagious!  I hope they are having as much fun as I am!

Yours in Education,
~Mrs. Koedyker