Phew, exhale. . . . Kindergarten testing for HA is finished. Next up, second grade beginning of March!
We talked a lot about the LifeSkill of responsibility this week. Some talked about many of the responsibilities they have at home. Others didn't call them chores, but said they do things when asked which is great too!
Quotes shared:
- Do the right thing!
- If it is to be, it is up to me.
- It's easy to dodge responsibility, but you can't dodge the trouble it causes.
- If someone gives you a privilege, you owe them responsibility.
- Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him. (Booker T. Washington)
Fourth Grade LA:
They are beginning to finalize their Google slides. We took a day to share and collaborate ideas via sticky notes. I presented their shows up on the big screen, then everyone gave suggestions on a sticky note then attached it to their paper. They really were thoughtful and even encouraging. The students found it helpful and were anxious to get to work on their slides the following day. Just seeing it presented, gave them a different perspective.
I'm hoping to start presentations the first week of March, but have to firm up our final 2nd grade testing schedule. They will dress up as their person while presenting their monologue. We drafted up a list of things that they were in need of and the only thing so far that we still need is an Abe Lincoln beard. If anyone has one of those lying around. . . . please send it in, lol.
Fourth Grade Math:
This group is really taking their timed tests seriously. They can't wait to get started on their next challenge. I can also see big improvements on their charts as they document their progress. Others are slow and steady which is fine too. The improvement is still there . . . they need to stay in their lane and focus on what they need to do to improve their score. Kudos to Taylor, Ben and Lia for passing their 100 division facts, Klaire for passing 90 division facts and Josh H. and Troy for passing their multiplication facts. They will move on next week. I have several who are VERY close to passing. We started a fun comic-like worksheet on averages. I gave them the choice of working independently or in groups of up to three. We adjusted the answers to show a remainder and not the decimal which we haven't done yet. Due to the two hour delay, we didn't meet on the second day. I'll hold their Smarties until then.
Second Grade LA:
We finally finished the story of our beloved Edward on Tuesday. Although a majority of them had read through to the end, a few had not. It's a book you can read over and over. We all took a deep breath when it was over and talked about what a great story it was. They just couldn't get over how it ended. We then worked in small groups on an Edward Tulane themed crossword puzzle. It's very challenging and checks not only their comprehension of the story, but the small details and facts. We'll continue next week . . .
Second Grade Math:
This group gets my Most Improved Award for Math Masters. They made huge gains on their timed tests from last week! They are very close to passing. It's going to be another year where I'm teaching my second graders how to multiply and I LOVE it!!! They are anxious to learn and will be ahead of the game like my current third graders are. We introduced the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. They quickly figured out the pattern. We ended with listing items in nature and will continue next week. I did Smartboard lessons with all my math classes on the second day. We haven't done these as much, so I wanted to work them in. Second grade had to saw a log the correct length to fit across the river. (subtraction) and completed a giant picture of a squid using coordinate points.
This group gets my Most Improved Award for Math Masters. They made huge gains on their timed tests from last week! They are very close to passing. It's going to be another year where I'm teaching my second graders how to multiply and I LOVE it!!! They are anxious to learn and will be ahead of the game like my current third graders are. We introduced the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. They quickly figured out the pattern. We ended with listing items in nature and will continue next week. I did Smartboard lessons with all my math classes on the second day. We haven't done these as much, so I wanted to work them in. Second grade had to saw a log the correct length to fit across the river. (subtraction) and completed a giant picture of a squid using coordinate points.
Third Grade LA:
Not only are we learning a lot about Alice through our journal topics, but they are learning about themselves. They reflect on a given topic before going into the day's reading. For those who've only seen the movie, they are making comparisons which is great. Next week we will listen to a few chapters on audible.com. We'll have a chance to listen and enjoy it together while the illustrator reads in different voices.
Not only are we learning a lot about Alice through our journal topics, but they are learning about themselves. They reflect on a given topic before going into the day's reading. For those who've only seen the movie, they are making comparisons which is great. Next week we will listen to a few chapters on audible.com. We'll have a chance to listen and enjoy it together while the illustrator reads in different voices.
Third Grade Math:
I've been working hard to build the foundations for fractions before moving them onto a bit tougher lessons. We started adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. I first had them try to figure out how I arrived at the answer and they had many good answers. We worked through a comic-like worksheet adding and subtracting fractions. It's still new and they are unsure, but we'll get there together. We'll continue next week. . . Congratulations to Jai and Tyler for passing their 12's, Logan-7's. Also Jai passed his multiplication facts and Jack passed 90 division facts. I'm so glad we learned the multiplication facts one number at a time this year! (Sweet Facts) They are at such an advantage knowing them, so they're ready for division. We worked quickly with a fraction activity on the Smartboard. They had to compare fractions. Then we moved onto a coordinate activity.
I've been working hard to build the foundations for fractions before moving them onto a bit tougher lessons. We started adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. I first had them try to figure out how I arrived at the answer and they had many good answers. We worked through a comic-like worksheet adding and subtracting fractions. It's still new and they are unsure, but we'll get there together. We'll continue next week. . . Congratulations to Jai and Tyler for passing their 12's, Logan-7's. Also Jai passed his multiplication facts and Jack passed 90 division facts. I'm so glad we learned the multiplication facts one number at a time this year! (Sweet Facts) They are at such an advantage knowing them, so they're ready for division. We worked quickly with a fraction activity on the Smartboard. They had to compare fractions. Then we moved onto a coordinate activity.
First Grade LA:
We're onto learning about Wumbers. We read a book by the same name which combines letters and numbers to make words. (rel8=relate) I had them read the book and you could see the wheels turning as they tried to connect it to words they knew. We revisiting E-Mergency and talked about acryms like ASAP, IV, and EMT. This is leading up to writing a persuasive paper about a gift that they MUST have. The girls launched into our song about persuasive writing which I thought was pretty neat.
First Grade Math:
All are onto their subtraction facts. They are taking on the challenge and I can see improvement from one week to the next. I'm very proud of them! Then, they each made a list of things and activities they like then started on a theme clock. On the final day we had some fun with the Smartboard. We started out with a coordinate activity where they had to replicate a smaller version of the picture. You could really see them thinking this through. Finally, they did a great activity where they had to subtract to figure out how much more of the bridge they needed to get across the stream. It was a bit nerve wracking because they were being timed!
All are onto their subtraction facts. They are taking on the challenge and I can see improvement from one week to the next. I'm very proud of them! Then, they each made a list of things and activities they like then started on a theme clock. On the final day we had some fun with the Smartboard. We started out with a coordinate activity where they had to replicate a smaller version of the picture. You could really see them thinking this through. Finally, they did a great activity where they had to subtract to figure out how much more of the bridge they needed to get across the stream. It was a bit nerve wracking because they were being timed!
Brrrr, stay warm and have a great weekend!
Yours in education,
Mrs. Koedyker
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