Finishing Up Friday!

Welcome back!


Sorry for the delay in getting this to you.  I like to have it finished by Thursday and that just didn't happen.  It's that crazy time of year!  Next week will be our last week of High Ability classes.  Everyone, including myself, are very sad about that.  There's lots of paperwork to finish out the year, plus determining the groups for next year's third graders.  We will determine those before the end of the school year.  Letters will go out for those that qualified and those that did not.  Current kindergarten, first, and third will be in for next year.  Fourth grade will be determined by WIS according to their requirements.  We pass on all our data to help them with their decision.  It may be wise to inquire for next year, just so you know the possibilities for your child.

• Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave and impossible to forget.  (FRIENDSHIP)

Sumdog:

The phenomenon continues through all grades!!!  We now know how to add their friends to their page.  I did the kindergarten class for them.  Fourth grade I've seen so sporadically, that I've made a list that I will share with them next week.  Second through third have taken care of their own.  Adding your friends is important because they can buy each other a gift using their own coins.  They are loving it!  They go to their "house" and then "gift".  It shows them a list of their friends then options for buying things.  When they go into their "house", it will show a gift, once they click on it, it opens to reveal what was bought and from whom.  Please email me if you have any questions on this.  I have a student who said this is right up there with Mind Craft!  How great is that??!?!?  I know my son loves to play it too.  You can even chose to play "world" or play "class".  If you select play class and no one comes in during the allotted time, then you play robots, lol. 

Many work hard to set records on a particular game and make sure that I click the drop down box to show our school's top scorers.  It also shows their avatar next to the score and the kids enjoy seeing them.

I check their scores regularly and not only can I see who is playing, but more importantly . . . their accuracy, strengths and weaknesses.  It's a great tool to have!

Kindergarten Math:

On the first day we did the 100's chart.  They were given a series of 15 clues to shade in different numbers.  The end result is a picture of some kind.  This was the first time doing this, so we did it together as I projected mine onto the whiteboard.  For example, numbers between 12 and 92 with a two in the ones place.  It was a fun challenge for all.  

The second day was in the lab playing Sumdog.  I showed them how to buy things with their coins and also how to gift a classmate.  If you would have walked by the computer lab, you would have thought there was a party going on.  The were so excited to play on their own alongside their classmates. 

Fourth Grade LA:

 We finished up our novel study on The Brixton Brother's with a game of Jeopardy!  Many studied up on the book in preparation for those tough questions they were promised.  Unfortunately those questions were asked when they were not up there.  They did know their stuff!  We had fun categories like "Baddies" and "The Crime Itself".  I even had them dispute a few facts.  They went to their books to double check.  Great!  

Fourth Grade Math:

Like I said, due to ISTEP testing, I haven't had my fourth grade classes very often.  We took time writing down their friends' code.  Then I gave them a day in the lab to compete.  They haven't done this yet.  With being all together in one place, they can agree to go into the same game and go against a classmate which makes it much more enjoyable!

Second Grade LA:

This group went ahead and pushed through their testing last week.  They wanted to get all their work out of the way, so that they could relax and have some fun this week.  I was unable to get this group into the lab because it was taken for testing.  We went ahead and used the Smartboard which makes Sumdog a lot of fun!  

Second Grade Math:

We spent both days playing Sumdog.  We used the Smartboard to play as a team then one day in the lab.  Here they are splashing paint balloons on our avatar to be the first one covered.  You can see the problem they need to answer first at the top.  Many have their favorite games, but I took time to expose them to many others.  I have a few who have played every one and have a distinct opinion of each.

Third Grade LA:

We are almost done with the movie Alice.  We'll for sure finish up next week.  It's been a nice way to end the year after reading the book and comparing.  They also had time to play Sumdog against each other.

Third Grade Math:

As you can see by my group, they really enjoy competing against each other on Sumdog.  They would ask out loud if there's anyone who wants to go into Junk Pile.  Then they would coordinate their clicks so that they were versing each other.  It was fun to watch.  

First Grade LA and Math:

Both groups took turns in the lab as well as on the Smartboard playing Sumdog.  This group is particularly kind with their coins.  They often gift their classmates a chair, hat, ball, etc. to just name a few.  It's contagious because after they receive something, they are ready to return the favor.  

Yours in education,

~Mrs. Koedyker