Dear Families,
Wow, can you believe January just raced by! Report cards went home on Friday, so please check your child's backpack. If for some reason you did not receive it and your child does not know where is went, I have all report cards saved on my computer. Please let me know if you need another copy. One of the parents that received the report card was surprised not to find more of the "S" rating on his child's card. Please know this is the first report card for the year and reflects where your child is now regarding the standards listed. We have five more months for your child to develop their skills. We are at a point in the year where I am starting to see growth in behavior with many students. For instance, I had one student who had a hard time learning how to raise his hand to contribute. Just recently, he has started to self-monitor and almost never "calls out" anymore. Also all students are tracking their participation in class. They keep a 3X5 card at their desk and tally how many times they make meaningful contributions. I set expectations daily, but almost all students are exceeding those expectations. Students who never raised their hand to contribute are now speaking up. GO THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS!!!!!
All student have given their animal speeches at this time. Animal art is displayed right outside my room, so stop by and see their work.
We are also working on autobiographical narratives. I need red pens for editing - our next BIG challenge. If you could send your child with a red pen or if someone is willing to buy 20 red pens I would appreciate it. We have been editing the morning message since the beginning of the year. Most students can easily point out my errors. Now, it is time for them to start editing their own and other's work. For those children that are behind on this writing assignment, you may see some work coming home. I am also setting clear expectations on the amount of work to be completed as there are times when students are choosing to talk to friends rather than work on writing. I hope that is "OK" with parents. Please notify me if it is not.
You will be seeing some changes in my classroom this week. The goal at IA is for education to be student-centered. Children will start to be much more in charge of their learning and investigating their interests more than a curriculum that I set up. The room will also be changing in its configuration. Should you have any questions regarding these changes, please feel free to email me or stop by!
This week a lot of time will be alloted for the POL's I mentioned in my last BLOG. Students will be thinking and reviewing what they have learned so far this year. Each student will be required to stand in front of the group and talk about a content area and project that they have learned from. They have been asked to talk about challenges as well. Reflection is a BIG part of being an excellent teacher and I think the same goes for learners.
We are engaging in BIZtown lessons and will continue doing so until our trip in March. I need parent volunteers to interview students and go to BIZtown the day of our fieldtrip. I will be posting exact dates soon, but please think about whether you can contribute to this valuable Real-Life experience with your child.
Please send in $3.00 for a trolley ride to Fashion Valley and a fieldtrip to the new Microsoft Store. We will be going the third Tuesday in February and I will be setting the topics to be covered with a Microsoft associate this week. Finally - our first fieldtrip!!! Parents are welcome to chaperone.
That's it for now and I hop my BLOG has given you a "PEEK" into your child's day.
Kim
Arriving at Smith Ranch
Arriving at Smith Ranch!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Presentations of Learning
Dear Parents,
We are continuing to study economics through the Biztown program. I will be sure to provide you with volunteer opportunities as soon as Michelle advises me!
One of the primary issues I want to make you aware of today is something your child is going to be required to do and that is a "Presentation of Learning". Your child will be expected to speak about something they learned in a project as well as a content area. I will be working with your children on this important area of their learning, but would love it, if you could also discuss this with them.
I have tried on numerous occcasions to provide you with pictures of the classroom, but have had difficulty with this task. It is either my computer or operator error. I will continue to try!!!!!!!!
Kim
We are continuing to study economics through the Biztown program. I will be sure to provide you with volunteer opportunities as soon as Michelle advises me!
One of the primary issues I want to make you aware of today is something your child is going to be required to do and that is a "Presentation of Learning". Your child will be expected to speak about something they learned in a project as well as a content area. I will be working with your children on this important area of their learning, but would love it, if you could also discuss this with them.
I have tried on numerous occcasions to provide you with pictures of the classroom, but have had difficulty with this task. It is either my computer or operator error. I will continue to try!!!!!!!!
Kim
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
NEW INFORMATION!
Hi Families,
Since we have been back from the holiday break, your children have been engaged in the following:
1. Speeches about animals that includes an art piece. The topics within this assignment satisfy some of the Life Science standards. Students were asked to research animals based on an identified criteria. They were asked to take notes on 3X5 cards. Your child is expected to memorize the information on their cards, so that when they give the speech they are not reading off the note cards. Additionally, each student has been asked to produce a piece of art of the animal they selected. My suggestion was that they complete torn paper art as it is beautiful, but some want to draw. That's fine with me!
2. We have begun to look at the meaning of division and your children will be building concrete models to represent word problems this week.
3. We started to study for Biztown! Your children have a great opportunity to learn about so many topics that pertain to a community and needs within it. Today, we talked about "rights" and "responsibilities" of citizens. Your children did a great job in understanding this concept. When the time comes, I will need parent volunteers for interviewing children for jobs and also for being at Biztown the day of our fieltrip. Please be thinking about how you would like to participate.
I'm not sure you know, but every other Wednesday your child participates in Book Buddies The 4th graders read to the 1st graders in DeeDee's class.
Kim
Since we have been back from the holiday break, your children have been engaged in the following:
1. Speeches about animals that includes an art piece. The topics within this assignment satisfy some of the Life Science standards. Students were asked to research animals based on an identified criteria. They were asked to take notes on 3X5 cards. Your child is expected to memorize the information on their cards, so that when they give the speech they are not reading off the note cards. Additionally, each student has been asked to produce a piece of art of the animal they selected. My suggestion was that they complete torn paper art as it is beautiful, but some want to draw. That's fine with me!
2. We have begun to look at the meaning of division and your children will be building concrete models to represent word problems this week.
3. We started to study for Biztown! Your children have a great opportunity to learn about so many topics that pertain to a community and needs within it. Today, we talked about "rights" and "responsibilities" of citizens. Your children did a great job in understanding this concept. When the time comes, I will need parent volunteers for interviewing children for jobs and also for being at Biztown the day of our fieltrip. Please be thinking about how you would like to participate.
I'm not sure you know, but every other Wednesday your child participates in Book Buddies The 4th graders read to the 1st graders in DeeDee's class.
Kim
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year!
Dear Families,
I want to thank you all for the lovely cards, candies, bubble bath, candles, and coffee, etc. that I received before the Holiday break. I am so blessed to be at a school with such supportive and caring families. Thank you! I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy your beautiful children during the break. I had an opportunity to hear about their vacations in our morning meeting today. Every child shared!
During our teacher professional day on Monday, we talked about what it is you need as a parent and since I am a parent it was easy to contribute. I know you probably need the following:
What contribution is my child making in class?
What are they studying and exploring?
How do they interact with others?
Are they enjoying school?
What is happening at school?
Please let me know through email, by stopping by, or by appontment any concerns you may be having. I am available to answer your questions. Don't be shy because we are raising these kids up together!
Please take a look at our many backpacks, lunch boxes, and jackets, etc. that have been placed just outside Donna's office. All of these items will be donated on Friday if not claimed.
In class, we are now shifting gears to Life Science. Your children have been asked to choose an animal and use notecards to identify specific information. They will be giving speeches (without notecards starting on Friday). They are also creating beautiful torn art pieces to accompany their speech. Ask your child about their work - they are very excited about animals. I have questions like, "Can I do more than one animal?" "Can we report on another animal in the future?" The answer, of course is "YES"!
Next week we will begin the JA Biztown program. Your children will learn about the flow of money, government, they will be creating their own business, and will be interviewing for jobs. Once they have been chosen for a position, they will spend a day carrying out the responsibilities of that job. This is a very fun process and I will need volunteers when we attend the fieldtrip. I will advise you of the date.
I hope this gives you a peek into our classroom.
I want to thank you all for the lovely cards, candies, bubble bath, candles, and coffee, etc. that I received before the Holiday break. I am so blessed to be at a school with such supportive and caring families. Thank you! I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy your beautiful children during the break. I had an opportunity to hear about their vacations in our morning meeting today. Every child shared!
During our teacher professional day on Monday, we talked about what it is you need as a parent and since I am a parent it was easy to contribute. I know you probably need the following:
What contribution is my child making in class?
What are they studying and exploring?
How do they interact with others?
Are they enjoying school?
What is happening at school?
Please let me know through email, by stopping by, or by appontment any concerns you may be having. I am available to answer your questions. Don't be shy because we are raising these kids up together!
Please take a look at our many backpacks, lunch boxes, and jackets, etc. that have been placed just outside Donna's office. All of these items will be donated on Friday if not claimed.
In class, we are now shifting gears to Life Science. Your children have been asked to choose an animal and use notecards to identify specific information. They will be giving speeches (without notecards starting on Friday). They are also creating beautiful torn art pieces to accompany their speech. Ask your child about their work - they are very excited about animals. I have questions like, "Can I do more than one animal?" "Can we report on another animal in the future?" The answer, of course is "YES"!
Next week we will begin the JA Biztown program. Your children will learn about the flow of money, government, they will be creating their own business, and will be interviewing for jobs. Once they have been chosen for a position, they will spend a day carrying out the responsibilities of that job. This is a very fun process and I will need volunteers when we attend the fieldtrip. I will advise you of the date.
I hope this gives you a peek into our classroom.
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