The first days of school are wearing me out! There are so many routines to talk about with the students. Even when I go off the list that I think is complete, other things get added to the list. I love the potential of this group, though. Right now I have 19 fourth graders! It's a dream to have this much floor space in the room. I keep thinking that we should be able to accomplish so much, and I should be able to help students more in small groups and individually. I hope this proves true.
One of my goals this year was to review Math homework from the night before and discuss in class. We have had one day of math homework, and it worked well. All students but one had their work done. I liked Abby's idea of an inner circle and an outer circle, and having students discuss their work with other students before discussing whole group. I will try this later in the year.
Other new initiatives this year are using the Daily 5, CAFE, and implementing more of Responsive Classroom. I have been using 'Take a Break' for the small interruptions in the classroom, and that has worked well. The students love the chime, and quiet down well. We have taken body breaks in the long afternoons. I am working on my teacher language. I took pictures of students with my camera, and hope to get them on my teacher webpage. There's always something new to learn and do. The year has possibilities.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 28 Preparation for the school year.
I have been in the classroom working quite a bit this month. My daughter and I cleaned a cupboard and my desk, organized, pulled out books, arranged the room, put up bulletin boards, ripped out nine math units for math, and more. I spent time reading and creating displays for The Daily Five and Cafe; I will use these to introduce reading skills, our classroom routines, and academic choice the first six days of school. I purchased and have read quite a few picture books to use with Cafe.
"Joy" will be a priority this year, and there are certain elements in my room like "Everybody Books", poetry folders, and a nice chunk of time for my read aloud that will support this goal. I have organized and reviewed the Responsive Classroom elements, and now just need to weave these into my lesson plans. Lesson planning is the next big thing on my list. Organization will be the key to getting this year off to a good start. We are officially back to work tomorrow. There's always more to do, but I think I have a lot in place.
"Joy" will be a priority this year, and there are certain elements in my room like "Everybody Books", poetry folders, and a nice chunk of time for my read aloud that will support this goal. I have organized and reviewed the Responsive Classroom elements, and now just need to weave these into my lesson plans. Lesson planning is the next big thing on my list. Organization will be the key to getting this year off to a good start. We are officially back to work tomorrow. There's always more to do, but I think I have a lot in place.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Promethean Work, July 2011
July was a hot month to be out working in my flower garden, so I spent time organizing my jump drives. Last year six 4th grade teachers created promethean flipcharts for reading, writing, language skills, and spelling. It was a lot of work! I brought them all home, more accurately renamed them, and reworked the first four weeks of Unit 1. I also pulled out the language skills from the writing lessons and renamed them; they will be much easier to locate now. My jumpdrives are organized and ready to go!
I spent time working on my Math prometheans, too. I added vocabulary to each lesson, and pages to review homework each day. Reflection has taught me that I don't have to correct each day's homework. But, we do need to go over it each day in class before beginning the next lesson. The practice of homework will remain just that ~ practice. It will be more beneficial for students to review and clarify skills, and will save me a hunk of time each night. I still need to add the workbook pages to the flipcharts when my work computer is ready; my other option is to use the document camera to project student work.
I spent time working on my Math prometheans, too. I added vocabulary to each lesson, and pages to review homework each day. Reflection has taught me that I don't have to correct each day's homework. But, we do need to go over it each day in class before beginning the next lesson. The practice of homework will remain just that ~ practice. It will be more beneficial for students to review and clarify skills, and will save me a hunk of time each night. I still need to add the workbook pages to the flipcharts when my work computer is ready; my other option is to use the document camera to project student work.
June Workshops ~ 2011
It's been a busy summer. I attended many workshops in June.
Math Academy - I spent two afternoons with the curriculum director and math teachers in our district. I printed the CABS from the Milwaukee Math project with Grades 1 through 8 before the workshop, and shared these with grade levels. I made a promethean of the CABS for 4th grade to share and use at our grade level. Four of our six teachers were present, and we decided to implement a constructed response with each unit test. We are hoping that as our students practice and participate in constructed responses, they will become better problem solvers and write better explanations for their thinking. It felt good to move math forward at our grade level and in our district!
Instructional Coaching - I spent one afternoon with other instructional coaches, sharing and reviewing skills, and discussing ways to develop a learning community within our building. I know our teachers have much to offer each other in teaching strategies and math knowledge. I look forward to working with teachers in developing an open door policy where anyone can feel free to walk into another's room to see what great things are going on there! We have a meeting August 23 to finish our planning for this year.
Writing Academy - For two afternoons in June I attended a writing academy. We became more familiar with Common Core Standards, decided our three on-demand writing topics, and chose which writing topics will get our attention each unit. We will limit our process writing to fewer than last year, but need to find time to conference with students, (that's where improvement will show itself) and we will bring back "Life Books". Life books will work wonderfully as a piece in our Daily 5 "Work on Writing".
Reading Academy - Three afternoons in June were to work on reading. We reviewed WKCE scores, The Daily 5, CAFE, and made plans for the Inquiry Projects. One year with Fountas & Pinnell progress monitoring and LEAD21 and we saw wonderful improvement in reading abilities! Excellent ideas were shared; we have so much to be gained by sharing and being given time to share! I will be implementing The Daily 5, and all of the skills in CAFE. We will have the first six days of school to set our routines in order before beginning our reading curriculum. I purchased many books to support the skill introductions for comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expanding vocabulary. I feel like this introduction to my reading program will help the students learn how to monitor the skills they need to work on. I am not going to try to do these programs perfectly the first year; I just want to improve my teaching and help my students see their strengths and enable them to work toward reasonable goals.
Compass Learning - I attended two afternoons of training for Compass Learning, our new computer math program. This program will support student skill levels as shown on their MAP testing. We discussed setting up lessons in areas where students may need support, such as elapsed time and place value. More training will come in August.
Math Academy - I spent two afternoons with the curriculum director and math teachers in our district. I printed the CABS from the Milwaukee Math project with Grades 1 through 8 before the workshop, and shared these with grade levels. I made a promethean of the CABS for 4th grade to share and use at our grade level. Four of our six teachers were present, and we decided to implement a constructed response with each unit test. We are hoping that as our students practice and participate in constructed responses, they will become better problem solvers and write better explanations for their thinking. It felt good to move math forward at our grade level and in our district!
Instructional Coaching - I spent one afternoon with other instructional coaches, sharing and reviewing skills, and discussing ways to develop a learning community within our building. I know our teachers have much to offer each other in teaching strategies and math knowledge. I look forward to working with teachers in developing an open door policy where anyone can feel free to walk into another's room to see what great things are going on there! We have a meeting August 23 to finish our planning for this year.
Writing Academy - For two afternoons in June I attended a writing academy. We became more familiar with Common Core Standards, decided our three on-demand writing topics, and chose which writing topics will get our attention each unit. We will limit our process writing to fewer than last year, but need to find time to conference with students, (that's where improvement will show itself) and we will bring back "Life Books". Life books will work wonderfully as a piece in our Daily 5 "Work on Writing".
Reading Academy - Three afternoons in June were to work on reading. We reviewed WKCE scores, The Daily 5, CAFE, and made plans for the Inquiry Projects. One year with Fountas & Pinnell progress monitoring and LEAD21 and we saw wonderful improvement in reading abilities! Excellent ideas were shared; we have so much to be gained by sharing and being given time to share! I will be implementing The Daily 5, and all of the skills in CAFE. We will have the first six days of school to set our routines in order before beginning our reading curriculum. I purchased many books to support the skill introductions for comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expanding vocabulary. I feel like this introduction to my reading program will help the students learn how to monitor the skills they need to work on. I am not going to try to do these programs perfectly the first year; I just want to improve my teaching and help my students see their strengths and enable them to work toward reasonable goals.
Compass Learning - I attended two afternoons of training for Compass Learning, our new computer math program. This program will support student skill levels as shown on their MAP testing. We discussed setting up lessons in areas where students may need support, such as elapsed time and place value. More training will come in August.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Winding Down
May 18, 2011
I am working hard to get to the unit test in math. Students have been out ill, for funerals, or just absent. I am spending my preps trying to catch them up; I don't want to test until we are all ready. Yet, the new unit awaits, and there's not much time left to the school year. This has been a frustration. We are not to let any slip through, yet how long do I wait to give a test because of all of these absences?
The Homework Situation - Are more students not getting their work done, or am I just losing my patience? Most of my students do turn their work in on time. Then, there are the habitually late. Those who need to have recess taken away to complete it. I suppose the beautiful weather isn't helping. For the last two days, I have given a lot of work time. If students use their time well, they can get most of it done.
Poetry Folders - This was my smart goal. I am happy with the products. Some of my boys really got in to decorating their covers and pages. A fellow teacher said she didn't get to poetry writing this year because of our reading/writing/language curriculum. I am hoping students will share some of their writing when we invite parents to come in before the end of the year.
Making Words - I started a new station during reading called Making Words. Students take the scrambled letters and make 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5- letter words, and try to come up with the mystery word (the one that uses all of the letters). I am wondering what other kinds of word work I will be able to add next year. I am seeing some of my students really struggle in decoding unfamiliar words. I want to be able to help them more.
I am working hard to get to the unit test in math. Students have been out ill, for funerals, or just absent. I am spending my preps trying to catch them up; I don't want to test until we are all ready. Yet, the new unit awaits, and there's not much time left to the school year. This has been a frustration. We are not to let any slip through, yet how long do I wait to give a test because of all of these absences?
The Homework Situation - Are more students not getting their work done, or am I just losing my patience? Most of my students do turn their work in on time. Then, there are the habitually late. Those who need to have recess taken away to complete it. I suppose the beautiful weather isn't helping. For the last two days, I have given a lot of work time. If students use their time well, they can get most of it done.
Poetry Folders - This was my smart goal. I am happy with the products. Some of my boys really got in to decorating their covers and pages. A fellow teacher said she didn't get to poetry writing this year because of our reading/writing/language curriculum. I am hoping students will share some of their writing when we invite parents to come in before the end of the year.
Making Words - I started a new station during reading called Making Words. Students take the scrambled letters and make 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5- letter words, and try to come up with the mystery word (the one that uses all of the letters). I am wondering what other kinds of word work I will be able to add next year. I am seeing some of my students really struggle in decoding unfamiliar words. I want to be able to help them more.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Action Research - My Personal Journal
May 11, 2011 Math Action Research. I used a teacher reflective journal, exit slips, and a class grid to keep track of student progress during our fraction unit. I'm thinking the journal belongs in my blog! After the coaching meeting today, I also feel that I will model a reflective journal for math next year. One of the most important things teachers can do is reflect on our practice, so I think I'm off to a good start having tried this. Next year, if I model the journal, and share my successes, I will have a better chance of impacting other teachers. Find my math action research journal elsewhere in my blog!
Coaching Math in our District
May 11, 2011 I've been asked to be a math coach in our building, and have taken some training this year. I've attended two workshops at CESA 11 this year. I have also worked with a math coach, Marilyn Heifner, observed and been observed by other teachers. I find this exhilarating! Just the collaboration and talking with teachers who want to improve their practice and "glean" ideas from eachother is exciting. I am excited about bringing real Learning Community into our building, and seeing the effects it will have on student achievement! Today was my first day of workshops through a CESA 11 grant called CMLC, Creating Mathematics Learning Community. We analyzed district data, and learned attributes of a math coach. We also spent time reflecting on our own strengths, determining if we are collaborators, communicators, contributors, or challengers. I found out through a team player self-survey that I was a bit of all of them. I think it depends on the type of meeting I am in.
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