Great Things I Noticed This Week:
- Great discussions in our grade level meetings as we celebrated the growth our students have made, as well as brainstormed ideas to help students not making expected gains.
- Students writing their own math story problems and trading with a partner to solve.
- Students recording themselves reading during Read-to-Self using audacity with the focus on improving their fluency.
- Students super excited to share something interesting they read or part of their writing during reflection time after Daily 5.
- Many classes continued to learn all Valentines Day with a sense of urgency and then enjoyed their classroom parties at the end of the day.
Events Next Week:
Monday - Professional Development (see "Nuts & Bolts" for details on grade level/curriculum time)
Tuesday - I'm gone in the afternoon for DART principals meeting
The following Monday, February 25th is mid-quarter already!
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*For Monday's PD Day:
Those of you already working in BYOC should continue your work. Grade Level Teams should use the Grade Level and Curriculum Work times to spend time digging into what's ahead for you in math. Use this time to read through the next unit (or the rest of the unit you are currently in) to learn together: the learning progressions, background, common errors, etc. Use this time to dig into it, discuss and I'd even suggest solving some of the problems as if you were a student. I will put copies of the Expressions Unit Planning Guide chart in your mailboxes in case you'd like to use it again to jot down your notes as you dig into the unit together.
For literacy: please take time to go through your grade level's CAFE Menu (will also be in your mailboxes) and compare to the common core standards to make sure the numbers are accurate (one grade level did find a mistake). I know this may seem like tedious work, but the more you refer back to the common core standards the more familiar you will be with them. As you are doing this work, also use the time to look at what CAFE strategies will need to be taught over the remainder of the school year. One grade level found it helpful to make 4 copies of the CAFE menu to have a page for each quarter with the strategies intended to be taught highlighted for each quarter.
Blogs, Pins & Tweets...Oh My!
@cpleisterConsider how your feedback to students and teachers varies based on your expectations of their abilities. Peter Johnston#2013AWSA
- Graphic novels are becoming quite popular, especially with some of our reluctant readers. Here are a couple of great articles on graphic novels with book suggestions: Finding a Place for Graphic Novels in my Classroom and Comprehending Graphic Novels.
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| Read HERE to find out more |
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| Go HERE for a page filled with writing anchor charts |
"Create something that will make the world awesome." ~KidPresident
Thank you for this video. It brightened my day!
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