Here's my {CURRENTLY} for September...
Just think, in less than a week, I'll get to do another one!! :)
Brianna
Monday, September 21, 2015
It's Late, but.....CURRENTLY
It's super late, but I've feel like I'm finally breathing again (See previous post: Coming Up for Air).
Here's my {CURRENTLY} for September...
Here's my {CURRENTLY} for September...
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Coming Up for Air
Whoa!
I haven't written in three weeks! That should tell you what the beginning of the year has been like for me. I have been SUPER busy with myfantasy football team, TEACHERPROBS10 my plans for my students!
Here's an update on what's going on in my class....
Math: We are slugging through a review of multiplication and introducing how to multiply by three digit and four digit numbers. It's not required that they learn past two digit x two digit in my state because we are not Common Core, but after looking through the sixth grade standards and seventh grade standards, I realized that they NEVER actually learn it. How is that right?!?! It doesn't cost me too much time, and I am PRETTY SURE it's a life skill to be able to multiply large number, so I'm going to teach it!
Science: The Scientific Method is LIFE!! We started an experiment on how to dissolve eggshells using different liquid. Of course, as teachers, we all know that the answer is vinegar. Each year, however, I use vinegar, water (for a control), and one other new substance. Last year we chose apple juice...this year, we chose ginger ale. Holy moly! The ginger ale's carbonation cracked the eggshell and the yoke is now sitting OUTSIDE the shell. It's been an incredible opportunity for observation. They have really risen to the challenge. We have talked about how even though it's cool that the shell cracked, the fact that they can observe the sound of the eggshell still bumping against the jar, they can infer that there hasn't yet been chemical change in the shell itself, just a physical change.
History: We are about to jump into a review of the regions of Virginia. Honestly, I'm really hoping the kids remember this well, but when we did water features this week...**Crickets** Here's hoping they at least remember that we live in the Coastal Plains region @ sea level. We shall see...Why are we doing a review? In VA, students don't take a state test in fourth grade, they take it in fifth grade covering TWO SCHOOL YEARS worth of information. Can you say #workcutoutforme ?? We will add to the regions too, so it's not JUST review, they do get some new information in the form of products and industries that make our state economy turn. For this, I usually do sorts and color-coding. Lord knows I love a color-coded key!! :)
Reading: We are finishing up our "First 15 Days" of creating a classroom community. I'm kind of bummed because I really like to use the time to create a classroom community for writing as well, but we've had to put that on hold because of a new performance based task we're taking on this year. A couple years ago, the state took away our fifth grade writing test. They have implemented a new assessment in the form of these tasks. Their first task is to write a fairytale for a first grade audience. It's actually been a lot of fun, but it has been time consuming. I haven't had nearly as much time to use any of my awesome beginning-of-year Six Traits lessons. #merp Meanwhile, in reading, we are getting ready to start our guided reading groups. I'm pretty stoked to use our new reading program with my kids. I'm really hopeful that it's going to provide a little bit of what we've been missing! Only time will tell. I'm working really hard to get my students to start practicing a little metacognition. Do you do this in your classroom? I have taught them how to use sticky notes, and am in the process of reminding them gently to use, USE, USE them. They are responding several times a week whether in their Reading Response journals, or using KidBlog, or in their Reading Response letters. I think they are frustrated with how much they are being forced to talk about their reading, but I know it will pay off in the end!
I'll try to add pictures later this week. I find myself forgetting to take them when I'm in the moment.So many of you other bloggers are way better than I am about it. I aspire to be more like you! I can't believe I remembered to take them today, and only ONE DAY after the original post. YESSSS....
Hope you are relaxing my teaching friends,
Brianna
I haven't written in three weeks! That should tell you what the beginning of the year has been like for me. I have been SUPER busy with my
Here's an update on what's going on in my class....
Math: We are slugging through a review of multiplication and introducing how to multiply by three digit and four digit numbers. It's not required that they learn past two digit x two digit in my state because we are not Common Core, but after looking through the sixth grade standards and seventh grade standards, I realized that they NEVER actually learn it. How is that right?!?! It doesn't cost me too much time, and I am PRETTY SURE it's a life skill to be able to multiply large number, so I'm going to teach it!
Science: The Scientific Method is LIFE!! We started an experiment on how to dissolve eggshells using different liquid. Of course, as teachers, we all know that the answer is vinegar. Each year, however, I use vinegar, water (for a control), and one other new substance. Last year we chose apple juice...this year, we chose ginger ale. Holy moly! The ginger ale's carbonation cracked the eggshell and the yoke is now sitting OUTSIDE the shell. It's been an incredible opportunity for observation. They have really risen to the challenge. We have talked about how even though it's cool that the shell cracked, the fact that they can observe the sound of the eggshell still bumping against the jar, they can infer that there hasn't yet been chemical change in the shell itself, just a physical change.
In order from L--> R: Vinegar, Water (control), Ginger Ale (check out that YOKE!!)
Reading: We are finishing up our "First 15 Days" of creating a classroom community. I'm kind of bummed because I really like to use the time to create a classroom community for writing as well, but we've had to put that on hold because of a new performance based task we're taking on this year. A couple years ago, the state took away our fifth grade writing test. They have implemented a new assessment in the form of these tasks. Their first task is to write a fairytale for a first grade audience. It's actually been a lot of fun, but it has been time consuming. I haven't had nearly as much time to use any of my awesome beginning-of-year Six Traits lessons. #merp Meanwhile, in reading, we are getting ready to start our guided reading groups. I'm pretty stoked to use our new reading program with my kids. I'm really hopeful that it's going to provide a little bit of what we've been missing! Only time will tell. I'm working really hard to get my students to start practicing a little metacognition. Do you do this in your classroom? I have taught them how to use sticky notes, and am in the process of reminding them gently to use, USE, USE them. They are responding several times a week whether in their Reading Response journals, or using KidBlog, or in their Reading Response letters. I think they are frustrated with how much they are being forced to talk about their reading, but I know it will pay off in the end!
Do you love finding cool anchor charts on Pinterest? I do...both of these are modeled after anchor charts I found online.
Hope you are relaxing my teaching friends,
Brianna
Thursday, September 3, 2015
First Week Teacher Tired
Is this a hashtag yet? Tell me you don't feel it, ladies?!
It's Thursday and I have been met with, dragged around, called for help, given advice, drawn on for inspiration, admired, envied, and many, many more things in just this one tiny week. In a word: chaos!!!!!
As I have mentioned a few times, my district has adopted a new reading program. I went to a training for it ALL DAY yesterday. As valuable as I'm sure that time was for some people...I happen to luckily been born with two eyes and a decent understanding of technology. Therefore, it was a 7-hour waste of my very valuable pre-students time. I came back today feeling like I had a million things to do and still spent hours in meetings, planned and impromptu!
What did I accomplish today?
1. Nametags are finally taped and numbered on desks.
I always wait until late in the week so that if I get any new students I can fill them in to the lineup in alphabetical order. I hate to have a random "John Bencher" at number 26...it just irks my nerves. Doesn't really even matter in the end because we all know we're going to get some kid later in the year with a last name that starts with C anyway! #amiright?)
2. Book baskets are done
I was expecting a students of mine from a few years ago to come and help out today, but I got an email early in the morning not to count on it. I was bummed mostly because I couldn't see her, but just a TEENSY bit because I was looking forward to her extra set of hands!! #imtheworst! She was going to be in charge of cleaning my book baskets and cutting out name-tags for them and tying them on with string. Either way, I got it done and they look adorable. If I remember, I'll take a picture tomorrow for you and post it!
3. Math plans finished
I updated my plans from the first week last year to include the new Place Value Detective activities I bought during the TPT sale. If you want to check them out, they are by Mary over at Teaching with a Mountain View and can be viewed on TPT HERE. Technically, in my state, place value is not an official fifth grade strand, but it's so important for them to continue to develop their understanding of place value, since it is the BASIS for all math calculation pretty much.
4. Pre-assessments for 5th grade reading and SMART Goals organized
I don't know how many of you know about SMART Goals, but they are BIG in my district. They stand for Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Timely. Do you write these? My school is currently acrredited with warning in reading. Because of this, our SMART Goals are going to be completely centered on reading, as is our 30 minute remediation block in the mornings. To have a remediation block the second week of school you need.......???? DATA of course. What better way to attain data than to give a pretest to students?! Naturally though, those pretests needed to be created. After our fifth grade meeting this afternoon where we analyzed last year's data and looked and fourth grade's data (to gauge where we're starting this year), we discovered that no one had a valid and reliable assessment to give us this data. I bit the bullet and made this my charge for the rest of the day, and I, "Got 'er done!"
____________
It was a productive day, and yet I still have so much to do. A teacher's work is never done. We'll see what Open House brings tomorrow! I'm getting excited!
Brianna
It's Thursday and I have been met with, dragged around, called for help, given advice, drawn on for inspiration, admired, envied, and many, many more things in just this one tiny week. In a word: chaos!!!!!
As I have mentioned a few times, my district has adopted a new reading program. I went to a training for it ALL DAY yesterday. As valuable as I'm sure that time was for some people...I happen to luckily been born with two eyes and a decent understanding of technology. Therefore, it was a 7-hour waste of my very valuable pre-students time. I came back today feeling like I had a million things to do and still spent hours in meetings, planned and impromptu!
What did I accomplish today?
1. Nametags are finally taped and numbered on desks.
I always wait until late in the week so that if I get any new students I can fill them in to the lineup in alphabetical order. I hate to have a random "John Bencher" at number 26...it just irks my nerves. Doesn't really even matter in the end because we all know we're going to get some kid later in the year with a last name that starts with C anyway! #amiright?)
2. Book baskets are done
I was expecting a students of mine from a few years ago to come and help out today, but I got an email early in the morning not to count on it. I was bummed mostly because I couldn't see her, but just a TEENSY bit because I was looking forward to her extra set of hands!! #imtheworst! She was going to be in charge of cleaning my book baskets and cutting out name-tags for them and tying them on with string. Either way, I got it done and they look adorable. If I remember, I'll take a picture tomorrow for you and post it!
3. Math plans finished
I updated my plans from the first week last year to include the new Place Value Detective activities I bought during the TPT sale. If you want to check them out, they are by Mary over at Teaching with a Mountain View and can be viewed on TPT HERE. Technically, in my state, place value is not an official fifth grade strand, but it's so important for them to continue to develop their understanding of place value, since it is the BASIS for all math calculation pretty much.
4. Pre-assessments for 5th grade reading and SMART Goals organized
I don't know how many of you know about SMART Goals, but they are BIG in my district. They stand for Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Timely. Do you write these? My school is currently acrredited with warning in reading. Because of this, our SMART Goals are going to be completely centered on reading, as is our 30 minute remediation block in the mornings. To have a remediation block the second week of school you need.......???? DATA of course. What better way to attain data than to give a pretest to students?! Naturally though, those pretests needed to be created. After our fifth grade meeting this afternoon where we analyzed last year's data and looked and fourth grade's data (to gauge where we're starting this year), we discovered that no one had a valid and reliable assessment to give us this data. I bit the bullet and made this my charge for the rest of the day, and I, "Got 'er done!"
____________
It was a productive day, and yet I still have so much to do. A teacher's work is never done. We'll see what Open House brings tomorrow! I'm getting excited!
Brianna
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