TDA Workshop

The increased rigor in the new English Standards of Learning requires students to answer text-dependent questions. Students are required to determine the meaning of complex texts and make logical inferences. Text-dependent questions do not ask students about their prior experience or feelings on a subject, but rather rely on information from the text.

Students are expected to speak and write using evidence presented in texts, and to present analyses based on information that is found in the text. 

The scholars in Room 100 are confronting Text Dependent Analysis in their Wonders Reading and Writing Workshop. They've got some high tech tools to do just that!

 

Parent Teacher Conferences

Thank you, parents, for attending your child’s conference this week!  I enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with each of you to discuss your child’s progress and goals for the upcoming months.  

It was fun for students to self-assess and share their "apple stars" at conferences.

If you have questions or input that you believe would be beneficial to your child's success, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I appreciate and value your input and support. 

Enjoy your 3-day weekend. We are off to a great start with these fantastic fifth grade students!

A big thanks to Vickie Plant at Primary Press for the apple tag. 

One Word. 365 Days

One Word is a movement. "It's all about scrapping a list of goals that are easily forgotten. Instead One Word asks participants to choose just one word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live. Participants choose one word that is the focus every day, all year long." 

Discover the big impact one word can make.

One word. 365 days. A changed life.

Source:  One Word

Team 1 teachers knew it would be fun to involve students in the Energy Bus/One Word project. Mrs. Robinson, our principal, joined the team and read the student edition of the book to our classes. 

After much discussion on the new school year and this project, students were challenged to choose a word. The words ranged from silly and fun to quite thought-provoking. Each student created a flip book to record his or her word.

The One Word project is giving us one more way to create a positive, productive environment at our school. Please take some time and ask your child about the word he or she chose and the reason why.

Collaborative Conversations

What are collaborative conversations? Collaborative conversations are characterized by purposeful talks focused on the text. The conversations are student led. These conversations encourage students to exchange ideas that generate new thinking and stronger understanding. 

At the beginning of the year, mini lessons teach students how to communicate with others in a respectful manner. The speech bubbles are a visual  reminder of how to share opinions, ideas, and thoughts.

A little time spent teaching students how to have respectful conversations can make a difference in cooperative learning groups. 

Planner Police

It is just so exciting to unpack new school supplies. Room 100 has spent the first couple of weeks getting organized. As students rotate between several classrooms, organization helps them experience success. Students are learning to maintain planners and binders daily. This task will only feel like a mammoth chore if it is neglected over a period of time. 

You may monitor your child's progress at home by checking the folders in the binder. Assignments are placed in subject folders and every student carries a folder labeled Take Home. Graded papers and school notes are placed in this folder. These graded papers may come out of the binder at night. I hope you will take time to discuss your child's work and offer encouragement. 

Organization skills are worthwhile life-long skills. The goal for organization is to eliminate tardiness, forgetfulness, and lack of preparedness.   

The Planner Police make frequent visits to Room 100. Their job is to check students' planners, binders, and desks. If needed, students are ticketed and encouraged to get organized before they get the incentive treat. 

Today's planner police treated the entire class to donuts. We are off to a great start. It has been such fun getting to know these kiddos.

Thanks again for equipping students with the needed supplies. 

Scream

We jumped right into writing this year with a piercing scream!  In my fifth grade classroom, I often combine writing lessons with art lessons. What a pair! 

We all agree that the first day of school is an explosion of fun, energy, nerves, and excitement.  Our first writing assignment captured our feelings in an essay titled, "Scream."  

After writing our essay, we took a look at Edvard Munch's art titled, "The Scream" to see how much expression can be created with lines and color. 

We worked on drawing a screaming face of correct proportions. We then had fun adding the hair color using watercolors and a straw to blow crazy hair.

The kids had a blast with this project!

Credit to the inspiration for this project- -Josyln who posted it on her blog in 2011.

Soda-lighted

Today is the start of the 2015-2016 school year. The middle school is a big change for most students. It is their first year in a new building, first day with several new teachers, first day with lockers, first day with new classmates. Clearly, first day jitters rule.  I wanted to do something fun for each of the students in my room. I got their attention {and smiles} with a soda pop theme.

To help students learn procedures and locate items in their new classroom, they were given a pop quiz. This quiz got students out of their chairs and exploring the layout of the classroom. 

The Pop Quiz included soda pops with encouraging notes. 

Team 1A teachers are soda-lighted to be teaching your child. There are so many fun things to do and learn in the fifth grade. We are looking forward to the adventure.  It is our goal that your child's fifth grade experience is filled with personal growth as a thinker and learner. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. 

This team of teachers is cheering for your child - -

                        Mrs. Reedy - health and PE

                        Miss Hayse - music and choir

                        Mrs. Henderson - media and encore

                        Mrs. Full - language arts and math

                        Mrs. Polodna - keyboarding

                        Mrs. Pieper - science, social studies, and math

                        Mrs. Carlisle - art (absent from picture) 

Let the adventure begin!