Tuesday Blues

• 1st - Dance - It was the first day all year that I picked them up and all the students were on the stage dancing!  None of them were sitting down in the seats for misbehavior.  Congrats to the kids who were there today!  The entire class got a ClassDojo point for a compliment from their specials teacher!
• 2nd - ELA Test Prep - We read a new article "President Obama's Visit to Students" about the president giving a speech to a group of students.  It was very odd to hear so many of the same things I have been saying to the students all year repeated in the presidents speech.  After reading it together, we did the three practice problems for the day.  We broke them down and really went deep into each question.   Afterwards, we continued our ELA Block by reading the next chapter (a long one) in The BFG called "DREAMS".  We discussed the tricky wording and 'correct' words that should be used.  This book is great for understanding words that you don't know by using context clues.  It is also very descriptive.
• 3rd/4th - ELA ReadyGen Lesson 3b.8   Today we finished our text "Anatomy of a Volcanic Eruption" by reading the last 4 pages on Mount St. Helen's eruption, and how people live in the shadow of volcanoes every day.  We focused today on Author's Purpose (To inform, entertain, or persuade). I then had the kids write on a KWL chart what they know about living in the shadow of a volcano (literally the last two pages we read)... what they WANT to learn... and then I gave them another article from National Geographic about Living in the Shadows of a Volcano so they could conduct either individual or buddy research to find out more things about what life is like living under the shadow of a volcano.  
• 4th/5th - We worked on our KWL Chart and as we did, we rotated through and took our AR test on the book we just finished.  When they were finished we moved into math.  GoMath 9.1 was reviewed and no questions needed to be gone over on the homework.  We then had our mini-lesson on 9.2 (identifying the fraction and decimal for hundredths).  After the mini-lesson and working on sample problems, - they completed all the practice problems in 9.2 and then had a 4 question "check in" quiz to make sure they understood what was going on in the first two lessons.  
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - Intro to GoMath Chapter 10 - The students did the "Show What You Know" and we went over it.  We started working through the lesson and made it through the I do section and the We do section.  For homework, they will complete the You Do sections (10 - 20) on section 10.1.

Homework:

• ELA - Test Prep Questions
• Math - Practice Book 9.2
• Math - GoMath 10.1 (Questions 10 - 20)
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Mondayitis?

Today went by  pretty fast.....

Can you believe this time in two weeks we will be ready for state ELA Test???

• 1st - ELA Test Prep "What is Vermiculture?"   After reading the text and looking at the three questions, we moved to THE BFG and read "A Trogglehumper for the Fleshlumpeater".  We are almost 1/2 through with the class novel, but I don't think we will finish it before break.
• 2nd - Dance    The dance teacher said he still had problems with constantly being interrupted and having to stop misbehavior.
• 3rd - ReadyGen 3b.7 - Looking for descriptive adjectives that use the 5 sense was our focus.  We read pages 36-51 focusing on three infamous volcanic eruptions.  After working through the section and lesson, I passed out another text (front and back) about Vesuvius and we read that together so the kids had even more background on the volcano.  Finally, we watched an 8 minute reenactment of the eruption so they could see just how powerful and devastating the eruption was.  If you want to see it for yourself - click this link!
• 4th - After finishing ReadyGen and all the extra content, we were able (about half way in) to move into Math.  The students worked on the Chapter 8 Performance Task.  I helped them set up the problems on the digital camera, but they had to do the work on their own.  They seemed to be struggling but I didn't think that the problems were that difficult.  Maybe it was Mondayitis.  
• 5th - We decided to move into Chapter 9.  Chapter 9 is about understanding the connection between fractions and decimals.  With just a few weeks of instruction before the Math State Test, We will cover this and then move into some geometry right before the test.  After the ELA state test, we will be doing Math in the afternoons to get ready for the Math test!  So, we did the "Show What You Know" for Chapter 9.  We went over it.  Then we went over how to look at the fraction 1/10 and say ONE TENTH and then write it as 0.1   It was important for the students to look at the place value chart and realize that a decimal, just like a fraction, is part of the whole, so they come behind the ones on the place value chart.  Because they are not a whole number, they are a fraction of it, they are called decimals.  We looked at how money is described (1c is .01, 5c is .05, 10c is .10, and 25c is .25)  The first digit is tenths, and the second is hundredths.  It is easy to think of 100 pennies make up a dollar (parts of a whole).  Today was all about getting them to see the fraction  and then being able to write it as a decimal.  
• 6th - Lunch (No one got in trouble!!!)
• 7th - Math Test Prep (CATCH UP!)... we did like 4 to catch up from last week too!   We did the homework in class since they already had so much homework in math!   Then we did our 5th and final HIV Lesson.  The purpose of today's lesson was "Where do you go for more information?".   They have a handout they were told to share with you about places and people they could ask if they had more questions about HIV or any communicable disease.  

Homework:

• Reading - ELA Test Prep Questions 35-37
• Writing - Write a Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why question that you would ask an expert about the Mt. Vesuvius eruptions (using the text in the book and the handout as research).  Questions must require more than a yes or no response
• Math:
• Practice book 9.1 - identifying decimals in tenths
• Salamander Math Practice - Multiplying Fractions Sheet 1 and 2

Friday Progress Reports

One of the things I heard from parents during Parent Teacher Conferences was that you liked the weekly print-out of the student grades.  I ran them today and I want to CAUTION parents that there is only 1 writing grade on the progress report so far.  If you don't see the score you like there, it is based on just one assignment.  By Monday, after I grade some papers this weekend, that grade should improve... SHOULD!  

As always, you can keep track of your students assignments and scores by clicking on "ENGRADE" to the right of this post and using the codes I gave you at parent night to have constant and immediate access to their scores and assignments.  You can also message me there.

If you have lost your codes, email me at rmcdougall@schools.nyc.gov and I will send you the new passcode.

Not so Fun Friday...

It is always a bad sign when your schedule gets "altered" in any sort of way... kids especially need rituals and routines and they really like knowing what to expect... when that changes, you have to be prepared....

• 1st Period - We collected homework and updated our ClassDojo points.  If you are late, you lose a point.  Each homework assignment you don't do, you lose a point.  They add up really quick!  Afterwards we did our ELA test Prep and then read the next chapter in our class novel - The BFG.

• 2nd - Science with Ms. Galan.   The kids were lined up outside for science when another teacher showed up to cover the science class - Ms. Galan was not here today.  I asked her if she would mind continuing with our class novel and she was nice enough to keep reading with the kids.  After they finished I passed out their "homework" to start on which is a comprehension sheet on the chapters we have read.  The "WORD SEARCH" on the back is set on difficult mode, so if they can find all the words, they will get 5 bonus points!  

• 3rd /4th- We reviewed the Chapter 8 Unit Review.  I went over each and every question.  I made sure they understood each question before moving on.   When NO ONE had any questions, I passed out the Chapter 8 Multiple Choice Unit Test and they started taking it.  A couple students had meltdowns before, during, or after the test and their results surely showed it (or in some cases, caused it!)...  I think the lowest score on the unit test was 24% and the highest was 96%.  Luckily, we had more on the passing side than the failing side.  And why did they fail?  1) Goofing off during class and not paying attention 2) Didn't ask for help when they didn't understand 3) Didn't practice by doing their homework 4) didn't participate during class 5) Didn't care about their grade?   I don't know which one it is, but when most of the kids do extremely well, and only a handful do poorly - it makes you wonder.  Remember,  65% is passing, 75% is average, 85% or higher is considered mastery of the skill.  Below 65% is just NO BUENO! 

• 4th / 5th - ReadyGen Lesson 3b.6 - Looking at the good things that come with Volcanic Eruptions, and then the Bad!  We looked at Craft and Structure to make sure they could see how the author set up the section and how that allowed readers to better understand each section.  We looked at the actual text and learned the benefits of an eruption and the bad things as well.  We then used the randomizer to answer key idea and detail and integration of knowledge questions as well as words in context questions.  It is like a game, but it is cute seeing the kids flip through the book to answer the questions using text evidence.  

• 6th - Lunch

• 7th - HIV Lesson #4 - The pro's and con's of peer pressure and the difference between positive risk behaviors and negative risk behaviors.  The kids got to "act" today.  I gave them situations they had to act out and then the kids who watched had to discuss the peer pressure involved, and if the situation was a positive risk or negative risk behavior.  They had a really good time acting and it was a nice way to end our week, even if it was hard to get them to calm down and pack up at the end of the day!

Homework:

• Reading - THE BFG Reading Comprehension Sheet (front and back)
• Writing - two paragraphs about the BENEFITS and DANGERS of volcanic eruptions using text evidence.
• Math - Salamander Math Converting Improper Fractions to Mixed Number Practice

Some of the students who did really bad on the math test will be having lunch sessions with me next week to redo the math test and make sure they understand it before we move on.  The state tests are literally WEEKS away so I can't have them goofing off and not caring!  It is just not an option.  So just letting you know they might be upset next week, but those are the breaks!  

Tomorrow is the last Saturday Academy of the year.  It is from 9AM - 1PM!  Please bring a nice snack to have during our 20 minute break in the middle.  The school does provide a snack, but it is only a small snack and the kids get hungry! 

Thursday - 3/26/2015

Today was a pretty good day for the most part....
Of course I had to deal with the constant interruptions and silliness of 4-5 of the boys who STILL have not grown up....
And yes, there were some problems at Gym and Lunch....
But for the most part.. in Room 401... it was a good day!

• 1st - ELA Test Prep "CIA K-9 Corps"... we read the article and then talked about what the prompt was asking them to write... today we focused on the 3 parts of an intro... and how most of it is FOUND right in the prompt... We did our hook (tell a story, ask a question, use an interesting quote, build suspense) - we decided on the "tell a story" option for our hook.  Then we did part two, inform the readers of the text we are using.  And finally, we look at the prompt and inform the reader what we will be discussing (which the prompt has already told us)... We color coded each part so the kids could really see how easy it is to write a strong and effective introduction.  We had just enough time after that to read a chapter in our class novel "The BFG".  It was a cute chapter about 'soda' in giant country - and instead of the bubbles going up they go down.. so you don't burp, but you "wizzpopple".  I really love this book because so many of the words are made up that the students have to really try hard to use context clues to find the meaning of the words.
• 2nd -ReadyGen 3b.5 - We read pages 23-28 and again practiced using context clues to understand unfamiliar words.  For writing, we read an article on Yellowstone Caldera (supervolcano) and in pairs they worked on making another Sun Graphic Organizer - Main Idea in the center, rays are all supporting information.  Then they volunteered to come up to use the document camera to share their results.  
  
• 3rd - Review of 8.1 - 8.4 by looking at the reteach of each section.  We then went and checked the homework (practice 8.4) and answered three questions they were confused on.  We then looked at section 8.5 (same as the earlier sections, now just with word problems).  We worked through the sections underlining and circling the clues the book gives you for how to solve the problems.
• 4th - Chapter 8 Review - I took the chapter 8 Test - version B and made slides.  We worked through the entire thing and the kids saw how very easy it was.  They are also finally getting the fact that they have to learn to multiply and divide with ease... memorizing facts allows you to do that... all of math is built around it...  Parents - buy your kids some flash cards for all their math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).   Let them put those into their rote memorization and just have it.  Then when they try to do the processes we learn, they wont struggle with the numbers.   You will hear some people say that we shouldn't just memorize their facts... I say this.. did you start off spelling and writing, or did you learn your ABC's by memory first... it is the starting place so you can do things with them...  Chapter 8 Test TOMORROW!
• 5th - GYM with Mr. Hoffman.  I sat in the gym with them while they warmed up.  Everyone was doing well so I went to make copies.  It turns out that those 5-6 boys who like to play and goof off, as soon as I left, started goofing off.  :-(   NO BUENO!  
  
• 6th - Lunch - The kids got in trouble for the mess they made at the table.  Food all over, MILK was spilled on the floor.  When I asked the student who spilled it to get the mop to clean it up, he got very upset and did two swipes of the mop then sat down and refused to do it.  I finished it.  In my book, you spill something - no biggie, clean it up.  That is your responsibility as a human to clean up your mistakes.  Accident happen, just do the right thing an fix them.  Acting out and refusing is not the best option. 
• 7th - HIV Lesson #3 - Facts and Myths about HIV.  We did our lesson on the ways this virus is transmitted and then answered a series of True or False questions.  I told the kids to take the quiz home and test your knowledge tonight as well.   

Homework:

• ELA Test Prep #46
• Wrting - Article #2 - Yellowstone Super Volcano - read the article, highlight or underline important information, and finally create a sun graphic organizer to practice Main Idea and Supporting Details.
• Math - Chapter 8 End of Chapter Review 
• Math - Salamander Math - Multiplying Fractions by Integers Sheet #2

Scholastic Book Orders came in today for Dilenny and Albert.  I passed out the April order forms for 4th Grade and Arrow.  The due date for ordering is next Thursday.  This way, they can be back when we come back from Spring Break!  Right after spring break - ELA and Math State Tests!

Wednesday

It is always so nice when I pick up the kids from specials and I hear from the teacher, "They were good today - did all their work!"  What a great way to start my day!

• 1st - Science with Ms. Galan.
• 2nd - We started by collecting homework and updating our ClassDojo account.  If you notice your child is getting multiple "No Homework"... they get one negative for each homework they don't do.  After that we did a different type of "ELA Test Prep" by  having them read a text all alone and answer the six questions all alone.  I want to see if my teaching is reaching... see if they are getting it!  Then we moved into our whole class novel "The BFG" and read the next two chapters "Snozzcumbers" and "The Bloodbottler Giant".  We focused on descriptions today as we read.  The author does a very good job at describing things with such great imagery and detail.  He also has used a lot of "made up" words so we spent a lot of time practicing the skill of using context clues to figure out what the made up words really mean.   It is fun!
• 3rd - ReadyGen lesson 3b.4.   We started by looking at a poem in our text collection that describes what an eruption was like.  Our goal was to look at the poem and see if the text we are reading "Anatomy of a Volcano" had the same description of volcano eruptions.   We read pages 20-27 which focused mainly on the characteristics of volcanic eruptions and the five different types of volcanoes.  Speaking of mainly - our focus today was on MAIN IDEA!  The kids have to take the main idea just mentioned and find supporting details from pages 20-23 to prove that this is, in fact, the main idea!
• 4th/5th - GoMath 8.3 and 8.4 - We went over the homework and then spent time really going over how to multiply a whole number and a fraction.   We went over the steps (turn the whole number into a fraction by putting it over 1)... then you multiply the numerators and then you multiply the denominators.  If the product is an improper fraction, then you have to convert it into a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator.  I wanted to make sure that they really understood the steps and the process because we added a new wrinkle to the process today.  What if you had to multiply a whole number (integer) by a mixed number... what do you do then...  
• first you make the whole number a fraction by placing it over 1
• then you convert your mixed number into an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number and add the numerator to get the new numerator, keep the same denominator.
• now you can multiply numerators and then denominators
• if the product is an improper fraction, convert it back to a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator.  
• We worked on the process and different students were able to work problems for the class.  Students who did not have a firm grasp on the process were asked to have a chat and chew lunch - come back upstairs and work while we eat.
• 6th - Lunch (about 8 kids came upstairs to work and eat)
• 7th - Science - HIV Lesson #2 - What is HIV

Homework:

• Reading - Use the Web A Graphic Organizer to find the main idea of pages 20-23.  The main idea goes in the center, the spokes get filled with "PARAPHRASED" information from each section that supports the main idea.
• Math - GoMath Practice 8.4
• Math - Salamander Math Multiplying Fractions Sheet 1

So Much To Do - So Little Time!

Wow, the days are just falling away as we approach state testing.  Unfortunately, the students who need the most help are the ones who are talking, goofing off, and not paying attention.  I guess it will hit them when they are at summer school that had they worked hard during regular school, they could enjoy their summer and not have to worry about promotion to the new grade.  I have talked to most of the parents at parent night, and sadly, for those most in need, nothing has changed.

I was happy to get back 8 out of the 13 Spring Break Permission slips that were passed out.  Right now I am happy to say that the following people are for sure coming for 3 days of BOOT CAMP to prepare for the ELA and MATH tests:

1. Anthony
2. Adriana
3. Dilenny
4. Albert
5. Emilie
6. Sarah
7. Matthew
8. Norberys

Starting tomorrow I will be giving out permission slips to other students who are interested.  It is only fair that those who are responsible about returning their permission slips get to go.  I can't wait around!

• 1st period - Dance   It is so nice to pick the students up and have the teacher, Mr. Nunez tell me that they were good!  What a great feeling!
• 2nd period - ELA Test Prep and then reading the class novel "The BFG".  Today we read two chapters.  We read "The Giants" and "The Marvelous Ears".  After taking turns reading, we answered a few questions and then gave out a comprehension sheet to see how well the students have been reading along and understanding the text.  (That's homework!)
• 3rd period - ReadyGen 3b.3 - We picked up our homework and took points off on ClassDojo for students who didn't do their homework.  We then read pages 14-19 and discussed the format of the text and how the visuals and the format help the reader understand that information.  After having Dojo randomly pick students to answer questions that dealt with Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - we moved into "What is a volcanologist?" and "What do they do?".  We read a text on a famous Volcanologist and then a short read on what they do.  After reading these texts, they were assigned their Writing Prompt for homework.
• 4th /5th Periods -   GoMath review of 8.1 and 8.2, Checking the Mid-Chapter Checkup paper, and working any missed questions so that students understood any misconceptions.   We then moved into 8.3 which was using models to multiple fractions.  The students really seem to be getting this process so we finished the group and independent work and moved into a review session on converting improper fractions to mixed numbers.  After a quick review, students paired up and got to work.  After checking them, we passed out homework to further practice this skill.
• 6th Period - Lunch
• 7th Period - Letters went home yesterday informing parents about the mandated HIV Lessons that would be taught this week.  Parents were to send a letter back to the school if they wanted their child to not have these lessons.  Since I didn't get any back, we started lesson 1 (of 5) today with the students.  The topic today was "What causes diseases?" and "How does the Immune System protect the body from diseases?"  We talked a lot about vocabulary and then the path a disease takes without immunization, and the path a disease takes with immunization.  

Homework:

• Reading:  Comp Quiz - The BFG The Witching Hour - The Marvelous Ears
• Writing:  RACE Writing Prompt - What does a volcanologist do? 
• Math 
• GoMath Practice Book 8.3
• Salamander Math - Converting Improper Fraction to Mixed Numbers Sheet 2

Just 10 Teaching Days Left...

Can you believe it...

This week (5 days)
Next week (4 days)
After Spring Break (1 day)

This is literally MAKE IT or BREAK IT time in terms of getting last minute style and technique ready for how to answer questions to get the most points possible....

No time for games!

• 1st - ELA Test Prep and then Class Novel - The BFG.   We read three chapters today: Snatched, The Cave, and The BFG.  We learned a great deal about the setting, the two main characters, and what the BFG stands for "The Big Friendly Giant".  After they finished reading, I challenged them to look at the description of Giant Country on pages 21 and 22 and then create a drawing of it.  They came out pretty nice, so nice that I hung them up in the room!  Good job little ones using the text to create an image.
• 2nd - Dance:  All but three boys behaved and they seemed to have a great dance class.
• 3rd/4th - ReadyGen 3b.2 - Using visuals to better understand the text.  We read chapter 1 of the Anatomy of a Volcano and then went over using the visuals to better understand the text.  We learned about the layers of the earth, how plates move, and the difference between convergent and divergent plates.  
• 5th- GoMath review of 8.1.  Then we did a mini-lesson and completed 8.2.  After the mini-lesson students completed their assignments and we then did the practice page to make sure that all was well.
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - Finish GoMath by checking the practice page. Go over the the Math Test Prep from the weekend and pass out the new Test Prep Packet.  We did the first few problems and assigned the homework problem.   Finally we changed gears to Social Studies and we talked about the expectations of the poster they are creating for their 13 colony project.  We went over what I wanted to see, and the difference between a "project" and a "learning poster".   I don't want paragraphs - I want bullet points that are clear and concise.  People should learn all they need to know about your colony in less than 5 minutes.  

Homework:

• Reading - Three Column Chart collecting key ideas and details from pages 6 and 7 about the Crust, Mantle, and Core.  (Using visuals to better understand the text)
• Writing:  Use the diagram on pages 14 -15 to sketch an active volcano and label the parts using the diagram as a guide. (Using visuals to better understand the text)
• Math - Chapter 8 Mid-Chapter Check-Up

Saturday Academy Lunch Break

Saturday Academy is from 9AM - 1PM and we have 13 kids showing up to get ready for the State Tests....

We do about 90 minutes of ELA, 90 Minutes of Math, some computer time, and of course SNACK TIME....

Today during snack time the kids asked if they could listen to Living For Love and I said.. Oh, she was on Ellen... wanna see!!!

There is absolutely nothing cuter than my 4th graders trying to VOGUE!!!

Spring Is Here!

Or so we thought....

Yes, the day was marked by SNOW almost all day starting around 11AM....

A Turtle Pen from Catalina :-)

• 1st - We did our Test Prep for ELA and then started a new class novel called "THE BFG".  We read the first two chapters which show the mood of the story and introduce the main characters - Sophie and the BFG.  The kids didn't want to stop reading, so that is a good sign!
• 2nd - Science
• 3rd - ReadyGen 3B - Lesson 1 - We started a new unit and new Nonfiction text "Anatomy of a Volcano".  We focused on what makes a nonfiction text a nonfiction text.
• 4th - Review of Chapter 7 in GoMath by looking at specific test questions from Unit 7 Test.
• 5th - Chapter 7 Performance Task.
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - GoMath 8.1 - Multiplying fractions using unit fractions.

Homework:

• Practice with adding and subtracting fractions
• Practice with converting mixed numbers and improper fractions
• GoMath Practice Book 8.1

Friday Good Behavior Lunch Bunch!

Parent Teacher Conference Day/Night

It was so nice to meet with so many of you tonight!

• In the afternoon session 11 parents showed up.  
• 
  
• In the night session 13 parents showed up.
• 
  
• 1 parent told me yesterday that she would have to meet me next week.

Most teachers would be happy with 24(25) out of 28... but me, not so much!!!

What I see is 3 parents I didn't get to meet with.

The alarming part is that one of them is a new student and I haven't met the family yet.

Even more alarming is the other two I have not met their parents all year.  They have not come to any of the open school events.

I will be contacting you three to see if you can come in and participate in your child's education. 

Half Day Activities

Today was an odd day!  7-8 students didn't come to school today.  Parents - even when it is a half day, we are still in school.  When you allow your student to skip the day, that means they are behind.  Today we had a Math Performance Task and now your students are behind in math.  I wanted to start our new unit is ReadyGen, but with 1/3 of the class absent, we did review and test prep....  The only way for your child to show progress is to be present and participate!   COME TO SCHOOL!

• 1st - prepping room for parent teacher conferences - cleaned up our desks, straightened up the areas of the room that needed it, and fixed up the library.   We collected books from the last ReadyGen Unit (Earthquakes) and passed out the new class novel "The BFG" and the new ReadyGen Nonfiction text "Anatomy of Volcanoes".
• 2nd - Test Prep ELA - We read two articles on the Dust Bowl and then talked went into answering short response questions.  Again, the format is super easy to remember:
• R - Restate the question in the form of a statement
• A - Answer the question by making a claim or stating your opinion
• C - Cite your evidence either by paraphrasing or directly quoting from the text
• E - Explain how the evidence you used proves your answer
• 3rd - Math Performance Task - We spent the period going over each question step by step.  We talked about what exactly each question was asking, the steps to solve it, and how to check each answer.  Tomorrow they will be given the performance task to make sure they are able to do the problems on their own.  
• We went to lunch at 11:00 AM.
• After lunch we had to have the safety officers check all the students backpacks because unfortunately one of the students discovered that the $29 dollars they had brought to school for the book fair was missing from their desk.  The safety officers checked all their bags and didn't find the missing money.  I sincerely hope that one of our students didn't take it.  I would hate to think that I couldn't trust one of my McSmarties.  Parents - if you see that your child suddenly has $29 dollars, let me us know.  This is also a great time to talk to your kids about keeping money and valuables in safe places, not in your desk.

Homework:

1. Bring your parents to Parent Teacher Conferences
2. Short Response Answer from ELA Test Prep
3. Question in Math Test Prep

Wrapping Up Units of Study...

Still fighting my cold... so excuse the lack of post as of late... as I get better, they will get back on track!

Since the students finished module A of Unit 3 in ReadyGen, yesterday was all about writing their performance task opinion writing.  Some of the students did a really good job.  Students #6 and #11 were out yesterday, so I still need their papers, but students 7, 8, and 27 were at school and did not turn their papers in.  They have until Friday and then it is a zero and I wont say another word about it.
We are also wrapping up our study of adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators.  The students are OK with most of it, until they have to borrow from the whole number when subtracting, or have an improper fraction in the answer and have to convert it.  The unit test is Wednesday and the PBA is on Thursday (Half Day) so we better clear up any misunderstandings quickly!

Today:

• 1st - Dance - Since the dance teacher has been complaining about their behavior, I decided to take my work into the auditorium and sit in.  There are 3-4 boys who think that Dance Class means play around on the stage.  I will update you on specifics during Parent Teacher Conferences.
• 2nd - ELA Test Prep and Book Clubs
• 3rd/4th - GoMath review 7.1 - 7.9.  We went over all the "reteach" sections and talked about any misunderstandings. Again, we went very well until we got around 7.6 - 7.9.   The kids are good with the basic adding and subtracting, but when they have to convert or borrow, they freak out.  It isn't as hard as they think it is.  They need to relax and work the process and steps. Upon completing the review, students ripped out the Chapter 7 End of Chapter Review/Test and started working on it.  They have to finish it tonight for homework so we can go over any misunderstandings before they take their test.  After this, we are moving into multiplying and dividing fractions and then decimals.   We have like 2-3 weeks before the State Math Test!  No time for goofing around in math!
• 5th - Arts and Crafts / Social Studies:  We started by making some "sale" signs for the upcoming Bake Sale on Thursday for the PTA.  After they completed their sign, they were given a Four Leaf Clover.  On one side, they had to write down a wish they had.  On the other side we glitter glue their name.  Tomorrow we will put them on the door and have a door of wishes.  I told the kids not to share their wishes!  They are for them only!  After they did their 4 Leaf Clover - they got to work with their partners for the 13 colony projects.
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - 13 Colony Projects continued.  I printed out flags for them to add to their poster about their colony. Today was the last day they had research time.  Tomorrow they compile their research and create their learning poster about their colony.  They will share their posters Thursday on our half day!

Homework:

• Math Chapter 7 Review/Test
• ELA Test Prep 
• St. Patrick's Day Story, Poem, and Word Search Packet

Friday in Room #401

Hey Everyone!!!

I want to apologize for the lack of blogging recently.  I have been fighting a very bad cold all week and I have to admit, it got the better of me.  I was too tired for much of anything once I got home, just trying to rest and get better.

I am feeling a little better, but not great!  I talked to my doctor and he said something is going around and it seems to be taking two weeks to run its course, so looks like I have another week of feeling like I am about to drop at any minute!

Today was a pretty good day all in all!  We are in the process of wrapping up units so we are reviewing and getting ready for tests and performance tasks.  Heads up that students will have to do a written performance task IN CLASS on Monday (just 45 minutes) to complete from start to finish.  We have done plenty of reviewing and pre-writing so they should ok.  This is GREAT practice for their essay writing for the state test, which is quickly rushing up on us!

• 1st - Test Prep ELA - we read a story about The Silver on the Hearth (a folktale) and then we broke it down paragraph by paragraph.  Then we looked at the written response question and talked about what exactly it needed and we wrote a RACE response together.  They have one problem from their packet to do for homework before collecting it on Monday.
• 2nd - Science with Ms. Galan.  I got a bad report on their behavior.  :-(
• 3rd - ReadyGen Lesson 3A.17 and 18 Combo.  The lessons centered on using the text to review information they have worked with over the course of the unit so we combined them and made a game out of it.  The students were really engaged and earned lots of Class Dojo points for correct answers.  We had two Team Talk sessions where they broke into teams and talked about the "big question" posed to the class.  They had to form an opinion as a group and support it with text details.  Again, we had great fun reviewing all four texts we have used in this A module and they got to start working on their performance task by thinking of how the texts were alike and different and which one had the most impact.  We ended by looking at the performance task in the book and talking about what they need to do on Monday - 5 paragraph essay!  They were told to review the two texts they want to use for their essay this weekend and make a list of how they are alike in one column, and how they are not alike in the other.  
• 4th - Math Review for sessions 7.6, 7.7 and 7.8.   Then the kids had a quiz where they had to work one problem from each section, solve it, and then explain their steps for solving the problem.  We finished by having our "switch" math where kids rotate through math stations to work on the skills they have covered this week.  We will be doing 7.9 on Monday and 7.10 on Tuesday, and take the Chapter 7 Test on Wednesday and the PBA on  Thursday on our half day!
• 5th - Friday Math Test Prep was quick.  Then we were supposed to Waggle , but the library was locked due to setting up the Book Fair so we broke into study buddies and the kids worked on their 13 colonies projects.  A few kids decided it was more important to go online to look at shoes on footlocker.  Again, I took pictures of their search history and will talk to those parents during parent conferences.  
• 6th - Lunch!   Congratulations to Jadah for getting the most Dojo points this week.  She racked up 21 points this week!  Sean, Briannie, Catalina, and Dilenny came in close seconds with 19 points.   We had our pizza party to celebrate while 7 of our classmates ate their school lunch on the other side of the classroom in silence for Lunch Detention.   When the pizza party group finished, they went across the hall to help the librarian set up the book fair!  They are such good helpers!  I stayed in the room with the lunch detention kids.  :-(
• 7th - We watched the PBS American Experience documentary "The Great San Francisco Earthquake" so the children could experience this unit in yet another outlet.  The documentary allowed them to see San Francisco in all its glory before the earthquake and then after.  The devastation was made even more real when these old people talked about being a kid during the time and hearing what it was like.. losing everything, even parents.  I heard the kids say a lot of "wow's" as we watched.... 

I will see my 13 kids tomorrow for Saturday Academy.  I will be bringing Vanilla, Strawberry, and Chocolate frosted donuts again!  See you at 9AM!  Bring something to snack on because you will get hungry from all the learning we will be doing!

Homework:

• ELA and Math Test Prep Questions
• Writing:  Review the two texts you wish to use (out of the 4) for the Performance Task you will be working on on Monday.  After reviewing, make a list of how they are alike and different.  You will use these to write your paper on Monday!
• Reading:  Read 30-45 minutes so you can take AR Test!

Day 4 of this cold...

7 - 10 days right.. that is the duration of a common cold...  Ok, so it started Saturday so I should be done with it between Friday and Monday.... It better run its course quick because I am trying to have a spotless attendance record!

• 1st - DANCE - 4 or 5 kids still causing problems for Mr. Nunez.... 3 girls, 2 boys!  :-(   I will talk to you next week at Parent Night and let you know what has been going on!
• 2nd - Test Prep ELA and Book Clubs.  My group was able to get 3 chapters read today.  Upon completion, groups filled out the exit slip of their choice for their daily reading grade.
• 3rd - ReadyGen Lessons 3A.13 and 14 combined.  We read the next text which was a myth about how earthquakes happen (Poseiden, the God of the Sea).  After making sure we understood all the symbolism in the story and it made sense, then we went back to work on lesson 13 for the writing.  Students worked very hard today to take the pre-writing they did yesterday and for homework to make their draft today.  We broke down the task and made sure they all understood what they had to do
• Intro (with a hook, name the two texts used, and then the three things they would be discussing)
• Body Paragraph 1 (Comparing the two texts)
• Body Paragraph 2 (Contrasting the two texts)
• Body Paragraph 3 (Which text had more impact)
• Conclusion (sum up your work)
• The kids were working so well that I put on our class song and let them listen to the music softly while they worked.    Of course, a few students decided to just sit there and not write, but that will reflect in their grade and their possible non-promotion to 5th grade.  If you don't write, you don't move on!
• 4th / 5th - Test Prep math and then we reviewed making converting mixed numbers to improper fractions and then how to convert improper fractions back to mixed numbers.  1/2 the class HAS IT, the other half is either mentally blocked or not trying.  We went on to do our lesson 7.6 again and really look at what we have to do when we add mixed numbers that result in a fraction and improper fraction.   It was really challenging for some, others got it right away.  We are going to take a PAUSE here and do another day on the same skill.

• 6th - Lunch -  It was one of the shortest lunches they have had all year!   They kept talking each time we lined up so we kept coming back in, sitting down, and putting our heads down.  I then picked them up early so we could have time to work in groups 7th period.  Don't worry, they had 30 minutes of their 50 minutes!
• 7th period - After 5 minutes of quiet time (again, for talking in the hallway), I released partners to work on their 13 colony projects.  They worked pretty well (just a few issues with some people who didn't like following rules.. again, we will talk at parent night!)

Homework:

1. ELA and Math Test Prep Question
2. Finish DRAFT from Writing
3. Math Reteach 7.5

When They Get It Right.... No Place I'd Rather Be!!!

Let's Dance!

Two Steps Forward - One Step Back....

I have to admit, the kids were much better for me today.  This is the group of students I look forward to working with each day.  Of course, there are a few people, a couple who are new to the room, who still haven't gotten with the program completely, but I can say I enjoyed today.

Now, when they went to Dance and Lunch... that is a different story.....  In Dance class, two young ladies and one young man made it virtually impossible for the teacher to teach.  In lunch four young men and one young lady thought it was OK to have a food fight... There will be some phone calls made for sure!

• 1st period we had Test Prep and we read a new article "Klondike Nuggets" and then broke down the first two questions that come with it.   The students seem so capable of answering the questions during discussion.  What happens when they have to read the text themselves and read the questions and answer themselves?  It means that they are not closely reading the text.  They are not breaking the questions down, eliminating the answers that make no sense.  They are not being careful and consistent.   They need to slow down, concentrate, and do their best each and every time they attempt anything.   After we finished dissecting the two problems, we looked at their homework and then broke into Book Clubs.  At the end of Book Clubs, they filled out their Exit Slips.
• 2nd period was Dance.  When I picked them up, I noticed two girls sitting in the audience, one saw me and covered her face.  TALKING when the teacher was trying to instruct.  During dismissal from the stage, one of the boys refused to listen to the teacher and yelled back.  I was so embarrassed that one of my kids would do that.

• 3rd period - After a quick read aloud and AR testing, we moved to ReadyGen lesson 3A.12 and finished the text Quake!   The big push today was looking at other ways to say words (synonyms) and how to prepare to write an opinion paper.  After we finished reading, we talked about different ways to say "SAY" or "SAID" ...... We then talked about pre-writing and I gave them a prompt and they created a graphic organizer to compare and contrast Earthquakes and Quake!  One is nonfiction, the other fiction.  They both tell about earthquakes in totally different ways.  Today and tonight, they have to write down how each explains earthquakes so they can decided which did it in a more powerful way and form their opinion. 

• 4th period we reviewed where we have been so far in chapter 7 of GoMath and then looked at 7.6 again (working with improper fractions and mixed numbers and how and why we need to be able to convert and use both.  We had student teachers (the kids) come up and explain the process and their thinking.
• 5th period - about half way through fifth period we finished GoMath and headed across the hall for the students to work on Waggle ELA.
• 6th period - lunch
• 7th period - After a class read aloud and AR testing, we talked about the Social Studies projects and what was expected.  For the next three days during SS time (7th) - they will work to complete their project and create their poster for presenting on Friday.  Their work starts tonight with labeling a map of the 13 colonies.

Homework:

1. Writing - Continue to take notes, facts, quotes about Earthquakes and Quakes on how they show what happens during earthquakes (compare and contrast)
2. Math - GoMath Practice 7.6
3. Social Studies - Label and Color Code the 13 Colonies Map
4. Test Prep - ELA and Math Questions

Saturday Academy

I got back 9 permission slips today!  A few of you said you didn't get it signed yet and a few of you had already left before they were sent home.  The final 3-4 need to make sure they bring it signed tomorrow!

9:00 - Meet in lunchroom
9:10 - Head to our classroom
9:10-9:15 - doughnut and pass out work
9:15 - 10:30 - Rally! ELA Test Prep Practice
10:30 - 10:50- Waggle  ELA
10:50- 11:10 - Snack / Break / Bathroom
11:10- 12:30-  Rally! MATH Test Prep Practice
12:30 - 12:50 - Waggle Math
12:50 - 1:00 - Wrap Up/ Clean Up/ Head Downstairs
1:00 - Dismissal

This is NOT playtime.  Students who think it is, please stay home!  Parents, if your child decides to not be an active, productive participant, I will call you so you can come get them!  Also, only students who have the permission slip marked as going home alone will be released at 1PM.. others will wait to be picked up by parents.

I encourage you to bring a bottle of water and something extra to snack on as we learn.  It is a long day of learning and we don't have a water fountain.  I don't know what the snack the school provides looks like, so bring something extra just in case!  

Finally....

I wont say that the kids are back to the kids I had BEFORE break... but today was the best day we have had it two weeks...  Yesterday just about did me in... of course, I think it was a full moon, so maybe we have cosmically turned a corner...

NOW... Down to business!

• 1st period we had ELA test Prep first thing.  Kids came to the meeting area and we read the article together.  We looked at how the text was structured and how the structure helped us understand the text.   Then we looked at the constructed response question and we talked about how to use the question to answer the question.  We then went back into the text and found our "answer" and our evidence to support it.   After Test Prep - the kids broke into Book Clubs and read for 20/25 minutes.   They ended the session by filling out an 'exit' slip.  
• 2nd period - Science with Ms. Galan
• 3rd period - Today's we read pages 16-19 in our text QUAKE!  We focused on being able to recall key ideas and details.  We also worked on how the author provides information and evidence that allows the reader to understand the characters more in-depth.   Our writing also focused around pulling evidence from the text to write an opinion paragraph about the main character Jacob.  For homework they had a half page writing prompt that I gave them.
• 4th period - We started with Math Test Prep and then moved into GoMath 7.6 which focused on adding with fractions to make mixed numbers and taking a mixed number and converting it back to a fraction (improper fraction).  The kids really enjoyed that they could see it by looking at the fraction models and do the algorithm.  We will do more practice with this on Monday, but we got a lot of practice today and for homework they did the Mid-Chapter Check Up!
• 5th period - STAR ELA Test!  When they were done they were allowed to work on Waggle ELA.
• 6th - Lunch.   Table 1 had the most point this week, but sadly two of the boys at the table had to change their strips multiple times this week and today so they were not invited back to the room for the celebration.  Since the group was really small, I asked them to think of one student who really deserved something special and they decided to invite Briannie back for lunch with their winning table!

• 7th period - We had a town hall meeting with all the 4th and 5th grade students where they talked with Mrs. Landin and Mr. Hernandez about getting ready for the state tests, classwork, and portfolios.  That working hard now would mean they didn't have to partake in summer school and worrying about promotion to the next grade level.  I hope the town hall meeting got them focused, excited, and ready to learn!

Homework:

• ELA Test Prep CR Question / Math Test Prep Question
• Writing: Writing Prompt on the character Jacob
• Math:  Chapter 7 Mid-Point Check Up
• 
  

SNOWY THURSDAY

What a yucky start to the day....

• 1st - Test Prep ELA we went over two questions and went back to the text and dug around for clues to help us solve the questions.  After that, we broke into our Book Club groups and read.  My group is about half way into our Wayside School novel.  The kids really enjoy the author's writing style and humor.
• 2nd - ReadyGen 3A.10 - we started talking about how the author writes using his senses.  That was the big focus as we read pages 14-16 in the Quake! text.  
• 3rd - Science with Ms. Galan (Mr. Hoffman was not in today, so the kids got to have science!)
• 4th - STAR MATH TESTING
• 5th - Finished ReadyGen and then moved into GoMath 7.5.  Today the focus was solving word problems with addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators.  
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - Finished Math and then cleaned the room.

It is always sad when we don't get to finish everything we have planned for the day.  Maybe it was the weather, but the kids were not so enjoyable to teach:  lots of bickering, arguing, talking, and not wanting to be productive.  We had many kids show up late today (due to the snow), and many kids leave early (also due to snow!) The sad part is we have 5 weeks before the state test so we don't have time for this.  I left today feeling defeated and unhappy.  

Ups and Downs....

Wednesdays signify the halfway point of the week.... The rain however made the commute to work not so pleasant... Oh well, we must carry on right!

• 1st - Science with Ms. Galan
• 2nd - Test Prep ELA / instead of Book Clubs - Nonfiction Short Reads and AR Tests
• 3rd - ReadyGen Lesson 3A.9
• 4th - Math Test Prep - Review GoMath 7.3
• 5th - GoMath 7.4 - Solving subtraction with fraction tiles
• 6th - Lunch
• 7th - Social Studies - Words in Bold for Chapter 5 and then students picked partners for a social social research project on the 13 colonies.  

Homework:

• ELA and Math Test Prep (one question each packet)
• Math - Practice 7.4
• Reading - read your independent reading book

Making Discoveries About Adding Fractions

The Talking Has Got to Stop!!!  That is the theme of the day in Room #401.   There are a small group of boys who are having a hard time growing up and being positive, active participants in class.  I hope that in two weeks when we have parent/teacher conferences, we can have some discussions and move forward on better terms.

Regardless of these little interruptions, we managed to get a great amount of work done.  Here is what our jammed packed day looked like:

• 1st - Dance with Mr. Nunez.  We got a better report today than we did yesterday.  
• 2nd - Test Prep for ELA and then Book Clubs for the other half of the period.
• 3rd - ReadyGen Lesson 3A.8 with a focus on similes and metaphors to help paint pictures in writing so the reader gets a better understanding of the events.  Figurative language is so important so the more they are exposed to it, the better they will understand fiction writing and the more voice their own writing will have.  We also continued to work on writing opinion pieces and the steps to completing an opinion prompt.  Today we did a 10 minute quick write where they had to explain a simile and then form and opinion about it.  I can't wait to read their results.
• 4th - GoMath 7.3 with a focus on adding fractions with models.  Today was about exploration so I did very little "teaching" and more walking around and listening.  I like these days!  I hope they are formulating their own personal understanding of adding fractions!  We ended the session with a little math quiz to check for understanding followed by their vocabulary quiz (BAM! - back to back!) Each was actually quite short and they had plenty of time to study!
• 5th - Test prep for Math and then the rest of the period we went to the library to WAGGLE math.
• 6th - Lunch (after 3 attempts - they wouldn't stop talking so we returned to class and put our heads down and tried again, and again, and again!)
• 7th - Social Studies - Chapter 4 review and test!

Homework:

• ELA and Math Test Prep (1 questions each)
• Math - Practice Book 7.3
• Reading - Independently for 30-45 minutes!

Slowing Getting Back on Track!

Monday Monday....

• 1st period - Test Prep - collected the first week package, close read the new article "a play", looked at the parts in depth, then answered the two questions in depth.  Afterward, we broke into Book Clubs for 25 minutes which ended with students doing exit slips.
• 2nd period - Dance with Mr. Nunez.  Five of the boys are making it impossible for Mr. Nunez to teach.  I will be calling parents to talk to you about their bad manners and poor decisions.
• 3rd period - ReadyGen 3A.7 - Today we started a new fiction piece in our text collection called QUAKE!  Unlike our last text "Earthquake" which was an informative, nonfiction piece, Quake is a fiction place that will take us into a story that will teach us about earthquakes.  So far we have already been introduced to Jacob, his dad Itzak, his sister, and his dog.  We know that they are in San Francisco and live in a boardinghouse.  We also know that the first subtitle is Dawn of Destruction.  We spent most of the time talking about the written clues the author gives us so we can figure things out.  This process is called making inferences.  The kids even spotted a simile in the text (our skill from last week!).   We also did a lot of closing our eyes and listening to the words to see the images that were created (IMAGERY).  
• 4th period - GoMath 7.2 - we review the process of looking at parts and wholes in fractions to compare fractions (7.1) and today we looked at getting sums with like fractions.  We focused on unit fractions 1/2  1/3  1/4  etc... one out of four... one being the UNIT for the fourths....  The students noticed there were many ways to get the sums and we had a good time exploring making sums with like fractions.
• 5th period - Math Test Prep (Powers of Ten) 4.NBT.1 - We reviewed that moving one place value up is the equivalent of x 10.. .two places is  x10 x10 or = x100... then we looked at the problem and broke it down to see that going from the tens to the hundreds you are doing x10.   After we reviewed this test prep skill, the kids went across the hall to work on Waggle ELA.
• 6th - Lunch!   Since Friday's lunch group pizza party was a bust thanks to Papa Johns and a glitch in the Iphone App... today we ordered from Domino's and enjoyed our Lunch Bunch for Table 4 who earned the most points last week.
• 7th period - Chapter 4 review!  We reviewed lesson 4.3 from Thursday and then did the chapter review at the end of the chapter.  After completing the chapter on the 13 colonies, I reminded the students to take the summary sheets and vocabulary home to study because they would be having a SS test tomorrow or Wednesday and they needed this grade for their report cards!

Homework:

• Test Prep ELA Question #15
• Test Prep Math Page #11
• Writing - Opinion Response  - "How does Jacob feel about his dog?  Use evidence from the text to support your opinion.
• Math - Practice Book 7.2
• Social Studies - Review Chapter 4 Vocabulary (words in bold) and lesson summaries and chapter check up to study for test!!!