Math Flex is a time in our day when students have more support on their math learning and basic skills. Some students have a pull out and attend Title One or other support learning at this time. Some students remain in the classroom. There is usually a whole group activity. If there are students who struggled during the core lesson and practice, Ms. Leom can work individually or in a small with those students to clarify and give direct feedback. Today we played a game.
We have daily classroom meetings. We focus on our social emotional health, bully prevention, celebrating each student, and listening to each student.
Twice a month, we also welcome Mrs. Terhaar to our classroom. Mrs. Terhaar is a school psychologist. She works in a role similar to our social workers, Ms. (Maren) Erickson and Mrs. (Michelle) Stupar. Students who participate in friendship, family change, or other groups would meet with Mrs. Terhaar.
She is using the Second Step materials to explicitly teach us skills that support our learning and health. Today she talked about paying attention. We are respectful When we make eye contact, have our voices off, a calm body, ears to listen, and let our brains focus to pull all the details together. We work to avoid distractions. We can use self talk to help us be successful.
We played another new game this week in Math. We are working on some count-ons. We spread out around the outside of the room. We talked about clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
On the board, we wrote the count-ons. Then we chanted the count-ons until we reached the ten of the count-on (for threes, that would be thirty). We were trying to figure out who was the one left standing. I've played this game for over twenty years, and I am always amazed at how excited students are to play. They jump and and shake in anticipation. It was so fun to hear their laughter, and even though the masks covered their smiles, their eyes sparkled brighter than sparklers on a warm summer night.
When it was all over, and we were lining up for Recess, students wanted to be reassured we would play it again. Can't wait for the next time our learning sparkles bright!
One of the best parts of being a part of a school community, we get to admire the work and learning of the other members.
It is fun to look back and think about ourselves when we were preschoolers. This year for the first time, there are students who want to be clear they didn't attend preschool. We remember they were three and four year olds at one time. It is an important age. We all grow and develop new skills ever the four to five years.
We had our second Friday Fun Day! We walked the edge of our district boarder, along the water and river. This is a special class. There are years I would not consider taking students near the river.
The best part of this walk, we are on the move! We don't stay in one spot for long. The students, run, scamper, look at sticks, rocks, and leaves. They have stories that overflow, and they are so excited to just be.
Love these moments!
On Friday, Mr. Huhta, our music teacher came into class with boom whalers. There is so much movement and action happening! What a great way to start the day!
We took a quick picture of our class on Thursday as Recess was ending. We know all about social distancing. The picture took less than twenty seconds.
Our administrators are involved in our school. They spend a significant part of their school day out of the office and interacting with students. One day this week, Mr. Voshell was in the lunchroom, cleaning tables. Another day, our Recess supervisor wasn't able to be with us, and Mr. Meyer showed up to hang out and play some catch.
This doesn't happen in other schools. Our administration enjoys spending time with our students, and they look forward to opportunities to show up.
We are working on annotating over text. Third grade is the first year of the statewide testing. We want students to go back into the text and find the evidence that supports the answer for the question.
Here is an example of what it looks like when we annotate (write over) the text. We underline the answer, and in the margin, we write the number to correspond with the question.
We also cross out the words of the responses that are not the answers. Every answer was shared in class. We worked together on this learning.
Our Olweus learning is not a one day a week, small part of the day lesson, then it is forgotten about for the rest of our academic learning. It is an all day, everyday experience, and a priority. When students say and act in ways that support respecting, including, and advocating for each other, we recognize it in many ways. Verbally, with character traits postcards, and more. When there is a concern that is raised, it is also addressed as soon as respectfully possible. Olweus and creating a safe classroom and school is part of our climate. It takes all of us and a diligent effort.
This week our Olweus Meeting was about Rule 2: I will try to help students who are being bullied. We watched a BrainpopJr video on bullying. We focused on the ways we could help.
Although our iPads are not available yet, Ms. Leom was able to find a way to have us start working on Xtra Math in class. We are using the desktop computers. Within two days, every student had their turn. We are working on our timing, spacing, and cleaning. It was a big motivator and exciting this week.
In the first week of school, we took a writing sample. Students were asked to write about their first week of school. We brainstormed ideas on the board. Students were invited to write. Most made a list of short phrase.
In week two, we learned all about sentences. Sentences have subjects and predicates. At the end of week two, we took a second writing sample of our second week of learning. Again we brainstormed ideas. Students wrote sentences.
In week three, we learned about paragraphs. We started with Stoplight Paragraphs. We had a visual. Then Ms. Leom modeled what it might look like.
This week, before we read our texts, we introduced our vocabulary. Students wrote the words on their desks, so they have a close up visual as we read.
