Ms. Leom's Classroom Community Statement:

Ms. Leom's Classroom Community Motto:
YOU Belong.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

To the Head of the Class


With our smart board working, students continue to start Reading by teaching the class. More opportunities are available, and students are purposefully moving "to the head of the class" to share and engage in the learning!! Just wait!! Next week, our students will be teaching Spelling!! (Really! With some support from Ms. Leom).

Love that!!

Vocab

It has been awhile since I last posted. I was looking for ideas ... we are busy learning. Here is what vocabulary looked like today.

Students opened up their blue HERO Home Folders, to their spelling. They found Week 5 words. Ms. Leom handed out the Vocabulary Word Map:
Students had to select one word from their Week 5 Spelling list to research. The words, "ketchup" and "feather" were not options, because Ms. Leom was sure that we all knew what the words meant, and she wants to expand our vocabulary.





Students had access to dictionaries, thesauruses, and Ms. Leom's dictionary app on her iPad - we can't wait until we all have our own iPad's to support our learning!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Biography

We are talking about biographies in class this week, as we continue to practice our main idea and supporting details skills.


As we read, we use main idea and details to develop our comprehension. Using the title, pictures, the first and last line, as well as repeating phrases and ideas can help us word the main idea in our own words. Supporting details should relate to the main idea. 

Friday, October 9, 2015

Friday Night

Friday night ... Ms. Leom style ...

After four and a half hours ... Catching up on all the missing work turned in today and updating it on School-View ... There is still half a pile to go ... and will be left for later Sunday.

 9:10 PM. Let the the weekend begin! :)

Student Centered

Our students are so excited for the opportunity to use the new Promethean board. They nearly vibrate with their excitement. Today we played a game. Students lined up in two lines. Ms. Leom called out a state. The students in the front of the line were asked to write the capital, spelling it to the best of their ability. If they didn't know, they passed the pen to the next person in line. It was a no talking activity. The first person to start writing a realistic letter could finish the word. If the first person's effort was wrong, the other team had a chance.


 We had "West" and "East" teams. This game had us learning how to write on the board, and realizing, we need to work on our states and capitals!! 

So many more student centered Promethean Board learning opportunities to come! We love learning when students are excited and engaged!

Setting Goals

We are taking responsibility for our learning.

First, Ms. Leom introduces our goal and explains the standard we are learning.

Next, she has us rate what we know.

0- I am not making an effort or paying attention.
1- I don't understand the skill at all. I need to ask for help.
2 - I am not sure I am using the skill well or able to explain it. I need to ask questions to clarify.
3 - I can usually use the skill and explain it.
4 - I can model the skill, use it, teach it to someone else, and answer questions. 


On each of our desks, next to our super hero name tag is the scale:


We are encouraged to set a goal, to improve our learning at least one step. Our ultimate goal should be a three or four for every lesson.

After our lesson, and practice (which could take more than one day), we rate ourselves again. We compare our ratings. We ask ourselves questions (in development).

This process is a work in progress. Ms. Leom is giving us some language and opportunities to be active and engaged in our learning. She can be prepared with the best lesson, but if we are at a step 0, passive and not actively working to develop our learning, even her best may not be enough. 

We are setting goals to learn and improve, one lesson at a time. 

We matter. Our learning matters. 

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Book Buddies

Ms. Leom's class started their Book Buddy experience with Mrs. (Michelle) Anderson's first grade class this afternoon! We will meet every other Day 4 from 1:30-1:55 for Book Buddies.














We are already excited and making plans for our next time together!! We love our Reading Buddies!!