Just Because

Sometimes, it is nice to see your child learning ... Just because it is your child, and she or he matters!

Here are some images of our spelling peer practice this morning ... 

Even Ms. Leom's desk is available for learning ... Best part, the students KNEW and didn't even need to ask! They just got organized and started their learning!! Love that!! 

I always think a chair would be most comfortable, and I appreciate how students kneel, stand, sit on chairs, the counter, the floor ... in a way comfortable to them at that moment, and learn. 

I appreciate how our classroom has found our own culture. It is a special place!

There were more picture opportunities ... that I missed to provide support to student learning. My first priority is caring for students and keeping them safe, followed by our learning goals. Just because ... Our students matter!

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Mr. Garber has started his annual caroling this morning with members of his band.

They stood outside Mr. Greninger's classroom and greeted us as we entered the building. What a festive way to start our day!!

Even better, next year, this could be us!! Fourth graders learn about being apart of the band at the end of the year. Stay tuned!

The Southeast

We started our learning about the Southeast Region in Social Studies. On the first day, we took the states and capitals pretest. That latest two minutes, then we used our time to identify the states and capitals of the Southeast. Students brought home a copy with the answers and a copy they can use to practice from.

The second day of this unit, Ms. Leom introduced the SE Questions. We went through the first page together.

First, Ms. Leom has us organize our work space so we can be successful. All of our materials are neatly stacked on the name tag. Our SE Information Packet and SE Questions are placed side by side in front of us. We write our names in the top right corners. We label the packets, "SE Info" and "SE Questions" in the left hand corner, so we are all using the same terms.

SE Info Packet

Next, we read take a "pretest". Ms. Leom reads all the question in the boxes, and we mark a "T" for true or a "F" for false in the "before" column. These are not graded. Ms. Leom wants us to think about what we are learning and see what we know.

Then, we reread all the questions, and we highlight the key words in the questions. These are the "bigger" words or important words. Although "Southeast" and "Region" are more specific words, we do not highlight these words, because the whole packet is about this topic. Ms. Leom is helping our brains focus on the information we need to know.

highlighting the key words on the SE Questions

Now, we are ready to read and learn. We begin reading the information packet, one paragraph at a time. We are using our reading strategies we are learning about in class; such as, asking questions, visualizing, determining important information, making inferences ...

When we find one of the answers, related to the key words we highlighted in the question, we read carefully. We reread the question and reread the text. We answer carefully and neatly. When we answer the open ended questions, we underline or highlight the key words in the question. We use these phrases to reword the questions in our answers. Then we add the answers from the text.

We use these steps for the entire front page together. We will work independently and with partners in class. Ms. Leom expects we should finish near two pages by the end of class (front and back). Ms. Sherri and our high school helper, Jon, are sitting with students in class, offering support. Ms. Leom starts class work time by walking around, giving reminders and feedback. The last five minutes of class, she pulled two students to her table to offer more support. A third student was invited, and there was room for more students. As she worked at her table, she continued to monitor the class. Someone was moved to the purple table to help avoid distractions. Students will have at least one more full day to complete the last two pages (they work faster independently and in pairs than in the whole group, when they are on track) and part of a third day if needed.

SE Questions - answers for the first page

The expectations are clearly provided for the class. A reasonable amount of class time is available. Students who need more support are able to receive the help they need. All students have the access to being successful.

Ms. Leom is assess these packets when students finish. Students are welcome to make corrections and return to LEARN and improve their scores. Students should keep these packets in their Social Studies' folder. They will be able to use this information on their Southeast Test.

We study the five regions of the United States. This is our second region. Students are getting into the groove of this learning.

Potential

Everyday, my students walk into class and I SEE their many talents and gifts. I see their potential. It isn't on a test score. It is not found on-line on a grade. Those numbers communicate specific skills on a certain day. The numbers and grades have value and allow us to communicate details about student's learning progress ... and they are small fractions of a whole child. Sometimes parents, teachers, and the community think teachers forget about the whole child, those talents and character traits that make them gifted humans and talented in ways that matter. I only have to spend time and talk with my students every day, all day, to see the magic of their being.

Then, I get the added bonus to watch these same children grow up and fly ...

They are high school helpers, volunteering in the classroom (and in awe of how far they have traveled as students) ... they are on the swim team, just wrapping up their season ... they are on the basketball team ... they are in the band playing at sporting events and their own performances ... they are directing the junior high play with their best friend ... in the the high school announcements for honor society ... or sitting across from me in a staff meeting, a teaching peer. 

high school helper extraordinaire

Which one was a student and is now a teaching peer?

swimmers and divers at their swim banquet

ninth grade basketball

band at the junior varsity and varsity girls basketball games

junior high one act play directors

  

junior high one act play

Each of my students are amazing, incredible, and special. I don't need a test score, grade, or list to tell me. I am working to help develop the skills and prepare them for where their individual magic inspires them to define their world. These were just moments from one week of my life. So thankful and proud to be part of the Milaca Schools and the Milaca Community. We are part of magic, one individual at a time.

I took in at least five Milaca School activities this week. You might note that this week was a stronger girl-centered events or that at least two of the events feature one of my children ... that was this week. After nineteen years of being in the Milaca Schools, my children have attended more school board meetings, youth football games, baseball games, cross country meets, dance recitals, concerts ... so many options, too many to attend everything, and just enough to see the magic continue. 

I have the best job ever!

Dimes for Decemeber

Ms. Willman and Mrs. Juntunen's fifth grade classes began their Dimes for December project this week.

Families donated materials. Students built gingerbread "houses", and students and staff can use money to help determine our favorites sugar designs. ALL money collected goes to our Dimes for December project to collect money and gifts for our local families for the holidays. This is a favorite. Located right outside the Media Center, there is a lot of traffic. 

You would think the biggest worry would be about the money ... in reality, students pull the glued-on candy off the displays and eat it!! Staff are on hand to oversee the displays and keep everything intact. 

Fourth graders may bring in their lose change this week. Ms. Leom and Mr. Greninger secure it. It is a great opportunity to support our community. 

Captured

Fourth graders are thrilled to be using their iPads. Today, we had a new application.

 We took captured images of our notes on the board, then returned to our space and neatly wrote our notes.

An important POINT OF VIEW!

We learned today that our cameras have an educational purpose, beyond the opportunity to take selfies or pictures of our random interests. This strategy helps all students, no matter where they sit in the room.

Capturing our learning and making it our own.

Posted Thanks

This week, we learned the parts of a friendly letter. There is the date, the greeting, the body (which we indent), the closure, and our signature. Using our newfound knowledge, we wrote thank you letters to our Thanksgiving dinner hosts. We were able to apply the writing process: rough draft, editing, revising, final draft, and even publishing. Today, our lesson was about filling out an envelope.

But the truly magical moment was the minute that Ms. Leom announced it was time. Time to mail our completed cards.

The energy level was visible as we walked down the hallway. Ms. Leom had to stop and "reorganize" us along the way, so we weren't distracting all the classrooms we passed as we practically floated and danced down the hallway to the office.

Ms. Leom took a minute to explain how mail works - we were worried about not putting the stamp on it - and then we were thrilled to post our letters.

So THANKFUL for this great group of students and all the fun we have learning!