The Week Ahead 9/14-9/18
The first week of school was terrific!
We accomplished my three main goals for the week, which were to (1) get to know
each other, (2) make sure each student understands the classroom expectations,
and (3) get some baseline data on student present levels in reading, writing,
spelling, and math. I am hoping to finish collecting the baseline data next
week as well as begin with some of the curriculum.
The best way that I know how to improve student performance in reading is to have them read. In an effort to encourage students to read, they will be bringing home a Weekly Reading Log beginning this Monday. These will be sent home each Monday, and are due the following Monday. The expectation for the beginning of the year is that students read at least 30 minutes on four separate days within a seven day span. After the students have completed their reading they will write a brief summary to demonstrate comprehension of what they read that day. This week in class we talked about how there are three different types of books. There are (1) too easy books, (2) too hard books, and (3) just right books. In order for the time that a student spends reading to be beneficial for them, they should be reading just right books. Next week I will complete reading assessments with each child so I can make sure they are reading just right books. Students will come home with their first reading logs on Monday, 9/14. Those reading logs will be due the following Monday, 9/21.
Our first writing unit will be focusing on narrative writing. Last week students completed an on-demand assessment so I could get an idea of their current narrative writing abilities. They had 45 minutes to write me the best narrative story they could. At the end of the writing unit students will do the same on-demand assessment and we will get to see the growth that they make over the course of the unit.
In addition to the on-demand writing assessment from last week, students took a spelling pre-assessment, so I could create spelling groups. Each Monday students will get a spelling packet. That packet will be due the following Monday. They will also be tested on their spelling words the day they turn their packet in. Students will get their first spelling packet on Monday, 9/14. The packet will be due the following Monday, 9/21. They will also take their test on Monday, 9/21.
In math students took some fact fluency pretests this week. They also took a placement test on a website called Moby Max. This website is a great tool. It takes the results of each child and assigns them lessons based on their mastery of concepts. Students can access the website from home at https://www.mobymax.com/or1248. To sign in they will need to their unique username, which is just their first name and then 2015. They will need to make sure to use all lower case letters for the name and include no spaces between their name and the number 2015. The password for everyone in the class is blanc. Again, in the password, blanc must be spelling with all lower case letters. I am able to see all of the lessons that students complete at home on Moby Max. I was thrilled to see that there are already a few students who have worked on lessons at home! On Monday we will begin our math curriculum, which is called Engage New York. We will be working on a lesson each day. Students will get 15-20 minutes in class to work on their math lesson. If a math lesson isn't finished in class, it is homework. If your child gets their math lesson done in class and you want them to work on math at home, I encourage you to have them do lessons on Moby Max.
All 4th graders have been given a planner in an effort to help them take accountability for keeping track of their work this year. Students will be expected to take the planner home each night and have it with them at school each day. It is a great way for parents to check in with their student.
If you have not yet returned the paperwork from the office or the Classroom Management Plan for our class, please send them back to school on Monday. If you have any questions after looking at the Classroom Management Plan, please don't hesitate to contact me.
As you can see, we had a very busy first week of school! One reason I am incredibly excited about this group is that we accomplished so much last week, but we also were able to have lots of fun. I'm looking forward to working with this great group of children this year!
Upcoming Dates
The best way that I know how to improve student performance in reading is to have them read. In an effort to encourage students to read, they will be bringing home a Weekly Reading Log beginning this Monday. These will be sent home each Monday, and are due the following Monday. The expectation for the beginning of the year is that students read at least 30 minutes on four separate days within a seven day span. After the students have completed their reading they will write a brief summary to demonstrate comprehension of what they read that day. This week in class we talked about how there are three different types of books. There are (1) too easy books, (2) too hard books, and (3) just right books. In order for the time that a student spends reading to be beneficial for them, they should be reading just right books. Next week I will complete reading assessments with each child so I can make sure they are reading just right books. Students will come home with their first reading logs on Monday, 9/14. Those reading logs will be due the following Monday, 9/21.
Our first writing unit will be focusing on narrative writing. Last week students completed an on-demand assessment so I could get an idea of their current narrative writing abilities. They had 45 minutes to write me the best narrative story they could. At the end of the writing unit students will do the same on-demand assessment and we will get to see the growth that they make over the course of the unit.
In addition to the on-demand writing assessment from last week, students took a spelling pre-assessment, so I could create spelling groups. Each Monday students will get a spelling packet. That packet will be due the following Monday. They will also be tested on their spelling words the day they turn their packet in. Students will get their first spelling packet on Monday, 9/14. The packet will be due the following Monday, 9/21. They will also take their test on Monday, 9/21.
In math students took some fact fluency pretests this week. They also took a placement test on a website called Moby Max. This website is a great tool. It takes the results of each child and assigns them lessons based on their mastery of concepts. Students can access the website from home at https://www.mobymax.com/or1248. To sign in they will need to their unique username, which is just their first name and then 2015. They will need to make sure to use all lower case letters for the name and include no spaces between their name and the number 2015. The password for everyone in the class is blanc. Again, in the password, blanc must be spelling with all lower case letters. I am able to see all of the lessons that students complete at home on Moby Max. I was thrilled to see that there are already a few students who have worked on lessons at home! On Monday we will begin our math curriculum, which is called Engage New York. We will be working on a lesson each day. Students will get 15-20 minutes in class to work on their math lesson. If a math lesson isn't finished in class, it is homework. If your child gets their math lesson done in class and you want them to work on math at home, I encourage you to have them do lessons on Moby Max.
All 4th graders have been given a planner in an effort to help them take accountability for keeping track of their work this year. Students will be expected to take the planner home each night and have it with them at school each day. It is a great way for parents to check in with their student.
If you have not yet returned the paperwork from the office or the Classroom Management Plan for our class, please send them back to school on Monday. If you have any questions after looking at the Classroom Management Plan, please don't hesitate to contact me.
As you can see, we had a very busy first week of school! One reason I am incredibly excited about this group is that we accomplished so much last week, but we also were able to have lots of fun. I'm looking forward to working with this great group of children this year!
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, September 14th - Reading Logs & Spelling Packets handed out
- Thursday, September 17th - Back to School Night 6pm
- Friday, September 18th - Volunteer Orientation 9am
- Monday, September 21st - Reading Logs & Spelling Packets Due/1st Spelling Test