Week 2 In Review

Though we had another abbreviated week of school, everyone is fitting in well in Room 29 and adjusting to our classroom routines. Additionally, we got a ton of work done!

We launched our Reader's Workshop language arts model this week with some great mentor texts like The Best Book to Read, A Quiet Place, and Listen, Buddy! designed to highlight what Reader's Workshop is all about and how students can discover which books are just right for them. Students learned that in the workshop they will never be forced to read a book that doesn't interest them; they will be able to choose stories at their "just right" level in which they can really immerse themselves. Not only that, they can find any comfortable quiet place in our room in which to read.

We began our first spelling unit. Everyone did very well on the test on Friday. A word to parents about spelling tests: Each Monday I give the unit pre-test for the week. If a student scores a 100% on the test, he/she will be given a different set of homework and a different test on Friday. I believe it is important to challenge students and to differentiate instruction for them. It's pointless for a student who already knows the spelling rule and how to spell all the words for the week to spend time on homework reinforcing something he/she already knows. The alternate homework will be spelling/vocabulary related. I will begin this policy in a week or so. For now, I want to get a handle on where everyone is with their spelling and their command of various spelling rules, so everyone will take both the pre and post tests and do the same spelling homework. If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact me.

Writer's Workshop is well underway, too. Students are learning strategies for generating writing, learning to build stamina, and are working with partners to provide peer feedback.

Students are also working hard on some self portraits and poems that will great you when you come to visit Room 29 for Open House next week.

This week, we also got to go to library and computers for the first time. We learned about how to take care of library books and about computer safety. We will have library and computers every Thursday.

In math, we are well underway in our first Module on multiplication. Students are learning about equal groupings, repeated addition, and arrays. Each lesson includes timed practice, an application problem, lesson, problem set, in-class worksheets, and an exit ticket that helps me determine if students have understood the concept on a daily basis. Homework directly correlates to our specific lessons. I'm very pleased at the kids' progress; we're already working on division!

The kids are enjoying me reading The Witches by Roald Dahl to them at snack time. Ask them about this fun story!