Notes on Topic One Math Test

Sample questions:

• Use these numbers to write 4 addition math sentences (equations):

       2   8   6

answer: [2 + 6 = 8, 6 + 2 = 8, 8 = 2 + 6, 8 = 6 + 2]

• There are 4 chairs at the table. 
• How many chair legs is that in all? (complete sentence 1pt.)
• Draw a model, a picture, or explain how you got your answer in words. (1pt.)
• Write a math sentence (equation) which supports your answer (1pt.)

• Five children are playing a game. Three more come to join them.
• Make a model to solve. (1pt.)
• Write a number sentence. (1pt)

Unit 1 Week 1 Preview

As a part of our theme: What Makes Us Special, our focus questions are: What do we like to do, and how do the things we like to do make us special? We will discover that the things we like to do help to make us who we are. Our vocabulary words for the week are cheerful, interest, unique, prefer, and genuine. We will analyze story structure for the beginning, middle, and end (comprehension strategy). We learn that this is the way that most realistic fiction stories are structured and that good readers pay attention to these parts (R 1.3.1). We will also pay special attention to the characters and setting of stories (comprehension skill). In phonics we will blend words and identify rhymes with short 'a' and short 'i'. Our reading sight words for the week are jump, not, up. In grammar we will discuss how a sentence tells a whole idea. We will continue with our Unit Project while referring to our 2 previously constructed Thinking Maps. We will analyze the structure of the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. We will analyze how an author develops character by what they say and do. In writing we discuss and practice how using describing words adds detail and interest. We will listen to the fable, Town Mouse and Country Mouse, and discover how preferences make characters unique. We will read an informational text and use structure to deduce main idea.

In Science we will make a connection between what we have been learning in music and what we know about Alexander Graham Bell and discuss the discipline of acoustical science and engineering. In life science we discuss basic needs of people and animals using the vocabulary: shelter, energy.

In Math we will begin Topic 2 exploring subtraction.

In P.E. we will work on balance, catch and toss to ourselves and to a partner.

• How are you different than other people in your family/class? How is your family different than other families?
• What are the states of matter?
• What does an animal need in order to survive? 

Additional Information

If your child is reading a Junie B. Jones or similar (Magic Tree House) chapter book, each chapter may count as a title on the reading log.

It was stated that 3 perfect Math scores must be achieved for a score of 4 on the report card for each reporting period. What was not mentioned is that one of those 3 must be from the district periodic math assessment. One assessment is usually administered each reporting period.

Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Reflections on Back-to-School

Thank you all for coming to our Back-to-School Night. Hopefully you received useful information to help you help your child be extra successful this year. It was nice to see everyone. I think we had a representative from every family except one.

Please note: what was said about Lexile measured texts may have been a bit misleading. To clarify, not every book a child reads will be measured with a Lexile score. There are different ways that books are leveled. So not everything your child reads or will be interested in reading will have a score. It may be sufficient to tell a local librarian (at least to begin with) what grade your child is in and whether or not they are currently a strong reader. Note that picture books are written at all reading levels,  including adult advanced levels. Make sure to check out fiction as well as non-fiction.

Additionally (and importantly), every book that you check out will not necessarily be on your child's reading level. You will check out books above their level where you will become the expert reader and track your reading with your finger as you read aloud. Some books will be at and below your child's level. Some books will be for pure enjoyment and simply read for the joy of hearing language out loud.

Feel free to be as creative as you like with the outside projects. The more important you make school, the more important it will become for your child. For example, one family took it upon themselves to build a globe for a Social Science project which is still in the classroom and used for instruction. Keep in mind some suggestions will be included from time to time in the daily message. It may not have been clear that if your child makes a speech to run for Class President, that will count for outside work. Another idea might be to learn a sentence  or short poem to share with the class in Standard American Sign Language. Feel free to make digital projects as well which we can transfer to your child's flash drive. For example, you could create a Glogster or Prezi account and work with your child to create a digital poster or presentation (This has the added benefit of teaching computer literacy as well as being free to make).

Not mentioned tonight:

• One way for your child to earn one star on the "Star Chart" is to have them bring a book to school checked out from an outside library (Carson Public Library).
• Information on Science and Social Science tests (as well as some other subjects) was not mentioned. Look for information on this site to be forthcoming.
• It was stated that 3 perfect math scores must be achieved for a score of 4 on the report card for each reporting period. What was not mentioned is that one of those 3 must be from the district periodic math assessment. One assessment is usually administered each reporting period.

Eleventh Day of School

For Discussion:

• In what ways do children in other countries have similar "lost tooth" traditions to those of children in the U.S.?
• In what ways are the tooth traditions of foreign countries different?
• Why do Japanese children throw their bottom teeth up on the roof?

Smart Start Week 3 Preview

Our third and final review week will reintroduce us to non-fiction texts with information organized in two ways, chronologically in a biography of Alexander Graham Bell and geographically in a survey of traditions regarding lost tooth lore around the world (CCSS R.1.5). We will generate questions (CCSS R.1.1) about a non-fiction text to be answered in an interview style retelling. We will use visualization as a tool to recall words and phrases in a poem which appeal to the senses (CCSS R.1.4).

We will review the the high-frequency sight words what, for, here, little, was, my, look, has, where, with , me. We will also continue and complete our review of letter formation and sound. We will take our first personal narrative writing test.

In music, we will explore the science of sound that fascinated A.G. Bell and discover differences in high and low-pitched sounds (tested) and how they are produced. Later we will explore the important element of rhythm (tested).

In Math we continue to see numbers as a whole made up of two smaller parts and create models to illustrate this idea (CCSS 1.OA.1, 1.OA.4, 1.OA.7) (tested).

In PE we will continue with different forms of locomotion.

Eighth Day of School

Today we learned the difference between columns and rows. We learned the characteristics of a fable and listened to The Tortoise and the Hare. 

We finished the day with our 3rd Violence Prevention (Second Step) lesson.

Reminder: for safety, students are only allowed to wear stud-type earrings, no hoops. Students are required to wear shoes with socks. We have PE everyday; please send your child to school in sensible sturdy shoes preferably fastened with a tie or Velcro strap. Think safety and performance over fashion. Please also note on the dress code, leggings are not to be worn without an appropriate over-garment such as an extra long top or a skirt. In other words, leggings do not substitute as pants. 

Seventh Day of School

Today we completed our first individual math report. The session went very well.
The problem:

In a nearby classroom, there are are 10 students. How many student eyes are in that classroom?

It is looking like we will have our first Math Test at the end of next week.

We are still in the process of taking the initial battery of reading assessments.

Soon, we will take our writing first writing assessment.

Please do not forget that Back-to-School Night is one week away. We will have the opportunity to discuss some things that we will not again have the opportunity to discuss. Plan to have a representative from your family attend this meeting. Due to limited space and the nature of the material covered, it is advised that students not attend this meeting if possible. Our discussion will begin very soon after 5:30 in order to include all of the material.

Sixth Day of School

It is apparent there are some good homework helpers out there. Good responses for our first short answer question on the math homework. A couple were sent back not necessarily for being incorrect, but for being incomplete ideas.

More information about homework and parallels to testing will be discussed at Back-to-School Night on the 27th.  

Each child was assigned a number today which should appear after their name on homework and class assignments.

The first month's reading log was sent home today and is due on the last day of instruction in August. Three completed reading logs are required in order to earn a '3' in homework during each reporting period.

Fifth Day of School

Today we had our first drama lesson with Ms. Jordahl. We identified and used our 3 drama tools (body, mind, and voice).

We retold and sequenced events from the folktale The 3 Little Pigs.

In Math we worked with the parts of 8. We then had our first math report discussion. We discussed this problem:

In my yard there is a large tree with a big hole in the trunk. Last night I looked into the hole and saw 10 eyes look out of the hole at me. What was looking back at me? Explain your answer using a picture, model, and math sentence.

We finished the day with our second Violence Prevention Lesson (Second Step).

Smart Start Week 2 Preview

We will continue reviewing letter sounds, proper writing formation, rhyme, and syllabication. We are analyzing narrative structure for plot (tested CCSS R.1.3).

By the end of the 3rd  Smart Start week we will have reviewed the following high-frequency sight words: a, I, can, we, like, see, the, go , to have, play, you, he, is, and, she, are, said, do, this, for, what, here, little, my, was.

We are practicing sequencing and retelling (tested CCSS R.1.1) important events of a narrative.

We will continue our personal information project piece.

We will continue with balance in PE as well as practicing moving while maintaining personal space.

Third Day of School

Today we had our first blending lesson. We learned the importance of raising our hand to ask questions and listening to other student's responses. We also learned how we were required to raise our hand during blending if we needed clarification.

In math we again discussed models and representations of numbers. We then worked in teams to create models using our bodies as counters.

No homework tonight.

Second Day of School

If your child brings back homework that needs to be corrected. Discuss the misunderstanding and return the corrected work to school.

Today we briefly discussed the parts of a fictional narrative plot (The Little Engine That Could).

• The beginning (answers the questions who?, when?, and where?): A little engine was on its way over a mountain to bring toys and treats to the good boys and girls in the city.
• The middle (introduces the dilemma): The engine broke down and couldn't make it over the mountain. All the engines they asked for help would not help them.
• The end (solves the problem): Finally, a kind blue engine stopped to offer help and pulled the treat-filled train up over the mountain.

We have also begun the the initial battery of reading measurements which will be described in further detail at Back-to-School Night.

Smart Start Week 1 Preview

For the first 3 weeks in Language Arts, we will review many of the concepts learned in Kindergarten. We will review the Kindergarten sight words as well as letter sounds and proper writing formation. We will also review rhyme and syllable segmentation.  We will learn how to describe ourselves in order to begin our first theme project: a personal informational book about ourselves.

In Math we will review number sense concepts emphasizing visual patterns and ideas for the numbers 0-12. We will begin our first topic: Understanding Addition (1.OA.1). We will be representing and solving problems using addition and subtraction.

In PE we will focus on balance and cooperation.

Flash Drive

It would be appreciated if, as soon as possible, you would send a 2GB (or larger) size thumb or flash drive to school with your child so that we may begin the process of building their digital portfolio. It would be extra helpful if the drive was somehow identifiable with your child's name. This may be accomplished by attaching a lanyard and writing their name on the lanyard or attaching a label to the lanyard. Getting the flash drives early from everyone prevents the need to take extra time to transfer files 2 or 3 times.

A 2-4GB drive should be large enough to hold all digital projects through 5th grade.

Welcome to Room 11

This blog has been created to keep parents and guardians of the students in Room 11 at Caroldale Learning Community informed about daily activities in our classroom and school. Please discuss what you read here with your children when appropriate. Ask them clarifying questions. They don't necessarily need to know how you know what happened during their day, they should simply know that you are informed.

Feel free to  respond to what you read by posting a comment or question. Avoid including students' names when responding to posts. General comments and questions are best in this arena.

Please remember the most efficient way to communicate with me on timely issues is to write a note on or attached to your child's homework. For convenience, you might consider linking to this page through an rss feed or through the google reader application.

I am also available for conferences after school most days except Tuesdays. It is okay to drop by without an appointment with questions and concerns.

Thank you,

Mr. B