Hi! I am curious. In the past few weeks have any of you had to do some things that you normally wouldn't do and and discovered that you actually liked it and were pretty good at it? I have discovered that I kind of like writing the blog each week. I know I have to fill it with a lot, answer questions, clarify information, but I do enjoy the process of coming up with the most efficient yet interesting way to do so.
GENERAL ACADEMICS: Spalding - There are 5 new words on Monday - Wednesday. Practice is on Thursday and Friday. Math - Count On or Count Back to Add or Subtract - Methods of Addition Literature - My Father's Dragon chapters 3 - 4 (Grammar and handwriting lessons and skills are integrated into the daily lessons.) History - Westward Expansion Science - Geology (The three types of rocks.) THANKS! I just wanted to tell all of you thanks! Thank you so much for your support during this time. Sometimes something doesn't work the way it is supposed to or dates get mixed up or there is confusion with what is being communicated. You have all been so wonderful. Sometimes pointing out something or asking for clarification if there is confusion or a discrepancy yet always saying thank you and just being generally supportive. That is really helping us! Thank you to all of you. GOOGLE CLASSROOM INFORMATION: My son is in 5th grade. 5th grade parents received a letter from the 5th grade team about Google Classroom that I thought was extremely informative and easily applicable to all grade levels. I am copying and pasting the information below with minor changes to address first grade rather than fifth grade. Here is is: This email is intended to walk you through the process of checking your scholars "Friday work", as in a collection of work that has been graded by the TAs, comments have been left, and are ready to be reviewed by you. Please don't hesitate to email us with any questions. Side note regarding Specials: Specials teachers are grading their own work separate from 1st grade core subjects. If you have a question about the designation of a grade for a Specials assignment, please contact that teacher directly. What to look for regarding student work in Google Classroom: When you go to the classwork tab and click View Your Work, a list of student assignments from newest to oldest appears. Under View Your Work, there are several designations:
With reviewing work, we are starting with the oldest assignments (the paper packets from weeks 1 and 2) and working our way forward. As you look over your child’s assignment from these dates, please look for check marks and dialogue bubbles. If you see any assignments from this time frame that are still listed as Missing or Turned In, please look to see if an attachment is missing, a comment was made, or if the assignment simply needs to be Marked as Done on your end. Remember, teachers do not receive notifications from Google Classroom. If you discover an attachment was missing and you upload it, please email to let us know. RAZ-KIDS: Assigned Books - Each Friday I will be assigning specific books for each scholar to read. Reading Room - These are not assigned books. They are there as an optional reading - very much like a virtual library. Flight Check - Flight Check will appear on your child's home screen when I assign a specific passage to be read so I can listen to him/her read. When possible and if I notice that there is a specific skill that your child may be having trouble with (example - dropping of the end sounds, switching words around, etc.) I will e-mail you and let you know. Note - I have received a few e-mails from parents. Some have encountered problems with recording for the flight check and then have e-mailed me back and let me know that they figured it out/fixed it/etc. If any of you encounter an issue then discover a solution or anything please e-mail me and let me know. That way Ms. Ramirez and I can pass on the information in e-mails or my blog. MATH GAMES: Math games are an important part of our weekly math activities. They assist scholars in strengthening their number sense skills, they are fun, and my class enjoys them. Since they can't be in the classroom for the math games I decided to bring the math games to them. On the classwork page of Google Classroom, all of the this week's assignments are listed. Just below this week's assignments is the tab that says "Materials and Parent Resources." There is now a subject labeled "Math Games." When you click on it you will see two math games that have been attached so far. NOTE - The math games are optional. They are not part of the weekly assignments. I put them there as a resource for you to utilize if you choose. ZOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!! 1. Our class has a 1B zoom meeting every Friday from 3:00 - 3:30. The link is included in the e-mail. 2. Ms. Rameriz sent me an updated link for her tutoring sessions which are every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 - 2:30. The link is in the e-mail. STUDENT BELONGINGS PICK-UP: If you need to pick up your students belongings and you have not yet done so, please drop by campus on Tuesday, April 28 from 5:00-7:00pm. Please go through the pick-up line and we will be ready with your child's bag of supplies. NAME THE GOOD: - I learned how to make another type of video so now it is easier show how to manipulate base ten blocks and compare it to the algorithms. - I tried a new craft activity over the weekend and successfully made my own lip balm (Well, successful as long as I keep it in the refrigerator...) Remember: Do what you can. Focus on the good. Have a great week!
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:Hi there! I had the information and thoughts that I wanted to include composed in my head but now that the screen is in front of me and the keyboard in beneath my fingers my brain has other ideas. Okay.... ;-)
CELEBRATION: On Friday we were able to have our first class meeting via ZOOM. I was soooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for making sure your child was in a distraction free environment. We will continue with the same meeting structure as we did last Friday. Students will have the opportunity to visit with their classmates at the start and end of the meeting with a more structured discussion and activity in between. These 1B meetings will continue to take place throughout 4th quarter every Friday from 3:00 - 3:30. The zoom link is in the e-mail. PARENT / TEACHER COMMUNICATION: This is just a reminder that any communication needs to be done through the school e-mail ([email protected]) as teachers do not have access to communication sent through Google Classroom. Starting this week you will also be receiving e-mails from Ms. Ramirez. Mr. Philiabuam sent out a letter to all ATE parents with more details. Here is the link in case you missed it. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1121867127686&ca=fddb3227-ad0f-46bf-b029-bb3d81b24865 KIDS A-Z: Last Friday letters were sent out to each parent who have children in grades K-2 about an online reading program that is being implemented. Each individualized letter has a bold section that look like this: Kids A-Z Login Instructions Underneath are instructions for your child to access to on-line books. It looks like this: Step 1: Go to www.kidsa-z.com Step 2: Enter or choose the teacher's username, MrsKSpencer Step 3: Your child finds his or her username on the class chart, <Your child's name and symbol> Step 4: Your child enters his or her password, <your child's password> Following this steps will allow your child to access his/her personal reading page. The next bolded section says: How to Register for and Receive Progress Reports As stated in the e-mail that was sent out with the letters please disregard that entire section as it is not currently available. After the program has been implemented please feel free to reach out to me by email if you would like an update on your student's reading progress. You do not need to worry about the clipped permission slip at the bottom of the page. TECHNOLOGY CORNER: I downloaded the Google Classroom App onto my iPhone. I have found it to be so easy to use and super simple to attach my son's work. As soon as he is finished with the assignment I am able to attach it in less than two minutes. Knowing that there are parents who were struggling with attaching as I was, I typed out directions onto a word document. If you want a copy of those directions e-mail me and let me know and I will send them to you. MATH LESSON PLANS: As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I am the math planner for my grade level. It has been an interesting process for me as I spend a great deal of time thinking about how to put into written word what is intuitively spoken when in front of the classroom. I continue to refine and clarify each week. This week, when writing the general instructions, I tried to clarify what is practice (do with Mom and Dad, doesn't need to be turned in) and what specifically needs to be turned in (needs to be attached and turned in.) As you work on math with your child this week please let me know if this was helpful for you. GENERAL ACADEMIC FOCUS: Spalding - There are five words each day for Monday - Wednesday with a review and practice on Thursday and Friday. Math - Numbers to 120 with the focus on identifying the amount of tens and ones withing in a number ELA - My Father's Dragon Note - When in school we read this book out loud with the students. There is an audio recording available so students can listen to the the story. Access it as often as they wish. - Other ELA concepts such as handwriting, grammar, etc. are integrated in with the literature assignments. History - Declaration of Independence Science - Volcanoes vs Geysers DO WHAT YOU CAN: Last week. I think it was Wednesday. My son who is in 5th grade was having a really hard day. He missed his friends, didn't want to do school work, and didn't have a lot of motivation for much of anything. It suddenly occurred to me that he just wast getting out enough. I had this sudden idea. We are going to have picnic Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, between 10 and 11 and are going to fill a lunch box full of food, go somewhere, and sit and snack or play or whatever for an hour. I was really excited about my idea but also felt like an idiot because the idea hadn't occurred to me earlier. I realized I had to give myself grace, be was thankful for the idea that came to me when I most needed it. I look forward to our Tuesday picnics. There was another day where he was struggling with his grammar and just couldn't get his mind around it. He walked away from that subject. The next day, with a more casual mindset, he easily and accurately completed two days worth of grammar in less than 5 minutes. So after that long-winded paragraph here is my message. Do what you can each day and each day that do what you can will be different. By the end of the week, your child will learn what they need to learn. You are doing an amazing job! ZOOM TUTORING: Ms. Ramirez will be holding tutoring sessions every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 - 2:30. Her personal ZOOM meeting link is included in the e-mail. NAME THE GOOD: - I appreciate the creativity of the clocks and coins assigments from those who were not able to print. - I got to see a bunch of my students at our ZOOM meeting on Friday! - Over the weekend I was able to spend time on craft projects Be safe. Be postitive! Hi there! I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend. My family and I usually go to Mesa to visit my Aunt on Easter Sunday. There is always a lot of food and we play games for most of day. It was very different this year as we, of course, stayed home.
MATERIALS PICK-UP: I know most of were able to pick up your scholar's materials last Wednesday. I was there to help distribute during the the 8 - 10 time slot. I went home feeling very happy because I was able to see some of my students from this year and last year. There are several students who still have their materials at school. There will be one more materials pick-up tomorrow, Tuesday the 14th from 8am - 10am. Please be sure to stop by at that time to pick-up your child's belongings. TECHNOLOGY CORNER: As teachers we are all at different stages of the technology learning curve. As parents, we are also all at different stages of the technology learning curve. I know that we have all learned a lot over the last days and and weeks. Mr. Philabaum has sent out several e-mails with links for technology assistance. I am going to include them here so they are all in one place. Scanning - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E8xglYW5I4lAS5_GlHn8aN_Sh8fOkPzI/view Another note on scanning. Mrs. Moreno discovered a Google Classroom app which she told me about. Below is the information directly from her e-mail: "I downloaded the Google Classroom app on my Android and then logged in to each of my daughters G.C. accounts. When you open the classroom you can see the assignments. They go gray once the assignment has been turned in. For assignments you are turning in click on the assignment, click add attachment, it gives you an option to take a photo, this option works well for single pages, then you click turn it. This is the best way I have found so far for uploading student work. I don’t think it would well for packets however. I wanted to share, in hopes that it would be a support." I was very excited when Mrs. Moreno e-mailed this information to me as it appears to be an easier option. It is something I am going to do myself this week. Google Classroom Family Guide - https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Google-Classroom-Family-Walk-Through-RL-2.0-AFR-4.1.2020.pdf This is very straightforward and may answer many of your basic questions if you still have them. Veeya Tech Support for Family Help: https://theveeya.com/GreatHeartsFamilyHelp/ There you go! All the links that are listed are ones that have gone out in Mr. Philabaum's e-mails and now they are all here in one spot as well. If you have technology questions, and the resources above are not helpful to you please let me know. If I am not able to help you than I direct your questions to someone who can. ZOOM TUTORING SESSIONS: Ms. Ramierz will be hosting optional tutoring sessions this week. The meetings will be 30 minutes long and the schedule is listed below. Please join her if you need assistance or have questions in any of these areas. Your students (with a parent present) can pop in to see her at these times with any questions they have about their schoolwork. Please note this is not an individual tutoring session and other students and parents may be present. Topic: Phonogram and math tutoring Time: Apr 14, 2020 02:00 PM Arizona Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/4417729915?pwd=UFhZWElZS0pVUVNEeVhTRlpqN2F3QT09 Meeting ID: 441 772 9915 Password: ATE1st Please also note that by logging into Zoom through this invitation, you consent to your child participating in an electronic group forum with a teacher as host. Other individuals may be in student homes, so please be careful to set up your child in a quiet area and possibly to use headphones and sit with their back to a wall. Hosting teachers may mute participants as needed. No recordings of the session will be available to the public. Please do not record (video, audio, or picture) any part of the session. ACADEMICS: Please note - We now have videos for Spalding and Math posted in google classroom! Please have your students watch these as they will greatly benefit from them as they learn new content in both Spalding and Math. Math: - Understanding values of coins and counting coins. Spalding: - New words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Review on Thursday, review and assess on Friday. English Language Arts: Literature:Sam the Minuteman Writing: Beginning capitals, ending punctuation, copy work, summary sentence writing, transition words, neat handwriting and proper letter formation. Grammar: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives (describing words) History: - The American Revolution Science: - Earth Science PERSONAL THOUGHTS: There is all kinds of things I could write about here. When it comes right down to it, I miss my students!!!!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful week. Stay safe. Be well. Hello everyone. I should title this blog at part 2 because I had almost all of it written but for some reason it didn't save, and I lost it all. So I am writing it again. :-)
This will probably be a long blog. Please read it through carefully as there is A LOT of information and A LOT of thought has been put into what I wrote. I hope everyone is staying safe. As I write in my blog last week, I will be including general information and answers to as many questions as I can. As we navigate this new classroom experience together, as we navigate this overall world experience together, I will also be writing a lot of personal thoughts and feelings. SAVE THE E-MAILS: You have been and will continue to receive e-mails that contain information, links, and e-mail address from Archway Trivium East Administration. I have been receiving them as a teacher and a parent. Please make sure you save the e-mails that have those links and information so you can access them when you encounter challenges or have questions. I have been in the process of trying to save and organize everything so that I can keep my information as parent easily accessible for my son and keep my information as a teacher easily accessible for me. GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION: Math - Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour Literature - Sam the Minute Man *Please note - There will be a lot of grammar, comprehension, and writing tie-ins with the literature book. Spalding - Students will be introduced to 5 new words on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. History - American Revolution GOOGLE CLASSROOM 1. 26 of the 30 students in our class have logged into their classroom Google accounts. Great job! We are expecting 100% of families to have access by tonight. Please access our classroom if you have not done so already. You should have received an email with your student’s login information. If you did not receive this email, please reach out to any of the following administration: [email protected] or [email protected] If you have received login information, but you are having difficulty accessing or using the technology, please use the following link to access the help desk: https://theveeya.com/GreatHeartsFamilyHelp/. Remember that this is a required platform for learning for the remainder of the year. After you login and join our class, you will see how to submit the two packets that your student has already completed and then you will see their new assignments for this week! 2. I wanted to share this tutorial video created by 4th grade teacher assistant Mrs. Kemling. The following link will help you learn how to log into Google Classroom and navigate through the assignments. Please note that some aspects of the tutorial will be more designed with the older grades (3rd-5th) in mind. https://sites.google.com/view/trivium-east-fourth-grade/videos?authuser=0 3. Much of the work we have and will assign will be paper and pencil assignments. This does not mean you have to print out every worksheet or assignment. If you are unable to print, much of the work can be written on lined paper. If writing your assignment answers on lined paper, please have scholars head their paper in this way: Name: (first, last) Example: Jane Doe Math Monday, April 6, 2020 4. Mrs. Moreno wrote out this information about scanning: "I have found the best way to scan documents and assignments is through a scanning app on my android. The one I am currently using is called Adobe Scan. It allows you to scan multiple documents and create one pdf file. This can then be shared. Others have also taken photos of documents and uploaded or used a printer with scanning capabilities. If anyone has other suggestions on efficient ways to scan and upload assignments, please feel free to share ideas with me." Personal note from Me - I have not learned how to do this yet. That is on my to-do list of things to learn in the next few days. Here is the link that was sent out to all parents this week that shows how to scan from a phone: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E8xglYW5I4lAS5_GlHn8aN_Sh8fOkPzI/view PERSONAL THOUGHTS I WANT TO SHARE: Balance - I am writing this blog at the same time that I am trying to help my son David, who is in 5th grade, navigate Google Classroom. Working from home, seeing to my son's schooling, and learning a huge quantity of tech related concepts is a new experience for me as I know many of you are experiencing as well. I have had to remind myself often that I am doing the best I can and I am doing a very good job at it. I know some of you will find the technology easier to maneuver than others while some will find helping their child with school work easier to do than others. I ask that each of you remind yourself that YOU ARE AMAZING AND YOU ARE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB! From the academic perspective I will try to help you and answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. Technology saga - As I mentioned to a parent earlier this week, as every student has different academic capabilities so do teachers have with technology capabilities. Technology skills come slowly for me. I have found that it is much easier to encourage, help, and have patience with a struggling scholar than it is to have patience with myself. This is especially true lately. I am extremely proud of myself for having learned how to create a google doc and download my math lessons to the Google Classroom. Sometimes I have to work hard at staying proud of myself when I see some of my co-workers so far ahead of me in their ability to conduct meetings, click on a few things and create wonderful videos. What I have to remember is that, just like I always KNOW my students are going to learn to read, spell a hard word, and understand how to work a math problem, I have to KNOW that I will learn how to do all the things I want to learn how to do. BIRTHDAYS: One of my favorite things about being a teacher is being able to celebrate my students' birthdays. I love how excited they are when they come to school! I love how their how faces light up when I remember their birthday. They always take good care of their birthday pencil and they gaze at their birthday balloon throughout the day. For a full day they get to be in the special spotlight. I also love celebrating my birthday with the class for the same reason. I was looking forward to the end of this week all year. There is nothing more special then having 30 6-7 year-olds come into the classroom with big cheesy grins, giving me exuberant birthday greetings, and singing to me in an off-key chorus! If your child has a birthday during the 4th quarter or the summer please let them know that I will not forget. I can't give them a pencil, eraser, balloon, or "crown jewels" but I can call them and sing to them! NAMING THE GOOD: I learned how to operate Google Docs! I loved the messages from the students on the stream page of Google classroom! Almost the whole class got signed in to Google Classroom! It is beautiful outside. How about you? Feel free to e-mail me and name the good!!! Be safe! |
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May 2022
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