At the beginning of the year students were learning how to add 3+5 and subtract 9 - 6. Two weeks ago students were learning how to add 36+56! This past week students were learning how to subtract 96-37. Those aren't the easiest concepts in the world to learn but they are getting it! My students never cease to amaze me.
MID-QUARTER REPORTS: In tomorrow’s homework folders I am sending home a Mid-quarter grade report for 4th quarter. This report will have your child’s current grades for the quarter. Also included in this report are your child’s scores on classwork, homework, tests, and quizzes. This information is important in understanding how your child is doing in class. Please note the following:
I am requiring that the report be signed and returned once you have viewed grades so that I know you have seen it. Please return signed by Tuesday, May 3rd. Fyi- The grade of 1 is considered below to the grade level expectations/student has not displayed evidence of learning the concept. The grade of 2 is considered inconsistent to the grade level expectations. The grade of 3 is considered to be meeting the expectations of the grade level. There are 5 weeks left in the quarter to continue to support and help your scholar. Below I have listed tips for supporting at home.
If you would like to speak about your scholar’s progress in more detail or if you would like to meet with me to discuss ways to you can support him/her during the summer, please e-mail me with a request to schedule a meeting. A REQUEST FROM HEADMASTER PHILABAUM: Mr. Philabaum as requested that the following be included in our blogs - “We are hoping to have as many parents fill out the homework survey as possible. Our plan is to gather meaningful information to see how our intended homework standards align with our students’ experience. We are ever aiming to keep out homework meaningful and manageable, while allowing the students the opportunity to challenge themselves and practice self-discipline and time management. We will not be able to get a full assessment of how we are aligning to our standards if we do not have full participation. If you have not already done so, please take 2-3 minutes to fill out the survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9MV5279 The survey will close on Tuesday, April 26th.” GENERAL ACADEMICS: Spalding - Students will learn 11 words on Monday and 9 words on Tuesday. This week's spelling review of the 20 words will be on Wednesday and the test will be on Thursday. Math - Numbers to 120 with a continued focus on subtraction with renaming and solving story problems. History - Westward Expansion Literature / Grammar - My Father's Dragon Poetry - "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Stanza 4-6) *Note - Poetry recitations of stanzas 4-6 are next week. Students will ONLY be reciting stanzas 4-6. UPCOMING DATES: Wednesday, April 27 - PSO Admin Appreciation Day Friday, April 29 - Half Day Dismissal at 12 PM * Trivium Spirit Day * Monday, May 2 - No School: R&R Weekend Wednesday, May 4 - K-5 Art Walk, 4:30-7:00 PM *Please see the Athenian Echo for more information about the Art Walk. Friday, May 6 - Headmaster Philabaum's Birthday Celebration Monday, May 9 - K-2nd Grade Spring Concerts SUMMER BIRTHDAYS: - I have a few scholars who have summer birthdays who have expressed their concern and are very worried that they won't get to celebrate their birthdays with the class. I have told them, "Don't worry. I've got it covered." In case they express their worry to you, just reinforce that they WILL have special day in the spotlight. I will be sending e-mails out to parents who have scholars with summer birthdays within the next couple of weeks. ;-) ON A PERSONAL NOTE: - Speaking of summer vacation, it is still over a month away but it is difficult to not make plans or, at the very least, consider ideas. It is during the summer that I macramé' Christmas ornaments, make beautiful bows, and sew. It is during the summer when my son David and visit museums and unique restaurants. This summer I am also planning on doing some tutoring! It feels like a fun idea! Have an inspired, fun week!
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Last week we spent hours working on addition methods for numbers to 120. This is an incredible subject to teach because there are so many ways to solve the equations. Today we spent time reviewing the different methods. At the end of the review I wrote 3+5 on the board. "Do you remember when these were the equations you had to solve?" I asked. "You used to think that was hard!" I wrote 53 + 29 on the board and said, "Look what you can do now!!!!!!!! You are amazing!"
THANK YOU! Thank you notes are in the red folders. One of my students gave me super strength Scotch tape so when I taped the thank-you cards inside the red folders they actually stuck there! Yay! GENERAL ACADEMICS: Spalding - Students learned 10 words today. They will learn 10 words on Tuesday as well. The review is on Thursday the the spelling test is on Friday. Math - Numbers to 120 with a focus on subtraction methods *Note - Subtraction "Friendly Notes" will be placed in your scholar's red folder tomorrow (Tuesday). Science - Students have had a wonderful time learning about volcanoes and rocks. A unit study guide was placed in the red folders today. The geology unit test will be on Thursday. Literature - My Father's Dragon Grammar - Writing letters Poetry - "The Village Blacksmith" stanza 6 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE POEM: Students have already recited the 1st three stanzas. They are no longer responsible for those first three stanzas and they no longer have to practice them. When students recite again, they will only be reciting stanzas 4, 5 and 6. UPCOMING DATES: Tuesday, April 19 - PSO Night at Raising Caine's, 4-9 PM Wednesday, April 27 - PSO Admin Appreciation Day Friday, April 29 - Half Day Dismissal at 12 PM * Trivium Spirit Day * ON A PERSONAL NOTE: - Okay. 5 1/2 weeks of school left. I would be lying if I said I am not looking forward to the summer. Several weeks in a row of not having to write lesson plans, grade papers, or get up at the crack of dawn is a wonderful thing. At the same time I am not wishing for the end of the school year to come fast. I love my students so much and I really don't want to say good-bye to them! - Once a year, Arthur Murray - Goodyear, where I take ballroom dance lessons, films dance videos. The dance instructors choregraph routines with their students. After the students learn the routines, we dress up in costumes and perform. My dance instructor choreographed and taught me a tango/cha cha routine to one of my favorite songs. After weeks of practicing and learning it we get to film it... tonight!!! I am so excited but so nervous. I tell my class all the time, "Stand tall! Stand proud! You can do it!!!" Right now I am having to follow my own advice and do exactly what I tell my kids! NAME THE GOOD: - My class really is truly amazing!!! You should see them in action as they solve the large addition equations!!!!!! Have an amazing week! Wow! What a fun day I had on Friday! Thank you for all of the wonderful, thoughtful gifts. I will be writing thank-you notes throughout this week. The thank-you notes seldom reach home because they usually end up opened and placed inside desks. :-) My class did so much to make my birthday special.. Such a fun day!!!!
GENERAL ACADEMICS: Spalding - Students learned 11 new words today (Monday.) They will learn 9 new words tomorrow. The review for the 20 words will be on Wednesday and the spelling test will be on Thursday. Math - Numbers to 120 with a focus on addition methods Science - Geology Literature- Comparison of Sam the Minuteman and George the Drummer Boy Poetry - "The Village Blacksmith" (focus on stanza 4 and 5) UPCOMING DATES: Friday, April 15 - No School: R&R Weekend Tuesday, April 19 - PSO Night at Raising Caine's, 4-9 PM ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I know a lot of people who work at jobs where the best way to celebrate their birthday is by taking a day off work. I feel truly blessed that my job is not one of them. I will never take the day off for my birthday. There is nothing more wonderful then having thirty first graders enthusiastically sing happy birthday!!!!!!! Enjoy your week! The zoo trip was so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so fun! The weather was perfect. The timing was perfect. Everything was perfect.
Oh! I have to tell you something funny. Everyone had a good chunk of time to wander the zoo. Lunch was scheduled at the end of the trip at about 12:20 and then a walk to the buses around 12:50. Most everyone started gathering at the playground areas around noon. Other than eating for 15-20 minutes, the classes got to spend a very large chunk of time on the playground. I am guessing most got a 30-40 minute recess time. However, the very first question that came out of almost every one of my students' mouths when we walked into the classroom was, "Do we get to have recess?" Priorities you know. :-D GENERAL ACADEMICS: Spalding - Students will learn 10 new words Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The review is on Thursday and the test is on Friday. Math - Numbers to 120 with a focus on comparing numbers, number order, and adding. The adding will include 2-digit + 1-digit and 2-digit+2+digit with no renaming. *Note - The addition section friendly notes will be placed in your scholar's red folder on Thursday. History - A study guide for the unit test was sent home last Thursday. Today we reviewed in class. The test is tomorrow. Science - Geology Literature / Grammar - George the Drummer Boy Poetry - Since the poem is so long we have divided it up into sections. This week is poetry recitations for the 1st three stanzas only. The 4th stanza is on the homework log but students are not responsible for it in the recitations. They are only responsible for the first three stanzas. UPCOMING DATES: Friday, April 15 - No School: R&R Weekend Tuesday, April 19 - PSO Night at Raising Caine's, 4-9 PM ON A PERSONAL NOTE: - Have you every noticed that some months of the year are mellow, some months are busy as in crazy busy, and some months are busy as in fun busy. For me crazy busy is usually January, May, August and February. June, July and pretty mellow. My fun busy is usually November, December, and April. April is only 4 days in and it already promises to be a extremely fun month! NAME THE GOOD: - Dance classes - Wildlife World Zoo field trips - The tired but satisfied looks on my students faces upon return of a field trip. Have a satisfying, fun week! |
AuthorMs. Spencer Archives
May 2022
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