Classroom Tour 2013-2014 School Year

WELCOME!

This is the Grade One and Two corridor at the new school that I will be teaching at this year.  I am delighted with the changes that our school division has implemented.  This is a Kindergarten to Grade Four site and I couldn't be more pleased to be here!

From the doors to this corridor (and up the small ramp!) you will find my classroom, first one on the left.  The next two on the left are the other Grade Two classes.  After all these years, I will have grade partners.  It will be a welcome change.

Now how could I lose the middle of a palm tree?

This wall is to the left of my classroom door.....

which you see here.  Look!  Windows!

This is the view from the door.  Immediately to the left is one of our rugs for collaborative work, with benches for meetings and bins for storage, mostly math manipulatives.

Here is our math wall, which will hold our new math vocabulary, and allow student hands-on interaction with a variety of materials to solidify concepts.

This is looking towards the east wall, and gives a better perspective of the classroom arrangement.

Just turn around and this is towards the west wall, from the same location.  This is the table that small groups of students will meet me at for guided reading, assessment and mini lessons, based on their needs, especially in reading.  The bookshelf to the right houses about half of my classroom library, which is levelled according to the criteria of the researchers Fountas and Pinnell.  It is from these book tubs that the students will be choosing their books for nightly reading.

The students will be engaged in a researched based model known as 'Daily Five' and 'Cafe'.  These are their 'book boxes' that they will have a variety of reading books to choose from at their own level, many different language learning materials and this is also where they will keep their earbuds/earphones.  Each child will need to bring a set in and these will not be shared, to ensure cleanliness and safety.

I am super excited to have tables this year instead of desks.  The students chose where they would like to sit for the first day but this model allows for continual changing of groups to meet the needs of the activities.  All of their materials will be kept in bins on the south wall of the classroom, which has built-in shelving. 

You can see the bins in this photo, along with one of my many teaching stations.  The students will gather on our second classroom rug which is in front of the SMARTBoard.  This location allows the students to focus on me when I am on the chair, actively teaching or turn towards the SMARTBoard for an interactive lesson.

What are Popcorn Words?  They are the little words that keep 'popping' up in our reading.  Often it's these little words that children stumble on the most because they are easy to confuse with others.  Look at /saw/ and /was/.....or /they/ and /this/.  Early readers have not always learned to look with reading eyes, and this will be an area to focus on very early in the year.

There are many 'pocket' charts in the room and they will be used for many lessons.  Often, the schedule of activities for the day will be displayed to assist the little ones in knowing how long it will be before recess or lunch!

I have many years experience with the SMARTBoard, but did not have one at the last school that I was at.  I am sure that I will be a bit 'rusty' and will need some time to get back up to speed in using this amazing tool for 21st century learning.

A view from the back of the room....

..and now to the north, where there is another little table available for collaborative work.

The view out of our classroom window....I'll be able to see this equipment full of happy children next Tuesday!  Can't wait.

This is a room where we share everything, so this area is right below the windows.  It houses supplies to share, including hand sanitizer, tissues, extra crayons, markers, scissors, rulers, and just about anything a classroom full of learners would need.  You'll see other areas in the pictures as we begin posting all the learning that we are doing in the class.  I hope your child will be joyfully engaged in our classroom this year!

Moving on...

On Wednesday, the Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two and Grade Three students from St. Theresa Catholic School took a little "road trip" to their new home for September 2013.  As our blessed school closes, we change from cheering for The Hawks to being The Royals.

Our new home will be Madonna Catholic School, and like with St. Theresa, this will be the second time in my careet that I will be teaching in this school.

The three classes of Grade Three (soon to be the oldest students at Madonna in Grade 4) met and played a couple of games that helped them meet each other.  There were smiles all around.

After they played their games, they returned to the gymnasium to sing before being given a treat to remember the day...a lovely lollipop and a skipping rope!

The afternoon brought a new kind of reality to our closing.  We celebrated mass in the gymnasium, only fitting to do so and honour our namesake.

We showered her with flowers.

Father Jack Hamilton blessed us all, and reminded us of the words of St. Theresa. He reminded us that we can take our lessons with us and spread the blessings to others we meet.   

The students learned that Father Dan, who dilgently visited us every month, bringing Jesus' word and song into our classes, would also be moving on.  He will leave Alberta for Victoria B.C. in September.

During mass, the students sang and worshipped...

 smiled and...

danced!

We Love You, St. Theresa!

Provincial Achievement Tests next week

Over the next few days, the children and I will be spending some time learning 'how' to take the multiple choice tests that are given at Grade Three here in the province of Alberta.  I don't stress about them and I work really hard to ensure that the students don't stress about them.  One little guy asked if I was going to send how 'practise tests' because he was already doing tests at home to get ready.

I admire any parent who gets involved in whatever way that they do, in their child's education.

In the past I have sent home 'practise' tests and here's what I have found: the majority of families are just too darn busy doing dance competitions, lacrosse/soccer/baseball tournaments to find time to add one more thing on their plate.  The students have learned everything that they will need to know to accomplish their best next Tuesday and Thursday.  Some will remember everything that they are meant to do: read through the entire passage and all the answers before choosing the best answer, re-read and double check, take your time, use what you know, don't leave any questions out and if you're really not sure, then take a good guess.....and some won't.

I am not trying to sound glib, but I want you to put this in perspective...no child has ever been denied university entrance based on Grade 3 PAT exams.  Do I want them to 'knock their socks off' over at the government offices where the tests are marked?  You bet! But I won't push so hard that they are afraid, or worried or scared.  Instead, I want them to think 'that was easy' and walk away with their heads held high!

What can you do to help them?  Tell your child that you love them, and that you believe in them. Ensure that they have a good night's sleep (no staying awake past 8:00!) and feed them a nourishing breakfast.  Hug them tight!  When it's all over ask them questions like:  What was the easiest question on the test?  Which one did you have to re-read?  Was there a question that was a bit tricky?  How did you figure it out?  Which question did you have to take a guess at?  Let them tell you all about it!

I was impressed with this great article.  Go ahead and take a look!

Here's the link:

Gymnastics!!

Tomorrow's the day!  It will be my first time taking a class over to Salto Gymnastics for an afternoon of learning all about the sport.  Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for this adventure, including being prepared for a walk in the rain.  Flip flops are not allowed!

All parents are welcome to come along!  See you tomorrow!

There is a place for science in our real life!

Yes, I did stage this set of photos, so NO, the sweet blonde boy is not really bored! I just don't think he realized he would be in the pictures!  The students had made flower vases in science the previous class. They were explaining how their vases worked (or didn't).  In this way, they learn from their peers and begin to understand that not all science experiments are successful and that sometimes, you have to try again.  Using a glass vase, as a model of success...

this little darling tried the same bouquet of flowers in her own vase, holding it for the photo and then...

letting it go...

to learn that flower vases, like houses or bridges, need a solid foundation in order to stand the test of time!  Sometimes we learn more from our failures than our successes!

Wednesday....Part 2

The principal of the school took this photo and sent it to me.  I am still smiling over our good fortune of being awarded the BP Energy Grant for the next school year!

After our wonderful in school field trip with 'Awesome Bridges' the students had the opportunity to participate in the Grade Nine Business Fair.  It was a hands-on experience to recognize what a consumer is faced with when purchasing goods and/or services.  They had to make choices to ensure that they had enough money to get what they wanted.

It also gave them the opportunity to practise some money counting and mental math skills!

The 'pie in the face' booth was REALLY popular!  It was an example of paying for a 'service'.

This darling loves her brother, no matter what he looks like!

YUM! YUM!  This 'goods' looks good!

The exchanging of cash...

..enjoying the experience!

In the afternoon, the students were faced with another science challenge!

In groups of three, they counted out 50 straws,

and using a set amount of masking tape,

attempted to create the tallest, free standing structure that they could design.

The discussion, planning, co-operation and sharing was wonderful!

Again, it was an opportunity to put into action, their learning.

This group focused on ensuring that the structure had strong support.

This group was focused on getting the height element.

Science rocks!