Plans Week of September 8, 2015

Students at work.

Highlights from Last Week:

• What a wonderful first 3 days! I am loving our amazing class of awesome kids!
• Students learned some essential tips for making their visual work look good with my Graphic Design Tips. You can see the results of students' learning in their amazing name tags. Check them out on the Student Work Page or click here.
• I started reading aloud from Louis Sachar's There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, one of my favorite funny books. Students are enjoying learning about the belligerent Bradley Chalkers, his misadventures in school, and his imaginary friends.
• Students wrote a sample story in their Writing Journals to give me an idea of their writing skills and interests. I thanked them for their efforts with a friendly note and some amazing stickers. 
• Students also eagerly explored the extensive classroom library and selected a book to read independently. Some students took advantage of the fact that I have multiple copies of many books and decided to buddy read. I'm looking forward to listening to each student read and discuss their book with me this week.
• We had a very uneventful fire drill and learned that our beloved couch is not a fire hazard. Hooray!
  

What we didn't get to:
The first few days of school are so crazy and overwhelming --for students but mostly for teachers-- so my highly ambitious plan last week will mostly spill over into this week. I always forget how much time it takes to learn the basic routines and expectations. As I look over last week's plan, I realize that we didn't get to most of it! Like I said, ambitious!


This Week's Plan

Special: 
We continue our launch into the school year with social skills practice and introductory activities.

• Procedures Overview and Practice --We'll continue to learn class procedures to make the rest of the year run smoothly. We're off to a great start!
  
• Hopes and Goals --Student will write about what they hope for and want to accomplish socially and academically this year.
• Group Skills  --Explicit practice in the art of working with other people. We'll focus on listening, compromising, and non-verbal communication. These skills are essential for the partner work and team projects we do throughout the year.
• Inclusion and Class Games --We learn a few class games to play together and at recess. We'll also discuss ways to be safe and inclusive during the unstructured times of lunch and recess.

Reading:

• Launching Reading Workshop --We'll dive into reading and learn what makes us strong readers. We'll learn some strategies for improving our independent reading.
• Find a "Just Right" Book --We'll learn how to find books that are just right for us. Students will then explore my classroom library and choose a good book to read independently.  
  
• Teacher Read Aloud --I will model how I think while I read. I will also preview some books for students by reading aloud the first chapter.
  
• Informal and formal assessments --While students independently read, I will float around the room and ask individual students to read aloud for me so I can learn more about each of them as readers.

Writing:

• Storytelling to Start --Our first piece of writing is just a sample so that I can see where students are at. We'll practice a strategy called, "Storytelling," where students tell a partner about an experience to help get the order of events straight before writing.
• Generating Ideas --We'll learn some strategies for conquering the blank page. Students will learn how to think of people, places, and turning points and list them in a special place that they can always return to.
• Decorate the Writing Journal --A customized journal is a great inspiration! I'll provide students with some materials and ideas for decorating their journals. They may need to finish at home.

Math:

• Multiplication Review --To make sure students start fifth grade off right, we'll review our basic multiplication facts through 12x12. We'll play Multiplication Bingo and other multiplication practice games and students will have the option to take some timed 50 facts tests.
• Explore Math Resources --Students will explore the Everyday Math Student Reference Book through a scavenger hunt, then I will model how to use some of our math materials such as calculators, dice, and cards. 
• Factors and Arrays --We'll learn what a factor is and how to make an array to represent multiplication.

Science/Social Studies:
This week we hold off on Science and Social Studies to focus on launching reading, writing, and math. 


Thanks for Reading!
So that's the plan for the second week of school. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I look forward to meeting more of you!