Last Week Was Crazy!!

A couple of things had to go last week and one was the blog!  It was crazy hectic!
I am sharing a video of some of the 4th grade working on their Personal Learning Plans and some pictures of the 5th grade playing chess.  All 5th grade will know the game of chess by year's end.  We were happy to have Dr. O'Dell join us.

Trout in the Classroom

5th grade is participating in Trout in the Classroom. Link here...  We will get trout eggs in January and release the fish in the spring.  Today we filled the tank and started pre-cycling.  We will test the water daily to make sure ph levels are okay.  This unit ties into 5th grade science standards.

Homework Update

Hi Everyone,
         The first trimester is finished and it's time to up the expectations a bit.
Reading:
Students should be reading "Something" every night, Monday - Thursday.  Right now we are still reading Fish in a Tree and Wonder. There are nights that the students don't have to read one of those books because we didn't have reading that day.  Starting this trimester, they can always read something.  This is different than first trimester.  Students should be reading every night. (5th grade will start this tomorrow, I told them no reading for tonight.) Many students have 2 books in their books bags for this reason.  Storyworks or Storyworksjr. are great places to go and read.  Students know how to get to these sites, and the password for both is frogjar5.
Lexia:
Lexia is a computer program and the students work through levels.  Lexia goes to the end of 5th grade at Level 21.  Every student took a placement test in September that placed them at a level.  Once a student finishes a level, they receive a "Skillbuilder" packet that allows them to practice on paper what they did during that level.  These packets are to be kept in the students book folders and can be worked on at home.  Students can always access Lexia through the computer at home.

Rule of Thumb with regards to homework: 10 minutes per grade level.  4th graders should work no more than 40 minutes a night on homework.  5th grade should work no more than 50 minutes on homework.  So... students should read first and then once that is finished, work on a Lexia packet if they have one or go on Lexia or iready Math for the remainder of the time.  Computer programs are not mandatory to work on at home, but are there if you want.

My thoughts on homework:  I believe in homework.  I believe that homework should be independent and not frustrating.  If a child ever gets frustrated during homework, then he or she should put it away and parents need to email us or write us a note.  Homework is a place where students can practice what they have learned and learn time management.  If something comes up just send an email or write us a note.

Finally, students are expected to be prepared for class and be ready to learn once they enter the classroom.  Students have a choice everyday... take the class when it is happening or take the class the next day before school or after school.  Students will not be allowed to disrupt other students' learning.  Students are to pay attention and participate.

PLPs

Today grades 4 and 5 watched the movie Matilda. Last week the 4th grade went to BFA and saw the play and I will be reading the book to the 5th grade.  Tomorrow we will all be working on our Personal Learning Plans for the first trimester.  The students will work on finding evidence from their first trimester work that supports the Transferable Skills. Moving into the second trimester, students will identify what transferable skill they are working on for the different assignments they will be doing.  Here is a link to the Vermont Agency of Education for more information on Transferable Skills.

Rise Vermont

Rise VT visited us today to recognize our Bronze and Silver status!  We were presented with a kick ball!  Moretti also played a couple of games with the kids.  Jay Peak took measurements this morning for skiing and snowboarding boots.  There is no new reading homework due to Rise VT's visit and 4th grade going to see Matilda at BFA.  The students can always reread. Rereading is the most important strategy to fully understand characters and events. 

Monday 11/18

It's been awhile since I've posted.  Last week I had my final paper due for the graduate course I am taking and that took up my afternoons and evenings.
The first trimester ends this Friday. On Monday, we will be adding pieces of work, from first trimester, to our Personal Learning Plans.  All first trimester work that can go home will go home once the PLPs are done.  I will let you know when.  Report cards go home on Friday, December 6th.
4th and 5th grades are doing first reads tonight for homework.  They can access the audio from our blog.  Have a good night and safe travels tonight and tomorrow morning.

Veterans Day

5th Grade went to Saint Albans today for the parade and ceremony.  Cora Thomas (8th grade) did a great job giving a speech.  It was very cold and about 2 hours long, but the kids did wonderful.  4th grade did Veterans Day activities with Mrs. Howrigan and Mrs. Heald-Howrigan.  In the event that we don't have school tomorrow, the 5th grade should be sure to still reread chapters 9 and 10. 4th grade did not have class with me today, but if they brought their book bags home with them, they can always reread parts of what has been read already.  When we returned, we read the poem, In Flanders Field, which is a poem about WWI.  We will continue analyzing it when we return to school.  If we don't have school tomorrow, maybe a little research about the poem can happen?

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae - 1872-1918

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie
        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 
To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high. 
    If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields.

https://poets.org/poem/flanders-fields

Wonder began today... Fish in a Tree tomorrow

Students should be bringing home their books every night Monday-Thursday.  PLEASE help your child to put the book back in the book bag and back in the backpack!  If anyone has copy of Wonder we can borrow, please send it in with your child. Thank you!

Wonder & Fish in a Tree

Next week we start reading Wonder (4th grade) and Fish in a Tree. First reads will be done in class and then the 2nd read should be done at home that night. The students are finding that by reading pieces 2 times they can better analyze the text when answering questions or discussing the events.  There are links to all of the Fish in a Tree chapters on the blog-see the right hand section of links.  I am adding Wonder tonight.  Wonder is not broken into different chapters, so if your child uses the audio, he or she will have to write down the time on the video or keep that tab open on the computer.

Fun Day!

Here are some videos and pictures from our Fire Safety lessons. Thank you to all the firefighters who came to our school today.  Our evacuation drill ran very smoothly. The kids were well behaved.

One group with the hose!

Climbing out the bedroom window!

What do you do if you are asleep
and the fire alarm goes off?

Getting safely out of the bedroom.

Reaching safety

It was hard to see in there!

They had to aim for targets

Safety Day is Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is Safety Day!!
Nathan Sibley is riding to school on a fire truck!!!!!  Fire Safety at 11:40, book fair preview at 12:20 (they accept debit cards... oh NO!!!!), and an Evacuation Drill to St. Patrick's around 1:00 ish.  Busy, busy! But so much fun to be had!  Seriousness during the evacuation!!!! 

Busy, Busy Week

Happy Monday!  Dr. O'Dell sent home an Alert Now Message today.  Tuesday night there is an informative session on Vaping at SATEC. It is from 6-8 pm. Wednesday afternoon is a Safety Drill, Friday is Hay Day, and Sunday is the Harvest Dinner.

Next Monday and Tuesday evenings are conferences.  Students do not have school next Friday, November 1st.

Restorative Justice is..Howard Zehr.wmv

Hi everyone,

I am currently in my 3rd graduate class of 4 to obtain a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices.  I shared some of this at the 5th grade family circle we had in August before school started.  This is a short video that explains the 3 principles of Restorative Justice (Practices).  A statement that struck me while I watched it was, "When relationships are harmed, it creates needs."   The harm then needs to be repaired and those harmed have needs that need to be met.  What Restorative Practices really allows us to do is to pay attention to those harmed, which rarely occurs in the traditional punishment practice. 



I will continue to share aspects of Restorative Practices as we go through the year.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

No School Tomorrow for the Kids!!

Tomorrow is an in-service day for teachers.

In reading, we have working on summarizing.  Summarizing is a short retelling of the main points of something... in this case what we have read.  The students have been using post-it notes to help them remember the main points of what they have read. Right now it is every two pages.  This will only last for another week.  At that point we will begin Wonder (4th) and Fish in a Tree (5th). 

We will be reading together in school for our 1st read and then the students will do the 2nd read at home.  We will analyze the text the next day.  After these units, students will only need to use post-its at the end of chapters to summarize.  If your child is having difficulty remembering the big points, then he or she may go back to doing a post-it every couple of pages .

Right now, Fish in a Tree audio is linked on the blog. I am still trying to find a Wonder audio that I like!

Next Friday is Hay Day and then that Sunday, 10/27/19 is our annual Harvest Dinner.  Students eat free this year thanks to Grady's Golden Goodness.

Remind

I would like to start using Remind as a way for us to text one another. I sent instructions in an email and although it says Highgate as the school, it is for Fairfield.  Conference schedules are available on Pick A Time. You should have seen instructions sent home to you last week.

Google Classroom & Storyworks...

We have done a ton of work to get the kids used to google classroom and Storyworks & Storyworks Jr.  I think they got it today, but the test will be on Monday! I will be absent and Ms. Thompson, my former team member-now member of the Retired Teachers Club-will be subbing for me.  I'm sure they will do fine and have each other plus Ms. Thompson to help them. 

Your kids are fabulous and leave every day with a smile on my face.

Class Coupons

During the day, the students have opportunities to earn tickets that they can cash in for certificates.
The certificates/coupons are:

• Visiting a younger class and helping out for 1/2 hour.
• Eating lunch in the room with a friend.
• Free time at intervention time.
• Wear a hat for the day.
• Free choice of where to sit.
• Visit to the Treasure Box.

Little things that let the students know we notice good choices.  

Bike Trip on Friday.  A lunch is needed and appropriate outerwear for the weather!  LAYERING is excellent!!!!

Conferences in about 3 weeks.

Bike Trip This Friday

There is reading homework every night Monday - Thursday. Post-It notes should be used at least every two pages with a statement of what has happened.  Inferences and predictions can be used also.

This Friday we go on our Bike Trip.  Permission forms are in and the students will be learning a bit more about biking in P.E. class this week.  We are going with the 6th grade and will be eating lunch at the end or during our ride. This is new to me, so I'm going to let go of some control and let it ride!

Conferences are about 3 weeks away.  Tuesday 10/29/19 is the after school conference night when all teachers will be here.  Team 4-5 needs to decide on another night.  Mrs. Howrigan, Mrs. Heald-Howrigan, and I will be having conferences together for time slots of 15 minutes. 

5th Grade to Northwest Solid Waste District

The beginning!

July 1, 2020...it will be illegal for food
waste to go to the landfills.  Get one of
these for "backyard"composting.

Compost in the making.

This is like the truck that picks up our compost.

A roller truck.

Plastic sap tubing. It gets shipped to
 Arkansas to be made into irrigation lines.

Rinse your containers before you
put them in the recycle bin.

Bring your old paint and stains
in to NWSWD!

An old Mercury thermostat!

Baled paper, about 1000 lbs.

The front of the baler.

The other side of the baler.

Gizmos and Book Orders

5th Grade Field Trip to NWSWD on Friday!
Dress for the weather. Boots, gloves, hats, etc.  Change of shoes for when we return.  Bring a bag lunch.  

Gizmos at explorelearning.com
The 5th grade was introduced to Gizmos today.  Gizmos are simulated labs for math and science.  We did a Gizmo today on The Forest Ecosystem.  Students brought home their work to show you, and if you want to visit the site their usernames are the first part of their emails and the password is Tully2019.
  
Trout!
We had the Trout in the Classroom tank delivered today.  We will start the Trout program in January.  

Book Orders

Class Code - NXBYL Order Due Date -  10/11/19

Scholastic Book Orders will go home tomorrow. 
All orders are due by 10/11/19.

There are two ways to order:

1. Go online to: scholastic.com/new parent.
Look up my name: Tully, or enter our Class Code: NXBYL.
Follow the instructions to place your order online by: 10/11/19. 

2. Check off the books you want to order for your child
and return the flyer to me with a check to
Scholastic Book Clubs by 10/11/19. 

Google Classroom and Scholastic

Students should be reading for 20 (4th) to 30 (5th) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Post it notes should be used to record important details or inferences.
4th grade has a field trip tomorrow, 10/3 and 5th grade go on one Friday 10/4.

This week we have worked on becoming familiar with google classroom and Storyworks & Storyworks Jr. Scholastic magazines.  Conferences are the last week in October.

With google classroom, I can create assignments right from Scholastic. Scholastic turns them into an assignment that I can then edit if I want to add, delete, or revise questions.  Google classroom also allows me to add links and google documents for them to use while completing assignments.  When I formally grade an assignment I will add it to Power School Unified Classroom.

Storyworks and Storyworks Jr. are magazines the students read throughout the month.  They always will have a class copy that is shared between the 4th and 5th grades. The online version has so many cool features. Some articles/stories have audio versions so the students can read along while hearing it read to them.  There are videos providing background knowledge and vocabulary slides.  Here are the websites for you to explore.  The student login is the same for both magazines... frogjar5
storyworks.scholastic.com    storyworksjr.scholastic.com

Home/School Communication and 5th grade field trip today

Every student in the school has a colored, plastic folder meant for home/school communication.  When you open it up, one side says stay at home and one says return to school.  4th and 5th graders bring these folders home every night.  PLEASE ask your child to see these folders every night.  Many 5th grade folders still have papers in them that parents need to see.  We will also start putting weekly assignments or reminders on a sheet that will slide right in the front of the folder or go inside. If your child has a change of plans, please, please write a note and put it in the folder. Miss Brenda gets many emails and phone calls about change of plans during the day and it would be much more efficient if you write a note and put it in the folder.
 Thank you for your help with this.

Today the 5th grade went to The West Farm in Jeffersonville, Vermont.  We harvested potatoes, onions, and winter squash for local food shelves.  On our way home, we stopped by the Fairfield Community Center to deliver some of the food we picked.

Potatoes!!!!

Digging in the dirt.

Peter trusted me with a knife to cut down onions!!!??

And more dirt.

Hiking

This Thursday the 4th grade goes to Chester Arthur to work on the trails and on Friday the 5th grade go to Northwest Solid Waste District.

When Do We Post It?

For reading homework, the 4th grade should be reading for at least 20 minutes a night and the 5th grade for at least 30 minutes.  Post it notes are in the book bags and students should be using them to make inferences, write down big ideas or details, or note scenes they imagine in their minds.  Here is a chart the 5th grade made today answering the question, "When should I post-it?"

When do we post it?

Reading Homework

All students should be reading for at least 20 minutes (4th) and 30 minutes (5th) Monday - Thursday nights.  They have post-it notes that they should be using when they read.  We are practicing making inferences and they should be doing this at home in their independent reading.  Here are some links to some books where we have been practicing our inference skills.

A Day's Work  By Eve Bunting

Just Kidding    By Trudy Ludwig

New Piece of Playground Fun!

Added this past weekend!

The John Halligan presentation went well today. It's a heavy topic, but needs to be addressed.  We invite 5th graders because the bullying Ryan endured started in 5th grade.  I hope to see some of you at the parent presentation.  When my kids were in 4th/5th grade, we only had to worry about the desktop computer.  We were warned to leave it in a spot where it could be monitored.  There were no smartphones.  Today, most kids carry computers around in their pockets.  They are on the internet unsupervised.  Please be aware of the texting and sites your child visits.  It is hard to keep up with the newest apps.They will tell you it's his or her phone, but as long as you pay for it, it is your phone.  Just like the wall phones we grew up with.  Sometimes I miss the simpler days!

Reading Homework Officially Begins!

Every night, Monday through Thursday, the students are required to read for at least 30 minutes in 5th grade and at least 20 if in 4th grade.  Times will increase through the year.  We will read in school, but the students need to still read at night.

The 5th graders were timed 1 minute today while silent reading.  They took the length of what they read and figured out how many pages they should read in 30 minutes.  Then they figured out how long it should take them to read the book.  I will begin taking Status of the Class to record their books and the page they are on.  When they choose a book they will figure out how long it should take them to read.

If you have not checked out John Halligan's website, please do.  He visits our school tomorrow and will be at SATEC tomorrow night for a parent presentation.
https://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/

A permission slip was sent home today with 5th grade to visit Northwest Solid Waste District on October 4th.

Open House

Thank you for those who were able to make it to Open House.  The middle school made some great chile from the vegetables in our gardens.

In addition to the field trip we have on September 30th, we will also be going on another that Friday, October 4th.  We will visit Northwest Solid Waste District to learn more about composting and recycling.

We had another butterfly release today.  Here is the video.

We talked about 9/11 today.  I started by showing a read aloud of the book September Roses.  We then read an article about what happened that day and discussed how the country changed after that day.  The definition of terrorist was shared, but we did not focus on that part.

On September 30th we will be going on a field trip to the West Farm in Jeffersonville, VT.  Many papers were sent home today about this trip. We are planning this in conjunction with Healthy Roots. There are two permission slips you need to sign and return.  Linked here is the school permission slip.   Here is a link to Healthy Roots Collaborative.

Today we spent a lot of time reading! We looked through all of our non-fiction books and got rid of old ones that the students would probably not choose to read anymore.  This allowed the students to really see what kinds of books we have!  Here is a video of the kids reading.

And another video of our hula hoop hopping!

This week...

I'm sorry I haven't posted this week.  I usually don't post on Fridays and I have been really sick with the fall cold!  I get home and collapse.

We started switching classes this week!  How nice it is to be in a schedule and see the 4th grade!  The the have Mrs. Heald-Howrigan for math and Mrs. Howrigan for writing.

Fund raisers were sent home Monday.  If you haven't seen it, check your child's backpack.  You should be checking the Purple Home/School Communicator Folders.  I send them home every night even if we didn't hand anything out.

Next week is the presentation with John Halligan.  Here is his website if you would like to learn more. Ryan's Story  He will be here on the 17th and will present that evening at SATEC.

Open House is this Thursday. It starts at 5:30 pm with a chile tasting.  Classroom visits start at 6:00 pmand we will end the evening with a presentation from Fuel Up to Play 60.  You should be out the door heading home by 7:00 pm!!  I hope to see you then!

It's a Butterfly

A student brought in a chrysalis today and it turned into a butterfly during class!  On our way in from releasing it we saw a little orange frog!
Binders are ready, supplies & materials are ready, expectations have been modeled, taught, and gentle reminders have been given to remind students of the expectations.  Monday we start switching for math reading, and writing.  I will teach students reading, science, and social studies. I can't wait!  ** Open House is next Thursday! **

Expectations are up on the walls!

Hi Everyone,
Our 5th grade class expectations and the steps of what to do if one is not following the expectations are up on the wall.  Tomorrow I will start the steps if students are off task, etc.
I always try to give a non-verbal reminder! However, if I just finished giving directions and made sure that everyone heard them, then I will not give a non-verbal.
Step 1 - Redirection back to the activity
Step 2 - Move seat or place in line
Step 3 - Movement break or buddy room (our buddy room is the science room across the hall)
If a child reaches step 3, then a Minor Referral is written and communicated to home.  4 minors in one week becomes a Major Referral.
Step 4 - Planning room to reset.  Major Referral is written and communicated to home.
The starts new about every hour or transition from one class to the next.

Next week is Open House and I will have this all written out so you can take it home.  I will also include the strategies that we use to help students self-regulate their emotions and attention.

The Brain

Today we worked on our All About Me posters and learned more about how our classroom runs. Students took a diagnostic assessment of Lexia, which is an online reading program.  It is a supplement to our reading program.  I will send home information about our reading program at a later date.

If your child plays soccer, please send in a "forever note." A forever note says that your child can always stay after for soccer practices and games.  It also says what your child should do in case practices or games are cancelled.

We watched a video today about the brain.  Here is the link  Ask your child to show you how their hand can become a model for the brain before you watch the video!

A Day of Fun Activities

I have some videos of our activities we did today, but don't want to share them until I can check against the emergency forms of who can and can't be photographed/videotaped.

Our activities from today included grouping together according to a color dot on our foreheads.  The students didn't know what color dot they had and they couldn't use their mouths to communicate.  They did a fabulous job!  Then they had to group together by the months of their birthdays, and once that was finished, they had to line up in order of their actual birth date.

In the afternoon they completed the Paper Chain Challenge.  In groups, the students had to make the longest paper chain possible with one piece of 12x18 construction paper, 12 inches of masking tape, and one scissor.  They had 3 minutes of independent time to think about it, 5 minutes of group time to discuss it, and 30 minutes to complete the task!

Many forms have been sent home for you to fill out and return to school.  If you can, please try to have them in by Tuesday.

5th Grade Expectations

I went over the 5th Grade Expectations with the students today.  These are the same expectations that are used throughout middle school.  We will use the same ones except for how we deal with missing work.  Missing or incomplete work will be made up during lunch, recess (an alternative movement recess will be given), before school, or after school.  A big expectation is that clear, regular water is the only drink allowed in the classroom-in a water bottle.  Plastic water bottles are not allowed.  Please read the expectations and review with your child.  Call or email me with any questions or concerns.

*On September 17th, grades 5-8 will be going to a presentation given by John Halligan.  He is giving a presentation for parents that same night at 6:00 pm at SATEC. I am putting in the link to John's website so you can learn what the presentation will be about.  This is the 4th time he will be visiting Fairfield.  We have always had grades 5-8 attend.  Please call me or Dr. O'Dell if you have any questions or comments.
https://www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org/

First Day!

Before I talk about the first day I want to share some pictures of our Monday night circle.  For those of you who could not make it, I will send home the questions we answered so you can complete them and send them back in with your child.

Circle 1

Circle 2

Circle 4

Circle 3

 Today was fabulous!!!  We learned about Decibella and voice levels.  We went over how we need notes to make a change in our normal plans.  All students brought home their Purple Home-School Communicators today.  These will be brought home every night. There were papers in there tonight so look!

Summer School

Hi Everyone,
Monday started the 3 weeks of summer school I am teaching.  I am working with grades 6-8.  It is from 9:00-2:00 Monday through Thursday.  It's a nice way to get back on schedule for the middle of the summer.  My graduate class I am taking doesn't end til August 6th.  I start a PowerPoint presentation this week, which is due in 2 weeks.  Then I have a 5 page paper to write.  My next class starts on September 11th!  If you are driving by and summer school is in session, feel free to stop by and say hi.  My room isn't completely set up, but I am doing a little each day. 

Clifton Park

I'm still here in Clifton Park, NY. They continue to run tests on my stepdad in preparation for a TAVR procedure which is an acronym for Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.  I will be heading back to Vermont at the end of the week to prepare for summer school which starts next Monday.

While here I have been able to visit with my sisters and brothers and see other family and friends.  I am working on a summer class called Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom and that keeps me very busy.  I am also reading a lot and running.  I hope to run a half marathon in the fall.  That is if I don't have repeats from yesterday's run.  Into mile 2 I tripped and fell.  My left knee and leg do not look very pretty!  I always run with water and a running pack full of materials in case I do fall.  I wiped myself up, and continued with the run.  I definitely will be taking today off.

In the coming posts, I will be sharing about the class I am taking and the one I took in the spring.  These 2 classes are part of a 4 course graduate certificate program in Restorative Practices.  This graduate certificate program is through the International Institute for Restorative Practices. Mrs. Sargent and many other educators in the district are also a part of this program. Restorative Practices allow students to be held more accountable for their challenging behaviors in a way that punitive practices to not allow. We also use many proactive strategies and routines to teach students how to manage their choices.

I will try to do better with my posts.  The reason for blogging during the summer is for you and your child to get to know me and my philosophy of education bit better.

Long, Long Week

On a morning run... stopped by the train.

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with the blog on a daily basis.  My stepdad was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday.  He needs to have a valve replacement.
We did have a great time on our trip to Long Island.  It was great to see family and venture into the city.  We love New York City.

View from the train going into the City.

Our annual Macy's shoe shopping trip!

Always look up... Empire State Building.

Our favorite Japanese Steakhouse.

Waiting for the train to Citi Field.

Excellent Dinner!

Beautiful evening.

We had great seats.