Wordle

 On the first day back from vacation, I do activities that will ease the students back into a full day of school.  On Wednesday, I taught them the online game Wordle.  Wordle online link  For those of you who haven't played the game, the object is to figure out the 5 letter word of the day in 6 tries or less.  You start using any 5 letter word; my word is always house, but Mrs. Kara Garceau's first word is stare.  Then you find out if any of those letters are in the word you are trying to guess.  If the letter is in the word, but in the wrong spot, the letter will turn yellow.  If the letter is in the word, and in the correct spot, then the letter turns green.  Letters not in the word turn gray.  Based on those clues you have 5 more chances to get the word.

Wordle, on nytimes.com, only has 1 word a day.  There is a website that has all the wordles archived. We started with #1 on Wednesday and they played when they had the chance. Lots of learning opportunities came up about letters that can be at the beginning or end of a word, vowel teams, and syllables.  It's a challenging activity that they can choose when work has been completed or have some free time.

Camping

 Last Friday we had our celebration for demonstrating HR3, Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, and Ready to Learn.  Students earn 15 minutes of free time each time they get a tic tac toe on a card.  We have a bag of chips labeled 1-45. The tic tac toe grid has 9 numbers and when one of those numbers is picked we X it out. It takes 4 cards to earn a celebration.  This time they voted for camping.  Here are some pictures from our camping day.

Shout Outs!

 Our Middle School Values are:

Inquire, Persist, Learn, Grow, Connect, and Advocate

Every first Monday of the month we have our Middle School Community Gathering where we celebrate students who have demonstrated these values.  We call these Shout Outs.

Students who receive Shout Outs get a ticket.  We then pull 10 tickets and those students get a goody bag.  In one of those goody bags is a Grady's Golden Goodness - GGG sticker.  The student who gets the sticker can choose one thing from the GGG website.  We are very thankful to GGG for supporting us.

We encourage students to Advocate for themselves and others by "shouting out" students who demonstrate one of our values.

Review of Expectations

 WOW!  It's been a very long time since I have written a blog post.  I want to take this opportunity to review our behavior expectations.

Our school wide expectations are Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, and Ready to Learn. Our 5/6 team has the same classroom expectations that define what HR3 looks like. When students are having difficulty with these expectations, they get a redirection or reminder.  The steps are as follows:

In Each Class:

1. First reminder: student is asked to follow the expectation.

2. 2nd reminder: move seats or take a break

3. 3rd reminder: move again, take a break, or work in another room

    Minor Office Discipline Referral

4. 4th reminder: planning room

    Major Office Discipline Referral

3 reminders in one class period are documented as a minor referral.  This is done on paper.  If a student receives 3 minors in one day, then we document it as a major office discipline referral and it is recorded in our school data base called SWIS.

If a student has received multiple reminders throughout the day, but didn't get 3 minors, then we will contact you and document it as a major office discipline referral.

4 minor referrals in one week will be documented as a major office discipline referral.  

We will contact you when a major ODR is recorded, but you may hear from us after one or two minors. 

What does a major ODR mean?  Each week, our Behavior Support Team meets and reviews the major referrals.  If a students is receiving majors on a regular basis or a pattern is developing, then the BST will look into what can be done to support that student.

Students get a clean slate each class for the 1, 2, 3 step process.  That means a student in my class  may receive 2 redirects, but when they go to science those 2 are "left" in my class and Gabby will start with step 1. 

We understand this may be confusing, but the students are used to this process.  We document minors and majors so we can connect the dots if we need to so we can better support the students.

First Month of School

 Happy October!

The first month of school is complete and the students are doing great!  We are still working on our listening skills, especially during Unified Arts.   There is homework every night, M-Th, and there is a homework/classwork sheet in the Home/School Communicator.  Here is a link to see the sheet. You need to sign the sheet every night.  For right now, math is the only homework unless your child is in band or chorus.  Students NOT in band or chorus read during that time, so they don't have to read at night. Band and Chorus students need to make up the reading at night.

Once a month, the Middle School will be gathering together to recognize students who demonstrate our Core Values.  Here is a slide show that defines our Core Values.   Link to Slideshow  During the last 2 weeks, we charted what these values look and sound like in the classroom.  My hope is that the students will recognize when they or others are demonstrating these values.  Tomorrow is our first gathering.  Students receiving "shout outs" will be called up and receive a letter and ticket.  At the end, 10 tickets will be chosen and those students will receive a goody bag.  In one of those goody bags, there will be a GGG sticker.  Whoever gets that sticker will be able to order something off of the GGG website.  

If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of us. We are using the Remind App which allows us to text you updates and reminders.  If you have not yet signed up for this please do so.

How to sign up for Remind.  5th: send a text to 81010 and text this message: @8bckh3 and 6th: send a message to 81010 and text this message: @46f3g6           Please sign up. Thank you.

Today's Circle

The students are doing a great job with switching between the 3 classes.  They need to bring so many things with them!  Recess is going well with the 6th grade.  We have 2nd graders up on the playground too for a bit when we get out there and it's great to see them all play together. We established our classroom jobs so everyone has a job!  It's amazing that there are 22 jobs that can be done on a daily basis like messenger, floor patrol, art area organizer, sprayer (for cleaning the desks), and food service.

Our circle today was about seeing how our 5/6 Team Agreements are going.  Students rated our agreements to see how well we are following them. 

Our agreements are:

1. Be Kind and Respectful

2. Work Hard

3. Listen to the Speaker

4. Be on Task

5. Be Prepared

The majority of students rated Listen to the Speaker and Be on Task as things we need to work on during the day.  I then asked students what I should be doing better.  Many think I should give better directions and many think I'm doing okay.  So we talked about what better directions could be like.  Students would like me to ask if anyone has any questions before we begin our work and show what to do on my computer when they are on theirs.  I told them I thought I was doing those things, but I would try harder!  And I will!

The reason I did this specific circle today was to address a safety issue.  Yesterday, when going out for recess, the class crossed the road to the playground before I was outside. They are supposed to wait for me to tell them to cross unless Mrs. Brown's class is going out at the same time and I tell them they can follow.  I spoke to them about it yesterday and reminded them of it today before they went outside. As I followed them outside, most of the class had already crossed the road without me giving the go ahead.  We discussed it again at the end of recess and during circle. Giving clear directions is what many students asked for during the beginning of the year circle and I have tried hard to give clear directions after getting the class' attention.

In addition to the things the students suggested I do, I will also ask 3-5 students to repeat the directions that I give to be sure that they are being heard.  I use popsicle sticks (each stick has a child's name on it) to call on kids so the same students aren't always giving the answers.

Some reminders that you can help with:

** We can't talk inside while our masks are down.

** Charging the computers every night.

A homework sheet is in the Purple Home/School folders and those are to be signed every night or next morning.  I will collect these every Friday.

They are doing a great job.  22 students in desks all facing forward is not easy, especially with the masks.  I adore them all!

Thanks so much!

Stacey

Remote Already?

 Well, last week through us for a loop!  We had 6th graders and some Brown bus riders going remote on the 4th day of school. CRAZY!!  Good news.... all students have their computers and are on google classroom.  

If/when students go remote, they will be assigned work.  All work will be on google classroom going forward.  If the work is not there, it will be soon after going remote.  Although we are not in a State of Emergency and there are no "remote" days, we will treat remote days as we did last year.  It becomes tricky when students are coming back from remote and some are still at home.  

Last week, we continued to build community and set up/practice classroom routines and expectations.  The first 6 weeks of school is a time where we must take our time and establish our routines and expectations for the school year.  This way, personalized learning and project based learning can happen.  It doesn't mean that content isn't covered the first 6 weeks. It is, but in the context of building our classroom.

The first 6 weeks is a book/process from Responsive Classroom.

This week, assessments will continue to take place so we know where our students are academically. 

**** Our 5th and 6th grade classes are peanut/tree nut free.****

First Week of School

 The first week is complete!!! YAY!  It was a very, very hot one!  The kids did a great job keeping those masks on.  

On the first day of school we created our 5/6 Team Agreement of how we should act in our classrooms and did some team building activities.

5/6 Team Agreement:

1. Be Kind and Respectful

2. Work Hard

3. Listen to the Speaker

4. Stay on Task

5. Be Prepared

We have set up our binders and our computers are ready.  Starting on Monday, 8/30, they will go home with the students every night.  The computers will need to be charged each night at home and brought back to school the next day.  This is in case we need to go remote.

On Friday Dr. O'Dell met with all the 5/6 team students & teachers and talked about HHB&R which is Hazing, Harrassment, Bullying, and Retaliation.  We worked on our All About Me folders and played Newcomb Ball which is similar to Volleyball.

Students will have this homework sheet  (click on link) in their home/school folders each night.  After your child has read for 20-30 minutes and the computer is charging, please initial the sheet and have your child return it to their folders.  Please remember to check the home/school folders every night.

New Week of Assignments

Hello Families,
Hopefully the changes we made in the settings of our google classrooms stopped the students from getting bombarded with emails for every assignment posted for this week.  Mondays should be for looking through email and google classrooms and then seeing if there is any work that can get started.  Go through each classroom and look at the assignments.  Make a plan that works for your family.   (Remember the daily 2 to 2 1/2 hours of work time rule!)

I love to do lists.  I always show the kids my lists.  I have two neighbors come over everyday and on Mondays we look through the assignments on google classroom and then make a list of the assignments for the week.  Then we plan them out for the week.  Every morning after breakfast and TV time, we make a to do list for that day.  By the time the day is done, they have each spent about
2 1/2 hours on academics.  It helps for us to have the same schedule everyday because I am working as well.

But that might not work for you and that's okay.  Your days need to work for your family!!!  If you need help with anything, please reach out to us.

We will be reaching out to you about becoming a "guardian" on your child's google classroom.  It will allow you to receive summaries of the work that has been assigned and the work that has yet to be turned in or marked as done.  You set your notification preferences for daily or weekly updates.  You do not have to do this, but it is helpful.  My neighbor receives daily updates, and she emails them to me, so I am able to use that to help us with our daily to do lists.

Have a great Monday.  We are here if you need support!  Reach out before the frustration takes over.

How are you doing?

Hi Families,
How are you doing?  It's vacation week, so the kids don't have any assignments.  But, we still can't go anywhere and today (Wednesday) it's snowy, windy, and cold.  I am going to curl up and read for the rest of the day. 

I haven't posted in a while because I didn't want those of you who subscribe to get another email!  The past couple of weeks have been crazy.  Hopefully, moving forward next week to the end of the school year it will become smoother with every week. The technology will be worked out for remote learning and the students will find their new routine.  The week before vacation was a good run through using google classroom, google forms, Khan Academy, and video lesssons from the teachers. 

Although I have lots of resources I can send you, I am not going to do that unless you ask me for something.  I have been overloaded with online resources.  So, if you need additional or different work for your child, please reach out to us.  And remember... the well being of your family takes priority over everything else.

Take Care,
Stacey

Resources & Outdoor Learning Activities

Good Morning Everyone,
Things are going well in the world of online learning. The students are getting better at it everyday.
Below are some resources to help you at home for days that your child/children need something else do besides academic work.  You will need those days every once in a while.

https://www.vermontpbs.org/at-home-learning/

These are the topics the students would have done in 4 Winds.
Stream Life:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQEyFjI7FzPqhP8mAntUY7cJSmH9893OwYKFOu28A4lQGHt-o0qpWcTiWc56USMAi4Byw-dza08C6ER/pub
Stream Life nearby nature unit:
https://nearbynature908475479.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/teacher-resources-ecosystems-stream-life.pdf
Snags and Rotting Logs
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ_YNy_jR15HZnv0JrViOw4cyTMvp1DZYMLPihZ_3nJgk_DpGq-rfMjE9rdaKrXIt7hYti0499CSepk/pub

Flip Grid!!

So I learned about the coolest thing today!  Flip Grid!  I am going to create one for the 5th grade parents because I am testing it with the 5th grade first.  Once we are comfortable with it, I will try it with the 4th grade and 4th grade parents.  It's almost like a video email, except the videos only go from me and back to me.  There is no class share yet, or at least I don't think so.  If you want to explore it, go to flipgrid.com  It took me a while to figure it out once I created an account, but that's part of the fun of trying new technology.
flipgrid.com

What a crazy week!

I didn't post last night because honestly, I was shocked at the news.  I never thought we would get news to move completely to online learning this soon.  I still haven't processed it.   The 4th and 5th grades are in a good position to move to this kind of learning.    They have learned many online platforms this year that will help them adapt to this change. Two of the most important skills your child can learn are practical problem solving and adapting to change. The students are getting this in real time.  If you want your child's chromebook at home please contact your child's homeroom teacher and we will work to get it to you.  It will be easier for your child to have it at home. 

Have a great weekend and try to relax.  We are all feeling anxious.   We will enter this new world slowly and provide all of the support you need.  At the end of the day what really matters is that the students are safe and happy.

Universal Design for Learning UDL

So, for some crazy reason,  I decided to take an online workshop this week!  Because I'm bored? No! Because I'm crazy? YES!   Here are some pics from today's module that gives some insight to what it is all about.  I'm happy to see that I already use UDL, but it's always nice to get a refresher and validation that what you are doing is best practice. 

Engagement

Personalized education is important, but very hard to manage.

Examples of what it looks like.

Reminders and such...

Today was a bit better until I messed my 4th graders up by posting 2 different times for the same meeting. Message that I need to slow down!!!  The meeting for 4th grade on Zoom is Wednesday 3/25 at 9:00 am.  When I was in the room yesterday, I took some pics.  We need to remember our HR3 expectations at home.  When we are online, we need to remember that we are in the classroom.  When online, you are on your school account and the technology expectations we have in school are the same at home.   I'll see the 4th graders tomorrow! 5th graders, I'll send you an email tomorrow letting you know about our next meeting!

Tell your parents what THINK means!

Henrietta says hello!

Jackie O is still fabulous but is lonely!

Hard Day!!

Today was a hard day.  I started it by trying to do a Zoom workout session at 5:15 a.m. only to have it not connect!  I quickly moved to Facebook live and let my friends who were joining me know. We made it work.  I will be doing Facebook live workout sessions from now on because I can't deal with tech issues at 5:15 in the morning!

I went up to school around 8:00 a.m. to get any materials I would need to teach from home.  We are not allowed to stay in the building anymore.  It was hard.  I had planned to go to school every day and teach from there and work in my room.  I ran to the store after, since I was out, and got a text saying, "Your students are waiting for you..."!  OH NO!  I cancelled the google meet on the google calendar and thought it would email all the kids too.

So, Tuesday we will try a Zoom meeting for 5th and Wednesday a Zoom meeting for 4th.  I was going to use google meet but other teachers were using Zoom and I wanted it to be consistent for families.

Here are a few pics from today's visit to our classroom.  I took more, but will save them for other posts!  I miss you all!

Our book nook!  Zero level!!!!

Fish Tank

My "at home" teacher desk!

At home teacher area!

Trout and such...

The trout continue to grow! I will put a picture and video at the end of this post.
Today was the first day experiencing video conferencing. The first attempt found only a few able to connect, but then we worked it out and it seems as if everyone can connect with the Chromebooks now.  We will try again tomorrow morning.  I am getting so many resources sent to me about online learning that it is overwhelming.  I use online learning already, so will pretty much keep with what we use.  If I find anything that I think we could use then I will share that with you.  I am going to try to post every day, Monday through Friday!

Feeding

The Trout are Swimming Up!

The trout are swimming up! We fed them today and a few of them ate the food.  At this stage, they are called fry.

I will send home a letter Thursday about Run Like A Girl.  The Run for Jim is Sunday May 3rd. We will start practicing on Thursday March 19th.

Illustration Day

Thursdays are illustration days for the 4th grade.  We are illustrating the stories about Grady. Students are grouped by story but also by the job they have. Today, Mr. Raymond started working with the job groups teaching them specifically about their roles  They are character development, background/details, finisher, and colorer.  Cole came today and will join us every Thursday. The kids were so excited to see him!

Fish and Illustrations

The trout continue to grow.  We should be able to start feeding them soon.

The 4th grade has started illustrating a book called, "What Would Grady Do?"  It is a collection of stories about Grady Howrigan that his friends and family shared.  The characters will be bugs and the students are doing a great job!