Thrilling Thursday

This morning, after reading quietly, exchanging books in the media center or practicing keyboarding skills, the students too the winter MAP-M assessment.  This is the self-adjusting, computerized math assessment that they take three times a year, in the fall, winter and spring.  The scores are not on the students' report cards and they do not impact grade placement for next year.  No worries...my entire class will move on to fourth grade in the fall!  :-)

The test is important though.  It helps me gauge student growth. I can see each child's strengths and weaknesses.  Therefore, I use the data to drive my planning and instruction.

The assessment took all morning.  Some students will need to finish it tomorrow.

So, after the testing session, the children enjoyed lunch and indoor recess.

After recess we reviewed today's independent work.  Students will begin with a guided reading task and a word work activity.  Then they will continue reading realistic fiction picture books and taking notes regarding the characters actions, illustrations, page layout, and theme.  After that, they will practice writing M, N, and W in cursive.  Next they will revisit the biographies on Go Pebble about famous Black Americans and select their top three choices for whom they would like to create a "facebook" page.  After that, they will watch a Brain Pop Jr. lesson about reading maps and complete a 3-2-1 note taking sheet.  If there is time leftover, students will practice reading to themselves, with a partner, using the Internet, or they will practice keyboarding skills.

As the students work independently, I will meet with guided reading groups.

Tigers:  We reviewed last night's word work homework and then practiced doing Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check with some of their words.  They will complete this, on their own, after group.  Then we used their list of unknown words, from last night's homework, to practice using dictionary.com in order to write a definition matching the way the word was used in the text.  After doing one together, the children completed 2 on their own.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread pages 28-32 and practice their word work words by doing either a speed sort or a header sort.

Leopards:  Independently the children reread chapter 8 and, in their RRJ, explained why the author named it, "A Piece of Luck".  They also did a buddy check, with a partner, using their word work words.  In group we discussed what was lucky (running into Dr. Crider) and why it was lucky (he provided something to eat and beds to sleep in).  For HOMEWORK the children need to read chapter XI (pages 45-48) and do a mean check with 5 more of their word work words.

Lions:  Independently the students reread chapter 10 and then, in their RRJ, named and explained the change at the end of the chapter.  They also did a buddy check, with a partner, using their word work words.  In group we reviewed last night's meaning check and discussed the surprise at the end of chapter 10 and how we think Uncle Victor will react to it.  For HOMEWORK the children need to read chapter 11 and use 5 more words, from their word work, in a meaning check.

Panthers:  Independently the students reread chapter 6 and, in their RRJ, explained why Mrs. Sweeney suggested to Anna that they pretend like they are playing Simon Says.  They also did a buddy check, using their word work words, with a partner.  In group we reviewed last night's header sort.  Then we discussed why Mrs. Sweeney suggested that they pretend like they are playing a game of Simon Says. Then we talked about how they would feel if they had to climb down the ladder, like Anna did in the story.  For HOMEWORK  the children need to read chapter 7 and do Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check with their word work words.

The students ended their day in art!

There is NO math homework tonight, due to MAP-M testing.  Writing homework journal entries are due tomorrow, though.  There will not be a math quiz tomorrow but we will finish the MAP-M.