Week of: December 8th, 2014
********NEWS*************************
Fountas and Pinnell
As a friendly reminder, Fountas and Pinnell data is due next Friday, the 19th!!!! The data needs to be entered on the G drive in the folder FOUNTAS AND PINNELL 2014-2015. Be sure to enter all the data under the January administration except WPM.
**There are 2 new columns for this 2nd administration that need to be filled out( # of levels- growth columns)**
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TECHNOLOGY TIPS OF THE WEEK
The PTA invites you the Annual Holiday Staff Luncheon
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Feedback for Math Day
PTA would love each staff member's feedback from our first annual Math Day. Below is the link to a very quick survey! Thank you in advance for taking the time to give your feedback.
Math Day Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N6TQN39
**********************************************************PTA would love each staff member's feedback from our first annual Math Day. Below is the link to a very quick survey! Thank you in advance for taking the time to give your feedback.
Math Day Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N6TQN39
IB Focus
Check out the link below to download a free Google Earth Starter
Kit for teachers! Take your students on field trips around the world from the
comfort of your classroom! All the tools and know-how are included in the
download!
Leave the Classroom Behind with
Google Earth
- Landforms Virtual Field Trip
(using subfolders of placemarks)
- Amazon Rainforest Virtual Field
Trip (using the tour-guided feature)
- Ancient Civilizations (using
outlines)
Make Your Virtual Field Trip
Today
- 9 tips for making your own
trip
- Descriptions of the different
tools to try in Google Earth
- How to use simple codes for
clean, neat description boxes
- How to save & share your
trip
Suggestions for Student
Creations
- 10 fun ideas for student
creations in Google Earth
- Links to additional resources
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TECHNOLOGY TIPS OF THE WEEK
What if….you could take your class on a virtual field
trip, or connect with other classrooms from around the world, or invite a guest
speaker into your classroom – FOR FREE?
These things
are all possible through “SKYPE in the Classroom."
All you need to do to get started:
1. Set up an account through Skype on your
laptop at
2. Browse the site to see what other teachers have been
doing and start putting together some ideas of your own. Some things you might
want to consider are:
- Find a guest speaker and invite them into your classroom.
- Take a virtual field trip anywhere in the world.
- Collaborate with other classes no matter where they are.
Through the
generosity of our Bing partners we have been given two LogiTech webcams and two
personal speaker phones that will enhance the Skype experience when using your
laptop. They will be available for check
out through the media center.
What a great opportunity for our students to make connections to the world on an international level. Skype will be an amazing resource to utilize of as part of our IB journey!
**********************************************************The PTA invites you the Annual Holiday Staff Luncheon
Tuesday, December 16th in the Media Center
(Come during your lunch period)
This year the PTA would like to wrap presents
for you!! Please bring up to 3 gifts
boxed or ready to wrap. Your gifts shall be wrapped for the holidays while you enjoy your lunch!
Happy Holidays!!
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PBIS This Week
Reminder: December PAWS Up Focus - BATHROOMS!
Reminder: December PAWS Up Focus - BATHROOMS!
Please continue to review the following bathroom expectations with
your students:
- To practice good manners, students should stay quiet, keep their eyes in their own stall, and wait their turn quietly.
- Stay safe by washing hands and returning to class promptly
- Help keep our bathrooms clean and safe. Flush toilets, throw away trash, and NO WRITING on stalls or walls
- Ask students to report to you if they notice someone who isn't following the rules- especially if they see someone writing on or vandalizing the bathroom in some way.
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Reminder: HOUR of CODE EVENT!!!
High Point has chosen to participate in the “Hour of Code” event on December 10th.
This day is to familiarize students with how computers work and think. Please reserve a block of time on this day for you to spend educating your students on coding.
To help facilitate your participation in this event, the technology committee has prepared a folder on the desktop of the student computers called coding.
In this folder you will find
a. A link to Tynker (a coding program High Point ALREADY pays for)
b. A link to online activities (suitable for all grade levels)
i. Course 1 is recommended for all students in K-1 and those who are struggling readers
ii. Course 2 is for the general elementary students of grades 2-5
iii. Course 3 is for students who already have coding experience (recommended for 4th and 5th)
We also plan to have these activities placed on the Symbaloo.
We would love to have this activity completed by each child but understand that time is a priceless commodity. We will also be having Mr. Faye help the students use the Tynker program with all 2nd-5th students during the computer lab specials throughout this week.
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What I've Been Thinking About…
As we are continuing to shift towards more Learner Focused Classrooms and developing 21st Century Learners, George Couros describes 8 things to look for in today’s classrooms!
Read his blog about Voice, Choice, Innovation, Critical Thinkers, Problem Solvers/Finders, Self-Assessment and Connectedness in the classroom. He gives multiple examples, ideas and links to other resources and professionals!
http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/3586
****Our Math Corner******************
Fact Fluency Through Games
In the November 2014 issue of Teaching Children Mathematics, authors
Jennifer Bay-Williams and Gina Kling shared a collection of fun games that can
be used to develop students’ fluency with addition and subtraction facts. They
explained that (1) games should be selected on the basis of a developmental
progression from counting to mastery and (2) teachers must emphasize reasoning strategies as
students play (read more)
See the full article for more games, ideas for
differentiating, and suggestions for involving families. http://tcmde.nctm.org/Vizion5/viewer.aspx?id=23&pageId=1#issueID=23&pageID=48
Also consider how you can assess student fluency while
students play games (rather than using timed tests). See “Assessing Basic Facts Fluency” in the
April 2014 issue of Teaching
Children Mathematics for assessment tools to use as students play
games.
Note: If the links to “Enriching Addition and
Subtraction Fact Mastery Through Games” or “Assessing Basic Facts Fluency”
do not work. Send Long an email and she will put a hard copy in your
mailbox!
****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICES****
In Ms. Rhoades’ and Ms. Buehner’s 4th grade
class, they strive to bridge the gaps of their different types of
learners through community building activities. This bulletin board is a
spin-off of an Anti-Bullying video they showed to their class at the beginning
of the year. They discussed the power of our words and how
we can create a positive culture by giving compliments. Each paper
symbolizes the girl in the video and each post-it represents the words of
others.
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8wxcepAxM
In Ms. Rhoades’ and Ms. Buehner’s 4th grade
class, they strive to bridge the gaps of their different types of
learners through community building activities. This bulletin board is a
spin-off of an Anti-Bullying video they showed to their class at the beginning
of the year. They discussed the power of our words and how
we can create a positive culture by giving compliments. Each paper
symbolizes the girl in the video and each post-it represents the words of
others.
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8wxcepAxM
*****WRITERS' GALLERY**********
The writers' gallery/pledge is hosted by Ms. Arnold's class this week.
The writers' gallery/pledge is hosted by Ms. Evan's class next week.
******CALENDAR OF EVENTS*******
Monday, December 8th
9:30 - Parent Tours
Muffin Monday
Tuesday, December 9th
2:50 - Afternoon of Indulgence in Cafeteria
Wednesday, December 10th
8:00 - Title I Parent Meeting
Pitchford to County Meeting
Wednesday, December 10th
8:00 - Title I Parent Meeting
Pitchford to County Meeting
Thursday, December 11th
8:00 - 4th and 5th Grade Spelling Bee
Qdoba for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
2:50 - PLCs
Qdoba for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
2:50 - PLCs
Friday, December 12th
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week!
Pitchford to New Principals' Meeting
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week!
Pitchford to New Principals' Meeting
******BIRTHDAYS! ****************
Happy birthday to Lori Hicks on the 12th!! We hope you have a very wonderful birthday!!!
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