More Than ABC is a informative, fun, creative blog dedicated to share what is going in in our classroom. Using technology, creativity, and quality materials keeps us busy! If your in my class or just a visitor, I'm glad you stopped in!
After some saving, spending, wiring, waiting, installing, and checking,
our school has a mobile set of netbooks ready to check out for classroom use!!!
I, for one, am THRILLED!!!
We already benefit from typically a very accessible set of computer labs, but now our classroom can become a computer lab too!
There are enough netbooks for each student in the class (set of 30) and they are stored in a mobile cart system that can also be plugged in to charge them. The carts wheel to different rooms as teachers check them out for class use.
Imagine trying to arrange all those cords! Parents, if you get a chance, thank our Library Tech Educator for all the work put into this system!
Once students are assigned a netbook they can take them to their desk to work from their own seat.
The netbooks have a more limited memory capacity compared to a laptop, but have Internet access, wireless printing and programs that word process, present, etc. that can convert back and forth from the other classroom computers.
We won't get to use them ALL the time, but it sure did motivate students the first and second times we've used them. I can't wait to see what we might be able to accomplish! Two days before break students were eager to type away on the netbooks. Paragraphs about an interesting, exciting, or important event of 2010 rolled off the printers with impressive writing!
Teacher Note: Knowing how to type makes a difference, and will continue to do so for all of these student's lives. If possible, encourage your child to type correctly and practice at home. Try Here, scroll down, and practice typing in the box in lesson 1.
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For all the candy, frosting, and graham crackers everyone brought in. It made for a deliciously fun buffet to decorate with! There are still a few bags of treats we might have to enjoy some January afternoon when the cold weather, test taking preparations, and hard work get to us!
Each student kept track of their costs on their house to try to stay under the pretend $30 budget.
With frosting, a lot of candy, and patience we had a whole neighborhood of fun looking houses!
Always a fun activity, and certainly a lot of math. Imagine each piece of candy having a price (in decimals) and adding them all up!
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Isn't it surprising to find another Schoolhouse Rock video on our blog? Yikes!
We use interjections everyday in speaking, but often forget to add them to our writing. Well, try adding some.
To a familiar seasonal tune...Hallelujah!
Hope no one is home like Reginald with the flu!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
As silly as some of these songs are, it is amazing how well (once learned) they can stick!
The title : Nations of the World is not to be misconstrued as listing ALL the nations, or the most current. The song was released in 1993, and since many political country changes have occured!
Beware, you are about to be frustrated (kids and adults alike) at not being able to read, talk, or sing fast enough.
United States, Canada,
Mexico, Panama,
Haiti, Jamaica, Peru;
Republic Dominican,
Cuba, Carribean,
Greenland, El Salvador too.
Puerto Rico, Columbia,
Venezuela,
Honduras, Guyana, and still;
Guatemala, Bolivia,
then Argentina,
and Ecuador, Chile, Brazil.
Costa Rica, Belize,
Nicaragua, Bermuda,
Bahamas, Tobago, San Juan;
Paraguay, Uruguay,
Suriname, and
French Guiana, Barbados, and Guam.
Norway, and Sweden,
and Iceland, and Finland,
and Germany now one piece;
Switzerland, Austria,
Czechoslovakia,
Italy, Turkey, and Greece.
Poland, Romania,
Scotland, Albania,
Ireland, Russia, Oman;
Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia,
Hungary,
Cyprus, Iraq, and Iran.
There's Syria, Lebanon,
Israel, Jordan,
both Yemens, Kuwait, and Bahrain,
the Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Belgium, and Portugal,
France, England, Denmark, and Spain.
India, Pakistan,
Burma, Afghanistan,
Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan;
Kampuchea, Malaysia,
then Bangladesh, Asia,
and China, Korea, Japan.
Mongolia, Laos,
and Tibet, Indonesia,
the Philippine Islands, Taiwan;
Sri Lanka, New Guinea,
Sumatra, New Zealand,
then Borneo, and Vietnam.
Tunisia, Morocco,
Uganda, Angola,
Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Botswana;
Mozambique, Zambia,
Swaziland, Gambia,
Guinea, Algeria, Ghana.
Burundi, Lesotho,
and Malawi, Togo,
The Spanish Sahara is gone;
Niger, Nigeria,
Chad, and Liberia,
Egypt, Benin, and Gabon.
Tanzania, Somalia,
Kenya, and Mali,
Sierra Leone, and Algier;
Dahomey, Namibia,
Senegal, Libya,
Cameroon, Congo, Zaire.
Ethiopia, Guinea_
Bissau, Madagascar,
Rwanda, Mahore[?], and Cayman;
Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi,
Qatar, Yugoslavia,
Crete, Mauritania,
then Transylvania,
Monaco, Liechtenstein,
Malta, and Palestine,
Fiji, Australia, Sudan!
Curious about the flags?
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
In a continued effort to keep bordom at bay and keep learning happening, can you learn all 50 state capitals? I bet you can? Sing along!
WAKKO'S AMERICA (Episode 21)
Music traditional (Turkey in the Straw). Lyrics by Randy Rogel.
Wakko:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana
And Columbus is the capital of Ohio
There's Montgomery, Alabama, south of Helena, Montana
Then there's Denver, Colorado, under Boise, Idaho.
Texas has Austin, then we go north
To Massachusetts' Boston, and Albany, New York
Tallahassee, Florida, and Washington, D.C.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Elvis used to hang out there a lot, ya know.
Trenton's in New Jersey, north of Jefferson, Missouri
You've got Richmond in Virginia; South Dakota has Pierre
Harrisburg's in Pennsylvania and Augusta's up in Maine
And here is Providence, Rhode Island, next to Dover, Delaware.
Concord, New Hampshire, just a quick jaunt
To Montpelier, which is up in Vermont
Hartford's in Connecticut, so pretty in the fall
And Kansas has Topeka; Minnesota has St Paul.
Juneau's in Alaska and there's Lincoln in Nebraska
And it's Raleigh out in North Carolina and then
There's Madison, Wisconsin, and Olympia in Washington
Phoenix, Arizona, and Lansing, Michigan.
Here's Honolulu; Hawaii's a joy
Jackson, Mississippi, and Springfield, Illinois
South Carolina with Columbia down the way
And Annapolis in Maryland on Chesapeake Bay.
They have wonderful clam chowder.
Cheyenne is in Wyomin' and perhaps you make your home in
Salt Lake City out in Utah, where the Buffalo roam
Atlanta's down in Georgia, and there's Bismarck, North Dakota
And you can live in Frankfort in your old Kentucky home.
Salem in Oregon; from there we join
Little Rock in Arkansas; Iowa's got Des Moines
Sacramento, California; Oklahoma and its city
Charleston, West Virginia, and Nevada, Carson City.
That's all the capitals there are!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
This video lists all 50 US states in alphabetical order. Need something to get stuck in your head? Here it is!
Alabama (AL)
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Arkansas (AR)
California (CA)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT)
Delaware (DE)
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Hawaii (HI)
Idaho (ID)
Illinois (IL)
Indiana (IN)
Iowa (IA)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maine (ME)
Maryland (MD)
Massachusetts (MA)
Michigan (MI)
Minnesota (MN)
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)
New Mexico (NM)
New York (NY)
North Carolina (NC)
North Dakota (ND)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode Island (RI)
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Vermont (VT)
Virginia (VA)
Washington (WA)
West Virginia (WV)
Wisconsin (WI)
Wyoming (WY)
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Multi-digit Multiplication
The math program we use encourages students to learn multiple ways to solve problems.
One strategy that is great for many students is lattice multiplication.
Is this the way most adults learned? No. Is your way wrong? No. Is this the only way we'll teach multiplying? No. Give it a try though, multiplication can be TOUGH for many kids. This MAY give them an advantage!
Start doing single multiplication facts within the grid keeping the tens on the top left, and the ones on the bottom right triangle.
Finish doing all your facts (here in purple) and the multiplying is done.
Add following the diagonals (green here) and write the answer OUTSIDE the grid/lattice. The number is read top to bottom, left to right. So your answer here is 784.
Making grids at home is good practice because many tests won't provide the grid for students to use. However, check out printables here as well. (Scroll down to Multiplication Templates)
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Our school will be administering the MAP test (Measures of Academic Progress) beginning December 1 through the 11th with makeups the week after. If you like more information from the NWEA testing website click HERE!
Students will take:
Mathematics
Language
Reading
Each test is on the computer and takes most students approximately one hour per test. The tests will be given on different days during that subject area's academic time in the day.
This test is a strong predictor of their academic abilities IF they do their best and spend time to answer each question carefully!
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As we read Chris Van Allsburg's "The Stranger" this week we'll be studying other fantasy examples in movies and literature.
In this preview from "Avatar" think about what is "normal" about Pandora, and what makes it a "fantasy"?
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Don't want to order online? Paper order forms will be sent home Monday!
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Here is Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1863. Even in the midst of a civil war Lincoln remembered and was thankful for everything the country, people, and he still had.
I'm thankful for the creativity, interest, insight, and enthusiasm of young learners.
I'm thankful for the well behaved, knowledgeable and respectful students at our school.
I'm thankful that even through setbacks students continue to learn, grow, and succeed.
I'm thankful for the privilege of teaching and watching your children grow into amazing people.
I'm thankful, well, for Lincoln's decree of a national holiday and a few days off!
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
The very next evening,
Eight families were blessed
With eight fluffy
Thanksgiving turkeys
As guests.
They feasted on veggies
With
jelly and toast,
And everyone was thankful
(The turkeys were
most!).
So each one gave thanks
For love and for living
And
they all had a wonderful
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Some students, especially 3rd graders, have seen this little guy. Isn't he just too cute!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Check out this amazing performance the students were lucky enough to see last week! The Air Force Academy Brass Band visited and with just 6 members recreated a number of classic songs, patriotic songs, and toe tapping numbers for our enjoyment.
Make sure your speakers are on, but not too loud!!
If you didn't notice, I also have officially learned how to upload to YouTube and then embed in the blog. Teachers keep learning too!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
As a school we are working hard at what we call "100% engagement"
This means that during academic times students are following the lesson, particiapting, and actively learning.
Seeing students eyes, bodies turned toward the presentation of material, participation, and work completed in class all help us toward that goal!
Our Promethean Board ActiVotes (clicker in system) also helps keep students accountable and engaged with the lesson. The immediate scoring of a question with the ActiVotes keeps eyes and brains on the lesson.
By now you have seen this poor turkey.
He or she really needed dressing.
And wow, what outfits they came back to school in!
Elvis, Police Captain, disco dancer, professional golfer, rock star, and many more creative costumes!
In class students have been working on this "Character Baseball Card" to help with character development.
Our next writing project is a biography of these Turkeys!
Want to dress another turkey complete with a crown, leggings, and sunglasses? It still isn't as cute as some of the ones at school right now!
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We are working in writing on learning about different types of figurative language. This means students are learning words, phrases, and techniques to add style and interest to their writing.
What sounds did you hear today?
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Nine students received awards for perfect attendance first quarter. This is a great accomplishment, often really due to their parents! Nice job!
While we DO NOT want students to be sent to school sick (if they've had a fever in the last 24 hours) attendance is very important. If you have specific questions about attendance please contact our front office.
Missing one day could mean missing:
The weeks main vocabulary lesson
Introducing a new concept in math
Review of material before a test
Writing conference based on their work
Their only time seeing a specials teacher for the next 3 days
Discussion about the next paragraph, chapter, or line in reading
A test or assessment to guide our instruction about how they are progressing
Practice for readers theater with their group
Getting to experiment with hands on materials in science
A guest speaker, presentation, or assembly
a lot of assignments...
As cold and flu season is upon us, please remind and encourage your child about all the healthy measures to take to stay healthy.
Thanks to all those kids who are there each and every day ready to learn and the parents getting them there!
This week during our focused reading time my reading group will continue to read about the Greek myths, this time about the Minotaur. These myths have many different versions so explore some additional myths outside of class. If you would like to listen to one about the Minotaur this week go to Storynory and you'll find many myths, including one about the Minotaur.
As someone who loves classic literature, it is exciting to see how interested students are in the Greek myths. The mythology and literary importance will continue through high school and college level classes. Classic pieces of literature like Homer's epic poems Illiad and Odyssey have many references to these Greek myths. The characters and stories continue to be referenced throughout literary history into Shakespeare, poets such as Tennyson, Keats, Byron, Shelley, and American writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and T.S Eliot.
My English Literature Loving Heart is Pitter-Pattering!
Does your child want to learn more about the Greek Myths? Check out this site for kids!
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In my focused reading group this week we are reading a greek myth about the goddess Athena. She is considered in the myth the godess of wisdom and had many inventions "credited" to her.
One is the plough. Many students aren't familiar with farming or an old fashioned plough, so here is a video to see what that looks like!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
When is the last time you saw a tutu dancing across the lawn? Are you getting YOUR exercise?
I'm sure after Maisy did her outdoor dancing she ate a healthy dinner and did some evening reading with Miss Essick.
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Enjoy your interior skeleton keeping your brain safe. See your brains on Monday!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Parents, ever appreciate when a boss or co-worker tell you about a great job you did?
Students, is it nice to hear the teacher say some positive ideas about your work?
Keeping it positive keeps everyone encouraged and motivated. Love and Logic suggests to be encouraging without giving away answers, problem solving strategies, or the solution to a problem
See how you can give some one some "noggin" today!
The turtles are also a reference to the text for this week's story "Emerald's Eggs." A class looks for turtle eggs hatching on the beach while learning about different turtles.
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s. Please ask that children use adult supervision when visiting websites outside of this blog, especially YouTube. While there are many great videos, please considering the ability for the public to post and comment on videos on YouTube.
Have you made a Wordle before? You can type, copy and paste text, or paste in a website and the Wordle site will combine the words into a Wordle!
Later this year we will be taking student writing and pasting it into the Wordle program to see which words are repeated most often (the larger font on Wordle) and how much variety in vocabulary students are using.
The Wordle above is of our classroom blog from the last few weeks! See what I've been talking about the most? Hint...it has to do with reading, books, railroads, and some pesky crocodiles!
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.
Read! Read! Read!
Our class is participating in the book it program, our school's Accelerated Reader program, and our daily homework of reading 30 minutes each night.
Some nights are easier than others but here are some ideas about how to squeeze in some reading time without a fight.
Make sure the book is on their level. Too easy is boring and they will quit, too hard and they're frustrated. AR levels at our library will help!
Interesting books. Know what interests your child and encourage them to find books in that genre.
Owning favorite books. Repetition is helpful to improve fluency and comprehension. Reread that favorite book again.
Keep a supply on hand. Our school library paired with a home or public library selection should give your child several options when it comes to reading time.
When will we get all this reading done?
While on the go. How much time is spent on a commute, running errands, driving to practice? Keep books in the car to always have one available. A milk crate or extra backpack of books will keep them safe.
While waiting. Waiting for sister's soccer practice to be over, waiting at an appointment, waiting for dinner to be done. Reading while waiting fills in a wasted empty time and has a clear end mark - when dinner is ready!
Evening routine. Every night after dinner set the timer for 30 minutes, read 30 minutes before bed time, 30 minutes before any TV time, 30 minutes while dinner is prepared. Have your child agree on a time and stick to it!
Keep it special
1 on 1 time. Spend time with your child individually as a special part of the day.
Family book. Read a book together as a family and enjoy the exciting plot and adventure that many children's books have to offer.
Location. Reading is much more enjoyable when you are comfortable. Find cozy places to encourage your child to read.
Praise. Reading can be tough work. Giving your child verbal praise for their accomplishments.
Rewards. Our goal is to have reading be a reward in itself. To help kids get there, programs like book it, lunch with the teacher, or rewards set up at home can help guide the way.
Tracking progress. Keep a list of books read, hours read, minutes read, or something to help chart the progress your child is making.
Ownership. Owning a book can be a meaningful connection to the characters, plot, and information in a book. Inexpensive ideas include thrift stores, garage sales, used book stores, Scholastic book clubs, or trading books with friends.
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.
Posts on More Than the ABC’s may include links to external websites. Links to external sites are not under the editing control of the author of More Than the ABC’s.
Have you seen the note about Parent Teacher Conferences?
Have you sent it back?
Conferences are a critical time to communicate A LOT of information. Please double check your avaiability and confirm your conference time with me as soon as possible. If you have any special accomodations or questions ahead of time please let me know!
Here are some parent tips for making sure you get the most out of our conference!
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