Thanks for taking the time to take a look at how our classroom will work throughout the year. This page will provide you with information about our daily schedule, homework expectations, Gradual Release of Responsibility, reading workshop, writing workshop, math workshop, 21st Century Skills, and classroom jobs and forms.
Daily Schedule: For a detailed chart of our daily schedule, please download the PDF below. For our specials, we will be on an A, B, C rotation. On "A" days, we will have music, on "B" we will have art, and on "C" days we will have physical education. The first day of school is an "A" day. We will note the rotation in our daily planners. If we miss a day of school due to inclement weather, the following day will be the next day in the rotation. Let me know if you have any questions.
Daily Schedule: For a detailed chart of our daily schedule, please download the PDF below. For our specials, we will be on an A, B, C rotation. On "A" days, we will have music, on "B" we will have art, and on "C" days we will have physical education. The first day of school is an "A" day. We will note the rotation in our daily planners. If we miss a day of school due to inclement weather, the following day will be the next day in the rotation. Let me know if you have any questions.
2014-2015_daily_schedule.pdf | |
File Size: | 192 kb |
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Homework: Students are expected to complete all assignments on time. If a student does not complete an assignment in class or for homework on time, he/she will be expected to complete the activity by the following day. If this happens again during a given quarter, the student will need to complete the activity by the end of the school day. If this happens a third time, I will contact the parents and we will collaboratively find a way to ensure the student completes assignments on time. Students will not receive math or spelling homework on weekends. However, every student is encouraged to read every day.
Students are expected to read a minimum of 15-20 minutes every day. For math, the homework will be differentiated according to student need. Students will have math homework one to three nights each week. For spelling, the students will have the opportunity to demonstrate even more responsibility. This means that the students, along with their parents' and my recommendation, will be able to determine if they need to practice their spelling words each night (keep in mind we will have a weekly spelling test).
Gradual Release of Responsibility: In our classroom, the students will work towards being independent and responsible for their own learning. This will be messy at times, especially in the first few weeks or even months of school. However, by establishing clear expectations and a significant amount of practice, the students will become more independent and responsible for their own learning. Each lesson will include the following: a whole group lesson in which the teacher introduces and demonstrates the topic ("I Do"); whole class practice ("We Do"); turn, talk, and practice with a partner ("You Work Together"); and independent practice ("You Work Alone"). The order of these components may differ from lesson to lesson, but they will part of every lesson. Every lesson will also end with closure in which the topic is reviewed and a student or several students share their learning. During the independent practice time, the students will engage in a reading, writing, and math workshop. During the workshop times, the students will work independently at several stations while I work with small groups of students or individual students. These small group and individual conferences will include reteaching, practice, and enrichment. Please see below for the stations during workshops. Also know that the may be adjusted during the year.
21st Century Skills: Collaboration. Problem-solving. Creativity. Technology. Students will engage in frequent activities that require all of these skills. Technology will be a part of every subject as a tool to demonstrate understanding by creating products and as a reference for support including obtaining facts, comparing facts, viewing videos, spelling assistance, and vocabulary enhancement. Our weekly updates will provide more information about specific skills of focus.
Classroom Jobs: To help build responsibility, practice making informed decisions, work well with others, problem solve, and engage in real-world classroom management, the students will apply for and obtain a classroom job. Each student will receive a monthly salary on the 15th of every month for his/her job. Students will also be expected to pay a monthly mortgage on the last school day of the month for their desk (house). All students will maintain an accurate register to monitor the amount of money he/she has available. Our class will work together in the first week of school to determine ways to receive bonuses and deductions. Once each month, the students will be able to spend their money in the classroom store. Students will also have the option to save their money for an End-of-the-Year Auction. Please see below for the class job application and job description forms. The forms detailing the additional bonuses and deductions will be uploaded as soon as they are created by our class.
Students are expected to read a minimum of 15-20 minutes every day. For math, the homework will be differentiated according to student need. Students will have math homework one to three nights each week. For spelling, the students will have the opportunity to demonstrate even more responsibility. This means that the students, along with their parents' and my recommendation, will be able to determine if they need to practice their spelling words each night (keep in mind we will have a weekly spelling test).
Gradual Release of Responsibility: In our classroom, the students will work towards being independent and responsible for their own learning. This will be messy at times, especially in the first few weeks or even months of school. However, by establishing clear expectations and a significant amount of practice, the students will become more independent and responsible for their own learning. Each lesson will include the following: a whole group lesson in which the teacher introduces and demonstrates the topic ("I Do"); whole class practice ("We Do"); turn, talk, and practice with a partner ("You Work Together"); and independent practice ("You Work Alone"). The order of these components may differ from lesson to lesson, but they will part of every lesson. Every lesson will also end with closure in which the topic is reviewed and a student or several students share their learning. During the independent practice time, the students will engage in a reading, writing, and math workshop. During the workshop times, the students will work independently at several stations while I work with small groups of students or individual students. These small group and individual conferences will include reteaching, practice, and enrichment. Please see below for the stations during workshops. Also know that the may be adjusted during the year.
- Reading Workshop: guided reading (teacher guided small groups), word work, independent reading, reading response, buddy reading, iRead (record and analyze own fluency), research
- Writing Workshop: independent writing (research study, poetry, literature), peer editing, cursive (students will learn to read and write in cursive; the students will be expected to sign their first and last names prior to cashing their monthly paychecks)
- Math Workshop: fact practice, independent practice with peer conferring, problem solving, daily review, guided practice
21st Century Skills: Collaboration. Problem-solving. Creativity. Technology. Students will engage in frequent activities that require all of these skills. Technology will be a part of every subject as a tool to demonstrate understanding by creating products and as a reference for support including obtaining facts, comparing facts, viewing videos, spelling assistance, and vocabulary enhancement. Our weekly updates will provide more information about specific skills of focus.
Classroom Jobs: To help build responsibility, practice making informed decisions, work well with others, problem solve, and engage in real-world classroom management, the students will apply for and obtain a classroom job. Each student will receive a monthly salary on the 15th of every month for his/her job. Students will also be expected to pay a monthly mortgage on the last school day of the month for their desk (house). All students will maintain an accurate register to monitor the amount of money he/she has available. Our class will work together in the first week of school to determine ways to receive bonuses and deductions. Once each month, the students will be able to spend their money in the classroom store. Students will also have the option to save their money for an End-of-the-Year Auction. Please see below for the class job application and job description forms. The forms detailing the additional bonuses and deductions will be uploaded as soon as they are created by our class.
classroom_job_application.pdf | |
File Size: | 29 kb |
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job_descriptions.pdf | |
File Size: | 1519 kb |
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classroom_job_additional_information.pdf | |
File Size: | 261 kb |
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