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1/5/09 Welcome back, and Happy New Year! I hope the break was restful and enjoyable for your families. We are back in the swing of things. New logs were sent home today, and students should begin recording their reading again tonight. Those who forgot to bring folders today should do so tomorrow. We will continue with The Secret Garden (ch. 22) tomorrow, and will finish the book next week. Today we revisited the idea of "theme," and the students were able to garner a common theme from two popular songs, a task that would have been quite daunting to them in the not-so-distant past. We did not have heat in the classroom today (:o), so please make sure your child "layers" tomorrow... Hopefully it will be warmer! We may need to call on the expertise of those who studied firebuilding during the reading of Hatchet!
12/17/09 Folders are being sent home today. They contain a lot of information -- two vocabulary quizzes, one Secret Garden response assignment (classwork), information about home access to an on-line practice program, an article about the importance of writing thank-you notes  , and information about reading over the holidays. Please return folders on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.
We purchased a llama, sheep, goats, and honeybees from Heifer International! I commend the students for their hard work and generosity toward others.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful winter break! (Note: This is the last website update until after the winter vacation... )
12/16/09 Today we read chapters 17 & 18 of The Secret Garden. Some students will be finishing chapter 18 at home tonight. Tomorrow is our last day of class together during 2009. I cannot believe the year is flying by so rapidly. I will not be in school on Friday, but I will check e-mail periodically over the break in the event that you have questions or concerns.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so impressed with the students' "spirit of giving." Together, we raised $422.70 for Heifer International. Tomorrow we will decide on our "purchases."
I hope the students will continue to exercise benevolence throughout the remainder of their lifetimes. We are so priviledged compared to so many.
Vocabulary Quiz over unit 8 tomorrow...
12/15/09 Today we read chapter 16 of The Secret Garden. Tomorrow students will answer 4 questions (short- or extended-responses) about the book so far. They were given the opportunity to write these down to study tonight, but here they are again in case the list was lost:
1) How is the garden changing now that Mary and Dickon are tending it?
2) Compare & contrast Mary & Colin. How are they alike/different?
3) What is the gift that Mr. Craven gave to Mary in chapter 16? Why didn't she tell Colin about it?
4) How do you think Mrs. Medlock and the nurse feel about Mary's relationship with Colin? Support your answer with evidence from the story.
Many students chose to take home copies of the book in order to prepare. It is available as a LINK on the website as well.
The second cumulative exam went well for most students. I was a bit lenient with placement of the words, but we discussed the best answers after the quiz. The hope is to help them pay attention to subtle nuances. For instance, while "mountainous mountain" works grammatically (adjective/noun), it would never be a phrase used by a quality writer. Etc.
Spirit of Giving (Heifer International) is due tomorrow.
Vocabulary Quiz over unit 8 on Thursday.
No class on Friday -- I will be out, and students will be in homerooms for special activities.
12/14/09 Today we read chapters 14 & 15 of The Secret Garden in class. Some students have a little of chapter 15 to finish up and they can use this for nightly reading if they choose. The second cumulative vocabulary quiz is tomorrow. This will cover units 1-7.
Spirit of Giving fundraising is due on Wednesday, and the unit 8 vocabulary quiz is on Thursday. We will not have class on Friday.
12/11/09 Folders were sent home today, and they contain the first WordMaster meet sheet, weekly reading grade reports, graded vocabulary quizzes, and new vocabulary words. NOTE: NEXT WEEK WE HAVE THE CUMULATIVE VOCABULARY QUIZ (units 1-7) ON TUESDAY AND WE WILL HAVE OUR VOCABULARY QUIZ ON THURSDAY, RATHER THAN FRIDAY since there is no enrichment reading on Friday, 12/18. Whew! I would suggest getting a jump on studying this weekend. Please return folders on Monday. We had abbreviated classes today because of the Literature Connections event.
Have a great weekend!
12/10/09 The first WordMasters meet went well! Congratulations to these top scorers:
BLUE DIVISION: First Place -- Grace (17 points)
Second Place -- Will, Willy, Maddie, Alan (16 points)
Third Place -- Lili, Shradha, Emily, Bryan (14 points)
GOLD DIVISION: First Place -- Rena (18 points)
Second Place -- Ike (16 points)
Third Place -- Mackenzie, Colleen, Bryan, Emily (15 points)
Now that the students have experienced a meet, I expect them all to do even better next time. New word lists will arrive after the holidays. However, they will want to continue to review the old lists, as these words will creep into future meets as well.
Vocabulary quiz tomorrow! We will have a shorter class time due to the Literature Connections activity.
Today we read chapter 13 of THE SECRET GARDEN...
12/9/09 Progress reports were sent home in planners today. Please sign and return them tomorrow.
Tomorrow is our first WordMaster meet, and it will take place during the regularly scheduled class time. Results will be posted on the website by Friday, and I will send home the "meet sheets" in folders on Friday as well.
Just a reminder... when students are absent, please make arrangements to get the SECRET GARDEN reading done. It is available from a link on the LINKS page of the website or a paper copy may be picked up from school. When they miss a day, they often miss two or more chapters, and it is difficult to catch them up before we continue with the current day's reading. Today we read through chapter 12.
Vocabulary quiz on Friday...
12/8/09 Regarding last Friday's quiz... You may have noticed that there were two identical questions on the quiz (an error that I did not intend, but that became a teachable moment in which to discuss test-taking strategy). Students who knew the answer benefitted from a bonus, while those who did not know the answer were penalized doubly. The best strategy, if uncertain, would have been to pick two different answers, therefore increasing the chance of getting at least one correct answer. We also discussed that these were all "skinny," "right there" questions; it should have been relatively easy to get a good score on this quiz. This is just one of many quizzes, this year, and in life. I want the students to learn to use strong test-taking strategies, no matter what the format of the test. Very often, on many standardized tests, the same question will be asked several times, albeit usually not with the exact same wording. While it was originally unintended, it did become a learning experience for them regarding test-taking strategy.
12/7/09 Today we learned about five generalizations that relate to change. We will be applying and referring to these for the rest of the school year, so I am listing them here in hopes that you will be able to further the classroom discussion of these ideas at home. It is my hope that at this stage, the students continue to be on the lookout for examples of these in the world around them:
1. Change is linked to time. (Ex: Over time, children grow into adults.)
2. Change is everywhere. (Ex: Change happens all over the world, it happened throughout history, and is most likely to continue to happen in the future.
3. Change can be positive or negative. (Ex: Losing weight can be a positive change if it comes through a proper diet and exercise; it can be a negative thing if it is the result of a disease. NOTE: not all changes have both a positive AND a negative side as in the example above. Some are one or the other.)
4. Change can be natural or caused by people. (Ex: Hurricane Katrina was a natural change; the rebuilding of the city was caused by humans.)
5. Change can be orderly or random. (Ex: The changing seasons are orderly, but day-to-day weather can be random.)
Hopefully, this brief explanation will give you a little to go on as you discuss these things with your child.
Some students have a comic strip writing assignment (relating it to the generalizations above) to finish up tonight.
12/4/09 Folders are coming home today, and they contain graded Secret Garden quizzes, new vocabulary words, two weekly reading reports, Book-It slips, and an article that I hope you will have time to read with your child. It goes along perfectly with our "Spirit of Giving" campaign. The first WordMaster meet is next week. Please see the December Geiger Gazette (now posted on the website) for more information about the meet. Have a great weekend! Please return folders on Monday.
12/3/09 Quiz tomorrow over chapters 1-8. We will also get new vocabulary words. The first WordMasters meet is next week! Today we learned about QARs (Question-Answer Relationships). Ask your child about the four categories of questions related to reading.
12/1/09 I will be at a meeting tomorrow, and Mrs. Diana will be subbing. Students will read chapter 8 of the SECRET GARDEN with her. On Friday there will be a multiple choice quiz over the first 8 chapters of the books. Students have been encouraged to revisit any confusing/difficult sections during DEAR time to make sure they are prepared for the quiz. I think we will be in good shape! I will not have access to e-mail until later in the afternoon tomorrow.
11/30/09 Nightly reading and recording resumes tonight. Some students have SECRET GARDEN extended response questions to finish up and return tomorrow.
11/24/09 I wish your families a wonderful Thanksgiving! When I count my blessings, the wonderful students and families of Talbot are near the top of my list.
Students need to read and record tonight, and then they are "off" until next Monday evening.
11/23/09 If you would like to borrow a copy of The Secret Garden for your child to review at home, please let me know. If students aren't "getting it," sometimes re-reading is the best remedy. I tell them that the first time they read something, they are focused on decoding the words; the second time they can actually focus on comprehending the meaning.
Tomorrow night is the last night they will need to read until after the Thanksgiving Holidays. We will begin recording reading again on Monday, 11/30.
11/20/09 Folders were sent home today containing graded vocabulary quizzes, weekly reading reports, and information about our Spirit of Giving service learning project. Some students may have Secret Garden response entries to complete; if so, these are due on Monday.
Nightly Reading: Students ARE required to read this weekend, Monday night, and Tuesday night of next week. They do NOT have to record reading on Wednesday 11/25, Thursday 11/26, or the weekend (11/27-11/29) after Thanksgiving. We will get new logs on Monday after the holidays and begin recording reading again on that night.
No new vocabulary words this week due to the Thanksgiving Holidays.
11/19/09 Students did a great job on the webquest! Thanks for facilitating that. Today we began reading The Secret Garden. This is part of the curriculum unit designed for gifted students by the Colleges of William and Mary. I will admit that it is difficult; however, I will be providing LOTS of support as we go through the book. The important thing is for students to STOP and re-read if they get confused. We will be working hard to monitor our comprehension as we are reading. If something does not make sense, it is time to STOP, RE-READ, or ASK FOR HELP! This is crucial, because there is SO MUCH buried in each chapter of the book. The other concern during this time is keeping up with the reading. I will read aloud part of the book to the students, and they will read parts of it independently. If a student is absent for any reason, please make arrangements to pick up a copy of the book so that they can do the reading at night. If you know of absences in advance, I will happily prepare a packet for the period of absence.
We are morphing into our CHANGE unit. That does not mean that we are leaving PARADIGMS behind. We will continue to discuss ideas previously covered in class, so that it becomes a cumulative-type curriculum. It will all build on itself and continue to evolve. I am so impressed with the maturity in thinking that I am seeing already. This is a great group of students!
VOCABULARY QUIZ TOMORROW!!!
11/18/09 Tonight students will be doing a webquest instead of regular nightly reading. They will still need your signature on the log. In the event that a webquest sheet gets lost, another can be printed from the website. The document is available under PROJECTS. This assignment is due tomorrow.
It's time to begin picking up projects! We would like to have all the projects taken home by Friday. Students with extra-large projects may need some parental assistance. Otherwise, I will be sending students to the media center during class on Friday to pick up their projects. The rest of the students have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the students' great work!
Ask your child about "Satyagraha."
11/17/09 We had a meaty discussion about imperialism today. May make for some interesting dinner time conversation! Remember, your child will need computer access tomorrow evening to work on a webquest that will be sent home in lieu of nightly reading. I posted new extra credit opportunities today... Vocabulary quiz Friday...
11/16/09 Today we wrapped up our mini-unit on Appalachia. We will be getting ready to start The Secret Garden after doing some background building.
Congratulations to the students for raising $306.75 for UNICEF!
A webquest will be sent home on Wednesday to be completed in lieu of nightly reading. We have a vocabulary quiz on Friday.
11/13/09 Students are bringing home folders today with a new list of vocabulary words, graded quizzes, and weekly reading reports. Please return folders on Monday. If a child scored below 70% on the quiz, please sign and return the quiz so that I know you are aware of the grade.
For those who want to plan ahead... On Wednesday of next week, I will be assigning a webquest in lieu of nightly reading. It will be due on Thursday. Therefore students will need to have access to a computer on Wednesday at some point. Let me know if this is a problem for your child, and I will try to make special arrangements for him/her.
11/12/09 Unit 5 Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow...
11/10/09 Ask your child about the "blue people" of Appalachia... Have a great Veteran's Day holiday!
11/9/09 Today students wrote about the their values (as opposed to those of Hetty Green) and in relation to those of the Appalachians we have studied thus far. We also practiced answering an extended response question using an organizational plan. I can already see vast improvement in the way students are organizing their responses. Super! Remember, we have a vocabulary quiz on Friday, the first in a long time. Please remind students to study the words nightly. Check out the comic strips on the bulletin board in the hallway near the artroom. The students chose the most important events from "October Sky" and sequenced them in comic strip form.
11/6/09 Folders with new vocabulary words, Hatchet bags, project grades, Book-It slips (for those who had a 100% on each reading log in October), weekly reading reports, and Abstract Concept collages (4B only; 4A will come home on Monday...) are coming home today. Whew! Have a great weekend.
11/5/09 Mrs. Langston said the kids were wonderful today. Tomorrow they will get the next list of vocabulary words which will be quizzed on 11/13. These will come home in folders along with HatchetI Bags and project grades. I hope you will have some time over the weekend to look through these with your children. They seemed to really enjoy the book and the unit.
11/4/09 Students got new seating assignments today. I will be at a training tomorrow. Mrs. Langston will be subbing for me. I will not have e-mail access until later in the afternoon. Therefore, any communications pertaining to the school day should be handled through the front office.
11/3/09 The presentations have been delightful (and fattening, I might add!). The projects will be on display for a week or so and then will be sent home. Grades will be sent home in folders on Friday.
FYI -- Every year as the Holiday Season approaches, Parenting for High Potential (a magazine from the National Association for Gifted Children) publishes a list of toys recommended for gifted students. If you're interested, here's the link:
http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/PHP_Article_Archive/Toy_Lists/PHP_Sept09ToyList.pdf
11/2/09 The first day of presentations went very well! The students are doing a wonderful job. Folders with weekly reading reports for last week and a letter attached to an FCAT practice exercise were sent home today. Please return folders tomorrow. They will come home again on Friday.
10/29/09 Presentations begin on Monday! Please see the schedule posted under PROJECTS. There is also a list posted on the classroom door. Please enter and leave the room between presentations. We will follow the schedule as closely as possible.
I did not send home folders today. They will be sent home on Monday instead. Students DO need to read for Thursday PM, but they have a FREE weekend on their new logs.
See you at the carnival!!!
10/28/09 Congratulations! Everyone turned in his/her project on time. I am looking forward to assessing each of them. I hope to have grade reports in folders next Friday (11/6). After the presentations and after I have graded the projects, they will be in the library so that the rest of the school can enjoy them. If there is a reason you do NOT want your child's project displayed publicly, please let me know. Presentations will be on Monday and Tuesday of next week. I went over presentation tips today and encouraged students to practice what they plan to say over the weekend. They have five minutes presentation time.
10/27/09 Projects are due TOMORROW!!! Some students have ER/SR questions to finish tonight. Movie slips MUST be turned in by tomorrow as that is when we will be watching the movie. Thanks!
10/26/09 Students are bringing home a "movie slip" today asking for your permission for them to view "October Sky" (rated PG). These need to be returned no later than Wednesday. Projects are due Wednesday as well. Presentations are next Monday and Tuesday -- see schedule posted under PROJECTS. Families are welcome to attend the presentations and are not required to stay for the entire presentation period. Please come and go between presentations, however. Please e-mail if you have questions.
10/23/09 Students are bringing home folders today. Please return them on Monday. Hatchet projects are due on Wednesday!!! Have a great weekend!
10/22/09 All the students have taken the AR test on Hatchet at this point and did very well. We also finished up Roxie and the Hooligans, our read aloud book, and they took the AR test on it as well. Today we learned about SR (short-response) and ER (extended response) test questions. These are commonly referred to as "essay" questions, although in reality they are really short and long paragraphs. In fourth grade, students have these types of questions on the FCAT, and to be honest, I am glad that this type of test-taking is introduced early. I think it is important for students to be able to explain their thinking rather than simply selecting a multiple choice response. Another important element is the ability to state an answer using evidence from the text to support the answer. We will continue to work on this type of response for the rest of the year.
Students should be nearing the home-stretch of their projects at this point. I look forward to seeing their wonderful products.
10/20/09 Today we finished up our Hatchet review; students may now take the AR test if they have not done so already. So far, the scores look very good. FYI: I will have a sub tomorrow and will not have access to e-mail until late in the afternoon. Projects are due one week from tomorrow!!! A hard copy of the presentation schedule is posted to the outside of the classroom door.
10/19/09 Folders containing graded cumulative quizzes and information about Trick or Treat for UNICEF are coming home today. Please return them tomorrow. The presentation schedule is available under PROJECTS.
10/15/09 Well, the students turned the "Test of Doom" into a "Test of Triumph!" Scores were very high -- two C's, a couple of B's, and the rest A's and MANY 100%s!!! Super job! Graded tests will be sent home in folders on Monday along with Weekly Reading Reports and information about our first service learning opportunity. We finished Hatchet today in class. Many students are interested in reading the sequel called The River or the alternative ending called Brian's Winter. I am thrilled that they fell in love with Gary Paulsen's writing. We will do some review and then take the AR test next week. I feel confident that all of the students will do very well, despite the fact that this is a sixth-grade level book. They have been riveted throughout the reading of it. Students DO need to read and record tonight as well as once on the weekend. Speaking of the weekend, I hope it's fantastic!
P.S. I know I promised to post the presentation schedule by today, but I'm rushing out of town. I will post it on Monday. Sorry!
10/14/09 Cumulative Vocabulary Quiz (a/k/a "Test of DOOM, not "TOOM!") is tomorrow. I will NOT be sending home folders tomorrow, as there will be nothing in them. I will TRY to send them home on Monday with Weekly Reading Reports and graded Cumulative Quizzes. Students DO need to read on Thursday PM, and the weekend as usual. I know... Mean ol' Dr. Geiger...
We will finish Hatchet in class tomorrow and will take the AR test next week after doing some review activities. If your child feels the need to borrow a book to review the story or to work on the project, have them let me know. After we have finished the book, I will gladly lend out copies from the class set.
10/13/09 New WordMaster lists were sent home today. Two days until the Cumulative Vocabulary Quiz (a/k/a as "The Test of Doom" in years past -- hopefully not this year!). Hatchet projects due two weeks from tomorrow.
10/12/09 New link -- WORDMASTERS -- has correct lists for both Blue and Gold divisions as well as a copy of the explanatory letter. Since we have a few weeks off from regular vocabulary lists, this is the perfect opportunity to begin learning these words! I suggest making flash cards with the word, various definitions, and any symbols, drawings, etc. to help make the word memorable. Punch holes in the cards and keep them on a ring so that they are easy to practice and so that future words can be added to the set. Some of these words will be showing up on weekly vocabulary lists, but remember that most of the learning of these words will have to happen at home. I have turned in the original lists to be recopied (correctly this time, we hope!) and will send those home as soon as they are ready. Some students forgot to bring the slip indicating in which division(s) they plan to compete. PLEASE help them remember to bring these tomorrow. Thanks!
10/11/09 Apparently there was a glitch in the copying of the WordMasters lists. I will post the REAL lists on the website tomorrow and send home copies after the children have chosen in which division they plan to compete. I apologize for the confusion.
10/9/09 Students are bringing home folders today. Inside are weekly reading reports, vocabulary quizzes, and the WordMasters information and lists. Please return folders along with WordMasters slips on Monday. Students did NOT receive a new list of vocabulary words, since next Friday is a holiday. The cumulative vocabulary quiz covering units 1-4 is next week.
10/8/09 PROJECT SLIPS ARE DUE TOMORROW, and there is a quiz over Unit 4 vocabulary words. Remember, in the event that a student loses his/her words, they are always posted on the website on the day that they are assigned (the Friday before the test). There will be NO NEW WORDS this week due to the Homecoming Holiday next Friday. There is, however, a CUMULATIVE quiz over units 1-4 on Thursday of next week. The next list of vocabulary words will not go home until November 6th. This will give the students a little breather while they work on Hatchet projects.
10/7/09 Just a reminder that students need to decide on their Hatchet projects and turn in project choice slips by Friday. It appears that we will finish the book a bit earlier than I predicted if things continue to flow as they have been. If all goes as planned, we will finish the book next Thursday.
10/6/09 Our first lists of WordMasters words have arrived! I will be sending home an packet in folders on Friday which includes an introductory letter, the list of Blue Division words, and the list of Gold Division words. Students need to decide in which divisions they plan to compete. There is a "tear-off" slip at the bottom of the letter that needs to be returned on Monday, indicating their decisions. Our first meet will be on December 10th.
10/5/09 Today we started reading Hatchet. This book will be read in class -- partly as a read aloud and sometimes independently.When a student does not finish the assigned in-class reading, books may be taken home to finish in the evening, and this can be used for the nightly reading log. It is very important that students keep up with the book. In the case of absence, please make arrangements to borrow a book from me or the school/public library. The book is also available at the Book Fair. Students received information about the culminating project tied to the book in class today as well. A copy of the hot pink paper sent home is posted under PROJECTS. Projects are due on or before October 28th, with presentations on November 2nd & 3rd. I will post a presentation schedule on 10/15 for those parents who want to see their children present. Slips indicating which project they have chosen to do must be turned in no later than Friday, 10/9. Please e-mail me if you have questions.
10/2/09 Folders containing project grade reports, weekly reading percentage reports, graded vocabulary quizzes, and new vocabulary words were sent home today. Please return folders on Monday. I will be sending home information about the next project on Monday. Have a great weekend!
10/1/09 Students did an excellent job with their on-line research last night! We will be doing more of this type of thing from time to time. In this age of technology, technological literacy is a critical skill. We will continue to work on evaluating sources for credibility, corroborating evidence by using more than one source, and paraphrasing information to avoid plagiarism.
The students' ideas about why some persevere and some give up when faced with difficulties were insightful and varied. I am working on figuring out a way to display these great ideas, as we will continue to refer to them throughout the rest of the school year.
Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow...
IF ANYONE HAS OLD MAPS, ATLASES, ETC. THAT YOU DO NOT NEED ANYMORE, I NEED AS MANY AS I CAN GET -- ANY TYPE OF MAP/ATLAS WILL DO. THANKS!
9/30/09 Tonight students have a mini-research assignment (see bright green sheet in planners). They have been given one of the following topics to research: Great Chicago Fire of 1871, San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, NASA Apollo 13 Mission, Hurricane Katrina of 2005, Indonesian Tsunami of 2004, The Donner Party.
After reading about the topic online (or in books if necessary), they are to write a 5Ws summary of the event. (They have been instructed to make a list of resources on the back of their bright green assignment sheets.) They then need to think about the physical difficulties and the emotional/spiritual/psychological difficulties faced by the parties involved in their assigned event. Finally, they have been asked to answer a critical thinking question on notebook paper (sent home with the bright green assignment sheet).
This research assignment is in lieu of nightly reading. They still need to have you sign their reading logs. To get credit for nightly reading, they need to bring a completed green sheet to class tomorrow and have a parent signature on the reading log. It is important that they complete tonight's assignment, because they will be sharing information and working in teams tomorrow to prepare presentations to present to the class on Friday. Please e-mail if you have questions.
9/29/09 Mid-term grading reports were sent home today. Please sign and return. Collage projects are on display in the hallways near the art room. Project grades will be sent home in folders on Friday.
9/28/09 Today we officially dove into our PARADIGMS unit. I tried to make this most-abstract of all abstract concepts more concrete. I encourage you to discuss the idea with your child to see how well they grasped the concept. We will continue to explore paradigms, so do not worry if they only have a tenuous grasp at this point.
On Wednesday, I will assign them to research groups, and they will need to do some on-line reading instead of regular nightly reading on Wednesday afternoon/evening. Let me know if your child does not have access to a computer, and I will try to print items for him/her to read at home.
9/25/09 Folders were sent home today containing the next list of vocabulary words, weekly reading reports, and vocabulary quizzes. Remember that students are allowed to use "Vocabulary Work" for weekend reading since we did not have time (due to Literature Connections) to look up the words in class. As I feared, I did not complete the grading of the collages. Grade reports will be sent home in folders next week. Thanks for your patience. There are lots of them!
9/24/09 Today we began learning about "big ideas" a/k/a generalizations. Hopefully students began to get a grasp on what these are. We will continually revisit this idea throughout the year. Important points to remember: generalizations are complete thoughts (sentences) that are not specific to one person, place, or time. They are broadly applicable.
REMINDERS:
Vocabulary quiz tomorrow, new words and folders will be sent home -- Literature Connections activity tomorrow (modified schedule in enrichment reading).
9/23/09 Students learned two different types of cause/effect maps today. Ask them to share these with you. We finished up almost all of the project conferences. I doubt that I have them graded by Friday, but I will try my best to get them to you as soon as possible. They will be displayed in the North-South hallway near the artroom after I have finished assessing them. I hope you'll have a chance to see them!
9/22/09 Today we practiced the skill of visualization -- seeing a movie/slideshow running in your head as you read. They learned a new strategy -- free-form mapping -- and practiced 5Ws summaries. They are getting really good at the latter, and this is an important skill!
All the students passed the Fabled Fourth Graders... AR test, so they should all be eligible to participate in Friday's Literature Connections activity. Speaking of Friday... the schedule will be a bit altered due to the Literature Connections event. I will send home the new vocabulary words, but the students will need to look up their meanings (using their keep-at-home dictionaries) and complete the vocabulary grid sheet to help them study for the following week's test. I realize this is work that we would normally do in class. Therefore, I will allow vocabulary work to replace the weekend reading log assignment. They need to write "Vocabulary Work" in the summary area and get a parent signature in order to get credit in this manner. Please e-mail me if you have a question about this.
9/21/09 I can't wait to go through the students' projects. They look wonderful! We will have conferences (the students one-on-one with me) on Wednesday so that they can explain the thinking behind their work.
We reviewed reading strategies that effective readers use today. The kids have been instructed to practice the strategy of making connections while they are doing their nightly reading tonight. You may want to ask them what text-to-text, text-to-self, and/or text-to-world connections they made after they finish their reading. If they want to write about their connections in lieu of a summary statement on the reading log, that is perfectly fine.
9/18/09 PROJECTS ARE DUE ON MONDAY!!!!
We finished The Fabled Fourth Graders... in class today. Students who have not taken the AR test on the book will do so on Monday. I attempted to send home packets of "lost chapters" from those who were absent during read aloud this past week. Hopefully they will be all caught up to take the quiz on Monday.
The first vocabulary quiz went okay, although some students were disappointed in their scores. "Daunting" and "arduous" were switched quite often. The hint was that "arduous" had to go in the sentence with "an" before it since it begins with a vowel. Now that they are familiar with the format and realize that they really do need to study, I expect scores will improve next week. The new list of words was sent home in folders today and is also posted on the website.
9/17/09 Tomorrow is the first vocabulary quiz. The students will receive a word bank of the vocabulary words and ten sentences, each with a word missing. Students will choose a word from the word bank to correctly complete each sentence. The unit 2 list will be sent home tomorrow. This is normal procedure for vocabulary -- quiz on unit and new unit list on Fridays. I will always let you know if there is a change to the routine. If your child does not make it home with the new words, I always post them on the website under the VOCABULARY icon. Remember, continue to study ALL lists, as cumulative quizzes may include any of the words assigned up to that point.
Please check out the new icon -- EXTRA CREDIT -- for an enriching opportunity!
Also, remember that projects are due on MONDAY.
9/16/09 Mrs. Diana has been very impressed with the students and has managed to cover everything I left in the plans. Students have been working on our three-step approach to the reading process (B-A-M), writing summaries, and using non-fiction print conventions. Tomorrow they will practice these skills independently and use them to play "Jeopardy." I am thrilled that it has been a week full of learning thus far! She did mention that some students are a bit confused about nightly reading requirements. I will re-visit the section of the Classroom Procedures booklet with the students on Friday. A copy of this was sent home to you with the August Geiger Gazette, a copy is in each student's binder, and another copy is posted on the website along with the first Gazette. Here's the short version...
Just to clarify about nightly reading... Students need to read, write the title, summarize, have the number of minutes & pages, and a parent signature on their logs every day when they come to class. In other words, EVERY section of the log must be complete. If the log is incomplete when it is checked at the beginning of class, students do not receive credit for that day. Students should read and record even if they are home sick -- what better sickbed activity than reading?! If a child is too sick to read, the parent can read aloud to the child, have the child verbally summarize, and the parent can fill in the log. I am not trying to be hard-nosed about this. I do, however, want to have this routine well-established so that it becomes a nightly (lifelong!) habit. It truly is the best way to improve reading. Some students' weekly reading percentages may be a little lower this week due to their misunderstanding of the nightly reading procedures. Please remind them that the lowest weekly reading percentage grade of the nine weeks is dropped before report card grades are averaged. If you have any questions, please let me know.
9/14/09 I spoke with Mrs. Diana this evening and she assured me that today went well. I understand that there's quite a bit of sickness going around in 4A, and I understand that several ill (yet nevertheless dedicated) students were concerned about getting work that they missed today. Unfortunately, since I am not there, I am unable to put packets together for you. However, please do not worry. I will catch everyone up on the concepts they miss. Continue to log reading -- even if a parent has to read TO you -- and focus on getting well. Others who are feeling a bit "icky" should STAY HOME! Let's try to stop the spread of whatever bug this is!
9/11/09 The first list of vocabulary words was sent home in folders today. I would suggest selecting a folder or file in which to collect these lists. Remind the students to keep practicing old lists, as words from Unit 1 have been known to show up even on the last cumulative vocabulary quiz of the year! Students will take a quiz on these words next Friday and will receive the Unit 2 list. This will be the standard procedure for vocabulary.
Many students have already chosen their two opposing abstract concepts for the collage project. I have urged them to make that decision no later than this weekend so that they have a week to gather materials and actually produce the collage.
Mrs. Diana will be teaching for me next week on Monday through Thursday as I have to attend a training seminar. Hopefully this will be the last absence I have for a while. Mrs. Diana is well aware of my systems and expectations, so things should run smoothly and learning will continue. I will be in town, so I will check e-mail and update the website if needed.
Have a wonderful weekend!
9/10/09 The students did a great job for the sub yesterday! This shows their maturity and commitment to their learning. I appreciate it very much!
Information about the first project will be sent home today along with a slip for you to sign and return verifying receipt of the information. I will also be adding a PROJECTS page to the website. All project information will be available there as well. Please let me know if you have any questions. Projects will be due 9/21. Again, let me stress that while you can cheer them on, I prefer that they do the work themselves. The more independent they become this year, the better they will do next year and in middle school!
9/8/09 Today we reviewed the types of nouns. Students are bringing home a study guide to review for a QUIZ TOMORROW. It is very important for the upcoming project that students are able to differentiate between abstract and concrete nouns (I also call them "abstract concepts." Please e-mail if you have questions.
There is an extra credit opportunity tonight. On the nouns study sheet, there is a section called "Further Research" that students can complete and turn in tomorrow for extra credit.
9/4/09 It was great to see so many of you at Open House. If you were unable to attend and would like for me to e-mail the presentation to you, let me know, and I will happily do so. If you did not receive an e-mail from me in the last couple of days inviting you to Open House, please let me know. I attempted to create a class distribution list; if you did not receive the e-mail, I may have entered your address incorrectly. It is my goal to maintain clear communication between school and home. I appreciate your help in this regard.
Students will need to log BOTH weekend AND Monday reading on their reading logs this weekend. After all, it is LABOR day. 
For those of you who like to plan ahead... I will be assigning the first project on 9/10, and it will be due on 9/21. This is not one of the "major" projects of the year, but it is a project nonetheless. On the day it is assigned, I will be posting specifications on the website as well as sending home a hard copy with a verification slip for you to sign.
The first list of vocabulary words will be sent home next Friday, with a test on the following Friday. And so it has begun...
Have a wonderful long weekend with your children!
9/3/09 Just reminder that I will hold Open House from 6-7. Students do not need to come, and I'm even encouraging that they do not, just because space will be limited (40 students = 80+ parents. Eek!). If they do come, I have asked them to bring a book so that they may read in the centrum area.
I will be sending this newsflash as a test e-mail. Please let me know that you received it. Thanks!
9/2/09 Graded quizzes will be sent home in the Friday folders. From what I have seen so far, the students did very well. Way to go!!!
Open House is tomorrow night at 6 PM (during the K-2 session). Hope to see you there!
9/1/09 QUIZ TOMORROW!!! Students have a study sheet called "Are You Literate Listening Guide" which they should study tonight. If they know the information on the sheet, they will do SUPER on the quiz tomorrow.
8/31/09 THANK YOU FOR RETURNING FOLDERS AND STUDENT INFORMATION SHEETS!
Today we worked on Bio-Poems in Class. You will enjoy reading these at Open House on Thursday night if you are able to make it. A few students need to finish their poems for homework.
Speaking of Open House... I will hold a session for the 4th grade students during the K-2 time slot (6 PM) so that 4th grade parents can also attend their 4th grade homeroom presentations. I realize that some of you have children in younger grades and may feel pulled in both directions. I would advise you that the homeroom presentations are MOST important. I will stick around for a few minutes after the end of Open House to answer any pressing questions. I will not be able to conduct individual conferences on this evening, however.
8/28/09 Folders were sent home for the first time today, and inside is some homework for parents (sorry!). Please complete both sides of the Student Information sheet and return it with the folder on Monday. This information is invaluable in helping me make your child's learning experience positive and engaging. Also in the folder you will find your child's weekly reading grade report. Most students earned 100% this week, and I am thrilled that they (and you!) already seem to have the routine automatized. Mrs. Diana made a note on the form explaining any lost points. Finally, the August Geiger Gazette is in the folder. This edition is very important in that it includes a packet of classroom procedures and a note about AR. You will want to file these away and refer back to them as needed. All other newsletters will be posted on the website in an effort to reduce the amount of paper we use. Students received new reading logs today; they need to read and record at least 30 minutes sometime over the weekend and complete the "weekend" space on the log. WHEW! I realize there are many routines required by your child's many teachers, and I apologize if it all feels confusing at this point. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me with any questions. We are off to a wonderful start!
8/27/09 Just a suggestion... Now may be a good time for students to start wearing a digital or analog watch. Now that they are changing classes, signing out to go to the restroom, visiting the school library on their own, etc. telling time is very important. I would NOT invest in something expensive, however, as kids' watches often take a beating and need to be replaced from time to time.
Most of the students remembered to bring reading material to class. Way to go! This is an "assignment" and will impact weekly reading grades.
8/26/09 Students need to remember to bring reading material for Quiet Reading time tomorrow. Things are going great!
8/25/09 It is VERY important that all students have their binders and composition books TOMORROW (Wednesday). We will be organizing notebooks and using composition books in class. Mrs. Diana sent home notes with students who still need to turn in supplies. Please e-mail if you have questions.
8/24/09
Welcome to Fourth Grade Enrichment Reading!!!
This week we will spend time getting to know each other, learning about the class, and getting used to classroom procedures.
Many students brought in their supplies today or before, which is super! If your child still needs to bring in supplies, please have him/her do so as soon as possible. We will be using both binders and composition books beginning on Wednesday.
Nightly reading homework begins tonight. Parent copies of the Class Procedures booklets will be sent home Friday in folders. Therefore, I have copied the Nightly Reading Procedures here so that we can get off on good footing with this regular routine:
Nightly Reading: Students are expected to read for 30 minutes each night on Monday through Friday. This practice has been proven to increase reading achievement. It also helps students develop responsibility, independence, self-discipline, and the life-long habit of reading. I do not accept excuses for incomplete nightly reading except in the case of emergencies. In the event of such an emergency, students must bring a note from a parent. They can then read additional minutes on the following nights to make up for the missed reading time. After reading, the student should complete the Reading Log which is stapled into the planner each week. Old logs are removed and new logs stapled in each Friday. This Reading Log will be checked by me each day, and in order to receive credit for the reading homework, I expect each section of the Log to be completed thoughtfully. Reading summaries and/or reflections should contain quality writing. Completion of nightly reading comprises a weekly homework grade and impacts overall report card averages. Any “reading holidays” will be announced in advance. A “Weekly Reading Percentage” report will be sent home each week in the communication folder. “Geiger Greenbacks” may be used to replace reading assignments if they are stapled to the log before class.
Please e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.
I am looking forward to a great year!
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