To compliment Red Ribbon Week, the classes are looking at the harm tobacco and alcohol can do to our bodies. We are using the fourth grade Health and Fitness textbook, which is not available online, and does not go home. Most of the students have a paper we began but did not finish. I do NOT expect students to complete this at home; we will finish it tomorrow in class.
The homework this week is to talk with parents about alcohol and tobacco, and there is not a paper assignment. However, the class work we did today can be an excellent way to begin this conversation. I encourage you to ask your child about today's discussion. Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.
We have finished up the science unit on Changes to Land and Experimenting with Forces. Whew! Report cards will be going home soon, so be on the lookout for them next Thursday. As always, please email me with any questions.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
A Parent's Guide to STEMscopes (Weeks 7 & 8)
Some of you have had some questions about my favorite online resource, so hopefully this helps...
1. Pre-Assessments - usually completed in class, at the very beginning of a new unit. The score shown on STEMscopes is a percentage correct, however, I count this assignment as complete/incomplete. If a student completes this on time, they will receive a 100. This counts as a "Warm-up" (homework category) grade.
2. Web Surfing - usually completed in class, toward the beginning of a unit. This is often used as research/background knowledge before we do hands-on. This mirrors the scientific method research stage expected for experiments. There is a hard copy paper turned in, graded, and sent home. This counts as a "Class work" (daily category) grade.
3. Progress Monitoring - usually completed in class, after some hands-on activities have been completed. This is not always conducted through STEMscopes; sometimes I use Plickers or Quizlet or a paper copy. This isn't always done for each unit; it depends on the length or complexity of the concept. This counts as a "Class work" (daily) grade.
4. Vocabulary - in "Picture Vocabulary" and "Vocabulary Game" forms. This is usually posted the same day the pre-assessment is given. This is not counted as a grade; this is for student support. I ask students not to click "turn in" so that they can return to this at any time during the unit.
5. STEMscopedia - a digital copy of the textbook for reference only.
6. Interactive Investigation - usually completed at home, at the end of a unit. This is not scored; it is to help review information in preparation for a unit quiz.
Thanks to all of you for your feedback. Please let me know if there is something else you think might be helpful for me to post, and please email me with questions or comments.
1. Pre-Assessments - usually completed in class, at the very beginning of a new unit. The score shown on STEMscopes is a percentage correct, however, I count this assignment as complete/incomplete. If a student completes this on time, they will receive a 100. This counts as a "Warm-up" (homework category) grade.
2. Web Surfing - usually completed in class, toward the beginning of a unit. This is often used as research/background knowledge before we do hands-on. This mirrors the scientific method research stage expected for experiments. There is a hard copy paper turned in, graded, and sent home. This counts as a "Class work" (daily category) grade.
3. Progress Monitoring - usually completed in class, after some hands-on activities have been completed. This is not always conducted through STEMscopes; sometimes I use Plickers or Quizlet or a paper copy. This isn't always done for each unit; it depends on the length or complexity of the concept. This counts as a "Class work" (daily) grade.
4. Vocabulary - in "Picture Vocabulary" and "Vocabulary Game" forms. This is usually posted the same day the pre-assessment is given. This is not counted as a grade; this is for student support. I ask students not to click "turn in" so that they can return to this at any time during the unit.
5. STEMscopedia - a digital copy of the textbook for reference only.
6. Interactive Investigation - usually completed at home, at the end of a unit. This is not scored; it is to help review information in preparation for a unit quiz.
Thanks to all of you for your feedback. Please let me know if there is something else you think might be helpful for me to post, and please email me with questions or comments.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Weeks 5 & 6
In the past two weeks, we have kept very busy. We wrapped up our science unit, switched back to exploring Texas regions, and written a personal narrative. Coming up, we have parent/teacher conferences, a three day weekend, and fall pictures. Families should have already seen progress reports going home (and back to me with a signature, and back home again).
Hopefully, you have already received an email linked to a sign-up for parent conferences. Mrs. Pinter, Mrs. Ahn, and I are hoping to be able to attend all of the conferences together. We appreciate your understanding regarding the range of dates and times this will entail. Along the same lines, we recognize that many families have two households. If there is anyone left off of the email list that should be receiving information, please email me and I will do what I can to remedy the problem.
In science, we finished our study of classifying matter and soil. We have begun looking at forces and changes to land. In addition, due to a family sending them in, we have been able to observe a pair of caterpillars. They are currently in their chrysalises, but I'm sure you will hear about the next stage in their metamorphosis.
Now that we have completed the "Texas Bus Tour" of the regions, the class will be looking deeper at the natural resources each region has to offer. We will examine the native tribes that settled throughout Texas, and the influence the resources had on their lifestyles.
Students are really increasing endurance in writing. They have finished their first major composition. The scoring rubric for these is based on the end of year expectation, much like what you remember from the primary grades. This can feel awkward at first, but it is helpful for goal setting and fine-tuning students' achievements.
I look forward to meeting with families over the next few weeks. Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Hopefully, you have already received an email linked to a sign-up for parent conferences. Mrs. Pinter, Mrs. Ahn, and I are hoping to be able to attend all of the conferences together. We appreciate your understanding regarding the range of dates and times this will entail. Along the same lines, we recognize that many families have two households. If there is anyone left off of the email list that should be receiving information, please email me and I will do what I can to remedy the problem.
In science, we finished our study of classifying matter and soil. We have begun looking at forces and changes to land. In addition, due to a family sending them in, we have been able to observe a pair of caterpillars. They are currently in their chrysalises, but I'm sure you will hear about the next stage in their metamorphosis.
Now that we have completed the "Texas Bus Tour" of the regions, the class will be looking deeper at the natural resources each region has to offer. We will examine the native tribes that settled throughout Texas, and the influence the resources had on their lifestyles.
Students are really increasing endurance in writing. They have finished their first major composition. The scoring rubric for these is based on the end of year expectation, much like what you remember from the primary grades. This can feel awkward at first, but it is helpful for goal setting and fine-tuning students' achievements.
I look forward to meeting with families over the next few weeks. Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have.
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