Today begins one of the longest weeks of school ~ state testing week! Today students in fourth grade began the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam or as otherwise known, the WKCE. Students will be tested in reading, math, writing, science, and social studies. Each portion is made up of multiple choice and short answer questions. Each portion is also timed. One of the hardest things for me as a teacher is the fact that I am unable to help my students while they take their test. I am there to monitor their work and progress, but I am not able to read things to them or answer questions they have. It is a such an uncomfortable feeling considering my job every other day of the week is to help them do their very best and support their learning! What I can do is prepare them as best as I can prior to the tests starting...with that said....
For the past two weeks we have been preparing for the WKCE tests during reading workshop. Students have reviewed different ways to prepare for the test, most importantly learning that to be good test takers we have to be readers first! We learned that the strategies we use as readers can help us be successful when taking tests.
We also discussed how test makers use "test clues" and "test talk" when creating tests. This surprised many of us! We learned that if we recognize these we can be more successful as test takers. Examples of "test clues" include underlined words, bold or italicized text, boxed words, large font, and words in parentheses. "Test talk" examples include using the word "passage" instead of story or poem, "stanza" instead of paragraph in a poem, "mainly about" to mean main idea, or "theme" to mean big idea or message to name a few.
Another large piece to our learning was how to correctly fill in multiple choice questions and answer short-answer questions. We reviewed ways to eliminate answers that do not make sense and use details or examples from passages to support our answers. Finally we went over different strategies for calmly and confidently taking our tests. These included taking deep breaths, pacing oneself, remaining positive, trying our hardest and making best guesses on difficult questions, and reviewing all answers when finished.
The fourth graders worked through practice tests in reading, math, science, and social studies to review the types of questions and formats they would be seeing over the next week. They will also complete a practice timed test in writing to "feel" what it is like to complete this type of test. After all of this, I feel confident they will do their very best on these tests! I am so proud of their hard work and know they are going to do a great job!
This great work began with students completing the first two parts of the Reading portion. The rest of the week includes finishing the reading test, math parts one through three, science, social studies, and a half-hour timed writing test.
You can do it Fabulous 4th Graders!!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Celebrating Reading!
Since the beginning of the school year the Fabulous Luther 4th graders in my room have busy building their understanding of a library and how books are organized. Our Luther library, as well as our classroom library are key elements to our Comprehensive Literacy Model because they hold the thousands of books that we want our students to enjoy and learn from.
Our students need to understand how our libraries work and where different genres of literature are located so they make appropriate book choices that enhance their learning.
In class we have worked very hard identifying what the different colored bins in our classroom library stand for, what genre (types) of books are found in the bins in our library, and what different book labels stand for. Students took each and every bin off the bookshelves, went through them, organized and reorganized them, and relabeled then. Their hard work gave them ownership over the library and made it theirs! They now know what books can be found there and are excited to begin "checking out" titles they are interested in. It is important that a library is USEFUL to students otherwise they do not take advantage of all their is too READ in a library!
Finally we spent time building anchor charts that will help support our understanding of how we best choose books so they are JUST RIGHT for us ~ not too easy...not too hard throughout the school year.
Today we celebrated our library work with an end of day "Library Celebration!" We had cake and talked about all the learning we have built so far.
Now our focus will shift from library learning to ourselves as a reader. We will focus on our thinking as readers and what that looks and sounds like. We will also focus on how we will demonstrate our thinking as readers. We also will begin our first genre focus in reading ~ Nonfiction Text - Informational and Everyday Text and well as our first strategy focus ~ Making Inferences in Texts.
Our students need to understand how our libraries work and where different genres of literature are located so they make appropriate book choices that enhance their learning.
In class we have worked very hard identifying what the different colored bins in our classroom library stand for, what genre (types) of books are found in the bins in our library, and what different book labels stand for. Students took each and every bin off the bookshelves, went through them, organized and reorganized them, and relabeled then. Their hard work gave them ownership over the library and made it theirs! They now know what books can be found there and are excited to begin "checking out" titles they are interested in. It is important that a library is USEFUL to students otherwise they do not take advantage of all their is too READ in a library!
Finally we spent time building anchor charts that will help support our understanding of how we best choose books so they are JUST RIGHT for us ~ not too easy...not too hard throughout the school year.
Today we celebrated our library work with an end of day "Library Celebration!" We had cake and talked about all the learning we have built so far.
Now our focus will shift from library learning to ourselves as a reader. We will focus on our thinking as readers and what that looks and sounds like. We will also focus on how we will demonstrate our thinking as readers. We also will begin our first genre focus in reading ~ Nonfiction Text - Informational and Everyday Text and well as our first strategy focus ~ Making Inferences in Texts.
 |
| The messages on each cake say it all! |
 |
| Yummy! |
 |
| Wow! How beautiful! An organized, useful library is key to a successful year in reading! |
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Structures of Life
Students in fourth grade have been working extremely hard in science. Our first unit, Structures of Life, relates to plants and animals. To be prepared for this unit we have been reviewing the following information:
Plants can be organized into seed and non-seed groups. We will investigate this further over the next two weeks.
Animals can be organized into vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates can be broken down even further into cold and warm blooded animals. After this we can organize animals into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Invertebrates have their own unique groups such as mollusks and crustaceans. Finally we studied the importance of food chains and how plants and animals play a part in these. After our investigation of plants we will explore one of these animal groups (vertebrates or invertebrates) more!
Over the next few weeks we will study the properties or characteristics of plants and animals. Please view the "Content" tab to learn more about what has been taking place in science. You can also view classroom pictures from both Mrs. Bouvier's and Mrs. Schuenke's class!
Plants can be organized into seed and non-seed groups. We will investigate this further over the next two weeks.
Animals can be organized into vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates can be broken down even further into cold and warm blooded animals. After this we can organize animals into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Invertebrates have their own unique groups such as mollusks and crustaceans. Finally we studied the importance of food chains and how plants and animals play a part in these. After our investigation of plants we will explore one of these animal groups (vertebrates or invertebrates) more!
Over the next few weeks we will study the properties or characteristics of plants and animals. Please view the "Content" tab to learn more about what has been taking place in science. You can also view classroom pictures from both Mrs. Bouvier's and Mrs. Schuenke's class!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Anchor Charts!
It has been a very busy week in our classroom. We formally began our literacy block which includes our reading and writing workshop. We also began our first science unit, Structures of Life. Students have been working very hard and are realizing what fourth grade is truly like.
A big part of our learning is the use of Anchor Charts. Anchor Charts are special charts that we create to anchor or ground our learning. These charts are made on chart paper during whole group mini-lessons. Students work together to define and share behaviors, ideas, opinions, or thoughts related to given topics.
Anchor charts hang in our classroom for a certain amount of time so students can reference them to help guide their learning. They can reference them at any time. Pictures of anchor charts are also taken. I print these off so they can be glued into students notebooks.
In science and social studies we use science and social studies notebooks to record our thinking, learning, and our anchor charts. During our literacy block we use our writing binder and our reading Thoughtful Logs to record our thinking, learning, and our anchor charts.
The use of anchor charts to guide our learning is relatively new. While I have always had posters and charts hanging in my classroom, these posters and charts were usually ones that I thought students may use and they covered a variety of topics. They were generic. Anchor charts are more specific. They are created with students and relate to the immediate lessons being taught. They have a purpose in our classroom. Below are a few of the anchor charts we have created since the school year began.
A big part of our learning is the use of Anchor Charts. Anchor Charts are special charts that we create to anchor or ground our learning. These charts are made on chart paper during whole group mini-lessons. Students work together to define and share behaviors, ideas, opinions, or thoughts related to given topics.
Anchor charts hang in our classroom for a certain amount of time so students can reference them to help guide their learning. They can reference them at any time. Pictures of anchor charts are also taken. I print these off so they can be glued into students notebooks.
In science and social studies we use science and social studies notebooks to record our thinking, learning, and our anchor charts. During our literacy block we use our writing binder and our reading Thoughtful Logs to record our thinking, learning, and our anchor charts.
The use of anchor charts to guide our learning is relatively new. While I have always had posters and charts hanging in my classroom, these posters and charts were usually ones that I thought students may use and they covered a variety of topics. They were generic. Anchor charts are more specific. They are created with students and relate to the immediate lessons being taught. They have a purpose in our classroom. Below are a few of the anchor charts we have created since the school year began.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Science! Science!
Please check out the Content Workshop tab to learn about the first week of Science!!!
First Week of School!
Wow! It has been a fantastic first week of school! The students and I have been getting to know each other the past few days. It has been a wonderful experience! I think we are going to have a FANTASTIC school year!!
The first few days were spent working on back to school activities, learning about our classroom, and learning about our new behavior system "PBIS". We spent the majority of our days reviewing the different ways that we behavior throughout our school. There were different stations and we traveled to each one learning about the 3 B's ~ Being Respectful, Being Responsible, and Being Safe so we are READY TO LEARN! Visit the Luther Elementary website to see a link for videos demonstrating positive Luther behaviors in the hallway, cafeteria, while at recess, and to learn about our voice scale system. You can also visit the District homepage to view a video created by our elementary school principals regarding PBIS! It is quite funny and shows their humorous side!
While in class we learned about our new Clip Chart system. This system is being used school wide to monitor positive behaviors in our classroom. The clip chart system is color coordinated with different behaviors. Each student has a clip on the chart system and throughout the day will be able to move their clips up the chart in celebration of their positive, Above the Line behaviors! On the flip side, students can also move down the clip chart system when behaviors are considered below the line. Each afternoon we review our clips and students are given a stamp in their assignment notebook to show where they ended the day.
Here is what the clips chart says:
Magenta Color ~ Outstanding
Purple Color ~ Great Job
Blue Color ~ Good Day
Green Color ~ Ready to Learn (this is where we want to be and start each day!)
Yellow Color ~ Think About It
Orange Color ~ Teacher's Choice
Red Color ~ Parent Contact
My students have a sticker in the front of their assignment notebook which explains the color chart system. Please refer to this when you see the colored stamp in their assignment notebook!
The week ended with a fantastic assembly where we celebrated PBIS and the start of a great 2012-2013 school year! Mr. Geiger and Mrs. Arnett asked staff to participate in a Family Feud game reviewing school wide behaviors! The students had a great time cheering us on. The assembly ended with the entire school singing "The 3 B's!" If you are interested in a copy of the words please me!
Finally we discussed how our different stamp colors and our positive behaviors can earn us yellow reward tickets. These tickets can be turned in for different rewards! These rewards are rewards that help others and celebrate our hard work!
I cannot wait to see the great behaviors I have already seen from my Fabulous Luther 4th continue this year!
Please check out these photos related to PBIS!
The first few days were spent working on back to school activities, learning about our classroom, and learning about our new behavior system "PBIS". We spent the majority of our days reviewing the different ways that we behavior throughout our school. There were different stations and we traveled to each one learning about the 3 B's ~ Being Respectful, Being Responsible, and Being Safe so we are READY TO LEARN! Visit the Luther Elementary website to see a link for videos demonstrating positive Luther behaviors in the hallway, cafeteria, while at recess, and to learn about our voice scale system. You can also visit the District homepage to view a video created by our elementary school principals regarding PBIS! It is quite funny and shows their humorous side!
While in class we learned about our new Clip Chart system. This system is being used school wide to monitor positive behaviors in our classroom. The clip chart system is color coordinated with different behaviors. Each student has a clip on the chart system and throughout the day will be able to move their clips up the chart in celebration of their positive, Above the Line behaviors! On the flip side, students can also move down the clip chart system when behaviors are considered below the line. Each afternoon we review our clips and students are given a stamp in their assignment notebook to show where they ended the day.
Here is what the clips chart says:
Magenta Color ~ Outstanding
Purple Color ~ Great Job
Blue Color ~ Good Day
Green Color ~ Ready to Learn (this is where we want to be and start each day!)
Yellow Color ~ Think About It
Orange Color ~ Teacher's Choice
Red Color ~ Parent Contact
My students have a sticker in the front of their assignment notebook which explains the color chart system. Please refer to this when you see the colored stamp in their assignment notebook!
Finally we discussed how our different stamp colors and our positive behaviors can earn us yellow reward tickets. These tickets can be turned in for different rewards! These rewards are rewards that help others and celebrate our hard work!
I cannot wait to see the great behaviors I have already seen from my Fabulous Luther 4th continue this year!
Please check out these photos related to PBIS!
 |
| Here is our Clip Chart System! Students begin each and every day on "Ready to Learn"! |
 |
| This image shows our Voice Scale and the new Behavior Matrix! |
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Welcome Back to School!
A new school year has begun! Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year and welcome to fourth grade! I am so excited to be your teacher this year! I look forward to learning with you all year long.
I hope you enjoy viewing and using our classroom blog! This blog, along with our class webpage is meant to be a way to share our learning with others.
I hope you enjoy viewing and using our classroom blog! This blog, along with our class webpage is meant to be a way to share our learning with others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)