Thursday 9-29

I am writing this with no knowledge of what went on today.  Here is what was "supposed to happen."

In LA we hopefully had a writing/reading classroom retreat. Kids wrote on their own personal narrative until they felt "finished" at this point and/or wrote their own personal writing. When they felt done with writing (or 30 minute mark) they could switch to reading.

In the afternoon  we had our regular library time followed by edutyping. If one lesson got finished, kids could read or work on their continent project if that is not done yet.

Homework:
Extra reading time again - push yourself. See if you can read for an entire half hour
Math test tomorrow. Mr. Meadows sent parents an email about this. Here is the text of it:
HI everyone, 

I wanted to let parents know that tomorrow will be our first quiz in math.  We have been studying factors and multiples for several weeks.  I worked with the class today to prepare them and I think they are on track.  They have homework to complete pages 20-21 which will be good review for the quiz.

My quizzes are pretty low key.  At this point in the year they are designed to be practice for taking quizzes and tests as much as actually assessing their skills.  Grades will consist exclusively of comments and feedback on what they are doing well, and areas they will want to work on moving forward.

Have a look tonight at their homework.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Wednesday 9-28

Sorry about the lateness of the post.....

Today in writing we learned about speeding up and slowing down. We want to slow down the interesting parts, like just when I wound up that snowball and it flew through the air and smacked the teacher upside the head...and speed up the parts like...then we got in the car and sat there for 20 minutes and talked about this and that and then finally afer a while we got to where we were going....you get the idea.

Speed up some parts and slow down the good parts.

Everyone's writing is really coming along. I am very pleased with the progress I am seeing.

Later in the day we took a look at our reading records and moved them to be stored in our LA/SS binders. Some of us had the realization that I'M NOT READING ENOUGH. HOW WILL I EVER GET SIX NOVELS FINISHED BY NOVEMBER 30th.

So, some of us vowed to read more. That is at least 1 hour a week outside of school right now and moving up to 2 hours per week starting next week. (That is 20 minutes per day four days per week.) Please catch up over the weekends.

Also, do not skimp on the quality of your books just to fit them in. Starting Monday, we are reading the BFG for Global Read Aloud and posting responses with our friends in New Jersey on Seesaw.com (yes, it can be accessed from home! Awesome  Brilliant) We will all choose another Roald Dahl book to read alone (there are so many I can't believe you have read them all. I found 34 listed at this site https://www.roalddahl.com/global/roald-dahl-titles,  There's two more you will finish in October. The goal is two per month and a variety (not all graphic novels, but some can be.)

We all made sure we had posted our greetings on the seesaw site. We also completed day 4 of our word study packets (or we tried to.) This is our practice packing using every day words like months, days, holidays and classes.

Parent conference sign ups are here: http://signup.com/go/XoiKWa
This will arrive in an email as well.

Homework today:
Read for 30 minutes (no writing today)
Math: Page 17
SS: work on your map if it's not done and you have time
Cheers.

9-27 OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT 7 to 8 for grades 5 and 6

All are welcome to join us at Open House tonight. Grades 5 & 6 have visiting EXP's and other specials from 7 to 7:30 and visiting classrooms is from 7:30 to 8:00. We hope to see you tonight.

Homework tonight:
LA Writing- continue revising and working on your story. Make sure it has an arc as we did in class - Somebody...wanted. because...but...so... (10to 15 minutes)

Read for 15 minutes.

No math tonight.

Monday 9-26

Today in writing workshop we talked about finding the meaning in our story.  Last Thursday, most of us picked a story and wrote a flash draft using everything we could think about good writing, but getting it out fast. Today, we looked at that same story and tried to find the meaning in that story. That means why are your writing this story? What is the heart of it or what you want your reader to get from it?

Ms. Lamb's story is about getting a riding lesson on her cousin's pony, but it's really about her relationship with her cousin who was sometimes mean and sometimes nice.

This is a tricky concept for kids, so we may do it again tomorrow. Kids are also thinking working on the computers is helping them and Ms. Lamb is having second thoughts about that. If kids can come with an honest second draft tomorrow (at least 150 words) she may be convinced, but if not, we will all go back to writing by hand for workshop until we get to publishing.

Tonight's homework:

LA: Complete you re-draft. Consider this

Thinking Up a Whole New Way to Tell a Story

• Tell the story differently to bring out a different important meaning or message.
• Start the story earlier or later.
• Tell the story out of order.
• Include - emphasize - the part played by different people.

Read for 15 minutes or more

Math: Page 14

Social studies: Optional - if you feel your redraft is complete, you may work on your continent project.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9-19,20,21

Okay, I forgot to post three days in a row. My apologies. Sometimes the days get away from me. Please always feel free to email me with homework questions.

Tonight's homework:
LA: Write - your choice - if you're stuck for a topic - write about an animal - real or imagined.
Read: 15 minutes - keep trying to increase your time.
No math tonight.

Monday 9-19

Sorry I'm late on the blog today.

In LA/Writing Workshop we talked more about finding our stories to write about. Ms. Lamb read When The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant to inspire some relative stories.  We were introduced to the checklist.

In social studies, Ms. Lamb told us about our pen pals for our Global Read Aloud project for The BFG by Roald Dahl.  Students began writing introduction of themselves using google docs. Before we did this, she introduced the Digital Citizenship Matrix.

Tonight's homework:

Write in your writing journal for 10 minutes at least. Write a new story or continue working on one started earlier. Ms. Lamb will check your journal tomorrow. If you are not writing, she will be contacting parents. Perhaps you will need to continue to get signatures for a while.

Read for 12 minutes. Slowing we are increasing this amount to 20 minutes. You will be updating reading records tomorrow also.

Math and Science: Share your paper overview of curriculum with parents

Friday 9-16-16

Happy weekend.
Remember we have no regular homework on weekend. Feel free to read and write, especially if you missed some days during the week.

On Fridays we have a lot of specials. In the morning we have band and chorus. Next week is the time to give it a trial period. You can back out after three weeks with no bad effects on the concert season. We encourage everyone to be in band and chorus, but study hall is available if it's just not for you. It will be a silent independent study hall for most.

In the afternoon Brilliant had PE and Awesome had World Language. Since these are at different times, the remaining students have a project period to complete projects in social studies. Today we worked on our classroom rules and our new name.

We had seminar also, but due to a slight glitch in the PE dismissal, one class A had reading while B had math. Maybe we will switch next week.

See you Monday everyone. We are still working on getting the webpage link to work, so maybe we will be back on the regular link then.

Thursday 9-15-16

Hello World,
If all goes well, our link on the webpage is back to our blog and our blog now has links to every other page like schedule, book clubs, curriculum and upcoming assignments. Check out the links above the blog entry.

Today we worked more on our writing skill by taking our reader inside our story and sticking with the author's point of view. We also practiced telling our story main point by main point and how sometimes, that part of the story could be left out.

Today is library day. We had a mini lesson in using the library data base. Next Wednesday we will have an extended library time during LA. We will have a research lesson from Mrs. Babbitt and a reading retreat time in the library.

Our book orders came today which was very exciting as we got some new classroom books. We will begin organizing the classroom library tomorrow and start checking books out from our classroom library as well as the school library. Some kids want to know if they can still order from September. The answer is yes. I can send in order any time, and you can order online any time. See the link above for the code and website address.

Tonight's homework:

LA: Continue practicing writing inside the story - write for at least 10 more minutes.
Read: For at least 10 minutes. This will be slowly increasing to 20 in the next weeks. Try for 20 sometimes.

Math none today

Wednesday 9-14-16

We had our first late start day! Everything went well, even though we forgot to warn the kids. They were great. We start at 9:30 for morning recess (a misnomer because how can you recess from something before you start it, but....). We also had our first INDOOR morning recess because it was raining at 9:30.  All of the fifth graders had to wait in Mr. Sullivan's room. They played games and hung out.

By recess for real, we got to go outside. Hurray! It was damp, but refreshing.

We had our second Seminar today. In LA seminar we are working on reading workshop. So far everyone has started their first reading journal entry and the teachers practiced conferring with individuals while you keep reading. It worked well.

In LA/SS we glued in our Strategies for Generating Personal Narratives into our WRITING journals (aka homework journals) and put a labeled tab on it. Then we moved to finishing our landforms geography vocabulary coloring assignment. Ask you child what at atoll is, or my favorite, and archipelago.

Tonight's homework (looks a lot like last night's homework)
LA: write another entry for a true personal story OR continue working on one in progress. Write for at least 10 minutes

Read you novel for at least 10 minutes

Math - none tonight

Tuesday 9.13.16

Here's the homework:

LA Write a new story or work on an already existing true story in your writing journal. Take a look at the chart for generating stories. Work for a minimum of 10 minutes on writing.

Read a novel for 10 minutes.

Math: Finish multiplication chart if needed

We had a SUPER busy day. We started our Seminar classes today, which are split between math and reading. This meant 9 to 2:45 straight classes with no specials - only lunch and recess. We are real troopers though and got a lot done.

In writing workshop we learned about using other authors to inspire our own stories. Then we went to our chart of Strategies for Generating Personal Narratives for writing more stories.  This chart will get taped into our journals tomorrow.

In our seminar reading class, we read and started our reading journals which will stay at school for now.

Students start the day on Tuesdays with EXPloratory health, design technology, art or guidance,

Monday 9-12-16

Ms. Lamb was not at school today and is writing this blog with zero knowledge of what actually went on there today.
This was supposed to be the homework:

Finish your imagined classroom map - or work at least 10 more minutes on it. If it is done, write a description of it on paper, on the back or in your journal.
Read your novel for 10 minutes (at least - more is better)
There likely was math also

Signatures are no longer required unless there is a problem. Then some individuals may be asked to get signatures for a while.

Tomorrow I will be back.

Thursday 9.8.16

We spent a lot of the afternoon working on our School WIde Agreement which we call CARES.  CARES stands for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control.  We will have a Friday all school assembly to discuss these terrific ideas as a whole school.  

Empathy and Assertion

Cooperation

Responsibility

We started with reviewing our hallway expectations. We are great hallway people. We feel very confident sending our group anywhere.

In LA we worked on dreaming the dream of our story. Imagine it as it happened and take your reader there with you.

We continue to think of new strategies for generating ideas for stories.

We visited the library today. All of us have a novel. For homework (done at school - last day) we filled out our reading records and read.

For the last ten minutes before EXP we practiced quiet time.

Homework tonight:
Read for 15 minutes
fill our reading record

get a signature (last time)

Wednesday 9.7.16

Today we started with reviewing the expectations for fire drills. We will have one today at 1:45.

Then we all got our assigned computers and logged on.

Jailyn showing a huge thrill with her new computer.

Later we all took our first online assessment, called Star Math. Later we will take another online assessment for reading called Star Reading.

Natalie and Amber working hard on their star math assessment.

We all got our computers to work! 

Today in LA we started our regular writing workshop by trying out a new writing strategy. This is called Times or Turning Points. Think of a time - first time, last time or a time you realized something. Think of as many stories as you can associated with that time. Collect your stories in a chart. Find one that excites you and write about it. Soon we will have a journal full of great story starts.

Homework:

LA: Resolutions Students received a handout (See link). In journal write a a goal for writing for this year. At home, keep in mind that everything that happens to you is the potential for a story. Come tomorrow with some more ideas for stories.

Math: None tonight

Read: Read your novel for at least ten minutes

Get a signature in your assignment book

Tuesday 9.6.16

Hi everyone,

We started today with a visit from Mrs. Fabiani, our technology wizard, and Mr. Hamilton, our principal. They reviewed the expectations for using computer hardware in our school Basically, you must take care of it. I will post the contact tomorrow.

Here is Mrs. Fabiana explaining how to take care of the computer

We began our series of assessments with writing today. Everyone sat down and wrote a story. We had some extra teachers on hand as we always will during this block called "seminar." I will talk more about that in future blog entries. Ms. Lamb is taking everyone's story home tonight. I'm in for some good reading.

Students are spread out using their writing space preferences.

We also got our shiny red assigment books today. Students wrote down homework and then did the homework. Tonight they bring home the work to show parents and get a signature. We will end this practice after this week and revisit it only with students who are struggling with remembering to do their homework.

Homework:

LA - draw in your journal a favorite place. Describe it if you have time. Label things if that helps.

Read your book

Get a parent signature

Aidan and A.J. with their new assignment books.

Today was A.J.'s birthday!! He shared some gluten free Rice Crispy Treats with us all.

See you tomorrow.

Ms.Lamb

Friday 9.2.16

Hi everyone. A great week (or half week) was had by all!  If you want to order from the book orders, I will aim to send the first order in next Friday. I can send them in anytime, and you can order online with our code: DVG7Z​.

Here is some more club information:

REVISED!  UPDATED!  IMPROVED!

SIGN UP VIA EMAIL!  Open to all students in grades 5-8.  

Please note the following clubs start this month:  

• Yearbook Club on Tuesday, September 6 in the library from 2:45-3:30pm.  We will meet on Tuesday afternoons.
• Photo Club on Wednesday, September 9.  No meetings.  Weekly prompts will be given out at lunch for those interested in taking photos.
• Yu-Gi-Oh and D & D Card Club on Wednesday, September 9 in the library from 2:45-3:30pm.  We will meeton Wednesday afternoons. 
• Breakfast Book Club on Thursday, September 8 in the library from 7:30-8:00am.  We will meet on Thursdaymornings. 
• Coloring Book Club on Friday, September 9 in the library from 2:45-3:30pm.  We will meet on Friday afternoons.

I hope you will join a club this fall.  Please email me if you are interested in any of these clubs.  Here's the link for more clubs on campus.

Happy birthday to Aidan!! We got to do the cheer again and he brought in brownies to share.

Today we worked to finish our classroom maps. We discussed what all maps have: at title, a key, labels and a compass rose. We also talked about the quality of work assignments that will be published or turned in.

In math we worked on our brains.

This morning well all crated a name of mortar for our brick and mortar bulletin board.

The Awesome went to World Language with Mrs. Swaney. The Brilliants went yesterday.

Today the Brilliants had PE but no one remember to snap a photo. The Awesomes had PE yesterday.

We do not generally have homework on Fridays. Students have a change to finish or catch up on things. Students might consider continuing to decorate their journals over the weekend.

Otherwise, have a great long weekend. See you on Tuesday.

Thursday 9.1.16

Here are some club notices from Mr. Tisdell and Mrs. Babbitt.

We will have audition workshops on 9/6 and 9/7. Auditions are 9/13. Casting will be done immediately following the auditions and rehearsal starts on 9/14.

There will be something for everyone. Iris West has written and will direct a short play.

There will be some short comedy sketches and The longer show will be a melodrama called "The Paperbag Bandit Rides Again".

BRMS Students and Staff

SIGN UP VIA EMAIL!  Open to all students in grades 5-8.  

Please note the following clubs start this month:  

• Yearbook Club on Tuesday, September 6 in the library from 2:45-3:30.  We will meet on Thursdaymornings. 
• Photo Club on Wednesday, September 9.  No meetings.  Weekly prompts will be given out at lunch for those interested in taking photos.
• Yu-Gi-Oh Card Club on Wednesday, September 9 in the library from 2:45-3:30.  We will meeton Wednesday mornings. 
• Breakfast Book Club on Thursday, September 8 in the library from 2:45-3:30.  We will meet on Thursday mornings 

I hope you'll join a club this fall.  Attached are the flyers for these clubs.  Please email me if you are interested in any of these clubs or starting a club.

Today we visited the library and came back down to the classroom to experience 10 minutes of silent reading. This will be the beginning homework expectation. We all agreed that it felt very fast. Students are encouraged to read as much as possible and we will work up to a half hour at home 4 days per week or two hours outside of class.

In math, students began making maps of the room and identifying where some important things are and labeling. This will be a very useful math skill (along with every other class we do here.)

Today's homework is to bring home your assignment sheet and share with parents. Parents are asked to sign the sheet when students have explained the day. A few students forgot that part yesterday so they will ask parents to sign for Wednesday and Thursday. Brilliant also has a sheet from World Language. Students may want to continue decorating journals at home.

Ask about: My brain and me, classroom maps, decorating journals, reading alone, library, world language, p.e., exploratories - art, design tech, guidance or health.