Currently May... and I Beat My Record!

I think there might be something wrong with me… I’m sitting at the computer, checking Oh Boy Fourth Grade’s website every fifteen minutes in anticipation of the posting of May’s Currently!   

I know that at some point, I will click, and it will be there… and a new month will have begun!   

I love knowing that we can all link up together and I can connect with my pals through this BloggyTradition. Ah, our dear Farley… she makes us WANT to check in with each other… isn’t that a wonderful character trait? (Can you tell my mind is still on standardized testing as well?) Thanks, Farley, for the ongoing invite...

I’m at the funny point in the school year: I am excited that the end is near, but I am getting a bit sad to say goodbye to this group. We’ve worked so hard to come together as a team this year. And we’re almost there…

Yet at the same time, I can’t seem to keep myself from making plans for next year. Even after thirty years, each September I feel like a novice teacher all over again—especially with the arrival of Common Core! I should also consider winning the lottery since my plans for the new school year seem to include more than a few purchases at TpT!

Right now I am printing out task cards. At this point, I buy some and I create some. I am getting better at purchasing a set, using it as practice and then tailoring my own version to meet our specific needs. Task cards have helped my students increase their discussion skills. I love to hear them agreeing to disagree!

There is still so much to be done before the year ends. We have barely begun practicing for promotion and it is five weeks away! I still haven't finished the invitations. The envelopes arrived today and they are the wrong hue of blue! I have to do a quick internet search tonight to find the right shade of envelope to match the ink, the stickers and the stamps. I have to admit: These little details are among my favorite parts of the whole event! (I know you will understand that "right hue" comment, dear Ladybugs/Kristen!)

And then it will be over. Again. I think that this is one of the hardest parts about teaching sixth grade. When the year is over, you send them off with hopes that they come back and visit--or at least that they send a friend to update their old teacher on what's happening in their lives. June is just a happy/sad kind of month for me!

Wait! It's not June yet! It's May! And only May FIRST! And there's a holiday this month! WooHoo! I think I could survive almost any month with a three day weekend thrown in!

With that, I send you happy May wishes! Now, go back to Oh Boy First Grade... Click the Currently picture or click HERE.  Link up and tell everyone what is happening in your life during May. Don't forget to leave some BloggyLove for the two posters behind you, the one in front of you, and all sorts of friends in between! Okay, I added that last part in myself, but I love to catch up with old pals and meet new ones through the Currently Linky.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

PS I made it in the top FIFTY of Currently links! A new record! And now... back to envelope shopping!

Five for Friday... Five for Boston

I actually wrote this post last Thursday... And then suddenly it seemed like the world was turned upside down... in the span of a few days, so much changed. However, some things DIDN'T change.

Now that a week has passed, I feel like I can post the feelings that I had typed on that evening that now seems so long ago...

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Today, as I reflect upon the week that has passed, my heart is sad for Boston.

Artwork by Nikki at Melonheadz

Each morning when I have come to school this week, I have seen the flag, and I have remembered. I have thought a lot about the people whose lives were affected by the events in Boston on April 15th.

But, Boston is a city with historical strength. Bostonians have displayed pride and perseverance since colonial times. Consequently I wasn't completely surprised when I clicked on this video from a Boston Bruins hockey game that I found on the front page of an online newspaper .

While the singer may have expected to be singing a solo, it was clear that the crowd had other ideas. I've watched the video numerous times... and I have cried every time. Sometimes strength comes from people who have endured tragedy together...

And then there was more tragedy. In the same week, sadness gripped Texas as a fertilizer plant exploded and more lives were lost, more people were injured, and more hearts were aching. It just seemed too much too soon. Just. Too. Much. Hurt.

And although the heartbreak of the explosion in West, Texas may have gotten a bit lost in the national focus on the events in Boston, again people came to together, as Texans do. They rallied together. They leaned on each other. They cried together. And they worked with each other and for each other. All over again, I was overwhelmed by the strength of character of so many people...

Artwork by Nikki at Melonheadz

Strength of character. That's where I have been willing my mind to go. I hope that eventually the images of these tragedies will fade into the background of my mind and that other memories will take their place.

But there is one picture that will stay with me longer than the others... this sweet face. The face of Martin Richard. A pillar of character at the tender age of eight, a young person who made it clear that we can learn a lot from a third grader. This wonderful boy wanted "No more hurting people" and, instead PEACE. This boy was not there amongst his classmates when they returned to school... What did they think? What did they wonder?

This photo was "borrowed" from the Boston Post. I hope they will forgive its use in my efforts to celebrate Martin...

I hope that we will remember Martin fondly and that we will work hard to teach other children to value "No more hurting people." 

I feel more strongly than ever that my job extends far beyond teaching algebra, and earth science and complex sentence structures. And I feel more strongly than ever that I have a responsibility, indeed an obligation to help children learn to value one another. 

Martin's legacy can be celebrated with each child who recognizes the importance of community, and caring, and peace...

Strength of character. With that picture of Martin in my mind and on my heart, I need to work harder to help build that strength of character in other students that Martin recognized was so very important...

Pruduct Swap with Jen Runde... With Love for Taten

It's time for another Product Swap hosted by Jessica Stanford from Mrs. Stanford's Class. Here's how it works: Two bloggers trade products and then review how the products were used in their classrooms. Such fun!

My partner for the product swap is Jen Runde. THE Jen Runde (like there could be any other?!) from Runde's Room. Cue giddy music (If you find some, let me know). Jen Runde is one of my bloggy idols! She could be the Princess of Product Swapping... Here's a picture of Jen... without her glasses...

Artwork by Nikki at Melonheadz HERE on TpT

Well, to be honest, Jen Runde is ALSO the Princess of NICE. And KIND. And CARING. I could give you lots of examples, but instead I'll just give you one...

This is Taten. He is a classmate of one of Jen's daughters. And right now, he is fighting cancer. Sigh. I don't think kids should ever have to face cancer...

And if you head over to Runde's Room you can read about him. Bring a tissue. You'll need it by the end of the blog post.

So here is how Jen is helping Taten... and YOU can help too!

First, Jen is having a SALE at her TpT Store (WooHoo! Don't you love a sale?!). It's a sale on EVERYTHING! Second, ALL of the proceeds from Jen's sales this weekend will go to help Taten. Such goodness. It's like getting two scoops of ice cream when you only asked for one!

Yep, I told you she was a princess!

 

And if you're looking for something to buy (and I know you won't have any trouble because there are so many great things), I am recommending the Math Reflection fans. This is the product that I tried out in my class this week...

Here are some details from the product:  

This resource contains over 100 different math reflection questions and prompts to use for comprehension checks of new concepts learned. They can be used for the reflection section in  Interactive Math Journals as questions to respond to in regular math journals, after problem-solving activities, for oral discussions, in math centers, after new lessons in math, as an end of the unit review, or beginning of the unit diagnostic, or for test preparation.

These questions would be PERFECT for use in Interactive Math Journals because they push the students toward higher levels of thinking. And, recognizing that students process and share information in different ways, the questions are aligned to various levels of Blooms Taxonomy--the updated one that are so much more student (and teacher!) friendly...


There are 6 different groups of questions and prompts - one group for each of the levels in Bloom’s  Revised Taxonomy.: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create.  Each group of questions will make its own fan.  You can use a particular fan when evaluating a particular level of the taxonomy, or use different fans as they suit different learned concepts.  You could also group all the questions together on a binder clip circle and hang near your desk for easy access during activities.  I choose one or two particular questions or prompts that fit the concept, and display them under the document camera for the students to see.

I love that the questions are grouped (according to Bloom's Revised Taxonomy) and color-coded. (Okay, I admit: That always wins extra points with me! Give me a way to organize a resource and I am happy!). The icons on the left helped me keep the questions in the right group, and my students were completely taken with them (you never know what is going to interest a sixth grader!) Here are my cards coming out of the printer. LOVE the purple ones!

I was already giving some "quick checks" in my classroom, so I used Jen's questions to double assess. That sounds bad--but it was actually a great idea! I got two different kinds of responses... which allowed me to get a clearer picture of my students' thinking.

I also tried three different approaches: Let the students choose their question fan, allowing students to choose from a level (of Blooms) matched with a type of question, and my own selection of questions matched to assessment items. Here's a little secret: All three approaches worked well!

Here they are... hard at work!

We used the questions with area and circumference...

And with fractions...

And with ratio and proportions...

And with calculating angles...

The kids really enjoyed being able to use a different kind of thinking. Some of their particular favorites...although I could list MANY...

Today we used the questions as part of an assessment, but there are a lot of questions that are perfect to guide work done with a partner. I love how it can focus higher level thinking... and there is very little prep work necessary to see them. And, these same questions can be used over and over in different combinations with specific questions selected to meet the needs of the task.

Finally, Jen knows that most teachers will have questions specific to their grade level. So, being the forward-thinking person that she is, she included blank question cards onto which you can write your OWN questions! So, aside from the 100-plus questions Jen has provided, there is still room to personalize these materials and make them your very own!

So now you have some things to do...

1.  Click on the blog button below to go to Jen's blog and read about Taten.

2.  Go to Jen's store and check out her wonderful products. Remember the proceeds from all of her sales this weekend go to helping Taten.

 

3.  Try out these Math Reflection Fans. There are so MANY ways to use them in the classroom, and I know you will be pleased with the chance to see your students' thinking in a different light.

4. Link up with the Magical Product Swap by clicking on the button below to take you to the Linky. Lots of bloggers will be reviewing products in the next or two so it's a chance to have someone try out a product for you--so you know how it works before you buy.

5. And when you click on the Product Swap button, you'll be admiring Michelle's (3am Teacher's) work. She's the one who designed the button. Isn't is Cute! While you're at TpT, check out her clip art. Right now, I am obsessed with her gardening sets!

6. Enjoy your day. It's be a long tough week for many people across the globe. So, today, I hope we can focus on good things... enjoy someone's company, say Hi to a stranger, offer help, give a hug...

Artwork by Creative Clips by Krista Wallden HERE on TpT