Testing

Hello,


It was a sloppy day out there.  Recess was a mess for many kids.  No boots means you have to stay on the pavement, but there wasn't much to be found.  Most kids said that they didn't think that we would be going outside.  Wrong assumption.


Students got new books in reading.  Each student chose a book on Friday.  I retrieved the copies over the weekend.  We have five groups of two and three groups of three.  That means I have eight different reading groups going at once.  I haven't even read four of the chosen books.  I have some reading to do ASAP.  Each group put together a reading plan.  I expect the books to be read before vacation.  Ask your child about their choice and their reading partner(s).


We made like early colonialists this morning and started sewing samplers.  Your child will be sewing their own socks by the time I'm done learnin' em.  I was impressed with the progress.  Ask your child about their sampler plans.


This afternoon most of the class went upstairs to work on their stamp covers, a cause and effect sheet, and free reading/writing, while I was in the library with two students practicing the Smarter Balance test.  I gave limited homework due to the full day of testing tomorrow. 


It's opening day.  Go sox.  I'm off to see the big finish.


Have a good night.


Mr. Shea

Thriller!

Hello,


We were treated to some amazing performances this afternoon as HBS students and faculty hit the stage for the dress rehearsal performance of tomorrow night's school talent show.  About a dozen staff members dressed as zombies closed the show with a fantastic dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller.  It was really well done.  They've worked on it after school for the last several weeks so it was nice to see their hard work pay off.  Bravo to them.


We had one representative from our class in the show.  Unfortunately we missed her performance.  They started the show a bit early and hadn't even announced for the fifth grade to go to the gym yet.  Coincidentally, she was the first to go and we could hear the applause for her group's performance as we entered the gymnasium.  I felt badly that we weren't there to support her, but she understood.  Hopefully some of the class will be able to make tomorrow night's show.  I plan on being there. 


Tonight's homework is to write about freedoms, fairness or equality.  We had a big discussion about rules that apply only to girls or boys, separate classes based on gender, and if fair and equal really mean the same thing.  I'm asking for an opinion piece.  They can write about any topic they want, as long as they can tie it to a general theme of what is fair, what should we have the freedom to do, or equality.  They got going on these assignments in class.


We are dividing fractions in math.  I can't give you many real world applications outside of wanting to make 1/4 of a recipe, but the kids understand why flipping the fraction and then multiplying works, so we should be able to go full speed ahead on this chapter.  Look for a quiz next week.


I finished my dog sitting episode yesterday.  It was so nice to sleep in my own bed last night.  My neck felt better almost as soon as it hit the pillow.  As a bonus, I wasn't as crabby today.  Or so I hope.


Thanks for reading.


Mr. Shea

early release day

Hello,


It was a short day.  We worked on what is and isn't a sentence.  These lessons are even tougher for kids since the advent of texting and twitter.  Some kids couldn't believe how mistaken they were on what constitutes a sentence. 


We started our final copies for our Bicentennial covers.  I'm seeing some really great artwork. 


We continued multiplying and dividing fractions in math.


Our new read aloud, Bull Run by Paul Fleischman, I am not reading.  I am playing an audio recording through my iPad.  The audio version does a better job than I ever could with all the different voices in the story.  Different actors play different roles.  It's much better than me trying to do my Southern belle voice.


No homework club tomorrow.  I have an IEP meeting right after school.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  The Olympic hockey was quite an amazing event during last night's club meeting.  I was happy with the honesty and the sportsmanship.  Congrats to all the medal winners.


Have a good night.


Mr. Shea






 

Practice Test

Hello,


The school starts its practice for the Smarter Balanced test tomorrow.  The library will be closed until next Wednesday.  No books can be taken out for the next 6-7 school days.  Our class doesn't take our first test until Monday afternoon, the 31st of March.  We will have two more sessions on Tuesday, April 1st.  Third and fifth grade will be tested in math only.  Fourth grade is taking the language arts portions of the test. 


I read on the Smarter Balanced website that this practice test will differ from the actual test in that the questions on the practice will be set questions, whereas on the real tests next spring, the questions will adjust according to a student's answers.  The tests in 2015 will be more like we experience on the NWEA Map tests, with the more correct answers given, resulting in the test asking more difficult questions.  The more incorrect answers given, the easier the questions will become.  The results from this practice will determine for the testing company the difficulty level of each question. 


In class today we discussed the Battle of Breed's Hill.  You may know it by a different name.  It is well known for being the battle where patriots didn't shoot "until they saw the whites of their eyes."  It is fun reading up on all the different accounts of these battles.  I have found it difficult to find even one account that completely matches another. 


We didn't get to the spelling test on Friday.  That will be taken tomorrow.  No excuses now. 


The class had library today and learned about computer use.  I bet many of the kids know more than a lot of the adults, including myself, regarding computer use. 


Ask your child one thing that they learned today.  If they say "nothing," then I apologize.  Now remind them that independent learners don't depend on teachers to feed them all the information they need to know.  They better learn something before they go to bed.  They should be able to tell you something about Bunker Hill, and Fort Ticonderoga, and Henry Knox, and onomatopoeia, and alliteration, and Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and how our read aloud, Chains, ended...   If not, well, I already apologized, but we'll work some more tomorrow.


Have a good night.


Mr. Shea

March Madness

Hello,


I didn't get my bracket in again.  Somehow it has become less of a priority since I began teaching. 


Sorry about no blog yesterday.  I had a few conferences and I just talked way too much on my last one.  By the time I got done, I was late getting home.  It is dog sitting week for me.  I picked up my parent's dog before any messes, but I've got to get out of here a little earlier this week. 


Students were introduced to a little stamp collecting yesterday.  I have some American bicentennial covers with Ben Franklin cancellations from Philadelphia that I got a while back.  I thought we could use them to study some of the symbols of the American Revolution.  Each student will get their own cover (envelope) to illustrate as they would like. 


I've started to give the kids a little more free writing time.  Poetry suggestions, from reading different types, to sharing famous ones will be more frequent for the rest of the year.  We read an Emerson poem about Lexington and Concord yesterday.  We also worked with some group poems, especially two reader poems.  Many kids are writing their own.


We've developed a more solid base for our fraction knowledge than we had last year, so now here come the word problems.  Time to apply our knowledge.  Shaky start, but we'll get there. 


Homework Club has started up the Club Olympics again.  Knockout and Volleyball were our first two events of the spring.  It is an honor to host the games once again.  I didn't think I would have the facilities ready in time. 


Have a good night.


Mr. Shea

Lots of perspectives

Hello,


We are learning about all of the different "versions" of history.  One of the top stories in the Times Record last night about the ancient stones uncovered in Phippsburg fit perfectly into our study of the Revolutionary War.  Many archeologists and scientists have different interpretations regarding the stones.  The British war brigadier-general at Lexington had a very different account than the patriots.  When we look at historical paintings, writings or pictures we need to ask ourselves who the author is and what are they trying to tell us?  Do they have any motives other than the facts?  Do they have a bias of any sort?  We've already seen this in the Boston "Massacre" accounts.  Good stuff.


So last night's homework results brought us answers to:


What are the Ides of March?  Why should we be wary of them?


Why do we celebrate Saint Patrick?


What do you think happened to that missing plane? 


That last question received plausible and implausible stories.  Everything from gassy pilots and a giant Yogi Bear, to a terrorist plots and a landing on a secret desert runway.  Hopefully we'll keep our ears to the ground on any news updates on this.  More good stuff.


I apologize again regarding the short notice on the cancelled homework club.  My secretary lost their notes.


Have a great night.


Mr. Shea

Homework club cancelled for Tuesday

Hello,


I apologize for the short notice, but the homework club needs to be cancelled for tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th.  I have an after school IEP meeting scheduled.  It has been on my calendar for almost two months, but as I was making my way through conference week, I didn't look ahead to keep you informed.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience of rescheduling after school plans. 


Happy St. Patrick's Day, by the way.  A friendly student brought in some Rice Krispie treats for the occasion. 


Please check the school website about a one week delay in the practice testing for the Smarter Balance test.  The school was scheduled to start today. 


We had a special visitor today.  I never got permission to use her name online, but she gave a great little presentation on math in ancient Egypt.  We learned about right angles, pyramids, Egyptian numbers, and many neat tidbits regarding Egyptian life.  A big thank you goes out to that woman.  I hope to mention her name tomorrow. 


The skirmishes/battles at Lexington and Concord were the main focus of our afternoon.  It is funny how many different accounts I found reading this past weekend.  Even the books in my classroom offer many differing stories.  Half of the lesson was about comparing sources.


I have a few more conferences tonight, and then four more to reschedule from last Wed.  Let me know possible times and I will hopefully get you in this week.


Thanks,


Mr. Shea

Conference week

Hello,


I apologize, but I need to take a break from the blog this week.  I'll continue to post the homework, but with report cards, conferences and homework clubs, I will be getting home well past nine every night this week.  I will resume blogs starting next Monday.


Thanks,


Mr. Shea

Lots of great games

Hello,


Since we are learning about life during colonial times, I challenged the class to come up with games that they could have played back them.  We had some pretty inventive answers.  We played a couple today and will do a couple more from time to time during the next few weeks.


Speaking of challenges, I am offering bonus pay to any student who can demonstrate any of the following:


$13 - name the original thirteen colonies
$100 - correctly put the fifty states on a map
$200 - correctly put the fifty state capitals on a map
$300 - correctly name the US presidents in order
$50 - correctly recite the preamble of the Constitution


Some of these are old challenges, but repetition will help seal the knowledge.  Is your child working harder for more pay?  (and knowledge)


We did a little sequencing this afternoon.  Most of the class read one on one with me.  I'll get the rest tomorrow.  One boy read so well and so fluently, I teared up a bit.  I'm not sure if he noticed.  I told him that his improvement makes me so happy, and it is all because of him.  His hard work.  His putting in the time at home.  His new found love of reading.  It is all making a huge difference.  It will open many doors.  I couldn't be prouder. 


Thank you for reading.


Mr. Shea

Conference slips went home

Hello,


Please fill out your conference sign up sheets tonight. 


I apologize, but I need to run to a meeting with a local representative to discuss education bills. 


Ask your child about what it was like to live during colonial times.  They should have a few things to say about that.


Thanks,


Mr. Shea

Some conference sign up sheets went home

Hello, 


Anyone in homework club, got a conference sign up sheet.  I forgot to give them out at the end of the day.  AAUUUGH.   My fault.  Sorry.


If you are reading this and want to sign up before you get the sheet tomorrow, you can email me a possible time.   Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will have two morning times available each day, 7:30 and 8:00.  Each of those days will also have after school times from 5:00 to 7:00.  Friday is a no school day, dedicated solely to conferences and I'll be available from 7:30 to 4:30. 


Today we discussed the importance of asking questions when reading.  Curiosity is such an important factor in predicting future school success.  Curious kids learn more than uncurious kids.  Personally, I don't think it is even close.  I think it is the biggest factor behind the gains that so many kids in the class are seeing.  For a few students, it is their biggest obstacle.  If you only do school work to make your teacher or parents happy, you are missing out on learning.  I still see some kids whose greatest passion is to NOT think.  It makes me sad. 


We will delving into the causes of the American Revolution in these next few days.  I think I may need to recruit some loyalists to even out some of our debates.  I look forward to getting to teach the history of our nation's beginnings for the first time. 


We jumped back into decimals in math.  We will spend a few days on them before I send home decimal homework.  In the meantime, we'll have fraction review homework.


Thanks for reading.


Mr. Shea

Happy March

Hello,


Welcome to March.  Let's get on with the warming and the melting.  I can't wait for that random 50+ degree day that is sure to come.  I will figure out a way to have us outside for most of that day.  Today was a two indoor recess day.


It was another odd day.  We had our last Arts Are Elementary session with Mrs. McCarthy.  She brought back our fully glazed face vessels back from their second go around in the kiln.  The class did a great job of creating some very creative faces.  Mine wasn't overly creative.  I went with a regular human face, although one kid said it looked like a zombie. 


We also had a class session with school counselor, Mrs. Farrand.  She talked to us about being careful not to judge people based on clothing, looks or cleanliness. 


We ended the day with chorus. 


That left time for math and a half of our literacy block.  My math class finished up their math test.  We'll get going on the new chapter tomorrow.  In literacy, we are reading Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak by Kay Winters.  I'm introducing this book before we get too far into our study of the Boston Tea Party and the events leading up to the American Revolution, because I want them to put on a little play, using the characters from this book.  I want them to have plenty of time to think about and rehearse their lines.  We'll be going over the conditions that led to the decision to rebel against King George in the coming weeks. 


Conferences are coming!  Report card time is upon us again.  I just printed out a new conference sign up sheet which will come home with your child tomorrow.  Conferences will once again be scheduled for a half hour.  There is no school next Friday due to conferences, but I'm also offering up times before and after school on Tues, Wed, and Thur of next week.  If none of those times work for you, just let me know and we can work something else out. 

Thanks for reading and have a good night.


Mr. Shea