It was a rough day. I felt like we had gotten the ball rolling by the end of last week, but we reverted to some old habits today. Expectations were forgotten. Work was seen as a nuisance. I was being tested constantly. There was a lot of learned helplessness in our class today. That doesn't play well here. We'll get it going again. I'm relentless. I won't give in. I refuse to help those who don't help themselves. I will not let them give up as soon as they face adversity. Show me some effort and I'll show some in return.
One of my jobs is to turn these children into independent thinkers. It may be one of my tougher jobs, but I am committed. Most of my talks early in the year revolve around this idea of them taking responsibility and being more independent. It's in their best interest. It's important. All I ask from you is to give them a little responsibility at home. I'm sure many of you do. If not, just take a look at all of the things that you do for them in a given day, and see if there isn't anything that they could do for themselves instead. Maybe they can clear the dinner table or help make their lunch for the next day. Ask them to make their bed (never a favorite). Insist that they order for themselves in a restaurant. Small steps, that's all. There is good and bad in getting older. While on the one hand you can ride the Tilt-a-Whirl without an adult, on the other hand you may also have to empty the litter box.
The schedule was all jumbled due to testing today. Math got cut short by twenty five minutes. We took the NWEA reading test this afternoon which caused us to miss our literacy block entirely. Kids love consistency, so I don't think our schedule did them any favors. Most of the week is messed up as well. Our NWEA math test, originally scheduled for today, is now tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Wednesday is an early release day (1:00) which some kids react to like a werewolf to a full moon. We'll see. I'll remain consistent, and they'll get it sooner or later.
Please don't jump to any conclusions by reading the blog. I make some generalities, but know that every child is different, and I try to treat them as such. Please email me if you have any specific concerns or questions. Another generality that I can make is that most parents that read the blog are doing a great job. Parenting and teaching aren't exact sciences. We do our best to do what is best for our children. Thank you for your efforts.
And thank you for reading,
Mr. Shea
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Whoops, one more thing
We have NWEA MAP testing next Monday and Friday afternoons. Please try to send your child into school well rested and well fed. We will be tested in math on Monday and reading on Friday. This is the district wide test that we take every fall and every March. I have my opinions about it which I will gladly share, if asked.
Good night
Good night
Later than I planned.
Hello,
More apologies on the lateness of this. The best laid plans...
In short, there are still so many loose threads that we are trying to figure out in this school, that most after school time is spent meeting with colleagues and talking things out.
I gave the class a bit of a break this afternoon. In the timeslot that will be library when they are up and running, I took them outside and had them draw three new foursquare courts. Each group had a couple measuring tapes, yardsticks, and chalk. They turned out really well.
Book orders went home today. You can order online or pay by cash or check. Our online address is www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: J36TM. This code will make sure that your order is sent to me. Any questions, just email me.
We continued working on our geography picture dictionaries today. We talked about geysers, but the Old Faithful Live Webcam was down. Another day, I hope. Plains, isthmus and badlands were also covered.
We somehow got into a discussion of solids, liquids and gases. I think it evolved from a discussion about driving across the great plains to the Mile High City and then into the mountains. From there I talked about climbing Wheeler Peak in NM on the 4th of July one year. (It snowed on top.) It was the highest I had ever been and I talked about the lack of oxygen that I felt climbing it. Someone asked my favorite question: "Why?" We got into the weight of gases, which of course meant a short talk about molecules in solids, liquids and gases. I had them all around the room being molecules bouncing off one another. They got in tight to be the solids, looser as a liquid, and far apart as the gas. It is a good precursor to how I explain how crystals are formed that I'll give in Geology.
These tangents, that really aren't that far off, are my favorite part of teaching. How can I not love my job? Our day can take us anywhere. I didn't know that we would be making foursquares until I saw thirty kids lined up at the one court this morning. A few random questions in class and off we go into a new topic. One student started a question this afternoon with, "I don't know if this is related, but...." I could feel my smile forming before he finished. I think I started my answer with, "Yeah, it is a bit off-topic, but it's fantastic..."
I want students to write down any three personal connections that they can make to the book Witches so far. For example: I like tree houses too. I went on a vacation with my grandmother once. I've stayed in a hotel. etc.
6:30. I'm done.
Thanks for reading.
Mr. Shea
More apologies on the lateness of this. The best laid plans...
In short, there are still so many loose threads that we are trying to figure out in this school, that most after school time is spent meeting with colleagues and talking things out.
I gave the class a bit of a break this afternoon. In the timeslot that will be library when they are up and running, I took them outside and had them draw three new foursquare courts. Each group had a couple measuring tapes, yardsticks, and chalk. They turned out really well.
Book orders went home today. You can order online or pay by cash or check. Our online address is www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: J36TM. This code will make sure that your order is sent to me. Any questions, just email me.
We continued working on our geography picture dictionaries today. We talked about geysers, but the Old Faithful Live Webcam was down. Another day, I hope. Plains, isthmus and badlands were also covered.
We somehow got into a discussion of solids, liquids and gases. I think it evolved from a discussion about driving across the great plains to the Mile High City and then into the mountains. From there I talked about climbing Wheeler Peak in NM on the 4th of July one year. (It snowed on top.) It was the highest I had ever been and I talked about the lack of oxygen that I felt climbing it. Someone asked my favorite question: "Why?" We got into the weight of gases, which of course meant a short talk about molecules in solids, liquids and gases. I had them all around the room being molecules bouncing off one another. They got in tight to be the solids, looser as a liquid, and far apart as the gas. It is a good precursor to how I explain how crystals are formed that I'll give in Geology.
These tangents, that really aren't that far off, are my favorite part of teaching. How can I not love my job? Our day can take us anywhere. I didn't know that we would be making foursquares until I saw thirty kids lined up at the one court this morning. A few random questions in class and off we go into a new topic. One student started a question this afternoon with, "I don't know if this is related, but...." I could feel my smile forming before he finished. I think I started my answer with, "Yeah, it is a bit off-topic, but it's fantastic..."
I want students to write down any three personal connections that they can make to the book Witches so far. For example: I like tree houses too. I went on a vacation with my grandmother once. I've stayed in a hotel. etc.
6:30. I'm done.
Thanks for reading.
Mr. Shea
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Rain, rain, go away. Indoor recess is for the birds.
Hello,
I finally have a night without a meeting. I try to get this done by 5:00, but meetings often get in the way.
The big news today was the new math classes. Your child has been placed into a math class with children of like abilites. We made our decisions based on NWEA scores, NECAP scores, and last year's teacher's recommendations. All groups will be covering the same concepts, but the speed and depth of that coverage will depend on the group. We will be allowing for students to move into other classes based on progress levels. Please contact me with any questions about this. I know that ability grouping for math was not common practice at all of the former elementary schools. I personally believe that it is the best way to give each child the best chance for success.
Speaking of contacting me, my school email is sshea@brunswick.k12.me.us. The email that shows at the top of this blog is my personal email address. I would prefer that you use the school address, only because that is the one that I check multiple times per day. My gmail account only gets checked at night. The website didn't allow me to post my alternative email since it is a google run blog.
I think I misspoke a bit yesterday. I shouldn't have said that I lecture the kids. That implies a long, drawn out, rehearsed speech. I think it is more accurate to say that I rant. They are often impromptu, impassioned, and generally not very long. The class will be hearing the importance of reading rant a few times this year.
We started our geography picture dictionaries today. I'll be interested to know if your child can tell you what an archipelago, canal, fiord, or bay is. We started with some random ones, I know. The goal is to make three dimensional islands in a couple weeks (out of homemade play dough) that show off our knowledge of land forms. More odd ones to come: isthmus, mesa, tundra, butte, atoll, and delta.
My new math class got a look at what one million cubic centimeters would look like. I built a giant cube out of pvc piping. I'll be sharing it with other classes in the days to come.
It seemed like the first gym class of the year went well. The music teacher spoke to me about how fantastic our class did on Friday afternoon. They sang the county song. That one is a little bit tougher to memorize than the continent song. I'd be interested to know if you ask your child what the seven continents are, how many answer in song. I bet they also know how many counties are in our state, but I'd be impressed if they can recite all sixteen after only one music session.
Already 5:00. It is tough to get this done in a timely manner with all of the drop ins.
Have a great night. Thanks for reading.
Mr. Shea
I finally have a night without a meeting. I try to get this done by 5:00, but meetings often get in the way.
The big news today was the new math classes. Your child has been placed into a math class with children of like abilites. We made our decisions based on NWEA scores, NECAP scores, and last year's teacher's recommendations. All groups will be covering the same concepts, but the speed and depth of that coverage will depend on the group. We will be allowing for students to move into other classes based on progress levels. Please contact me with any questions about this. I know that ability grouping for math was not common practice at all of the former elementary schools. I personally believe that it is the best way to give each child the best chance for success.
Speaking of contacting me, my school email is sshea@brunswick.k12.me.us. The email that shows at the top of this blog is my personal email address. I would prefer that you use the school address, only because that is the one that I check multiple times per day. My gmail account only gets checked at night. The website didn't allow me to post my alternative email since it is a google run blog.
I think I misspoke a bit yesterday. I shouldn't have said that I lecture the kids. That implies a long, drawn out, rehearsed speech. I think it is more accurate to say that I rant. They are often impromptu, impassioned, and generally not very long. The class will be hearing the importance of reading rant a few times this year.
We started our geography picture dictionaries today. I'll be interested to know if your child can tell you what an archipelago, canal, fiord, or bay is. We started with some random ones, I know. The goal is to make three dimensional islands in a couple weeks (out of homemade play dough) that show off our knowledge of land forms. More odd ones to come: isthmus, mesa, tundra, butte, atoll, and delta.
My new math class got a look at what one million cubic centimeters would look like. I built a giant cube out of pvc piping. I'll be sharing it with other classes in the days to come.
It seemed like the first gym class of the year went well. The music teacher spoke to me about how fantastic our class did on Friday afternoon. They sang the county song. That one is a little bit tougher to memorize than the continent song. I'd be interested to know if you ask your child what the seven continents are, how many answer in song. I bet they also know how many counties are in our state, but I'd be impressed if they can recite all sixteen after only one music session.
Already 5:00. It is tough to get this done in a timely manner with all of the drop ins.
Have a great night. Thanks for reading.
Mr. Shea
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sorry so late!!
Hello,
I'm sorry this is so late. I'll be fast and brief to get this out by 7:00. I had a math meeting that just ended. We are breaking up the classes by like abilities for math. Tomorrow will be your child's first day with their new math teacher. A couple will have me, but not many.
The class got their first taste of my "lectures" today. I spoke to them on the importance of reading. I'll give you my "Get the TV out of their bedroom" blog post another day.
We did a couple of logic problems today. Many students took home the next problems in the sequence. The problems will get harder and harder as they go. I am encouraging everyone to do at least one a week, but they are optional. I introduced the problems shortly after I gave a little talk on being responsible for their own education. I hope that they won't choose to do the minimum.
We have gym tomorrow. I hope no one forgets sneakers. Ms. D'Agostino wouldn't be happy.
We played a dice rolling game in math this morning. Students rolled two dice at a time and kept adding up the totals. The object was to get as close to fifty as possible without going over. I can see that we need a lot of practice adding, even just single digits. Very few students could add up numbers like 6 + 7 without having to count it out. I recommend games at home that use cards or multiple dice. Yahtzee, monopoly, cribbage, etc. all are great ways to get some of these basics to be second nature without them feeling like they are doing school work.
We are starting a class read: Witches by Roald Dahl. I don't plan on doing big class reads like this, but I like to start out with everyone reading the same material so I can make my expectations clear across the board. We will be doing most of the reading in class so that all levels can reach a certain level of understanding.
I have more to say, but since it is nearly a quarter past seven I will leave it for tomorrow.
Have a good night.
Mr. Shea
I'm sorry this is so late. I'll be fast and brief to get this out by 7:00. I had a math meeting that just ended. We are breaking up the classes by like abilities for math. Tomorrow will be your child's first day with their new math teacher. A couple will have me, but not many.
The class got their first taste of my "lectures" today. I spoke to them on the importance of reading. I'll give you my "Get the TV out of their bedroom" blog post another day.
We did a couple of logic problems today. Many students took home the next problems in the sequence. The problems will get harder and harder as they go. I am encouraging everyone to do at least one a week, but they are optional. I introduced the problems shortly after I gave a little talk on being responsible for their own education. I hope that they won't choose to do the minimum.
We have gym tomorrow. I hope no one forgets sneakers. Ms. D'Agostino wouldn't be happy.
We played a dice rolling game in math this morning. Students rolled two dice at a time and kept adding up the totals. The object was to get as close to fifty as possible without going over. I can see that we need a lot of practice adding, even just single digits. Very few students could add up numbers like 6 + 7 without having to count it out. I recommend games at home that use cards or multiple dice. Yahtzee, monopoly, cribbage, etc. all are great ways to get some of these basics to be second nature without them feeling like they are doing school work.
We are starting a class read: Witches by Roald Dahl. I don't plan on doing big class reads like this, but I like to start out with everyone reading the same material so I can make my expectations clear across the board. We will be doing most of the reading in class so that all levels can reach a certain level of understanding.
I have more to say, but since it is nearly a quarter past seven I will leave it for tomorrow.
Have a good night.
Mr. Shea
Friday, September 2, 2011
We survived!
Hello,
I don't usually post a Friday blog. My mind works better with a day off. I come in every Sunday to pick up the pieces, do my correcting, and plan for the next week. Thank you for understanding.
Have a great weekend.
Mr. Shea
I don't usually post a Friday blog. My mind works better with a day off. I come in every Sunday to pick up the pieces, do my correcting, and plan for the next week. Thank you for understanding.
Have a great weekend.
Mr. Shea
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Hello and welcome!
I'm happy to see that they took down the filter block on my blog so that I can get some info to you before dinner. We had a bit more productive day today. That first day is so full of rules and procedures that my throat gets tired from talking. I tried to move them around enough to make it bearable. I'm sorry that I couldn't write the blog. I have a lot of information to get to you at the start of the year. I hope I didn't lose my audience before we even get rolling.
Thank you to the parents who filled in the emergency cards and other forms and had them brought in this morning. You had more homework than your child(ren) last night. I'm asking all of my students to bring their assignment book and homework folder home with them every night. Many put the two in their binder, which is great. They should write in their assignment(s) under the correct date, and in enough detail that they can easily accomplish their task(s). The website homework calendar is more for your benefit, but can be used as a back up.
We played a turn of the century game this morning called Androscoggin. In Androscoggin the goal is to make as many words as you can using a given set of letters from a word or phrase. We used the letters from WELCOME BACK. Using those letters, try to see if you can come up with more words than the class total of 57. They did very well. Words like MEEK count because there are two Es, one M and one K in the phrase. BELL wouldn't count because there is only one L. Got it? Give it a try. I'm sure your child would like to look over your shoulder while you try.
We had a fire drill today. Wow, is that loud! I covered my ears walking down the stairwell along with many of the students. The class did very well going where they were supposed to and keeping quiet while I was one of the last adults out of the building.
Tonight's homework is a two-sided math sheet and a little reading. We will be starting reading logs next week. I require a minimum of five nights of reading per week, twenty minutes a night. The kids can choose which nights. This way if they are busy for a night or two they can plan ahead. I thought I would get them warmed up with a twenty minute session tonight. The math sheet involves a bit of addition and logic. We started the sheet in school to make sure they knew what to do. It shouldn't take too long.
We will be changing classes for our math block starting on Tuesday. Sorting is being done based on the NECAPs, the NWEA, and teacher's input. The plan is to put children with like abilities together. We can always shift high or low performers to a class that will challenge them best.
I have a lot more to say, but I see the time is already nearing six. I try to get this out before dinner time, so I'm going to stop here. As long as my access continues, I will usually get this out sooner. Once I get the software to do this on the school site, it will be easier on all of us. You won't have to go to www.mrsheasclassblog.blogspot.com, and I won't have to worry about the ever changing blocking schedule of our school filter.
All for now. Please call me on my cell if you have any questions or concerns about your child or school. 841-2599.
I liked the class yesterday, but I liked them twice as much today. I'm sure I'll love them by the end of next week.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. Shea
Thank you to the parents who filled in the emergency cards and other forms and had them brought in this morning. You had more homework than your child(ren) last night. I'm asking all of my students to bring their assignment book and homework folder home with them every night. Many put the two in their binder, which is great. They should write in their assignment(s) under the correct date, and in enough detail that they can easily accomplish their task(s). The website homework calendar is more for your benefit, but can be used as a back up.
We played a turn of the century game this morning called Androscoggin. In Androscoggin the goal is to make as many words as you can using a given set of letters from a word or phrase. We used the letters from WELCOME BACK. Using those letters, try to see if you can come up with more words than the class total of 57. They did very well. Words like MEEK count because there are two Es, one M and one K in the phrase. BELL wouldn't count because there is only one L. Got it? Give it a try. I'm sure your child would like to look over your shoulder while you try.
We had a fire drill today. Wow, is that loud! I covered my ears walking down the stairwell along with many of the students. The class did very well going where they were supposed to and keeping quiet while I was one of the last adults out of the building.
Tonight's homework is a two-sided math sheet and a little reading. We will be starting reading logs next week. I require a minimum of five nights of reading per week, twenty minutes a night. The kids can choose which nights. This way if they are busy for a night or two they can plan ahead. I thought I would get them warmed up with a twenty minute session tonight. The math sheet involves a bit of addition and logic. We started the sheet in school to make sure they knew what to do. It shouldn't take too long.
We will be changing classes for our math block starting on Tuesday. Sorting is being done based on the NECAPs, the NWEA, and teacher's input. The plan is to put children with like abilities together. We can always shift high or low performers to a class that will challenge them best.
I have a lot more to say, but I see the time is already nearing six. I try to get this out before dinner time, so I'm going to stop here. As long as my access continues, I will usually get this out sooner. Once I get the software to do this on the school site, it will be easier on all of us. You won't have to go to www.mrsheasclassblog.blogspot.com, and I won't have to worry about the ever changing blocking schedule of our school filter.
All for now. Please call me on my cell if you have any questions or concerns about your child or school. 841-2599.
I liked the class yesterday, but I liked them twice as much today. I'm sure I'll love them by the end of next week.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. Shea
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