Friday, November 20, 2020

Friday, November 20, 2020

 

 Mr. Sassman's 4th Grade Class Blog

Weller Elementary School
 


 
This week...
I posted to the classroom stream a new TDL in a read-only Google Spreadsheet for your (and your child's) reference. It has a list of assignments that we have completed to date, and some ongoing assignments (projects). I will be updating this list weekly for you to follow. This is something new that I am trying, and I hope that it is helpful. It is becoming hard to keep track myself, as the kids are doing a lot of work (which makes me proud), so I can only imagine what it means for you (and your student).

Here is a link to the "Master Copy" of the document: TDL 2020 Q2
 
The kids have individual copies that are personalized and editable in their Google Classroom Classwork tab. 

We worked on:
-The Solar System: The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Earth.
-Difference between a million and a billion!
-Persuasive Essays: 4 students have turned in their "Final Copies" so far.
-State Reports: Kiddos should be completing their research.
-Warm/Cold Trees: I introduced this on Friday (Today).
-Book Reports: 2 kiddos have completed this project so far. About 8 other kids are well on their way.
-Shiloh: We finished reading the book and are working through the packet currently. We just complete Quiz 4 together.
-Out of my Mind: We are on Chapter 22 as of now.
-Topics 6 Test was released. A retake option was also published. We are halfway through Topic 7.
-Writing Prompts: WOW! They have been awesome.
-Spelling: Kiddos should be working on Lesson 6.
-DOL: Didn't get to this yet :(
-Weekly Geography: Kiddos should be working on #6.

Next week...
We will keep going with our current trajectory. As you know, it will be a short week due to Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday no school (like every year). It is a pick up and drop off week (Wednesday, November 25, 2020), so I will have a list of items for you on Monday. I only have two things to send home as of now, a Figurative Language Packet and Math Races 21-40. 
 
On the horizon...
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests are progress monitoring tools that the District has been using for the last 4 years now. This year, the district has required me to administer them even though we are in a remote learning status. Yes, I pushed back (a little bit) about the need to do Standardized Tests? I was informed that the FNSBSD needs to have test results for federal funding, and well...We need funding so...While I don't like the amount of time they take and the undue stress it brings to all of us, they are necessary. I usually find great value in MAP testing because it helps me monitor how well (or not well) my students are growing academically, so I am curious about how this is going to play out. What does this mean now?

I will need to set up 20 minute conferences with kiddos to prep their computers (pre-test troubleshooting), and guide them to a practice log-in, so when the day of testing comes, we don't have any issues. We will not be having "Regular" Zoom sessions on those days or on our scheduled testing days. Day 1 will be math and Day 2 will be ELA (BTW and FYI)! Sorry, I couldn't resist, not sorry :)

I am thinking we will take them the week of December 7th, but I am not sure yet which days. I have to confer with the other 4th grade teacher here at Weller.
 
The Second Quarter Plan:
New Additions
  • Persuasive Essays
  • State Reports and Posterboards
  • Q2 Book Reports - Biography Book Reports and Google Slides Presentations
  • Poetry - Winter Haikus, Diamantes, What I love about Winter, and more...
  • Figurative Language - Similes, Metaphors, Personification, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, and such... 
  • Class Novel - Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
  • Read Aloud - Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
  • Art - Warm and Clod Trees
  • Instructables - STEM stuff
The Staples
  • Spelling Packets
  • Cursive Handbooks
  • Reading Logs - SSR
  • EnVision Math
  • Daily Oral Language (DOL)
  • Weekly Geography
 
Monday looks like:
8:30 - 9:15 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Class Meeting
The Solar System -Mars
Warm/Cold Trees Art
9:15 - 10:15 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Complete Writing Prompt
Snack
Break from a screen
10:15 - 11:00 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Math Topic 7-1 through 7-4 Review
11:00 - 12:00 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Math Topic 7 (TBD)
Lunch
Break from a screen
12:00 - 12:30 (Synchronous - With the teacher)
Persuasive Essays Check-in
State Reports Check-in
Shiloh Packet Work
Read Aloud/Art - Out of My Mind
12:30 - 1:30 (Asynchronous - Independent Work)
Finish up the day's tasks
Check the Google Classroom Stream and TDL to make sure kiddos are on track
1:30 - till' tomorrow
Go outside
Play
Be a kid
Read for 20 minutes and record it in your reading log
Finish up any work from the Google Classroom Stream for the day

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to call or email me anytime to discuss things further. I hope you find this information helpful and useful.


IN-CLASS/PERSON ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS
--None for now! But hopefully not for long :)

HOMEWORK
-Reading Logs each night and record it online or on paper
-I have posted on our Google Classroom Stream our list of items that needed to be completed for the day and things we are working on over the week. Kids may have additional work to finish up from the day, and therefore would essentially become "Homework," for the evening.

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK
-I have sent home worksheets for the topics that we are working on. Please complete those and save them to turn in when we do pick up and drop off days.

*Please keep in mind, projects or tests we have in class may have to be brought home to be finished or to study. Please ask your child if they have completed their work before you have signed their planner. 

ONGOING INFORMATION
ZOOM
Here is our class' meeting ID and password:

HOMEWORK?
Our Google Classroom "Stream" is a thing! I will post on our Stream at the end of our last session (12:00 - 12:30), a list of tasks that the kids need to finish up with for the day, and the things we have been working on. It has proven to be helpful, so I will keep on doing it. Some work may spill over into the evening and becoming essentially, homework...I promise, no tears!

Please have your child reading for 20 minutes a night. Then, have them record it on their reading logs. When the log is complete, you may either send it in, take a picture and email it to me, or enter it digitally in our Google Classroom.

CLASS WEBSITE
If you have not yet, please browse our class' website: www.wellerwhales.org. It has a lot of great resources and we will use this from time to time. I am currently making adjustments and enhancements on some pages, but the site is full and live.

READING LOGS (In-Person)
Reading logs are a regular part of our class and the students' overall reading grade. Students will receive 5 points for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday). I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs or they can submit through our GC. If a student reads for 5 days or more, they will receive a ticket for the "Prize Box" drawing. We draw prizes weekly, on Fridays at the end of the day.

READING LOGS (Remote Learning)
Reading Logs are required and will count towards the students' overall reading grade. Kiddos will receive 5 points for each day that they read during the school week. They can be turned in either digitally in our GC or by paper during our drop off and pick up days.

ClassLink/GOOGLE CLASSROOM
ClassLink is the portal in which students can access their Google Classroom. Once they log into their Chromebook, kids can access the bookmarks folder on their Chrome browser and click on ClassLink. That will bring them to the apps page where they will find Google Classroom. 

DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
-Drop off/Pick up day
 
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Friday, November 27, 2020
-Thanksgiving Break (no school)

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman
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