In room 9 we've had a great first week of getting to know each other and establishing class norms and routines! I've enjoyed getting to know all my students and their unique strengths and interests.
On our first day, students learned the Tribes Community Agreements, which are:
1) Attentive Listening
2) Mutual Respect
3) Appreciation, No Put-Downs
4) The Right to Participate
5) Safety First
I find that using these agreements is a powerful tool to help create a positive and safe atmosphere within the class.
This week the students also wrote letters to their future selves, which they will get back to read at the end of June. Students made predictions about the year, and asked questions to their future selves. In addition, we had a funeral for our "I Can'ts", putting to rest our feelings that we can't do certain things, and changing those statements to, "I am learning to."
We also began our work on independent reading and math this week, and established norms and routines. I emphasize quiet during independent reading periods so that everyone can think, as reading is thinking! I also emphasize collaboration during math, so that students can learn from each other as well as from me. We began the youcubed "Week of Inspirational Math." We watched a short video about an important aspect of learning math, then worked on a math activity that helped students practise that skill. Students learned that there are many strategies for learning math, including teamwork, and that math is not about speed, but about deep thinking.
Finally, three permission forms went home on Friday. The first is for Kiss N Go volunteering, the second is for the cross country team. The last is for the Island School trip. I ask that all the forms be returned ASAP, and I do apologize for the many, many forms this week!
Homework:
1) Read for 20-30 minutes daily. This will be daily homework all year long. Homework folders will begin next week.
Important Dates:
Friday, Sept. 15: celebrating summer birthdays
Sept. 25-27: Island School trip
Oct. 4: Curriculum Night
No comments:
Post a Comment