Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thinking, thinking, thinking! I love to watch them when they are thinking!
We started our day by discussing:
After working in TOPS Math, we went to the library to begin work on our research skills. We discussed how the Briarcliff library is arranged, the difference between fiction and non-fiction books, how to read the call number on the spine of a fictional book, what the letters mean in the call number, how the books are arranged on the shelves and the importance of being sure we put books back in their correct location and order. The students practiced locating a fictional book by its call number. Then, the practiced shelving books that had been returned to the library. It is empowering to students to learn to locate books on their own. Mastery of these skills frees them to select books on topics of interest and locate specific books without having to wait for adult assistance. This is monumental for early readers and for students interested in unusual or "hard to locate" topics and information. Next week we will focus on how non-fiction books are organized. We will continue to focus on research skills over the next several weeks.
In the afternoon, we completed a creative thinking exercise to work on our flexible thinking, originality and elaboration skills. The students were each given a paper with a partial design repeated four times. (The design is below.) Each repeat of the design was rotated a quarter turn to create a different perspective and new picture possibilities. They had to use the existing design components and integrate them into their new picture. Each design had to be used to make a very different picture. I challenged them to see if they could come up with something no one else in their class created and to be as elaborative as possible. These drawing exercises strengthen the skills (fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration) that will help the children in their problem solving.
The students also completed two critical thinking exercizes and their first quarter self-evaluation. I will share it with you at our parent/teacher conferences next week. Please call or email me if you have not set up a fall conference. I still have spaces available!
Have a beautiful, warm, fall weekend!
***As the seasons change, please remind your child to watch the weather and bring a warm coat, hat and gloves when necessary. Our playground sits just high enough to catch the wind and recess can be pretty chilly. It is hard to adjust to early, "wintery" days!
"Tips and Tricks" for Successful Math Problem Solving
(aka Surviving TOPS Math & Math Rules--
and maybe even learning to enjoy them)
- Begin by reading the problem carefully.
- What is the question being asked?
- What relevant information is provided in the text of the problem?
- Is there unnecessary information to distract you or throw you off?
- Look at the illustration or chart shown with the problem.
- What relevant information is found in the graphics?
- Is there unnecessary information to distract you or throw you off?
- Look back at the question being asked.
- What mathematical operation will you need to use to solve this problem?
- What strategies could you use to solve it?
- What is the most efficient strategy that will get me to an accurate answer?
- Complete the problem.
- Show your work in the space provided and double check your computation.
- Look again at the question being asked and write your answer in a complete sentence.
- Did you start with a capital letter?
- Did you end with proper punctuation?
- Did you answer the question that was asked?
- Did you include the proper label for your answer?
I would also like to encourage all of my 2nd graders to begin working to memorize their basic addition and subtraction facts. (Try to make this a low stress activity. --Yes, I know, easier said than done, but I do have some ideas for you if you have trouble working on math facts.) Memorization of these facts will help your child make mind leaps more quickly as they work on problem solving skills.
After working in TOPS Math, we went to the library to begin work on our research skills. We discussed how the Briarcliff library is arranged, the difference between fiction and non-fiction books, how to read the call number on the spine of a fictional book, what the letters mean in the call number, how the books are arranged on the shelves and the importance of being sure we put books back in their correct location and order. The students practiced locating a fictional book by its call number. Then, the practiced shelving books that had been returned to the library. It is empowering to students to learn to locate books on their own. Mastery of these skills frees them to select books on topics of interest and locate specific books without having to wait for adult assistance. This is monumental for early readers and for students interested in unusual or "hard to locate" topics and information. Next week we will focus on how non-fiction books are organized. We will continue to focus on research skills over the next several weeks.
In the afternoon, we completed a creative thinking exercise to work on our flexible thinking, originality and elaboration skills. The students were each given a paper with a partial design repeated four times. (The design is below.) Each repeat of the design was rotated a quarter turn to create a different perspective and new picture possibilities. They had to use the existing design components and integrate them into their new picture. Each design had to be used to make a very different picture. I challenged them to see if they could come up with something no one else in their class created and to be as elaborative as possible. These drawing exercises strengthen the skills (fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration) that will help the children in their problem solving.
Have a beautiful, warm, fall weekend!
***As the seasons change, please remind your child to watch the weather and bring a warm coat, hat and gloves when necessary. Our playground sits just high enough to catch the wind and recess can be pretty chilly. It is hard to adjust to early, "wintery" days!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Creative Thinkers & Fledgling Bloggers
The boys and girls got off to a great start this morning! We began our day with a discussion on our class Blogging Guidelines. These can be found in a new tab on our main page. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with them.
We also reviewed the components of a quality comment and how to post a comment on our blog. I explained that our blog is an "academic blog" and should not be used as a social network. I want to avoid students spending large amounts of time just socializing here.
I want them to post comments on their learning and "Ah Ha!" moments. The source of their learning and revelations can be from within or outside of school. Ideally, I would like to see students post a comment from home once or twice a week. In the beginning, their comments may not be very sophisticated. With instruction, practice and encouragement, your child will gain a desire to share their ideas and opinions with others and the skills to do it through our blog. Blogging provides a real world platform for students to improve not only their reading and writing skills, but also the technology skills 21st Century Learners will need.
Please encourage your child to share their enthusiasm and experiences from rich learning moments. At this age, they will need your support and assistance with proof reading their comments prior to clicking that "publish" button. In the next week or so, I will try to get a screen cast tutorial made on how to post a comment to our blog for those parents and grandparents that would like directions. By all means, please encourage your child's grandparents, aunts, uncles and other interested adults to post comments about your child's projects and learning on our blog too! I am looking forward to hearing from you all!
We also reviewed the components of a quality comment and how to post a comment on our blog. I explained that our blog is an "academic blog" and should not be used as a social network. I want to avoid students spending large amounts of time just socializing here.
I want them to post comments on their learning and "Ah Ha!" moments. The source of their learning and revelations can be from within or outside of school. Ideally, I would like to see students post a comment from home once or twice a week. In the beginning, their comments may not be very sophisticated. With instruction, practice and encouragement, your child will gain a desire to share their ideas and opinions with others and the skills to do it through our blog. Blogging provides a real world platform for students to improve not only their reading and writing skills, but also the technology skills 21st Century Learners will need.
Please encourage your child to share their enthusiasm and experiences from rich learning moments. At this age, they will need your support and assistance with proof reading their comments prior to clicking that "publish" button. In the next week or so, I will try to get a screen cast tutorial made on how to post a comment to our blog for those parents and grandparents that would like directions. By all means, please encourage your child's grandparents, aunts, uncles and other interested adults to post comments about your child's projects and learning on our blog too! I am looking forward to hearing from you all!
The students continued their individual work in the Math Rules program and their Exploratory center today. Ask your child about their current task. I think almost everyone is now past the Knowledge and Comprehension level tasks. Now they can choose any other task from this same center to complete.
Currently, a person is reading about bats, bones and rodent fur is being dissected, a puppet is in the design stages, illustrations of a sinking ship are being drawn, dental impressions have been taken, origami figures are being folded, a wild cat model is being designed, original patterns have been created and color schemes are being analyzed. This is an exciting place to be in the afternoon! I will continue to encourage them to take their time for their personal best effort.
In the afternoon, they learned/reviewed the rules for brainstorming.
We ended our day working on our critical thinking skills. The students were given two different problems that could be solved through the use of a matrix. With their thinking caps in place, they analyzed the clues and made inferences based on the information provided to match up the people to their homeruns (and in the second problem, to the insect they brought to school.)
Have a beautiful fall weekend!
Currently, a person is reading about bats, bones and rodent fur is being dissected, a puppet is in the design stages, illustrations of a sinking ship are being drawn, dental impressions have been taken, origami figures are being folded, a wild cat model is being designed, original patterns have been created and color schemes are being analyzed. This is an exciting place to be in the afternoon! I will continue to encourage them to take their time for their personal best effort.
In the afternoon, they learned/reviewed the rules for brainstorming.
- Accept the unusual
- Never critcize or compliment
- Piggyback when possible
- Never stop too soon.
We ended our day working on our critical thinking skills. The students were given two different problems that could be solved through the use of a matrix. With their thinking caps in place, they analyzed the clues and made inferences based on the information provided to match up the people to their homeruns (and in the second problem, to the insect they brought to school.)
Have a beautiful fall weekend!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Woo Hoo! We All Posted a Blog Comment Today!
We started our day discussing how to post a comment on a blog and what makes a quality comment. The students each posted a comment today! If you have the time, take a look! They did a great job. I am encouraging them to begin to post comments from home.
We have struggled with problems between Internet Explorer and Blogger. From my own research, Safari and FireFox seem to be a good match to Blogger, but IE has had problems working it. Many of you may have tried to post a comment only to have it erased, without your post going through. Thanks to our IT department, I think we have finally found a "fix." Please let me know if you are ever having difficulties with the blog. A lot of this is new for me too, so in some cases, the kids and I are learning together. (I hope you don't mind being dragged along with us!) If you have a working knowledge of blogs and have any suggestions or ideas, please pass them along to me!
The students continued their individual work in Math Rules, TOPS Math and Exploratory today. We had a pretty long Exploratory block of time and they really made some progress! Ask your child about their current task.
Have a wonderful weekend!
We have struggled with problems between Internet Explorer and Blogger. From my own research, Safari and FireFox seem to be a good match to Blogger, but IE has had problems working it. Many of you may have tried to post a comment only to have it erased, without your post going through. Thanks to our IT department, I think we have finally found a "fix." Please let me know if you are ever having difficulties with the blog. A lot of this is new for me too, so in some cases, the kids and I are learning together. (I hope you don't mind being dragged along with us!) If you have a working knowledge of blogs and have any suggestions or ideas, please pass them along to me!
The students continued their individual work in Math Rules, TOPS Math and Exploratory today. We had a pretty long Exploratory block of time and they really made some progress! Ask your child about their current task.
The students were also introduced to the Components of Creativity:
- Fluency
- Flexibility
- Originality
- Elaboration
Some questions have many answers: What are all of the ways you might have come to school today?
When I asked our students this second question, they came up with car, bus, and walking and then moved onto more creative and original ideas. They thought of digging tunnels underground, riding in a bean bag chair in a wagon, riding on a zebra, flying with a bunch of helium balloons and many other great ideas. They came up with a pretty creative list for our first brainstorm of the year. Ask your child to brainstorm more ideas for you.
It was wonderful to see so many families at our Open House last night! If you have not signed up for a parent conference, please call or email me.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Our First Commenting Challenge!
Boys and Girls,
Our SAGE Open House is next Thursday, October 6th in our Briarcliff classroom. Although we haven't had many days together, you have been working hard and have many things to show your parents. What specific work are you excited about sharing?
After you get a chance to watch Mrs. Yollis' video, How to Compose a Quality Comment,
http://vimeo.com/15695021, try posting a comment here!
Our SAGE Open House is next Thursday, October 6th in our Briarcliff classroom. Although we haven't had many days together, you have been working hard and have many things to show your parents. What specific work are you excited about sharing?
After you get a chance to watch Mrs. Yollis' video, How to Compose a Quality Comment,
http://vimeo.com/15695021, try posting a comment here!
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