Miller Moments
October 13, 2017
Miller Elementary Leadership Team
Ashley Miller
Kelli Morse
Ashley Young
Number Bonds
Number bonds help students see that numbers can be decomposed into parts to make computation easier. With number bonds, students recognize the relationships between numbers through a written model that shows how the numbers are related.
A number bond for the numbers 2, 3, and 5 might look like the model below. It can also be the whole on top with the parts branching down or the whole on the bottom with the parts branching up.
You might notice a similarity to fact families, and you’d be right. There are a couple of differences, however. First, we often teach fact families through rote memorization only. Kids can rattle off 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 2 = 5, 5 – 2 = 3, and 5 – 3 = 2, but they often don’t really understand how the addition and subtraction sentences are related. Second, we don’t usually focus on all the fact families for a given number, for example 5. Through working with number bonds, children learn that 2 and 3 make 5, but so do 4 and 1. In other words, they experience multiple ways to decompose the same number. Start out working with smaller numbers and gradually work toward larger ones, and of course the kiddos will need LOTS of concrete practice.
A game to play with Number Bonds:
An easy game that provides concrete practice for number bonds is Shake and Spill. Working with a target number, for example 6, children shake and spill that many counters onto the playing board. In the picture below, the central graphic is a duck. Some of the jacks fell on the duck and some off. The combination would be recorded 6 = 3 + 3 or 3 and 3 make 6 or some other variation. Then they pick up the 6 counters and shake and spill again. Notice that the playing board is inside the workstation box to contain the jacks!
Miller Money
Miller Money is awarded to individual students. Students can earn Miller Money in all location of the school for exhibiting qualities of C.A.R.E.
Miller Money can be awarded for both academic efforts and exhibiting character traits (i.e. using academic vocabulary during class discussions, persevering through a difficult task)
Students will have the opportunity to cash in their money on Fridays in the classroom. On Friday, during the last 5 min. of lunch students will be given the opportunity to purchase incentive passes.
Self Awareness: Instruction: Yellow Zone
For the next two weeks during class meetings our students will be learning what is looks like, sounds like and feels like to be in the yellow and red zones.
Zones of Regulation states that:
"The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions, however one has more control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone. The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behavior, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone."
The Zones can be compared to traffic signs. When given a green light or in the Green Zone, one is “good to go”. A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the Yellow Zone. A red light or stop sign means stop, and when one is the Red Zone this often is the case. The Blue Zone can be compared to the rest area signs where one goes to rest or re-energize. All of the zones are natural to experience, but the framework focuses on teaching students how to recognize and manage their Zone based on the environment and its demands and the people around them.
Be on the lookout next week from our students explaining the yellow and red zones.
Upcoming Dates
October 16: 1st Grade Field Trip
October 17: Jason's Deli Spirit Night 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
October 20: 5th Grade Music Performance & Pink Out Day: Wear Pink to School
October 23-27: Red Ribbon Week
October 25: 4th Grade Field Trip
October 26: 4th Grade Field Trip, Report Cards Go Home & PTA Meeting/MOMS Event
October 27: 1st 9 Week Celebration of Learning & 3rd and Kinder Field Trips
November 1: 50th Day of School-Dress up in 50's attire
November 8: Chick-fil-a Spirit Night
November 10: Good Morning Miller, 3rd Grade Veteran's Day Performance & Fall Festival 5:30-7:30
November 20-24- No School:Thanksgiving Break
More Details about Upcoming Events...
Good Morning Miller
Students singing the Patriotic Song
Principal Round Up Students
Birthday Celebration
Moments around miller
Thank you to Little Elm Fire Department for teaching us about Fire Safety!
Miller Elementary Healthy Zone School in Training...
Messages from Miller Elementary PTA....
See below links for more information about Miller Spirit Nights!
Coy Miller Elementary School
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/ES/miller/site/home
Location: 300 Cypress Hill Drive, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: 469-633-2075
Twitter: @CoyMillerElem