Compass Classroom News
April 24, 2015
Upcoming Events
4/27 Compass Leveled Field Trip to Powell Gardens
4/27-5/8 MAP 3rd & 4th grade Assessment Window
5/4-5/8 Teacher Appreciation Week
5/4 Incoming 5th grade orientation at Bridle Ridge
5/8 Family Barbecue
5/15 Kindergarten celebration
5/18 Field Day
5/19 Talent Show
5/20 4th grade celebration
5/21 Last Day of School-Yearbook Signing & Early Release
Skills We Are Working On
- InformationWriting (Students get to choose their topics!)
- Narrowing a topic
- National Symbols (First Grade)
- Famous Missourians (Fourth Grade)
- Economics (Second Grade)
- Food Chains (Third Grade)
- Spelling Tricks
- Math Fluency
- Shapes and 3D Figures
- Graphing
Next School Week's Specials Rotation
Monday - Leadership
Tuesday - MusicWednesday - PE
Thursday - Art
Friday - Leadership
Math Fact Fluency
Tests will go home either that night or the night after the test has been given. In May (date to be determined), we will be having an ice cream celebration. They currently each have a paper cone and each time they pass a test they are given a paper ice cream scoop. At the ice cream party they will have options of different toppings and they will be able to choose based on how many tests they have passed (don't worry, though - we will not be allowing students to eat ridiculous amounts of ice cream).
Our Website
Click the link below to check it out!
Homework
Color Days
Families, please take the time to speak to your child about their color day and percentage. We are working hard on making sure students understand that they must be at 85% for their day to count toward time in their classroom. We are also working on goal-setting for students who are consistently below 85%. It would be wonderful if you could take some time at home to discuss and practice making good choices at school.
We have been allowing students to count turn around points toward their color days. A turn around point is given when a student does not meet their goal but is able to turn it around during the same activity. For example one of our goals is to follow directions with no redirects. If the student needs one or more redirect they lose their point. However, if he/she turns it around and follows the direction then the student will receive a turn around point. While these points count toward preferred activities, they do not count toward students earning time in their grade level classroom. Therefore, when you look at the calendar and receive your daily update it will show the color day as well as the daily percentage.
Students must receive a daily percentage of 85% or higher for it to be considered toward their 20 day goal of moving on to the next shark step.
By allowing kids to have turn around points it helps them to feel like they didn't "blow it" and then behaviors escalate.
Road Trip and Safety Plan
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HWPVS7VUe8zsI1rSLGUuF4Ok4R5nLH-wypv6wGBZ7ik/edit?usp=sharing
Please contact us with any questions!
Library
Show and Tell
Students will bring the items to school, share them with their classmates in the Compass Classroom, and then invite a friend from their grade level classroom to share with them.
Communication
We are still sending home daily sheets that state your child's color and percentage of points for the day.
Our Goals for Students
1. We want them to be safe.
2. We want them to make friends.
3. We want them to learn.
It is important to us to have high, but realistic, expectations for students. We want them to get to be with their grade level class as much as possible - when they are ready. This timeline is different for each child in our class. Our school district's mission is "Preparing EACH student for a successful and meaningful life." This is something we are all striving and working for.
Connect With Us!
Follow us on Twitter: RPCompass
Email: stephanie.cain@raypec.org or marriah.willis@raypec.org
Call us: (816) 892-1613