Classroom Connection
December
Important Dates
12/2- 1/2 Day PD (at school)
12/5-9- Common Assessments
12/6- Progress Reports, Letterland Support 3:30 (2nd)
12/7- Spirit, Hospitality, MTSS
12/8- 2nd grade field trip
12/13- Data Meetings
12/14- Go Green, Safety
12/15- BT meeting 3:30
12/16- 1st grade field trip
12/20- SIT, AR/Santa 6-7
12/22- 1/2 day Christmas sing-a-long
12/23-1/3- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
*If you have any important dates specific to your grade level that you would like me to include just send them to me.
COACHES CORNER
Why is math taught differently today?
The video below helps explain why math is taught differently today. It provides great information that you can share with your parents, or as a parent yourself may find useful.
Walkthroughs- What are we looking for?
Brain Breaks
HOW can BRAIN BREAKS HELP students regain focus and retain information?
Movement actually does “turn on” the brain. It may not be realistic for schools to add in more time for recess or extra PE. But students can easily be given “Brain Breaks” throughout the day. Brain Breaks are short, energizing bursts of activity that boost blood flow, send oxygen to the brain, and help kids better retain information. It can be as simple as taking five minutes to stand up, stretch, and run in place next to the desk.
Click here for 20 Brain Breaks you can implement tomorrow.iPad Apps for the Classroom
The link below provides apps for the K-2 classroom including social and emotional apps that can be used with our EC students.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/social-emotional-apps-special-ed-jayne-clare
In the link below you will find 15 free must-have iPad apps for students in elementary school.
https://elearningindustry.com/15-free-must-have-ipad-apps-for-elementary-students
The following resource highlights apps useful for developing higher order thinking skills in grades K-5 classrooms. Each list will highlight a few apps that connect to the various stages on Bloom's continuum of learning.
https://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow
Teacher Feature
*Beth Tippett works hard to create lessons and activities that help students develop 21st century skills. Her students use Canvas daily. They have created voicethreads and used Glogster to create virtual posters. In addition to teaching 5th grade ELA, she provides technology instruction for 3rd grade and AIG instruction in grades K-2. She is definitely a jack of all trades.
*Coach Barfield is bringing higher level thinking and global awareness to the gym. In a recent lesson students compared and contrasted American football to football in other countries in their writing journals. Coach understands the importance of teamwork as we strive to increase higher level thinking and improve student writing.