On the Road Again...
4th Six Weeks
Bilingual Update
Things are moving along with the kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade Gomez & Gomez program. The teachers have recently finished trainings in Bridgeport over important components to the program, and getting clarification as needed to successfully implement the program. We will be receiving a visit from Dr. Garzon in February where she will look closer at the bilingual lessons. Previously she focused on the components of the program and we did very well in this area. She will be visiting with Dr. Gomez about our progress to see if we are ready to move to the two way dual program for kindergarten next year. The bilingual teachers have an evening planned this Tuesday to share with parents how things are going in the classrooms and share student products.
reading reading reading…..
Just a reminder of all the things we have going for reading to use with our students. The license was renewed for Tumblebooks, and we recently purchased Reading A-Z and Raz kids licenses for all grade levels, check with Kristi if your grade level was not aware of this. There is basically one license for 36 students, so teachers will be sharing within a grade level. Also don't forget we want to create a love and desire for reading within our kids. We just recently had the Bluebonnet Voting Party with about 62 kids voting on their favorite bluebonnet book. The next thing on the horizon is the new "Name That Book" game show for 3rd - 5th grade students. All students in these grades need to be reading, (not the teacher reading), the books on the BOB book list. There will be a test of the books on February 9th, culminating with the gameshow March 6th. This new format will be modeled after game show's like Family Feud and Jeopardy with buzzers and all. We will be inviting the whole grade levels in 3rd - 5th to come and watch the game show, to create a want to be a part of it next year feel…. Please let your kids know and talk this up with them. Remember we want to create a desire to read the books and if we have to dangle a carrot we will. I am asking that these books not be read to the whole class, the students need to read them on their own. There will also be a similar format game show for kinder - 2nd later in the spring using the BOB list of books. The purpose of these things is to get our kids reading books.
What…...More Training…..
WOW and we have had lots of it this year, however without it in math we might still be going in circles. Caren Sorrells has become a common fixture at Rann with so much to share. Remember to email her if you have math questions that you cannot find answers to, (caren_sorrells@hotmail.com). Her resources are in Formspace. She may not be here Jan. 27th or Feb. 4th there was a mix up in days. We are about to get underway with Missy Allen and Paula Dugger for reading. I am really excited with the training they will be bringing our way. I think one of the most important things for creating a strong program, be it reading or math, is to have consistency, and this is what we will be getting along with feedback to perfect our skills. Fourth grade has been working with writing and fine-tuning the new style of writing that is expected for the STAAR with help from Sonya Edwards, an ABYDOS trainer and writing teacher in Alvord. She has brought nuggets of knowledge to share with the team in order for them to perfect their students writing in 4th grade. You know as John Wooden says it's more about the time spent before the big game, than the game itself….(well a little paraphrased)….it's just icing on the cake!
Tomorrow
Let's fast forward our life five years ahead to January 25, 2020. Where are you in your life, what does the world look like in regards to finances, world peace, medicine, and security for the future? Those are daunting questions none of us have the answers for, try as we might. So let me try again, What are you doing, are you in the same job you have now, are you doing things differently in the classroom, are you teaching kids to live for today or their unknown future? Do you prepare them for something that may not even exist yet, or play it safe and prepare them for current reality only. Think back on your childhood in elementary, how different is today's life and opportunities from your life and opportunity as a 4th grade or 1st grade student? I can tell you, mine is immensely different. The world leaders that will help to answer the above questions in 2020 in regards to finances, security, health issues, etc. are operating on more than just basics. We have to teach creativity, leadership, problem solving, perseverance, and more. I challenge each of you to design lessons with products that require leadership thinking. Create products that possess the skills students need to be successful at their grade level. Lets help the world by creating world scholars, famous scientist, future Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Everyone starts in a classroom with classmates and a teacher. Think big in your learning, so you can impact bigger learning in our world tomorrow.