This weeks high level vocabulary words are: blissful, delighted, elated, exhilarated. Vocabulary LINCs is due on Friday.
I purchased a new pack of Expo Neon dry erase markers on Sunday and opened the pack today and placed them on my white board. Four of the markers are already missing from the white board. I'm so disappointed that students in my class would take the markers and not return them. Students are not allowed to take materials from the board without permission. The students were asked if they had the markers to please return them, not one student spoke up to say they have the markers. It is my hope that the markers return tomorrow. It makes me sad to know that someone in our class is not being honest. If you notice that your child has one of the new markers please have them return it to the board. Thanks!
Be sure to check Progressbook many students are already missing assignments.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
We "Rocked" on our Friday writing prompt...again!!
I couldn't be prouder of my students than I am today. The kids had an independent writing prompt, it was a challenging one, and they did fantastic! Some of the prompts made me laugh out loud, which shows that their writer's voice is really amazing! Ask your child what they wrote about. I will not send the prompts home just yet becuase we are using them all next week during editing conferences. Thank you for your support at home. Their vocabulary is amazing!
-Mrs. Downey
-Mrs. Downey
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Technology is Alive in our Classroom!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOlpcJhNyDI&NR=1
Dear Parents,
Today we really took advantage of technology at Cornerstone. In reading we are reading a selection about the famous Duke Ellington. We watched an online video of Duke and his band. Ask your child about Duke's music. You may want to watch the video at home with your child. We also introduced a new reading station using digital storytelling and a site where students can type their own story and actually listen to it read aloud online. During writing the students used the iphone as a microphone to read their expository essays out loud. Try out the following sites: storybird.com, naturalreaders.com, carnegieligrary.org/kids/storymaker/storymaker.swf
Dear Parents,
Today we really took advantage of technology at Cornerstone. In reading we are reading a selection about the famous Duke Ellington. We watched an online video of Duke and his band. Ask your child about Duke's music. You may want to watch the video at home with your child. We also introduced a new reading station using digital storytelling and a site where students can type their own story and actually listen to it read aloud online. During writing the students used the iphone as a microphone to read their expository essays out loud. Try out the following sites: storybird.com, naturalreaders.com, carnegieligrary.org/kids/storymaker/storymaker.swf
Somerset Writes Practice FCAT Test- February 9, 2011
Parents,
On February 9, 2011 your child will participate in the Somerset Writes Practice FCAT Test. This writing assessment will be similar to the FCAT Writes assessment that we will take in March. Please see the rubric below which outlines the score details.
Rubric Criterion to Obtain a Writing Score of 6
□ Stays focus on the topic
□ Organizational pattern provides a logical progression of ideas – a sense of wholeness – beginning, middle and end
□ Use of transitional words
□ Ample development of supporting ideas/details
□ Precise word choice
□ Various sentence structure is used
□ Sentences are complete – no fragments
□ Subject/verb alignment
□ Verb/noun forms are correct
□ Capitalization – punctuation – spelling
□ Restate the prompt
□ Paragraph indent
Monday, January 24, 2011
Today's Independent Writing Prompt
Parents,
Students were put to the test today and given 50 minutes to respond to the following prompt. Ask your child what they wrote about. I will score the prompts today. Tomorrow students will have writing conferences with a peer buddy and on Wednesday they will have individual writing conferences with me.
Many of the prompts are fantastic but some students were nervous and had a bit of "writer's block." Please discuss with your child the importance of always doing their very best and showing what they know.
Expository Prompt: Families spend a lot of time together and create many lasting memories. Think about the best time you and your family spent together! Where did this happen? What did you do together that made it special? Write to explain why this was the best time you and your family spent together.
Students were put to the test today and given 50 minutes to respond to the following prompt. Ask your child what they wrote about. I will score the prompts today. Tomorrow students will have writing conferences with a peer buddy and on Wednesday they will have individual writing conferences with me.
Many of the prompts are fantastic but some students were nervous and had a bit of "writer's block." Please discuss with your child the importance of always doing their very best and showing what they know.
Expository Prompt: Families spend a lot of time together and create many lasting memories. Think about the best time you and your family spent together! Where did this happen? What did you do together that made it special? Write to explain why this was the best time you and your family spent together.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Strategies that Work
All students in my classes need post-it notes daily. We take interactive notes during reading block. I often use strategies from a book called Strategies that Work. If your child is out of post-it notes please try to pick some up. Thanks!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Easycbm.com (extra reading and math support)
Parents,
I have added access to additional tests on the easycbm.com website that we use in our classroom. I have allowed access to many reading and math online tests. Most of the new tests are at the 3rd grade level, but that is okay. I would like the students to practice using a few new reading strategies that I taught this week. At school I usually print the test first so the kids can write on the test, then I allow them to enter their answers into the website. They should know if their anwers are right or wrong when they are finished testing. You may want to review the tests with your children when they are finished. I will be able to see your child's results but this will not count towards their grades, it is just meant to be extra practice and enrichment. The kids seem to like taking the tests on the computer and I love the data that the site provides. Your child should know the password for the website, they need to be sure type my name correctly (Mrs. Downey) and then find their homeroom class and their own name. Let me know if you have questions.
I have added access to additional tests on the easycbm.com website that we use in our classroom. I have allowed access to many reading and math online tests. Most of the new tests are at the 3rd grade level, but that is okay. I would like the students to practice using a few new reading strategies that I taught this week. At school I usually print the test first so the kids can write on the test, then I allow them to enter their answers into the website. They should know if their anwers are right or wrong when they are finished testing. You may want to review the tests with your children when they are finished. I will be able to see your child's results but this will not count towards their grades, it is just meant to be extra practice and enrichment. The kids seem to like taking the tests on the computer and I love the data that the site provides. Your child should know the password for the website, they need to be sure type my name correctly (Mrs. Downey) and then find their homeroom class and their own name. Let me know if you have questions.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Writing Enrichment-Home Learning
Parents,
We are very close to FCAT Writes! time (March 1-3) and to better prepare our learners I would like your support at home. On the right side of this web site is a link to FCAT practice writing prompts. Most of the prompts listed were actual prompts used in the past. I would like for you to start working with your child on one prompt at a time until the FCAT Writes! test is given. Please do not assign your child an entire prompt to do in one night-they will get "burned out!" Here's what to do:
Day 1: Pick one narrative or one expository prompt and have your child plan for the writing-please use a Tree Map for an expository and a Flow Map for a narrative.
Day 2: Write just the introduction to the chosen prompt, they must have a "grabber."
Day 3: Write the second paragraph, they must have a transition word in each paragraph.
Day 4: Write the third paragraph
Day 5: Write the fourth paragraph
Day 6: Write the fifth paragraph
Day 7: Edit and revise. Please highlight the positives (the kids know what I want them to highlight)
Day 8: Turn in the final copy to Mrs. Downey for approval-it may be typed or emailed.
***EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN FOR COMPLETED PROMPTS***
Please encourage the use of the Writing Binder, it has all the great tips in it! This should take just 10 minutes each night. This is an enrichment assignment and not mandatory, however I highly suggest doing this assignment at home to better prepare for FCAT Writes! We are so close and we CAN do this. Imagine if we were the first school to get all 6's. Let's aim high DUCKS!
We are very close to FCAT Writes! time (March 1-3) and to better prepare our learners I would like your support at home. On the right side of this web site is a link to FCAT practice writing prompts. Most of the prompts listed were actual prompts used in the past. I would like for you to start working with your child on one prompt at a time until the FCAT Writes! test is given. Please do not assign your child an entire prompt to do in one night-they will get "burned out!" Here's what to do:
Day 1: Pick one narrative or one expository prompt and have your child plan for the writing-please use a Tree Map for an expository and a Flow Map for a narrative.
Day 2: Write just the introduction to the chosen prompt, they must have a "grabber."
Day 3: Write the second paragraph, they must have a transition word in each paragraph.
Day 4: Write the third paragraph
Day 5: Write the fourth paragraph
Day 6: Write the fifth paragraph
Day 7: Edit and revise. Please highlight the positives (the kids know what I want them to highlight)
Day 8: Turn in the final copy to Mrs. Downey for approval-it may be typed or emailed.
***EXTRA CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN FOR COMPLETED PROMPTS***
Please encourage the use of the Writing Binder, it has all the great tips in it! This should take just 10 minutes each night. This is an enrichment assignment and not mandatory, however I highly suggest doing this assignment at home to better prepare for FCAT Writes! We are so close and we CAN do this. Imagine if we were the first school to get all 6's. Let's aim high DUCKS!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Happy Friday!
We had a Fantastic Friday! Today was a phenomenal day in our classroom. In reading we learned four new words that we can now use in our writing prompts. We learned the words: humdrum, captivating, repulsive, and succulent. Can you imagine if we would use these new words in our writing?
In writing we learned a strategy called the "I Do-We Do-You Do" strategy. To start with I wrote and planned the first paragraph of an expository prompt, then we responded to a different prompt as a whole class, finally the students responded to a prompt on their own. The writing was amazing. I am so proud of the students, I hope you are too!
Enjoy your long weekend, I know I will!
Mrs. Downey
In writing we learned a strategy called the "I Do-We Do-You Do" strategy. To start with I wrote and planned the first paragraph of an expository prompt, then we responded to a different prompt as a whole class, finally the students responded to a prompt on their own. The writing was amazing. I am so proud of the students, I hope you are too!
Enjoy your long weekend, I know I will!
Mrs. Downey
Thursday, January 13, 2011
We enhanced our vocabulary further today!
Ask your child the meaning of the following words:
Mesmerized
Ecstatic
Melancholy
Lackluster
Mesmerized
Ecstatic
Melancholy
Lackluster
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Wow!!!
I've never said this before....but, I wish that Monday was the FCAT Writes! test. Our class writing prompts this week were out if this world! I just want to share with you a few of the high level vocabulary words the students used correctly: admire, stupendous, loyal, extraordinary, idolize, superb,phenomenal, cherished, marvelous, wonderful,hallucinating, aspect, adore.
Let's keep it up and go for a 6! We CAN do it!!!!
Let's keep it up and go for a 6! We CAN do it!!!!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Did you know???
Did you know that YELLOW is the color the brain remembers best? Try using a yellow highlighter or yellow post-it notes with your children.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Our first day of partner teaching was a success!
Today we learned the Vocabulary LINCing Routine. Ask your child the meaning of the words: charitable, mortified, tirade, and perpetual. These are pretty advanced words and the kids did an awesome job learning the routine. Starting tomorrow the students will construct their own LINCS Table using our six new vocabulary words.
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