I can't believe our year together has come to an end. We have done so many great things this year! We had a number of activities scheduled this month, but Mother Nature did not cooperate. Instead of a full day of field day, our special area teachers did a modified version on our rain date, and the kids had a chance to rotate through four of the games we had planned for outside (including the bouncy house!). We were also rained our for our last Stream Visit, but we were able to watch the movie, Big Miracle. This movie told the story of three whales that were stuck in the ice up in Alaska, and many different people worked together to help them. But some activities went on as scheduled! Our pizza party was a huge success! We ate lunch outside, had Popsicles and enjoyed our time together. We signed yearbooks, played a game of kick ball against Mrs. Coene's class, and wrote letters to our fifth grade teachers!
For the first time ever, Klem South had a moving up day. Students were able to go to their classroom for next year, meet the teacher, see who will be in their class, and ask questions about next year! It was so exciting to do this, and I hope it helped to ease some anxiety about next year!
As you all make plans for summer, be sure to include some reading and practicing of math facts! Go to the public library and stock up on books! It has been a great year, and a pleasure working with you and your child! Have a safe, happy and fun summer!
Enjoy!
Mrs. Burns :)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tests, Tests and More Tests
As you know, the last two weeks were filled with testing for NYS ELA and Math. We had three days for each, and about 70 minutes per day. It was interesting to hear what the kids were saying about the tests. Some said it was hard, some said it was easy, but overall, they were tricky!
Everyone worked hard this year, learning a new way to look at math, reading for meaning and looking for evidence from the text. There was not one thing we could have done differently this year. Do I think these tests showed what you child really knows and can do? I would have to say no. I am not allowed to discuss specifics of the test, however, I can talk about some things.
First of all, this is the first year of implementing the Common Core State Standards. Whenever you implement a new curriculum, program, etc. there is something called an "implementation dip". That means that when students are given a new assessment for the new program, the scores usually go down. That is not because the program or curriculum or student or teacher was bad, it is just something that happens when something new is implemented. Since we implemented both the ELA and Math, everyone is expecting to see all the scores drop. That is not just here at Klem South, or even just Webster. It is all of the schools across New York State.
Secondly, in July/August, you will receive a letter from the state telling you what your child scored on these tests. Please remember that the scores will be different from last year. If your child received a 4 or 3, they may get a 3 or 2 this year. That is not because your child is not successful in 4th grade. It is because it is new testing.
So, what can you do? Look at what your child is bringing home from school. Look at their report card grades, grades on projects and tests from school. Have your child read to you and discuss the books they are reading. These will show you more about how your child is learning that just one test in one moment in time. We take into consideration your child's daily work, their participation in class, their homework, and numerous tests throughout the year. And as always, if you are concerned, I would be more than happy to talk to you about the other testing we do!
The year is winding down, but we still have work to do....but we also have some other fun things planed as well! One of the things we wanted to do is for this week. Thursday afternoon, we wanted to have a celebration of all the hard work students did for the NYS testing with a sundae bar and movie afternoon! If you would be willing to help out by sending in some toppings/spoons/bowls/whipped cream, please drop me an email. This will be for this Thursday afternoon. Thanks in advance for helping out!
I hope everyone has a great week!
Everyone worked hard this year, learning a new way to look at math, reading for meaning and looking for evidence from the text. There was not one thing we could have done differently this year. Do I think these tests showed what you child really knows and can do? I would have to say no. I am not allowed to discuss specifics of the test, however, I can talk about some things.
First of all, this is the first year of implementing the Common Core State Standards. Whenever you implement a new curriculum, program, etc. there is something called an "implementation dip". That means that when students are given a new assessment for the new program, the scores usually go down. That is not because the program or curriculum or student or teacher was bad, it is just something that happens when something new is implemented. Since we implemented both the ELA and Math, everyone is expecting to see all the scores drop. That is not just here at Klem South, or even just Webster. It is all of the schools across New York State.
Secondly, in July/August, you will receive a letter from the state telling you what your child scored on these tests. Please remember that the scores will be different from last year. If your child received a 4 or 3, they may get a 3 or 2 this year. That is not because your child is not successful in 4th grade. It is because it is new testing.
So, what can you do? Look at what your child is bringing home from school. Look at their report card grades, grades on projects and tests from school. Have your child read to you and discuss the books they are reading. These will show you more about how your child is learning that just one test in one moment in time. We take into consideration your child's daily work, their participation in class, their homework, and numerous tests throughout the year. And as always, if you are concerned, I would be more than happy to talk to you about the other testing we do!
The year is winding down, but we still have work to do....but we also have some other fun things planed as well! One of the things we wanted to do is for this week. Thursday afternoon, we wanted to have a celebration of all the hard work students did for the NYS testing with a sundae bar and movie afternoon! If you would be willing to help out by sending in some toppings/spoons/bowls/whipped cream, please drop me an email. This will be for this Thursday afternoon. Thanks in advance for helping out!
I hope everyone has a great week!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mystery Class
Around the world, there are 10 Mystery Classes waiting to be discovered! Our class has taken up the challenge, and will use the changing sunrise and sunset times to discover the exact locations of the classes. This investigation demonstrates that, as spring sweeps across the Northern Hemisphere, daylength changes everywhere on Earth. Students see that these dramatic seasonal changes in sunlight affect the entire web of life.
Each Monday starting January 28th, we will calculate and graph the photoperiod (amount of daylight) from the sunrise/sunset data for Webster. Each Friday, we will use the data from the 10 mystery classes, to find their photoperiod. Beginning in March, we will receive interdisciplinary clues - the climate, history, geography, and more - about the classes.
This investigation will take place for 11 weeks. Once we receive all of the data, we will use the clues to try to determine the locations of the Mystery Classes. Then, we will report our findings to Journey North, and see if we are correct!
If you are interested in learning more about the Mystery Class investigation, go to Journey North to learn more! This investigation is a lot of fun, but we learn a lot!
We are only at the beginning of this investigation, and we already see that Webster's photoperiod (amount of daylight) increased from last week! We are looking forward to see more and learn about where these other classes are located!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Each Monday starting January 28th, we will calculate and graph the photoperiod (amount of daylight) from the sunrise/sunset data for Webster. Each Friday, we will use the data from the 10 mystery classes, to find their photoperiod. Beginning in March, we will receive interdisciplinary clues - the climate, history, geography, and more - about the classes.
This investigation will take place for 11 weeks. Once we receive all of the data, we will use the clues to try to determine the locations of the Mystery Classes. Then, we will report our findings to Journey North, and see if we are correct!
If you are interested in learning more about the Mystery Class investigation, go to Journey North to learn more! This investigation is a lot of fun, but we learn a lot!
We are only at the beginning of this investigation, and we already see that Webster's photoperiod (amount of daylight) increased from last week! We are looking forward to see more and learn about where these other classes are located!
Have a great week!!
Mrs. Burns :)
Monday, January 21, 2013
It's Been a While!
I am so sorry to be missing in action the past few weeks. Our class has been so busy!
In writing, we have been working on personal essays. Students chose a topic they felt strongly about, and wrote an essay supporting their thesis. Some of the big ideas that were written about were: family is the most important thing, kids should be able to choose a sport they want to play, students should be able to play video games for as long as they want, surprises are always good, and many others! Once they wrote an introduction, they wrote three supporting body paragraphs, and then a closing paragraphs. We will be taking what we learned from personal essays to start writing an informational piece, that we will organize into books!
Math has been lots of fun! We have been working our way through word problems that have multiple steps. We have learned that reading, and rereading the word problem is a good thing! We also learned how important it was to check our answers with the original question. We found that many times, we answered one part of the question, but there was still something else we needed to do. Checking our answer and asking ourselves, "Does that answer make sense with the question?" will help us to be sure we have correctly answered the problem.
We have also be adding and subtracting multiple digit numbers. You have probably seen the dot arrays the kids were using to "regroup". The dot arrays are just another way of explaining and showing how new groups need to be made when subtracting. The squares represent 100's, the lines represent 10's, and the circles represent 1's. Students are starting to "see" how to use these when subtracting.
In science, we are applying what we learned from our study of text features, to read and understand science texts. Students used a science text book to locate information about ecosystems. The students LOVED looking through the text at all of the neat photographs and information that was in it. While they were reading, they needed to read captions, diagrams, and charts to find information they needed. They also practiced using context clues to find meanings of vocabulary words. Finally, we are getting to wrap up our Package the Pringle Project! Yea! All information from our classes and the classes from Hong Kong are ready for us to calculate the final score of each team and each class. Students will be using calculators to find the score, then analyze their data to determine the winner!
As you can see, we have been busy, but this post hasn't even covered all we have been doing! I promise you will not have to wait as long for the next post!
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Mrs. Burns
In writing, we have been working on personal essays. Students chose a topic they felt strongly about, and wrote an essay supporting their thesis. Some of the big ideas that were written about were: family is the most important thing, kids should be able to choose a sport they want to play, students should be able to play video games for as long as they want, surprises are always good, and many others! Once they wrote an introduction, they wrote three supporting body paragraphs, and then a closing paragraphs. We will be taking what we learned from personal essays to start writing an informational piece, that we will organize into books!
Math has been lots of fun! We have been working our way through word problems that have multiple steps. We have learned that reading, and rereading the word problem is a good thing! We also learned how important it was to check our answers with the original question. We found that many times, we answered one part of the question, but there was still something else we needed to do. Checking our answer and asking ourselves, "Does that answer make sense with the question?" will help us to be sure we have correctly answered the problem.
We have also be adding and subtracting multiple digit numbers. You have probably seen the dot arrays the kids were using to "regroup". The dot arrays are just another way of explaining and showing how new groups need to be made when subtracting. The squares represent 100's, the lines represent 10's, and the circles represent 1's. Students are starting to "see" how to use these when subtracting.
In science, we are applying what we learned from our study of text features, to read and understand science texts. Students used a science text book to locate information about ecosystems. The students LOVED looking through the text at all of the neat photographs and information that was in it. While they were reading, they needed to read captions, diagrams, and charts to find information they needed. They also practiced using context clues to find meanings of vocabulary words. Finally, we are getting to wrap up our Package the Pringle Project! Yea! All information from our classes and the classes from Hong Kong are ready for us to calculate the final score of each team and each class. Students will be using calculators to find the score, then analyze their data to determine the winner!
As you can see, we have been busy, but this post hasn't even covered all we have been doing! I promise you will not have to wait as long for the next post!
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Mrs. Burns
Sunday, November 25, 2012
I am Thankful
The turkey has been eaten, the pies are all gone, and out come the Christmas trees and decorations. It seems like yesterday it was fall, now the snow is starting to fall! On the eve of the last day of Thanksgiving Recess, I pull out my lesson plans, and start to fill in the blanks I have left to fill. Last week was crazy! Getting ready for Thanksgiving, finishing the essays, meeting with parents for conferences. It seemed like one thing after another, but it was a really good week. It was so great talking with parents about their children. I had such a good time talking with the kids about their essays, and listening to them read! It was busy, but fun!
But I can't help but to wonder....how did the "I am Thankful" essays go over? Did anyone read them to their families during their meal, or did they chicken out? I am looking forward to tomorrow just so I can hear all about them!
Also, don't forget! This Wednesday we are going on our field trip to Helmer's Nature Center! We had so much fun last year, and I am sure the kids are going to have a great experience this year as well. We will be back in time for lunch in the cafeteria, so they can buy if they want to. Part of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child dress for the weather! Let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great week!
Mrs. Burns :)
But I can't help but to wonder....how did the "I am Thankful" essays go over? Did anyone read them to their families during their meal, or did they chicken out? I am looking forward to tomorrow just so I can hear all about them!
Also, don't forget! This Wednesday we are going on our field trip to Helmer's Nature Center! We had so much fun last year, and I am sure the kids are going to have a great experience this year as well. We will be back in time for lunch in the cafeteria, so they can buy if they want to. Part of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child dress for the weather! Let me know if you have any questions!
Have a great week!
Mrs. Burns :)
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Native American Projects
Hello everyone!
Sorry, I am a little late on posting...we have had some busy weeks! As you know, report cards are going home this Friday! Everyone is scheduled for a conference time and I sent home reminders of your day and time this week. If the reminder didn't make it and you need another reminder, or you are no longer able to attend, please let me know asap. We can arrange another time!
Last week, we introduced our Native American projects. Students picked out a project they would like to do. We have had a lot of conversations about these projects! They will be due December 17th, which seems like a long time from now, but it will sneak up on us quickly! I wanted to address some "frequently asked questions" from both the students and parents:
1. What should be included in the project?
Each student's project should contain the following:
* a visual presentation of the assigned topic
* a written (or typed) explanation of the information illustrated by the project
* a list of references (books, websites, etc.) used for the assignment
2. Where can we get examples of past year's projects?
Mrs. Coene has a wonderful page of examples and informational resources that can be used. Visit her classroom webpage HERE.
3. When are the projects due?
All projects are due in school, December 17th. Large projects should not be brought on the bus. Projects can always be brought in before the 17th.
4. How much help should I give my child?
Your child is expected to do most of the work on this project, however, they are going to need some help! This is a great opportunity to work on a project together, but we don't want the parents to do all of the work...you all already went to 4th grade!
5. Do I have to go out and buy a bunch of materials for this project?
We do not want families to go out and buy lots of things and spend a ton of money. Feel free to use materials you have at home. Recycling is a great idea! The native americans used what resources they had to survive. If you choose to go buy things, that is fine, but it is not required. If you are having trouble getting some materials, please let me know and we can work something out.
6. What if we have a question about the project?
Anytime you have a question, please do not hesitate to send me a note, email, or call!
I know there may be more questions, so please do not hesitate to ask! After a few weeks, I will send home a "status check" for your child to complete, to see how much they have done, and what else they need to do. This way, we are keeping tabs on it so they do not wait until December 16th to work on it! Once we get the projects in, we will have a Native American Museum, where students can see what everyone has done and give feedback about the projects. We will keep the projects on display throughout the school, so everyone can see what we have been working on.
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you to talk about your child, and the progress they have made! Have a great week, and a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Burns
Sorry, I am a little late on posting...we have had some busy weeks! As you know, report cards are going home this Friday! Everyone is scheduled for a conference time and I sent home reminders of your day and time this week. If the reminder didn't make it and you need another reminder, or you are no longer able to attend, please let me know asap. We can arrange another time!
Last week, we introduced our Native American projects. Students picked out a project they would like to do. We have had a lot of conversations about these projects! They will be due December 17th, which seems like a long time from now, but it will sneak up on us quickly! I wanted to address some "frequently asked questions" from both the students and parents:
1. What should be included in the project?
Each student's project should contain the following:
* a visual presentation of the assigned topic
* a written (or typed) explanation of the information illustrated by the project
* a list of references (books, websites, etc.) used for the assignment
2. Where can we get examples of past year's projects?
Mrs. Coene has a wonderful page of examples and informational resources that can be used. Visit her classroom webpage HERE.
3. When are the projects due?
All projects are due in school, December 17th. Large projects should not be brought on the bus. Projects can always be brought in before the 17th.
4. How much help should I give my child?
Your child is expected to do most of the work on this project, however, they are going to need some help! This is a great opportunity to work on a project together, but we don't want the parents to do all of the work...you all already went to 4th grade!
5. Do I have to go out and buy a bunch of materials for this project?
We do not want families to go out and buy lots of things and spend a ton of money. Feel free to use materials you have at home. Recycling is a great idea! The native americans used what resources they had to survive. If you choose to go buy things, that is fine, but it is not required. If you are having trouble getting some materials, please let me know and we can work something out.
6. What if we have a question about the project?
Anytime you have a question, please do not hesitate to send me a note, email, or call!
I know there may be more questions, so please do not hesitate to ask! After a few weeks, I will send home a "status check" for your child to complete, to see how much they have done, and what else they need to do. This way, we are keeping tabs on it so they do not wait until December 16th to work on it! Once we get the projects in, we will have a Native American Museum, where students can see what everyone has done and give feedback about the projects. We will keep the projects on display throughout the school, so everyone can see what we have been working on.
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you to talk about your child, and the progress they have made! Have a great week, and a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Mrs. Burns
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Pringles, Pumpkins and Parties...oh my!
This past week has been filled with lots of activities! First, our Xerox Science Consultant came on Wednesday to do some pumpkin measurement. We reviewed finding the circumference and height of their pumpkin using rulers and tape measure. We also reviewed the terms diameter, radius, mass, weight, and volume. While the kids were finding the circumference and height, small groups went up to find the mass of their pumpkins in grams. Once everyone made their measurements, our friend Maizy took her pumpkin up to the table to find the volume of her pumpkin. Since pumpkins don't have a set length, width and height, we had to find the volume another way. Mr. Asarese brought a HUGE beaker with him. It will filled with a certain amount of water. He showed everyone how to find the correct amount of water in the beaker by getting eye level with the water, then read how much was in it. Then we placed Maizy's pumpkin in the water until it was covered completely. Mr. Asarese had to hold it down under the surface of the water, because pumpkins float! Then Maize read the new measurement of the water. When the first amount was subtracted from the higher amount, we would find the volume of the pumpkin! We were not able to do that with everyone's pumpkins since we ran out of time, but we had a great lesson reviewing measurement, and everyone got to keep their pumpkin!
About a week and a half ago, Mrs. Coene and I brought 12 packages to the post office in Webster. Boy were the workers glad to see us! We sent all of our packages to Hong Kong. I keep checking with Mrs. Smith to see if she has received them, but no word yet! My fingers and toes are crossed that they will make it ok. The workers looked at Mrs. Coene and I a little funny when we told them that they each contained one Pringle potato chip!! This week, we will be opening the packages from Hong Kong to see how their Pringles made out! We will post data as soon as we finish.
Friday, Klem South had it's annual Halloween Costume Parade! There were safari guys, witches, gangsters, boxers, angels, dolls, and werewolves just in our classroom alone! We were even visited by Finn from Adventure Time, Carmen Santiago, and Harry Potter. We all had a fun day and had wonderful treats. One of the favorite activities was Digging For Worms. For this activity, we put a gummy worm on a paper plate and covered it with some whipped cream. Then the plates were placed on a table, with a student at each one. The goal was for each student to find the gummy worm and eat it....all with their hands behind their backs! It was loud, fun, and everyone was laughing! I will be posting pictures of the worm activity on the class web page very soon!
This week, there seems to be more excitement. Sandy is on her way, and who knows what that will bring! Not to mention, Halloween is this actually this Wednesday. Wednesday we will be keeping things low key, since we already had our party last week. Until next blog update, have a great week, and stay safe!!
Mrs. Burns :)
About a week and a half ago, Mrs. Coene and I brought 12 packages to the post office in Webster. Boy were the workers glad to see us! We sent all of our packages to Hong Kong. I keep checking with Mrs. Smith to see if she has received them, but no word yet! My fingers and toes are crossed that they will make it ok. The workers looked at Mrs. Coene and I a little funny when we told them that they each contained one Pringle potato chip!! This week, we will be opening the packages from Hong Kong to see how their Pringles made out! We will post data as soon as we finish.
Friday, Klem South had it's annual Halloween Costume Parade! There were safari guys, witches, gangsters, boxers, angels, dolls, and werewolves just in our classroom alone! We were even visited by Finn from Adventure Time, Carmen Santiago, and Harry Potter. We all had a fun day and had wonderful treats. One of the favorite activities was Digging For Worms. For this activity, we put a gummy worm on a paper plate and covered it with some whipped cream. Then the plates were placed on a table, with a student at each one. The goal was for each student to find the gummy worm and eat it....all with their hands behind their backs! It was loud, fun, and everyone was laughing! I will be posting pictures of the worm activity on the class web page very soon!
This week, there seems to be more excitement. Sandy is on her way, and who knows what that will bring! Not to mention, Halloween is this actually this Wednesday. Wednesday we will be keeping things low key, since we already had our party last week. Until next blog update, have a great week, and stay safe!!
Mrs. Burns :)
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