Thoughtful Thinking Teamwork Thursday!!!

This week was full of testing all around. We had lots going on here at Brummitt. The students were great though, making sure to work hard and be prepare each day for all that they had to get done. I started CogAT testing the second grade students and got almost all of them completed for the screener in all classes. I had a few out and will have to finish their’s next week.

Kindergarten CogAT Update:

We have now completed all the testing in kindergarten.  We are still going over all the data and collecting additional data for a few.  Once we are finished, you will receive a CogAT informational packet.  The cover letter helps explain the requirements and steps needed to qualify for high ability.  Each student will receive a cover letter with the results of their screener score attached.  Those who qualified to take the full CogAT test will have an additional paper with their results.  Permission slips are included for those who's scores qualified them for LA, math or both.  Students will begin HA services starting in the fourth nine weeks, but will meet only for about six weeks.  CogAT is just one pathway into HA.  The second pathway is through the end of the year NWEA scores.  Students who qualify through NWEA will be identified at the very end of the year, so they will begin high ability in first grade.

Second Grade CogAT

It is the same procedure as used with our kindergartners.  All students are tested, those with qualifying scores will take the full test in upcoming weeks.  The difference with second grade is, we do give all of our current high ability students the full test regardless of their screener score.  The current data for all second graders, will be used in making decisions about high ability placement in third grade.  In addition to CogAT results, we will use end of the year NWEA scores.  Think of them as pathways, they do not need to qualify through both . . . just one.

Important Dates:

March

Fridays - Student Council “Spirit Day”- wear spirit-wear or Brummitt colors (maroon & gold)

Now to March 3rd “Jar Wars”- Bring in your spare change!

2 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

3 to 9 Dr. Seuss Reading Contest forms due 10th

6 Dr. Seuss Week Begins

8-14 Happy Camper Book Fair

9 Festival of Learning

10 Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration- Cat in the Hat Day

12 Arts-A-Budding Ceremony at Valpo University 2pm

14 VIP Science Night 5:30 to 7:30pm

17 4th Grade Musical 9am & 1pm

24 Jump Rope for Heart Kick- Off

24 Student Council “Twins Day”

27-31 No School Spring Break

This week we continued learning about our Life Skills with teamwork. This week students needed to use their teamwork skills to make sure they did their best each day during all their testing and to make sure they were respectful to all the classes that were busy while walking through the school. Each class had to make sure to work hard to resist the temptation to talk and disrupt others while walking through the building during all the testing. I think they all did an excellent job making sure to be great team players and get the job done.

Idiom of the Week

An Idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. This week’s was ….It goes in one ear and out the other. I think all the students really can relate to this because I know they have heard it at least once in school. They all got a good laugh from the paper airplanes all around him with information on them. They all really can understand how this one happens all the time. Another week with no takers on drawing anything or designing anything. I think next week might be the one they will want to illustrate.  I got new prizes for the box to encourage them. Here is a hint to help you out: involves a leg. I posted the picture for the next one on Thursday so students can stop by and see it. I also have the picture posted on the side panel of the blog to view.

Language Arts

First Grade:

 This week we continued our adventures with Rebus Puzzle and got to read the  The Fantastic 5 & 10 Cent Store A Rebus Adventure. The students were so excited to read this book. I started out reading first, and then we all took turns reading the story and figuring out each rebus word as we went.

 The students loved the adventure and all the cool words they could create with the clues. They had so much fun with the silly, wacky story. On Tuesday the students were given a list of grocery store items and they had to figure out their own rebus words.

They all were brainstorming with me and each other to see what they could come up with. They all drew out a few of their ideas, and then shared them with the class and we all got a chance to guess what each word really meant.

We were all laughing and guessing trying to find the right words for each drawing. Next week we will finish up our fun with Rebus puzzles and find out what adventure awaits us next. Maybe we will get to take a trip down in the Nile river and through history.

Second Grade:

This week we didn’t get to meet because I was testing all the second grade classes. The teachers and I decided that the students needed to make sure to catch up on any class work they miss while all the students are taking the CogAT screener. Next week we will be back to normal and resume class. I know the students are ready to get back to our book and see what adventures await Opal and Winn-Dixie.

Third Grade:

 This week the students got to work with a partner to complete a Venn Diagram on two characters from two different fairy tales. They could also use a character from one of their own fairy tales.

On Tuesday they got to present them to the class and explain the similarities and differences between them. They all did an excellent job sharing and completing the activity. We also went through a project they will be working on to complete a few different activities either alone or with different partners.

They can use different fairy tales for each. I introduced them to a site they can use to find fairy tales to read for them called Epic. I know they are really excited to complete them and might start working at home to get ahead.

Fourth Grade:

This week we didn’t get to meet because of I-Step schedules and I was testing second grade for their CogAT. Next week we should be able to meet and start our novel The Westing Game.  I know the students are really excited to see what the book is all about. I will have them make predictions and we will keep track of all the characters and how they change throughout our story.

Math

First Grade:

This week we continued with measurement and got to complete a Think Deeply question about measuring with ants. Zani and Imi confused Ooboo when they used ants to measure a stick and both came up with different answers.

Ooboo needed our help to come up with a better way to measure. The students wrote him a letter explaining to him that the ants were different sizes and that he should use a ruler because it will give him an accurate measurement. They were really excited to write him. Then we had enough time to complete two Think Beyond cards this week.

The students figured out how to measure the ribbon at 36 inches long. Then they had the opportunity to measure the length of my classroom. They had so much fun working together and figuring out the best way to measure the room.

 Next week we will start a new lesson and continue our adventures with measurement and Zani & Imi.

Second Grade:

This week we didn’t get to meet because of CogAT screener testing, but we will get to meet next week, and move on to the area of tents to determine what size that the Detective Duo might need for their visitors.   

Third and Fourth Grade: Math Vocabulary Comic Relief

So far this year the students are really enjoying figuring out the question on the Math Vocabulary Comic Relief board. Each week when the students come in on Wednesday they will go to look at the board and grab their problem. They will have five minutes to read and solve it. Once they have their answer they can turn over their paper and raise their hand and I will check it. This week was Percent. Percent is the amount out of 100. This fooled many of the students this week because the problem asked if a baker baked 50 cookies and sold 31. What is the percent sold? I had a few students get it right off the bat and some others that it took a second try to get it. I am proud to say Sami once again got it right first just like last year. All the students tried to make their baskets and most of them hit it right off the first try. Drew even had an excellent trick shot to get his paper in the recycle basket.

Third Grade:

This week we continued our next chapter on volume and capacity. We had two different activities this week. We completed two Think Deeply questions and we completed an investigation on how much would fit in a large container using only a small one to fill it.

The first Think Deeply question asked which student had the most comparing two different amounts on their Yeti Hunt for Capacity sheet. We had to figure out which and more and then explain how we figured out the answer. This gave us a chance to break down Mike and Keith’s volumes into the same type of capacity measurement. We found that breaking it into gallons and cups was the best. Once we had that it was clear that Keith had more. The Next questions was very cool because it involve the Yeti and what he put his lemonade in and if a gallon container would work. We found that he would need a bigger container than just a gallon. Lena felt the safest bet would be a two gallon, but a one & a half would work too. Next week we will move on to our next lesson called Yummy Yeti Lemonade. I can’t wait to see what we will learn about the Yeti.

Fourth Grade:

This week the students worked got to meet with me both days, but the time was cut a little short because of testing and specials changes. They all got the chance to finish up their think deeply questions on Wednesday and some had them complete and got to play the Set card game while the others finished theirs.

 On Thursday I treated them with the I-Pads because of all the hard work they did this week with IStep testing. They were happy to have some fun and practice their math facts.  Next week we will finish up our lesson and move on to the new lesson all about grids.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Lutterman