Brummitt's High Ability Blog Spot: Thrilling, Chilling, and Fabulous Circus Thursday!!

Wow!! This week the school looks like a circus.. Well that is because of the One School One Book Event Kick Off that happened on Monday. The students were all excited and amazed on Monday trying to figure out what was going on. All the staff was dressed in the T-Shirts and the students were really excited to try to figure it all out. I had a giant lion in my room and all the students were asking what it was for. I told them they would have to wait and see. Well on Monday afternoon they did see an excellent show put on by our staff here at Brummitt. We had mimes, clowns, lion tamers, a tight rope walker, music, and a grand master ringmaster. The students loved the performance and we so elated to listen to the first part of the book. There are so many awesome activities planned each day to keep the students on their toes and I wanted to make sure they read every word of The Show Must Go On!! The students will have class trivia and lots to do. Look at the end of the blog to see all the great shows from the show!

High Ability Summer School

Searching for educational enrichment this summer? Consider Duneland's High Ability Summer School! With the theme of "Do What the Romans Do," the 13-day program in June will focus on reading strategies and literature comprehension. It is open to current 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade HA students. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

Important Dates:

May

1-5 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

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

9 300 Miles to Brummitt Event (***Rain Date May 11th)

8-12 Last week to check out library material

10 Student Council “Choose your Seat Day”

11 Title 1 Family Game Night 4:30- 6:00 p.m.

12 Last day to charge in the cafeteria

15 All library material due

16 Last Day of High Ability Language Arts

17 Author Visit

18 PTO “Sock Hop” 6:00pm-7:30pm

18 Last Day of High Ability Math

19 No School

19 PTO Family Night- Zao Island 5pm- 8:00pm

29 NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

30 Brummitt Field Day (all grades)

31 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Autograph Signing Day from 10-10:45- Bring Your Yearbook!

End of Second Semester

Report Cards Available to View

June

5 First day of summer school (June5th - June 22nd) at Bailly Elementary

This week we continued learning about our Life Skills with Pride. I think this one fit for the week because the students showed so much school pride this week here at Brummitt. They are doing an excellent job showing that they are proud to be a part of one school one book. They are so happy and proud to participate in the event. They are all so fulfilled to be part of something bigger than just themselves. They will also show their pride next week when they complete the 300 miles to Brummitt event.

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 ….She’s been hitting the books. The students love this one because it makes them think she is fighting with the books. I think the picture helps. We can all remember hearing this one. I told them they may not be hitting them yet, but they will be once they are older and have more tests. A few can recall hitting the spelling words each week. No takers on the illustration or drawing, but I am hoping for something next week. Here is a hint to help you out: it involves worms. 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

Kindergarten:

This week we continued to learn all about connection with a new lesson. The first thing we did was review fact and opinion. I wanted to make sure we knew the difference and could describe both. He did an excellent job knowing which was which. Then we talked about emotions and worrying, before we read our next book called Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. This is a great book for children because it teaches them that sometimes it isn’t easy being little, but worry won’t make life easier, because things will work out even if we don’t worry. I love this book because it teaches my students that worrying is OK, but just don’t worry all the time. It also teaches them to think on a higher level. After we finished talking about the book we answered the four levels of questioning. It was so much fun to talk and write about each level of thinking to answer the question. This week gave us a chance to make connections between the character in the book Wimberly and ourselves. We could relate to how she feels when she is worried and how going to school can be overwhelming, but making friends can be one of the best parts of life. Next week we will finish up the story with learning how to complete a reading analyzer sheet and what to look for when we read to make connections.

First Grade:

This week we only got to meet one day because of NWEA testing and a presentation. On Tuesday we got to work on the Hieroglyphs tablets. We still had a few students that needed to finish them up, while they worked the other students took time to read books on ancient Egypt and find out more information on what life was like and what hieroglyphs were used for. After reading the students and I got on our website to complete the next section on Egypt. This sections went through a timeline and gave us information on the different dynasties and why Egypt fell from power. I am proud to say when we took the online quiz after we finished they did great. They got a perfect score. Next week we will continue our journey and finish up the sections on the website. We will also learn about their money and how they bartered. The students will also get to take home their tablets.

Second Grade:

This week we continued our discussion and comparison on Because of Winn-Dixie. The students played a fun game where they picked a statement and had to put it into one the of the categories which were book, movie or both. They had a great time figuring out which one each was in and helping each other. The students also got to write in their journals about how the book influenced them and what they liked and why. On Tuesday some students were out because of testing, but the others got to work on a new activity. This activity gave them a chance to think about connections and candy. It also gave them a chance to think about emotions and why they are so important in the book and in life. Each student got to create a candy, like in the book, and had to connect it to an emotion. Then they name it and write an advertisement for it. Next week they will get to make a display to hang their slogan up and show everyone what their candy would be. They will also get to talk about the connections between their ideas and the emotions.

Third Grade:

This week we continued our lesson all about Cinderella and all the different versions of the story. The students continued to work with their partners to read the different versions and complete Venn Diagrams for each. They are really excited to share their findings with the class and will be able to next week. I can’t wait to see what difference they found and how each story is unique. Will they compare to Charles Perrault version? Will there be lots of similarities? I know the students are very excited to share and compare what they found and how the story has changed throughout history.

Fourth Grade:

This week we continued our investigation of The Westing Game. The students really wanted to listen to the last few chapters together in class and I really wanted to see their reactions as the end unfolded. So both days we listened and discussed each page. The students were on the edge of their seats trying to figure things out. We took time to stop and talk and spin our thoughts and theories as the last meeting of the players happened. We discussed how Turtle took over and interrogated some of the players. They were so excited once they all figured out what was happening and how everything happened. I don’t want to give anything away in case you haven’t read The Westing Game. It is an excellent book for the students because it gave them a chance to be the detectives as we read. Next week we will watch the 1995 movie and make comparisons between the two. Believe me there are so many that they will be talking about it for weeks. They will complete Venn Diagrams and they will fill up a few of them I am sure of it.

Math

Kindergarten:

This week we continued our lesson on collecting data, graphing and even our math maven mysteries. On Wednesday we were back in our classroom and we got to see what data we had already collected and graphed. Then we went to work on creating another graph on data I gave them. They completed the graph about how many people live in your house. They used each bar to represent 10 people and they did an excellent job filling in the correct data I gave them. At the end of class I got them set up on sumdog.com and they each got to log in and play one game to start their 100 questions to find their level. On Thursday I sent home their information so they can play at home. This is a fun way for them to practice their math skills and have fun. Just a reminder that the first 250 question will move in range to see what level they are. So don’t panic if a few are really hard. The site throws them in there to find the right level for each student. On Thursday we had another cool joint class with first grade to solve some more Math Maven Mysteries. It’s great to see both classes work together to solve the math mysteries. They help each other to find the clues to help them do the math to figure it all out. This week’s mysteries were The Big Top Carnival Caper (in honor of our book) and The Mysterious Money Trail. They had so much fun this week and they did an excellent job figuring out how much it will cost P.T Tumbledum to buy the balloons. Next week we will finish up the graphing and try our hand at another math mystery.

First Grade:

This week we continued to work on our Math Maven Mysteries. The students really like being math detectives and figuring out each one. On Wednesday they completed The Case of the Pilfered Pizza. This one is great because they had to use logic to figure out who snuck off during the movie and ate the last two slices of pizza. They did an excellent job using their math skills to figure it out. Then they got to solve The Case of the Hatcher Hotel Heist. This one was pretty tricky, but they got it done. They worked as a team and figured out which room Tanya Trailblazer would be in next. Great job guys! On Thursday the students got to work again with the kindergarten team to solve a few more mysteries. The first one was The Big Top Carnival Caper (in honor of our book). They had so much fun this week and they did an excellent job figuring out how much it will cost P.T Tumbledum to buy the balloons. The other one was The Mysterious Money Trail. Next week we will continue to work as detectives to solve some more math mysteries.

Second Grade:

This week the students got to take their chapter check-up on area. They all took their time and made sure to do their best. On Thursday after everyone finished we started our next chapter on Capacity. I played a few videos to help us remember what is in a gallon. Next week the students will explore more with capacity and see where it takes us.

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 Diameter. In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as the longest chord of the circle. Both definitions are also valid for the diameter of a sphere. The students rocked this one out quick. They did an excellent job. They all answered the questions right on the first try, and we even had a few baskets too. The girls had a cool bank off the whiteboard shot.

Third Grade:

This week we continued to work math packets by Ed Zacarro. We finished up working on Balance it on Wednesday. We started the next one which brings us back to capacity called Oh No, I have to Change the Recipe!! This chapter covers what you can do when having to double a recipe of cut it up. The lesson covers different strategies to help you figure out how to solve the problems when having to change a recipe and what the new amounts would be. Next week we will start the next Chapter and make our video.

Fourth Grade:

This week we finished up the lesson called It is All in What You See! The students got to review on Wednesday for the chapter check-up and we also reviewed for the unit assessment. On Thursday the students completed the chapter check-up and some started the unit assessment.Next week they will finish up the unit assessment on everything they have learned this year and we will have time to start our videos.