Friday, February 27

What a great way to end the week! We had an ISTEP pep session this afternoon to remind students that we are ready for ISTEP & we are going to Own It!  See the video here.

ISTEP will be Tuesday through Friday of next week.  Please help students stay relaxed, get rested, eat healthy, and drink plenty of water.  Big thank you to all the donations that have come for our ISTEP snacks and surprises next week.  The money donations are also appreciated.  I will use it to complete the purchases Monday after school for anything we don't have enough of. At this point we could still use some donation for any of the following snacks and treats. 

Snacks
cheerios
pretzels
m&ms
chex cereal
bottled waters

 Treats
starburst
star mints (the circular red and white striped mints)
tootsie rolls
airheads

Tuesday, February 24

Today's ISTEP practice was INCREDIBLE! The students did a great job planning and I saw many booklets filled with writing! I truly believe they are going to OWN IT, when it comes time for ISTEP! Speaking of ISTEP, I would like to prepare some surprises and snacks for the students during ISTEP week. If you would like to donate any of the following items, or your time preparing the snacks, that would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and keep it a surprise! :)

Snacks
cheerios
pretzels
m&ms
chex cereal
bottled waters

 Treats
starburst
star mints (the circular red and white striped mints)
tootsie rolls
airheads

We also will need some snack sized ziploc bags.

All donations are greatly appreciated!!!

Monday, February 23

Today we began the ISTEP practice test. I love the way the students are taking the practice test seriously. It really is a last chance to make our best better. We will continue taking the practice test on Tuesday and a little on Wednesday. The rest of the week I will be meeting with individual students to review their work, praise their efforts, and give suggestions on how to improve. Next week we will begin the applied skills portion of the ISTEP, and we will OWN IT! Because the focus in class will be ISTEP practice and none of the materials are able to be sent home, homework for this week is to read. Students are normally to expected to read 30 minutes every night, but for the next two weeks they should increase to 45-60 minutes each evening. This will also help in meeting those Reading Counts goals. Remember all students should complete 5 chapter books at increasing Lexiles. They have through March 6th to meet their goal. One more reminder: The Bulldog Academy has started a "shout-outs" wall. Notes will be posted in our hallway to encourage success and positive thoughts. It can be about school, home, extra-curricular activities that your child shows hard work, perseverance, kindness, cooperation, etc. We want to flood our students with positive thoughts for success and we need your help. You can do it on any paper, just a short note in large enough writing for all to see. Put your child's name on it, write a short note, and sign it. If you'd like to email me your message, I'll make sure it is typed up and hung for all to see. Thanks for supporting your child!

Tuesday, January 17

Today we reviewed our Week 25 data. We are seeing big improvements, but we still have some work to do. In class we reviewed exactly how use the RACE method to answer the open ended questions 30, and 36. We also reviewed number 29, the Venn Diagram. For homework, students should complete a reflection page and make corrections to any missed problems. When they have finished correcting their assessment they should bring it back to me and I will regrade the three problems- 29, 30, 36.

This week is our official Practice Test for ISTEP. We will use this time to review expectations and discuss skills.  There is a big emphasis on writing, and we will use this as an instructional writing workshop to improve our skills. Students who have been successfully using the RACE method to answer extended response questions, and planning out their response to the writing prompts (Hamburger Method) will do well.  We will focus on these methods again this week.


To help pump up the students for ISTEP we would also like your help by sending Shout-Outs for the Kids! I'd like for parents to send in "shout-outs" for their child. Notes will be posted in our Bulldog Academy Hall of Fame to encourage success and positive thoughts. It can be about school, home, extra-curricular activities that your child shows hard work, perseverance, kindness, cooperation, etc. We want to flood our students with positive thoughts for success and we need your help. You can do it on any paper, just a short note in large enough writing for all to see. Put your child's name on it, write a short note, and sign it. If you'd like to email me your message, I'll make sure it is printed out and hung for all to see. I'm excited to celebrate our great kids!

Friday, February 13

I win the most spoiled teacher award!  Big thanks to all the families for the shower of gifts, kindness, and hugs.  I truly feel special!

Happy Valentine's Day and I hope everyone has a marvelous day tomorrow with the ones they love.

Don't forget, no school on Monday.  It's President's day.  I will see everyone on Tuesday though! Please catch up on some reading over the long weekend.  All student's should have passed their 3rd chapter book by now.  Check with your child to see how they are doing on their Reading Counts Goal.  Remember you can also count that reading time for your I Love to Read Challenge.

Thursday, February 12

Tonight students should study! The Unit 8 Math Assessment is tomorrow and the Week 25 Literacy assessment is tomorrow.  Tomorrow is also our Valentine's celebration.  I can't wait to see all the creative holders!

Wednesday, February 11

Don't let them trick you!  TEAM 33 has been learning all about Trickster Tales and they love it!

Tonight for homework they have brought home two tales that we have read in class.  Their job is to compare the two stories using a chart and a Venn Diagram.  The stories are so short and fun to read that you might want to check them out for yourself.

Also don't forget to keep tracking that reading and working on those ISTEP packets.  Congratulations to Jadyn for being the first student to complete and turn in Packet 1.

Monday, February 9

Today was one of my favorite days yet!  Students were very engaged and ready to learn, and I they are really starting to show what they know!  As we went over the Week 24 test, I could tell that students were really starting to catch on the the process of using the RACE method with extended response questions, and planning out a great story to go with the writing prompts.  They even did a wonderful job of using Venn - Diagrams!

As usual - if any student wants to improve their score, they have the opportunity to redo the open ended questions (number 20 and 21) and turn it back in tomorrow.  If they improve their answer, I will improve their grade.

Tonight's homework is to fill out the reflection page and do the assigned Math Worksheet.

Just a reminder to keep tracking your reading for the I LOVE TO READ CHALLENGE, and don't forget to work through the ISTEP Prep Packets.

One more thing...students brought home a list of names this evening for valentines and a challenge.  Students are being challenged to create their own Valentine's Holder.  There will be prizes for the most creative, best valentine's theme, and best use of recycled materials.  This should NOT be something you go out and spend money on.  Just a fun way for them to show their creativity.

Monday, February 2

Welcome to February - Can you believe it!! Time is flying by!

I was not able to be with the kids at school today, but I am really hoping the day went well.  Please talk to your child about the day.  I will be back on Wednesday.

Students are bringing home Feedback and Data Binders today with data from the Week 23 test.  (I am also grading their written story from Thursday night's homework but couldn't get them all finished in time to go home with the data binders.  Please look for them to come home on Wednesday.)  On the Week 23 test please pay close attention to the extended response questions.  We have worked very hard on this for the past two weeks, so I was a stickler on grading.  The answers were worth 5 points and should have followed the RACE method:

R - restate the question - 1 pt
A - answer the question - 1 pt
C - cite the evidence - 1 pt
E - explain the answer with evidence - 1pt
(using complete sentences - 1 pt)

If your child feels they could improve their answer, please have them re-answer the question on a separate piece of paper and bring it back to me.  I will add the points to their grade.