It feels like it has been much too long since I have posted an update, so get ready for an onslaught of information!
First, we kicked off a few new things in Math these past couple of weeks. One, is our "MPAT". It stands for Math Profile Assessment Tool. This is a tool that I have been using in my classroom for a number of years, and it has proven to be incredibly effective at both helping kids create goals to focus their work time, and providing valuable information, so that I can better plan Math instruction according to the needs of the students.
Every two weeks, the students will be given this assessment, and will then graph their results. Both their graph and assessments are housed in their data binders. There is nothing the kids need to study.
Here is a brief synopsis from Tanya Braybrook's website on the graphing component:
If a student had the question correct, they color in the corresponding box. If they had the question wrong, they leave it blank, put an X or ? in it. If they had half a mark, they color in half the box.
When looking DOWN individual columns, you get an ACHIEVEMENT profile–how the student did on one particular test.
When looking ACROSS the rows, you get a DIAGNOSTIC profile–after a few tests, strengths and weaknesses will begin to emerge.
If a student consistently has the squares colored in across a particular row, you can infer that it is an area of strength. On the other hand, if a student consistently has blank squares (or X’s) across a row, you can infer that it is an area of weakness and may require remediation.
This past week we also kicked off Rocket Math. Many of you saw the first "test" come home. Kids can practice using this paper!
Here is some information on the Rocket Math program:
Rocket Math only takes a few minutes each day. Students will keep working until they have mastered all of the facts in each addition, subtraction, and multiplication. A fact is mastered when it can be answered instantly, without any pause. Rocket Math is unique because it teach only 2 facts and their reverses on each page. For example, 6x6, 3x6, 4x5, and 5x4. The program allows each child to go at his or her own pace, taking as many days to master those two facts as needed. Students are given an opportunity daily to show they have learned a set of facts by passing a test. Once students "pass" a set of facts, they colour in the letter for that set on their "Rocket Chart".
You can help your child progress and learn faster by practicing at home. Any day your child does not pass a set of facts, he'she will have that day's practice sheet to bring home as homework. It t will help a great deal if you will practice with your child for five minutes with that sheet.
What is recommended:
- Your child sits with the practice sheet in from of him/her. The problems for practice of in a circle around the outside of the page and should not have the answers written in. You will work on these outside facts.
- Your child reads each fact aloud and says the answer (from memory)
- If you hear the slightest hesitation or an error on one of the facts, give your child some extra practice on that fact by immediately giving your child the answer and asking him/her to repeat the problem and begins again.
- Your child then backs up three problems and begins again.
- If there is no hesitation or mistake when the problem is reached this time, be sure to praise them and let your child continue.
- GO once around the outside of the page. This should only take about five minutes.
- If you would like to do a second session of practice, wait at least 15 minutes.
When working on memorizing facts, short sessions with time in between, is much more helpful than one very long session.
Second, we also kicked off "Words their Way", to help students improve their phonics, spelling and vocabulary skills through daily word study.
This program will provide skill instruction
that will cover spelling patterns and focus on examining and manipulating
words, not memorizing them. Students
will be thinking more critically about words and work on transferring their
skills to reading and writing. Words
Their Way will focus on teaching students how to spell,
decode new words, and to improve word recognition speed in general. To accomplish this goal, I will teach the
students how to examine words to learn the regularities that exist in the
spelling system. I will also teach them
some irregularities of spelling (we call “oddball words”). The simple process of sorting words into
categories is the heart of our word study program. When students sort words, they are engaged in
the active process of searching, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. Word sorts help students organize what they
know about words and to form generalizations that they can then apply to new
words they encounter in their reading.
Our word study program will be differentiated in order
to best meet the students’ needs. Students have been assessed and placed into
appropriate, flexible groups that will focus on the skills that your child is ready to
learn.
Words Their Way sorts will be distributed every Wednesday. Each day, we will practice our sorts in the classroom in a variety of ways.
Each night your child should practice at least 5 words determining how they would sort them
Some of the following activities have proven to be helpful and fun for students to practice:
- Category Sort – Sort the words into the categories they have been sorting at school.
- Blind Sort – Parent will have sort mat and word cards. Call out a word and have your
child tell you or point to which column it belongs on the sort mat. Have your child
explain why it belongs in that column. Place the word upside down where they say the
word belongs. When you have finished all the words, have them turn cards over to
check to see if they are correct.
- Open Sort - Have your child sort the words by other similar attributes (number of
letters, nouns, verbs, patterns, familiar and unfamiliar words, etc.)
- Speed Sort - Mix up the cards and time your child as they sort the cards. Do this 2
times and see if they can beat their first time on the second attempt.
- SAW – Sort your words, alphabetize your words, and then, write your words on a piece
of paper or dry erase board.
- Word Hunt - Read aloud newspapers, magazines, or books. Have your child point to or
write down words that are examples of the word pattern(s) of the week.
- Operations – Add or subtract letters to create new words.
(Examples: corn corner, past paste, pitch itch)
- Rhyming Pairs - Name a word that rhymes with one or two of the word sort words.
Ask your child to think of other rhyming word pairs for the remainder of the words.
- Spelling Sort - On a blank sheet of paper, have your child write each word as you say
them. You can either have your child write the headings at the top of the blank page,
or for an added challenge, have them write the words without headings and see if they
can group them correctly. This is a great way to prepare for the test at the end of the
week!!
- Create your own - Come up with your own activity! You can share with the class the
new activity or game you came up with!
WOW! If that wasn't enough information....
Thank you for being patient. I know this may be lots to digest, but things are really rolling in the classroom now, and the kids are handling it all very well! SO much to learn this year!
As always, if you have any questions, please just pop-in or give me a shout!
