Kiker's Strength-Based Learning Cohort

Self-awareness, self-efficacy, and accurate self-perception...these were the topics presented in morning assembly with Dr. Schneider that we have been learning and reflecting on in Town Meeting and Project time. The discussions added optimism, pessimism and realistic viewpoints -- and how to create balance in ourselves to be in a healthy place. We are writing up a storm in all three grade levels: expository, narrative, and poetry! Our days have been filled with reading model text and then getting started on pieces of our own. Fourth Graders have been encouraged to enter the Vision and Voice Contest (see previous blog post), and Third and Second should too! Second has been focusing on understanding nonfiction -- looking at those important text features -- to help up better understand what we are reading. It was exciting to actually learn to draw a map to scale in class! Fourth graders are learning about geometry! This week we identified lines, rays, parallel lines, and perpendicul...

Calling all SBLC poets! Here is the link/information to get to the AISD/ACC Vision and Voice Contest! We've had winners before from our classes, and I think this is a great opportunity for you to share your amazing craft with others! Vision and Voice

This week we demonstrated our flexibility when we altered our schedule for the 3rd and 4th Graders to take their math and reading benchmark tests. Thank you, Second Grade, for cheering us on and for staying in "quiet mode" during your work for those two days! In reading, we are reviewing the benchmarks to cover some test taking strategies. There are distinct skills to learn about how to read questions, interpret, and select answer choices. We have spent the year so far focusing on reading great literature, and now it's time to show how that looks in test format with short text. In writing, we continue to focus on the balance of narrative, expository and content writing paired with accurate conventions and mechanics. Next week, spelling and our "norm routines" will return as we have full weeks again. This week fourth graders went over the questions that were on the benchmark test.  Third graders used fractions strips to compare fractions. Second graders s...

Hello, historians! Click the link below to read the article about Misty Copeland. As you read, think about what facts you think would be important to include in a biography about her. Be ready to discuss with your table! http://www.timeforkids.com/news/star-ballerina/340681 Use the resources below to research about important people in history. Remember to record the sources you use in your notebook. Biographies of Famous African Americans http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmbios1.html Famous African Americans http://mrnussbaum.com/african-americans-2/ Black History Biographies http://gardenofpraise.com/blackhistory.htm Texas State Historical Association https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fad19

This week flew by! Before we knew it, we were enjoying breakfast tacos and mailing our Valentines to one another! THANK YOU to all who helped order, donate, and distribute the treats! The kids really enjoyed it! Second Grade readers worked with a thought-provoking book, Mr. Lincoln's Way . We honed our Mountain Language, contextual Homonym skills, and also made Memory Maps of a special place as a prewriting strategy for personal narrative. Third Graders have been examining nonfiction and short text. We have been emphasizing margin notes as an essential strategy to understanding text! We also read Ruth and the Green Book, a narrative about a girl's journey from the north to the south during segregation. Fourth Grade had their MOY II Benchmark this week, and we've been using the rubric to look at where we are currently and what we need to continue to work on in expository writing. This week fourth graders learned about units of time and elapsed tim...

It's a new month, and we are charging right into 2016! In project, we have continued keyboarding, and have added some specific lessons examining what behaviors are considered bullying. We understand that our students are learning -- not just academics, but how to maneuver through a complex and diverse social world as well. It's been made clear: we three are here to support them and to assist in helping them work through any issues that may be happening with them. They understand we are here, but we can't help if we are unaware of what's going on. Please discuss two things with your child: 1) to be honest with adults -- sometimes we find that pieces are "left out" because they are either scared they or others will be in trouble and/or there will be retaliation, OR there is some embellishment/perspective taking issues where they are adding to/detracting from the story. 2) empathy -- putting yourself in another person's "shoes." Again, we kn...

Become a keyboarding ninja with some mad typing skills! 1. Click the link below 2. Find "Typing Club" 3. Click "Add to Chrome" 4. Begin typing! https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/typing?_feature=free Photo source: trendygifs.net

Use the links below to learn more about Frederick Douglass and his influence on our country's history. Record important events and their dates in your social studies notebook. Bio http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_rights/frederick_douglass.php Five Facts http://heavy.com/news/2016/02/frederick-douglass-google-doodle-celebrate-quotes-academy-iii-wife-anna-murray/ Home and additional facts http://www.nps.gov/frdo/learn/historyculture/people.htm To create your timeline : Go to the link below and follow these directions! https://edu.hstry.co/school_classes 1. Choose "Sign in with Google" 2. Choose "I'm a student" 3. If you're in 4th grade: Enter Class Code:  16585     If you're in 3rd grade: Enter Class Code:  16866     If you're in 2nd grade: Enter Class Code:  16867 4, *** DELETE Last Name except for initial (ex: Jennifer B) 5. Click "Complete Sign In"