Kiker's Strength-Based Learning Cohort

It's been a great week catching up on all of the spring break adventures! In language arts, all three grades have been exploring the blend of nonfiction with fiction. Using a subject, theme, or event in the novel we are reading, we have examined nonfiction text to extend our understanding and keep our nonfiction reading muscles working. We have active Spelling Centers again, and have added self chosen small group Writing Centers as well. We developed rubrics to help us know what is expected in our work, It's helped keep us on track and shooting for specific improvements. In Fourth Grade writing, we've been incorporating some Verso responses into our unique FANBOYS sentences (compound sentences), Ask your 4th grader to show you what we've done! Second and Third are honing in on grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary this week. In math 4th graders have enjoyed using protractors to measure and draw angles. We also started a new computer program called Think Through Math. F...

Use the links below to learn more about the science of weather.  Please leave a comment sharing something you learned. Be sure to double-check your comment before you publish!  :) 2nd grade Part I: Weather Maker http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/sim/game.htm Part II: Be a Scientist! http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/BeAScientist/default.htm 3rd grade Part I: Texas Weather http://www.wunderground.com/US/TX/ Part II: Texas Annual Rainfall http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/annualrainfall.htm

Change...is what makes us flexible! We have adopted a new schedule that we are trying until the end of the year. Our project time has shifted to the afternoon to provide a larger chunk of time. Our focus in project until April 1st will be grade level based. We are honing some specific grade level skills, and providing teachers with some time to get deep with topics pertinent to that grade level. In reading, Second Grade began a Bluebonnet Nominee, The Chicken Squad . In Third, we began a book called Pax . Both grade levels are spending a lot of time analyzing the characters, setting, and what the author has purposely placed in our first Chapters. Knowing this information and beginning to ask the questions, "Why has he/she placed this here? What do they want me to know right away?" sets us up for the rest of the book. Third and Fourth Grade have also been analyzing a variety of short text, and learning test taking strategies. Fourth Grade continues their journey with Bo...

Second Grade Part I--We will do this part together! http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html Part II http://www.units.miamioh.edu/dragonfly/water/watercycle.shtml Part III http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/EvaporationandTranspiration.htm Third Grade Part I http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_for_kids_main.html Part II http://www.educationsoutheastwater.com.au/game/natural-water-cycle.html Part III http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/web//starsguide/our-star.html

This week "leaped" into March...and we continue to focus on developing ourselves as self-propelled, responsible learners. We loved sharing our monthly homework accomplishments. March homework is out and ready for agame plan...kudos if you've already gotten started! Dr. Schneider has been focusing morning assembly's messages on self-awareness skills, most specifically about being aware of our behavior. Impulse control and kindness have been central messages. On Friday, the message was crystal clear: meanness, annoying, and bullying will not be tolerated. The students were all given a warning that if the behavior continues, the kids will be asked to call home and explain what is happening. Every child and adult in the room admitted that this was a Kiker issue -- it's not one classroom, one grade level -- and we need to stop it from happening. We discuss further in Town Meeting how we specifically in our class can be problem-solvers of this particul...