New Classroom Initiatives and Curriculum Update

Welcome back from March Break!  Hopefully everyone relaxed and had a great time doing whatever it is that they like to do best.  Me?  I spent the week with my two-year old...I can't WAIT to get back to school!

During the break I was researching (ie browsing pintrest) for new ideas to put into action in the classroom.  I found a few cool ideas and modified them to best suit our group.

1.  Number Ninjas! 
This activity allows the kids to practice multiplication and division facts.  Each time they master a level the receive a "belt" as in martial arts.  As the students practice, they will move up the ranks in "belts."  I have created a bulletin board in my classroom which will allow the students to show their success and display their belt.  If they don't want to, they can keep their belt in their desk.

NUMBER NINJAS

HOW IT WORKS:

§  You have 90 seconds.

§  You must complete the 20 multiplication/division questions correctly.

§  Once you have mastered the sheet, you receive a “belt” that indicates you have mastered that level.

§  You then have the opportunity to attempt the next level to receive the next belt.

§  You may display your belt for the class to see, or you may keep your success to yourself.

§  Good luck Ninjas!

2.  The Dull Word Graveyard

We are starting a unit in writing which focuses on word choice.  We are going to talk about some common words we use in our writing that are boring and below our grade level, and retire them to the "Dull Word Graveyard."  We will then post the graveyard in the classroom, as a type of thesaurus anchor chart for the kids to use in their writing. I will post a picture of this once we as a class have complied and completed it.

3.  Literacy Centers based on Fractured Fairy tales

We are going to read "The Stinky Cheeseman" and discuss how it is a fractured fairy tale.  We will create an anchor chart indicating the main components of a fractured fairy tale.  We will then go through the center activities I have created, and work on each center altogether, so that the students understand the expectations of each.  We will post some examples of strong student work.  The students will then rotate through the centers every two days.  If they finish early, they are silent reading.  Students are encouraged to always have a novel at school.  We have a classroom library, and we visit the Budimir library once every two weeks.  I also have the ipads available and they can read articles on their newsela accounts.  

Curriculum Update:

Math:  Transformational Geometry

English:  Guided Reading/Independent Reading, Fractured Fairy tale Centers, Word Choice activities

Science:  Changes in Matter

Religion:  Lent

Arts:  Drama and Visual Art

Phys-Ed:  Badminton, personal safety.