News for the Week of September 21, 2015

Life Skill:  Perseverance

Quote:  Be like a postage stamp:  Stick with it till you get there.

Captain's Table of Stars

(STAR = Stop, Think, Act Responsibly)

                                                   Student                     Life Skill                           

1st Grade Math                           Dante                          Effort  
                             

2nd Grade LA                               Keith                    Perseverance
                                                     Bailey                    Perseverance                        

3rd Grade LA                               Rowyn                   Perseverance
3rd Grade Math                           Natalie                Resourcefulness                                      
4th Grade Math                             Nick                           Pride      

This Week In HA...

On Monday, all of the LA students continued to complete the LA pre-assessment measures.  We will continue to work on these assessments over the next couple of weeks to keep the test periods brief and enable us to engage in other LA activities as we work our way through the pre-assessments.

Therefore, on Tuesday...

1st Grade LA

First grade students moved into the first unit in our language arts series:  Signs and Symbols: Connections for Making Meaning.  We read the Graphic Alphabet by David Pelletier and discussed how the author used symbols and pictures to create meaning. Afterwards, we looked at signs and symbols used in our community.  Then, we began talking about the concept of connections and defined a connection as something that: 

• shows a relationship between objects, ideas, places and people,  
• can be physical, intellectual, social or emotional.
• may change or stay the same over time.

Ask your child to explain the concept of connection and give you an example.

2nd Grade LA 

In second grade, the students defined the term homograph.  Then, the students matched definitions of homographs.  Afterwards, they identified the homographs defined.  Ask your child to define the term homograph and then tell you 3 homographs.



3rd Grade LA

This week, third grade students began working in small groups to create a product to advertise using multiple meaning words.  Some examples we discussed were:

• a bat's bat - a baseball bat for bats
• a compressed compress - a bandage that folds up very small

Ask your child to tell you the products his/her group thought of and give you 2 words that have multiple meanings.

4th Grade LA

Fourth grade students defined the term antonym. Afterwards, each student created an antonym path by pairing sets of related antonyms.  To create the path, students took the last word of the initial pair of antonyms and created a new pair beginning with the last word of the initial pair. For the next step on the path, the students took the last word of the new pair of antonyms and created a new pair for the next step of the path.  They continued this process as far as they could.  Ask your child to define the term antonym and give you 2 antonym pairs.

Building Vocabulary

The "Words of the Day" for this week were hone and interrogative.  Ask your child to define these words and use them in a sentence. 
                                                                     

On Wednesday, all of the math students continued to complete the math pre-assessment measures. We were able to finish working on these assessments on Monday.  Therefore, on Tuesday, I introduced the students to the "Problem of the Day".  I presented a complex math problem to the students, which they attempted to solve independently.  Afterwards, we discussed and reviewed the problem solving steps as a class.  Afterwards, we began working on math facts and all of the math students completed a math maze/mosaic activity.  Ask your child to show you his/her maze/mosaic math puzzle.  Also, ask your child 3-4 math facts each day depending on his/her level of mastery as continued practice is beneficial.

Have a terrific weekend!  I hope everyone has time to get outdoors to enjoy nature and take in its beauty as it looks like it will be a gorgeous weekend!

Melissa Valtierra
High Ability Aide
Bailly Elementary School

News for the Week of September 14, 2015

Life Skill:  Cooperation

Quote:  Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.

Captain's Table of Star Students

(STAR = Stop, Think, Act Responsibly)

                                                   Student                     Life Skill                           

1st Grade LA                          Emmersynn               Responsibility
1st Grade Math                            Kylee                          Effort
                             

2nd Grade LA                             Zachary                  Perseverance
2nd Grade Math                           Jany                           Effort       

3rd Grade LA                            Samantha                Perseverance
                                                     Alaina                    Perseverance
3rd Grade Math                         Isabella                   Responsibility 

4th Grade LA                             Olivia C.                     Curiosity
4th Grade Math                           Owen                     Responsibility 

This Week In HA...

On Monday, all of the grades began completing the LA pre-assessments.  Please reassure your child that grades are not being taken on this assessment.  This assessment allows me to determine what your child currently knows and will be utilized as a part of planning the lessons to be taught during HA LA this school year, as the curriculum is specifically designed for high ability learners.  Each grade has a separate focus and aligns with the following ideas:

      1st - Signs and Symbols:  Connections for Making Meaning
      
      2nd - Connections of the Heart

      3rd - The Changing Faces of Story

      4th - Change:  Making a Difference

On Tuesday, this week in all of the grades, the students completed "Getting to Know You" activities. We were able to work on our presentation skills by compiling a list of information about ourselves and then getting up in front of the class to talk about ourselves.  Through these activities, we were able to get to know each other better and learned about the differences and commonalities we share with each other. 

I have also introduced the "Word of the Day" to the students.  The words of the day for this week were ponder and collaborate.  Ask your child to define these words for you.  If he/she is unable to do so, have your child look them up in the dictionary.      

                                                    

On Wednesday in HA math, all of the grades began completing a pre-assessment measure.  Please reassure your child that grades are not being taken on this assessment.  The assessment allows me to determine what your child currently knows and will be utilized as a part of planning the lessons to be taught during HA Math this school year.  

On Thursday, all of the grades completed "Getting to Know You" activities.  Therefore, we played Getting to Know You BINGO and Fact or Fib.  These were fun ways to get to know each other.  

I hope everyone has time to relax and enjoy whatever comes your way this weekend as we have worked very hard this week!

Melissa Valtierra
High Ability Aide
Bailly Elementary School

News for the Week of September 8, 2015

Life Skill:  Effort

Quote:  Autograph your work with excellence!

Captain's Table of STAR Students 

(STAR = Stop, Think, Act Responsibly)

                                                   Student                     Life Skill                           

I will begin adding students to this section next week.  Your child was informed that I will be watching for those students, who exemplify the following life skills:

                               Effort                                  Common Sense
                               Friendship                          Curiosity
                               Cooperation                        Perseverance
                               Responsibility                     Courage
                               Organization                       Problem Solving
                               Caring                                 Integrity
                               Initiative                             Patience
                               Pride                                   Resourcefulness
                               Sense of Humor                  Flexibility

When your child exhibits these life skills, his/her name will be placed in this section with the life skill observed.  Therefore, keep a lookout for this section as the students are always excited to see their name in my blog.


This Week In HA...

All language arts and math classes were introduced to the rules, procedures and expectations in the HA classroom.  Afterwards, parent forms were sent home with your child.  Therefore, your child should have given you your "homework", which will assist me in getting to know your child.  Please return these (pink & purple) information sheets to school with your child by Friday, September 11.  I am looking forward to getting to know and working with your children next week as we embark and dive in to our curriculum.

**Prior to next week's language arts classes, I wanted to let you know that we are continuing to use the language arts curriculum developed by the IDOE last year.  Before presenting the curriculum, a pretest is to be administered.  As a result, I will be pre-assessing all students in grades 1-4 one day per week over the next few weeks until we have completed them.  These assessments are for the purpose of obtaining a baseline of student's knowledge, therefore, no grades will be given on these assessments, as no grades are ever taken in this class.  I will be explaining that I do not expect the students to be able to answer all of the questions they will be presented but if your child is expressing anxiety or frustration, please let me know as I do not want the pre-assessments to cause undo stress or tension.
                          

**In order to more effectively plan math curriculum and provide math instruction to the students, I will be pre-assessing all students in grades 1-4 until we have completed them.  These assessments are for the purpose of obtaining a baseline of student's knowledge.  Therefore just as with the LA assessments, no grades will be given on these assessments, as no grades are ever taken in HA classes.  I will also explain to the math students that I do not expect them to be able to answer all of the questions they will be presented but if your child is expressing anxiety or frustration, please let me know as I do not want the pre-assessments to cause undo stress or tension.

We are now ready for our voyage and will cast off the bow lines next week.

Have a terrific weekend!

Melissa Valtierra
High Ability Aide
Bailly Elementary School