Pamela Mitchell

September 30-BLUEBERRY

COGNITIVE Autoradiogram-we analyzed the backpack mystery suspects DNA.

DIVERGENT DNA Strand-we made one using beads and pipe cleaners about ourself.

EVALUATIVE Backpack Mystery-we solved this mystery using fingerprints, DNA and reasoning

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Chasing Vermeer-finished reading chapter 7 and 8.  Found another clue for our code.  Great job! Remember to study your vocabulary if you want ribbits.

SELF REFLECTION Journals and goals-we wrote in our long term goal again today so you need to create your short term goal using your strengths and weaknesses.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER How are you doing with your studying for your vocabulary? Could you spend some extra time this week working on it?

RESPECT FOR OTHERS Wow! Your leadership letters were fabulous! Listening skills really showed respect for others.  Blog Response: Which leadership characteristic stuck out in your mind? Why? Write 3-5 sentences using your best technique.

DON'T FORGET Check Blog; TT; and book

Next week is testing so we will have an adjusted time schedule!  You will have Target so don't forget to bring your binder!

September 29-BANANA

We got recess!!! Hooray to you for following your long term goal and getting the job done!!!

COGNITIVE Autoradiogram-we analyzed the backpack mystery suspects DNA.

DIVERGENT DNA Strand-we made one using beads and pipe cleaners about ourself.

EVALUATIVE Backpack Mystery-we solved this mystery using fingerprints, DNA and reasoning

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Chasing Vermeer-finished reading chapter 7 and 8.  Found another clue for our code.  Great job! Remember to study your vocabulary if you want ribbits.

SELF REFLECTION Journals and goals-we wrote in our long term goal again today so you need to create your short term goal using your strengths and weaknesses.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER How are you doing with your studying for your vocabulary? Could you spend some extra time this week working on it?

RESPECT FOR OTHERS Wow! Your leadership letters were fabulous! Listening skills really showed respect for others.  Blog Response: Which leadership characteristic stuck out in your mind? Why? Write 3-5 sentences using your best technique.

DON'T FORGET Check Blog; TT; and book

Next week is testing so we will have an adjusted time schedule!  You will have Target so don't forget to bring your binder!

September 28-LIME

CONVERGENT Please get your KDB ??? signed.  It is your choice whether you come in early to correct them, but know that grades below B will influence your report card. We also completed 5 more vocabulary words and drew different types of bridges in our vocabulary booklet.

DIVERGENT Triangles and Trusses-This activity was an investigative activity about how trusses make the structure rigid. Great job!

EVALUATIVE BBB presentations-we discussed your grades

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Notable Bridges Crossword-This activity can be answered using research from the Cobb Virtual Website-Worldbook online student section. Ms. Fletcher gave us stickers just like the ones she gave you for your homeroom class.  After you finish the crossword you will note the 10 different bridges.  You will turn it into an electronic timeline that is saved to your student id #.  Remember to include the opening date, name of the bridge and an electronic picture. Anything else you include is above and beyond.  Check out the rubric given to you in class if you need more explanation.

SELF REFLECTION-Journals and Goals-Create a short term goal using your weak areas.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER-Using rubrics for assignments help you become a self directed learner. We also took a practice quiz to make you aware of how much you should study for our upcoming quiz.  It will take place in 2 weeks.  The format will be similar to the one you practiced today in class.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS-You showed this throughout the day by being good listeners and working your best in groups and individually!

DON'T FORGET-Check the blog, TT, book-Blog response is easy this week. Use the phrase "I did it" when you have completed reading the blog and following all of the directions.

Next week Oct 5 and Oct 12, will be adjusted time schedule days due to CoGAT and ITBS testing for 1st and 3rd grade.  Please be prepared for my classroom and your regular classroom.  Target load will be lighter.

September 27-ORANGE

CONVERGENT We defined 5 more vocabulary words in our vocabulary book; We discussed Kid's Discover Bridges Magazine questions.  Only 7/17 students produced B or higher work on this assignment.  It is up to you if you want to come in and work on your magazine questions. I am giving you the opportunity no matter what your grade is to improve it! If you choose to make this assignment better you will need to come in to my classroom before the bell rings and work on your answers using the magazine. This is limited to one week only.

DIVERGENT Triangles and Trusses will be moved to next week.

EVALUATIVE Building Big Presentations were given back to you.  Since we didn't do our best last week we viewed a movie to help us get visuals for certain types of bridges.

CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS Notable Bridges Crossword and Timeline.  This is your chance to prove to me you can answer simple research questions and turn it into an electronic format presentation.  We talked about how you must save this electonic timeline to your student id #. If you choose to do a PowerPoint format you would end up with approximately 11 slides.  Your rubric tells you the rest. Use it to help you make the best possible score!

SELF REFLECTION Journals/Goals Today we worked on self reflection in many different ways. Our last week's blog response was, what makes a good Target student? We discussed this for quite a while.  We also discussed how perserverance is important in all situations, whether building a bridge or being a fourth grader. Use your journal to help create a short term goal. We already completed long term goal.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER Use your rubrics in any given assignment.  They really help with projects. We took a practice quiz to get aquainted with the format of a quiz we will have in 2 weeks.  Please study your vocabulary words and become familiar with all the different types of bridges we have discussed. 

RESPECT FOR OTHERS Listening to others ideas throughout the day showed respect for others

DON'T FORGET Check the Blog; TT and book Blog Response-If you read the entire blog and checked all of your work tonight's response is easy, all you have to do is respond, I did it!

 

September 23-BLUEBERRY

CONVERGENT Solve a crime. We tried to solve who broke into the safe. We made some important connections about jumping to conclusions when solving a mystery... we discussed words like motive and alibi when solving a crime.

DIVERGENT Harris Burdick Mystery stories were OUTSTANDING! Tonight's homework is the leadership letter. We went over it in class. Use your rubric to help guide you.

EVALUATIVE We went over our Science Kid questions about fingerprinting.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Chasing Vermeer was great today! We finished chapter 5 and 6. You were able to decode some of the pictures and a letter from Tommy. Tonight's homework is to decode Calder's letter back to Tommy. Remember to study your vocabulary words to earn ribbits!

SELF REFLECTION Journals and Goals-Remember to create a new short term goal based off of our strengths and weaknesses.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER Use your rubrics

RESPECT FOR OTHERS Listening to presentations. Tonight's blog response: Which story did you like the best? Why? Remember 3-5 well written sentences.

DON'T FORGET Check the blog; TT; Book

Have a great week and weekend!!!

September 22-BANANA

Wow!  I was so impressed with you all today!!!  Your stories were fabulous and you really focused on our long-term goal.  Less talking, more listening and more learning!

CONVERGENT Solve a crime.  We tried to solve who broke into the safe.  We made some important connections about jumping to conclusions when solving a mystery...

DIVERGENT Harris Burdick Mystery stories were OUTSTANDING! Tonight's homework is the leadership letter.  We went over it in class.  Use your rubric to help guide you.

EVALUATIVE

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Chasing Vermeer was great today!  We finished chapter 5 and 6. You were able to decode some of the pictures and a letter from Tommy.  Tonight's homework is to decode Calder's letter back to Tommy.  Remember to study your vocabulary words to earn ribbits!

SELF REFLECTION Journals and Goals-Remember to create a new short term goal based off of our strengths and weaknesses.  Your long term goal should be written down already because we did it in class this morning.

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER Use your rubrics

RESPECT FOR OTHERS Listening to presentations. Tonight's blog response: Which story did you like the best? Why? Remember 3-5 well written sentences.

DON'T FORGET Check the blog; TT; Book

Have a great week!!!

September 21-LIME

CONVERGENT: Vocabulary-we defined 4 more words today; Kid's Discover Bridges Magazine with questions. You must finish these questions this week and return my magazines by next week. Many of you finished these in class. Did you use your time wisely?

DIVERGENT: Leadership letter presentation and Spontaneous Bridge. 3/6 groups passed bridge inspection! You guys really had some unique designs!

EVALUATIVE: Building Big Bridges Presentation-GREAT JOB!!! 4/5 groups were prepared and did a wonderful job presenting and gave the correct answers.  If you were unable to get all of the answers written down please download the following answer key and complete any incomplete answers.Download Building Big Bridges Key

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS: Transportation Drawings-we read the rubric and I went over details as well as answered any questions. This is due next week when we meet.

SELF REFLECTION: Journals/Goals-You were to fill out strengths and weaknesses this week. You need to use a weakness to complete your short term goal. You should write this goal for homework in the week 5 short term goal area. 

SELF DIRECTED: Rubric for Building Big Bridges-most of you followed this perfectly.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS: Building Big Bridges presentations-great job listening and filling out your Building Big Bridges sheet. Leadership Letter Presentations-you were quiet and polite during this presentation.

DON'T FORGET: Check the Blog; TT; and book. BLOG RESPONSE: Which leadership characteristic stuck in your mind from today's presentation. Why? 3-5 well written sentences.

September 20-ORANGE

CONVERGENT: Vocabulary-we defined 4 more words today; Kid's Discover Bridges Magazine with questions.  You must finish these questions tonight (Tuesday) and return my magazines by Wednesday morning. Many of you finished these in class.  Did you use your time wisely?

DIVERGENT: Leadership letter presentation and Spontaneous Bridge.  Not following directions was a theme today.  5 people did not cut out their leadership letter and 4/5 groups building the bridge did not follow the written span directions.

EVALUATIVE: Building Big Bridges Presentation-this was the most disappointing assignment ever.  Groups did so poorly on giving the correct answers during presentations that I have had to create a sheet with the correct answers.  Please write the correct answers on your sheet.  You will see these questions again on your final test. Download Building Big Bridges Key

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS: Transportation Drawings-we read the rubric and I went over details as well as answered any questions.  This is due next week when we meet.

SELF REFLECTION: Journals/Goals-You were to fill out strengths and weaknesses this week.  You need to use a weakness to complete your short term goal.  Our long term goal is to follow directions better.  You may not use this goal as a short term goal.

SELF DIRECTED: Rubric for Building Big Bridges-you did not follow this rubric as proof of your presentations.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS: Building Big Bridges presentations-no respect was shown because you were not prepared. Leadership Letter Presentations-you were quiet and polite during this presentation.

DON'T FORGET: Check the Blog; TT; and book. What makes a good Target student is your blog response tonight.  I expect 3-5 well written sentences.

September 16-BLUEBERRY

Great job working today!  You were fantastic listeners.

CONVERGENT: Classifying fingerprints was an activity that we used the loop, whorl, and arch standard classifcation guide to figure out a set of 10 fingerprints and then our very own.

DIVERGENT: Harris Burdick Mystery Story-Last week all you needed to complete was your planner because we discussed how we would split our story into 3-5 paragraphs today. Everyone should make paragraph 1 about the four characters in the story; paragraph 2 should be all about the setting (remember we talked about having a sound clue, sight clue, smell clue, taste clue, or even a feeling clue); paragraph three can either be the entire plot part of your story or you can choose to make it into the beginning plot of your story. If you choose to make paragraph 3 as your beginning plot paragraph, then paragraph 4 is your plot middle and paragraph 5 is your plot ending. We worked on this for about 45 minutes so you should have a very clear idea. It is homework.

EVALUATIVE: Science Kid Website-this website was accessed for 30 minutes in class today to help you answer 8 questions. Remember question 7 and 8 are your opinions. If you did not finish you can access the website using the page Mystery Websites.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS: Chasing Vermeer-we read chapter 3 and 4 aloud and played vocabulary games with that vocabulary. Congratulations to our 10 perfect winners! Optional study for chapters 5 and 6 vocabulary games next week!

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER: Check your final story against your Harris Burdick rubric and make sure you complete your contract.

SELF REFLECTION: Journals were kept today of your strengths and weaknesses. You need to come up with a short term goal about Target. 

RESPECT FOR OTHERS:

DON'T FORGET: TT signed, Bring a book, and check the blog. Other homework: finish Harris Burdick story, finish Science Kids questions, and write a short term goal. Blog Response: If you read the entire blog and followed all of the directions please send me a blog response that is only one word-your favorite day of the week.

I hope you have a great week and I will see you next time.

September 15-BANANA

CONVERGENT:  Classifying fingerprints was an activity that we used the loop, whorl, and arch standard classifcation guide to figure out a set of 10 fingerprints and then our very own. 

DIVERGENT: Harris Burdick Mystery Story-Last week all you needed to complete was your planner because we discussed how we would split our story into 3-5 paragraphs today.  Everyone should make paragraph 1 about the four characters in the story; paragraph 2 should be all about the setting (remember we talked about having a sound clue, sight clue, smell clue, taste clue, or even a feeling clue); paragraph three can either be the entire plot part of your story or you can choose to make it into the beginning plot of your story.  If you choose to make paragraph 3 as your beginning plot paragraph, then paragraph 4 is your plot middle and paragraph 5 is your plot ending.  We worked on this for about 45 minutes so you should have a very clear idea.  It is homework.

EVALUATIVE: Science Kid Website-this website was accessed for 45 minutes in class today to help you answer 8 questions.  Remember question 7 and 8 are your opinions.  If you did not finish you can access the website using the page Mystery Websites.

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS: Chasing Vermeer-we read chapter 3 and 4 aloud and played vocabulary games with that vocabulary.  Congratulations to our four perfect winners! Optional study for chapters 5 and 6 vocabulary games next week!

SELF DIRECTED LEARNER: This is an area we ALL need work in.  You as an individual need to make sure you are in control of your talking.  Today there was so much talking that many of you have a heavy homework load.  Please write as your long term goal: I will control my talking and listen better so we can all learn better. It is an area everyone can improve.

SELF REFLECTION: Journals were kept today of your strengths and weaknesses.  You need to come up with a short term goal about Target.  It does NOT need to repeat your short term goal. 

RESPECT FOR OTHERS: This ties into our self directed learner long term goal.  If you truly make controlling your talking and listening better as your long term goal you will show respect to others in the class.

DON'T FORGET: TT signed, Bring a book, and check the blog.  Other homework: finish Harris Burdick story, finish Science Kids questions, and write a short term goal. Blog Response: If you read the entire blog and followed all of the directions please send me a blog response that is only one word-your favorite day of the week. 

I hope you have a great week and I will see you next time.