Tiger Tribute
October 21-25
Vocabulary Building Strategy
Basically, you provide the kids with the pre-printed hexagons and they organize them with sides touching in ways that make sense to them. That means, it is open-ended and allows them to make connection and inferences using their own background knowledge-not to mention, it creates rich conversation around the topic when they spend time explaining their thoughts around how they have organized it. (And it reminds me of those hexagonal brain teaser puzzles with a bazillion tree frog pictures on them that I loved when I was a kid.)
Who's it for? Anyone! There are links to two different templates. One is a standard size template and one has extra large hexagons for our smallest Tigers or those who may need additional support with fine motor skills.
In this particular lesson, students were building vocabulary about space travel prior to reading a kids news article about it. As I'm thinking about the possibilities though:
- What if you put key words from a book/novel/chapter/article they are reading and they do this to anticipate how words, characters, details will be connected in the story and then review it after reading to see if they want to revise it?
- Use it as an anticipation guide to a topic before introducing a new content area standard. `
- Use it for numbers to have them think through how certain numbers are associated. (it's open-ended, so this is a great way to get them talking about their understanding of number sense)
- Give them a blank template and let them brainstorm the words they are anticipating AND organize them to make connections. It adds depth to what might have only been a linear list before.
If you use this and and find a great way to incorporate it-please send pictures and I will pass them along!
Keep in Mind, a great instructional strategy doesn't always end up with a "product" that can be taken home. To capture the learning, consider snapping a picture or having student do a quick power write to explain their thinking.
Below are some pictures of the activity in Mrs. Tesh's class:
Weekly Events
Monday, October 21
Tuesday, October 22
Wednesday, October 23
- Read to Achieve Test: Transitional 4th Graders
- Orange Shirt Day
Thursday, October 24
- Staff Meeting
- Fall Picture Retakes
Friday, October 25
- End of 1st Quarter
- Box Tops Due to PTO
- School Readiness Pumpkin Patch Group Meeting
Looking Ahead
Monday, October 28
- No School-Teacher Workday
- Thinking Maps Training, 8am-11am (certified staff)
- Book Room Ribbon Cutting, 1pm
- Virtual Reality Goggles Training, 2:30pm (optional)
- Grades Due-A new feature(?) in PowerSchool means it will actually lock, so this is a hard deadline-they truly cannot be entered after this date.
Tuesday, October 29
- 2nd Grade Field Trip
- 2nd Quarter Begins
- PBIS Celebration 1-schedule coming
- Reading Specialists begin RIME groups
- TAs begin RIME groups
- RED RIBBON WEEK: Wear Red
Wednesday, October 30
- 3rd Math Check-Ins
- 5th Science Check-Ins
- RED RIBBON WEEK: Team Up Against Drugs-Wear your favorite sports attire
Thursday, October 31
- 4th Math Check Ins
- 5th Math Check Ins
- Pay Day
- RED RIBBON WEEK: Don't be tricked, Drugs are no treat (grade level costumes)
Friday, November 1
- 4th ELA Check-Ins
- 5th ELA Check-Ins
- Open Enrollment Begins
- RED RIBBON WEEK: Put Drugs to Rest: Wear school appropriate pajamas, no slippers
Expectation Focus for the Week
Please use the link below for resources to teach Hallway Expectations:
https://www.smore.com/hc168-cafeteria-expectations
We will be putting down painters tape in the hallway to assist with setting a visual and physical cue for students to walk in a line.
Thinking Ahead to the End of the Quarter
Welcome!
October Morning Car Duty
October 7-11: 5th Teachers, Condon, Carroll, York
October 14-18: 4th Teachers, Gaymon, Agustin
October 21-25: 3rd Teachers, Joyner, Weaver, Brown
October 28-November 1: 2nd Teacher, Condon, Carroll, York