Learn Not to Burn - Firemen Visit

We had our second presentation with the firemen today.

I don't know if it's just a district thing, but our 4th graders have to go through a program called Learn Not to Burn.  

The firemen came a couple of weeks ago and we met in a classroom.  They discussed what a fire is really like. That it isn't like the movies.  They spoke about the smoke and what to do.  They told the kids how smoke alarms work, and they were given an assignment to check the smoke alarm at their house. 

They showed the kids how to create an escape plan with their families, and to draw it out as part of their assignment.  They discussed the importance of having a meeting place in their neighbor's front yard.  They gave this assignment packet to the kids where they had to create their escape plan, count the smoke alarms in their house, and show a picture of them testing the alarm, etc.  Those assignment packets were due today and the firemen took them to "grade" them.

Today the firemen came back and they took the kids outside to the truck.  They taught the kids about fire safety and demonstrated the effects of gas, heat, and flame.  The little demonstration house exploded when it came into contact with each other.  I wish I knew how to do video on here, since I recorded it and it was awesome!

One of the guys suited up to show the kids that if they were ever in a fire and needed to be rescued that they can't be scared of the firemen.  He did sound like Darth Vader through the mask, but that was the point.  They wanted the kids to know they should not hide from the guy in a big black suit if there is an emergency.  He started crawling around to show how he moves and reminded them about the smoke factor. 

We ended the presentation with them allowing the students to climb on the truck - in all 3 seats.  The kids pretended to drive.  It was a little nuts but the kids enjoyed every minute.  

Perhaps you also have the firemen come to visit you at school?  Do you have a fire safety program too?

Hope you had a good day!

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Double Digit Multiplication and a Comprehension Freebie

We started double digit multiplication today.  

I survived.

In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by how easily this class got it.

The past couple of weeks we have been reviewing 4 x 1 digit equations, then we worked on x10 patterns, then multiples of 10's.

So today when I stuck this type of problem on the board they started to slightly freak out until I broke it down for them.  Then they thought it was super easy.

Some of the kiddos said they learned the other way last year (You know - the criss cross way).  I told them that we would also learn the other way soon, but that to begin with we would be simply breaking up the problem into 2 separate problems, then we would add them together.  I want them to understand the why behind it before I just start having them multiply all over.  

Step 1: Multiply x ones

Step 2: Multiple x tens

Step 3: Add them together

I told them that they could definitely do the problems the way they "thought" they knew how to do it, but if they got the answer wrong, that meant they had to do it my way the next time.  Many of them ended up doing it MY way the next time.  

So yes, on their whiteboards they wrote down the "real" problem, then next to it they broke down Step 1 (x ones), Step 2 (x tens), they put the arrows to move it under the real problem, and then they added.  They were able to catch their mistakes with adding and multiplying when they went step by step.  They learned they need a lot of space to work the problems and that they would need to write all 3 problems on an extra piece of binder paper tonight for homework since I wanted to see EVERY SINGLE STEP.  It's a process, right?

By the end of the day they were getting all the answers right - at least the majority of the class was, and most everyone was able to honestly give themselves a "4" on the reflection aspect of the lesson.  

How I do the reflection piece is just having them write their number on their whiteboard.  Since the boards are just pointed towards me and the other kids really can't see the other boards it's not a big deal - quick up and down...

Here is the link at Google Docs if you want a copy for yourself.  

Since this is something I made 

(and you all know how non-computer literate I am), 

I'm linking up with Tara over at her Monday Made It!

  

Tomorrow is 3 digit x 2 digit :)  Fun fun!

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IXL in my Classroom

I love using IXL in my classroom. 

	Last week	School year
Problems attempted	504	12,452
Skills practiced	22	164
Time spent	2 hr 34 min	113 hr 52 min

If you've never heard of it before, it's a math skills website that reviews everything the kids learn throughout the year.  There is a built in motivation factor, since the kids want to earn prizes on their own game board.The above snapshot is from the weekly "report card" that I get delivered to my inbox.  Below the little snapshot in the weekly email shows how many minutes and problems each student worked throughout the week.  The weeks that my class gets to visit the computer lab the numbers are a lot higher.
There are so many teacher reports on the site as well.  I can see the specific skills, measure the progress of an individual child, etc.  There is so much information available!

This was taken from the IXL website - you can see how the game boards are set up.

 

On the website there is a way to see the specific skills for each standard.  I don't mind if the kids work ahead, but I don't want them to get frustrated with it.  I ask that they complete the skills after we have learned the information.  
On my class webpage, I have a page dedicated to the specific standards and skills per chapter.  The text below has been cut/pasted from my class site.
----------------------------------------------------------- 

IXL Skills to Work On - By Chapter  
Please work on AFTER we learn the material

*We will head to the library 2x a month.  On most occasions, students will be able to use the computers in the 
library to take AR tests, and work on the skills mentioned below.  These are review of the skills that we have already learned in class.  This is in addition to any moments they might be able to use the classroom computers.  
*The easiest place for your child to work on these skills is at home where they have access to a computer and they can really focus without distractions.  
*If you would like your child to go ahead, please know that it may be difficult for them to grasp the concepts.  If your child has already completed the below skills, they can go back and work on 3rd grade skills to review what they learned last year.  They should not be going back to any other grade.
*I will only update their end of month chart to show what they have accomplished in the 4th grade skills.  


Chapter           Standard         Description          Skill 

Chapter 1         N.S. 1.1           Place Value         A.3
                        N.S. 1.2           Comparing         A.9


Chapter 2         N.S. 1.3           Rounding           A.6
                        N.S.  1.4          Rounding +       B.9
                                               Rounding -        C.7
                        N.S. 2.1           Estimate +         B.8
                                               Estimate -          C.6

--------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, we're up to Chapter 9, but I thought you might get the point with just a couple of chapters shown.  As I update the class website with the chapters, I also send my class families an email with the same skill numbers.  I want to make sure that I am doing everything possible to let the families know what their children should be working on.  

The students have a chart that we update together after each chapter to show what ones they are able to do, and as they complete it they get a signature or color it in as long when they master the skill.

At the beginning of the year it was easy to just give them a bookmark with the specific skills to work on when we went to the computer lab.  Now that we have so many different skills as options, we bring our charts with us.

At the end of the month I update their parent information sheets.  I update how many problems completed, skills practiced, time spent, and medals earned on their sheets (along with their AR update).  It shows the kids how much they were able to accomplish in a month's span.

Other than just the normal student review sessions during computer time, my class also uses it as they finish up their math classwork, and we complete the skills full class using whiteboards to review.  I want them to feel successful so they want to practice the skills by themselves.  The problems get increasingly more difficult as the "smart score" increases.  The goal is over 80% to pass the skill, and 100% for mastery.

Do you use IXL?  

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Thankful For and Currently Linkies

Storie is hosting a Thankful For Linky.  There is so much to be thankful for, but I narrowed it down to the top ten.

1.  My husband:  He is SOOO wonderful.  We've been married for 10 years and I can honestly say life gets better every day together.  We started as friends way back when, then started dating, were engaged 5 months later, waited another 7 months to get married, and now it's been 10 1/2 years. He is my best friend.  I'm thankful for him because he really is my partner in every way - he shares the burdens & workload of home and raising our boys.  He helps with laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, errands, etc.  

He thinks of his family first and he loves me even when I am being a brat.  

2.  My children:  All 3 of my boys are super special to me.  My oldest is a mini me - we think the same.  At 8 years old he is my bookworm.  I understand him pretty easily.  My middle son is my little helper.  Only he isn't so little anymore.  He is 6 years old and full of energy ALL THE TIME!  He is my little chef and animal lover.  My "baby" is now 2 years old and is my little lion.  He likes to roar and run.  We waited for him to walk and speak for so long - and he is finally now doing both.  Lately he has been working on saying, "I Wuv Mama."  His daddy has been working on it with him.

3.  My family:  I am blessed to have parents and a sister that loves me for who I am.  I don't have to be anyone that I'm not created to be.  I am blessed to have gained another set of parents and siblings when I married my sweetie.  Our family is close and likes to spend time together.  

4.  My friends:  They are a wonderful support system.  Isn't it nice as you look at your life to see people that met you throughout your journey?

5.  My Lord:  He is my everything.

6.  My class:  Yes, I give thanks for them even if they are giving me more gray hair this year than any other year in my teaching career.  I am learning how to be even more flexible through them.

7.  My coworkers:  It's nice to work someplace that you can consider your fellow colleagues as friends.

8.  My home:  We moved into this house 9 1/2 years ago.  We were newlyweds and it was just us.  The house used to seem huge.  "Used to" are the key words.  I'm thankful that it has provided a shelter for my family as we have grown in number and our babies have become larger.  Now if only we could get rid of some of the toys...

9.  The blogging community:  I have learned so much from all of you over the past months.  I know I am a better teacher because of it all.  Thank you.

10.  Pinterest:  Yes, I'm going to say it.  I'm thankful for Pinterest.  I'm thankful for the advice, ideas, crafts, recipes, etc.  

I'm also thankful for Farley for hosting Currently every month. :)

     

I think I have my first cold of the year.  At least I've been feeling this way since Thursday morning and I can't figure it out if it's the after effects of Halloween, or if it is kid germs that have infiltrated my body.  I had up to 4 kids absent at a time this past week, and 2 boxes of kleenex disappeared in a day at school - so I'm guessing on a cold.  Hot tea with honey for my aching throat is a winner in my book.  Once my lemon tree starts sharing it's fruit that will also be a welcome addition to the hot brew.

As for my music choice:

  

I chose this music because it's a great transition piece.  I push play when they are dragging with putting their books away and getting out their next set of materials.  It seems to make them go faster.
My own boys love the song as well - it also works for them to empty out the dishwasher or clean up their toys at a decent speed (i.e. faster than a snail pace).
Hope you have a great day! 

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Red Ribbon Week Decoration

A quick second post today to share my class' door decoration.

Superhero Squad!

The kids designed their own superhero and next to it they had to finish the sentence. "My name is ----. I ---- drugs with my ---- powers."

They were creative. I don't know yet if we won the contest but I do know the leadership students said they liked it.

I found the idea from Teachers Pay Teachers that 

I mentioned a couple of days ago.  

Hope you had a good day!

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My Students' Thankful Journals

Yesterday over at The Idea Backpack, April was mentioning a Gratitude Journal and asking for information how we set up ours.  It was a good reminder that today I need to have the students get theirs ready for the next 2 weeks before Thanksgiving vacation.  I figured I should share on here too.  :) 
(Side note - I know we just celebrated Halloween, I know we just had an exceptionally busy October with all the "extras" on top of the normal curriculum, but I'm still wondering how in the world it became November already?!?!) 
Over the years I have done many different things, but I have found that with my classes (either in 2nd or 4th grade) the students tend to think more carefully when I give them the specific areas to sort their lists into.
My students create their own journals.  One year I went to Big Lots and found those tiny flip books for super cheap and they wrote their lists as clues... then my school budget disappeared and I found it easier if students created their own.  They love making their own booklets and the chance to decorate the cover.
I tend to keep the same color for all the mini books that my class creates - it helps me to figure out that all students have out the same booklet at the right time with a quick glance around the room.  For example, this past week with our Red Ribbon booklets it was easy to check their desktops to see who followed directions.
They take 2 pieces of copy paper and 1 piece of the colored construction paper and fold them in half.  Then they use one staple again to hold it together.  I know, I know... I keep mentioning the one staple, but if they have the option to do more than one staple they tend to put it too far down at the crease of the page and I ruin the booklet trying to fix their mistake.  I used to staple them all myself when I had the time, but I don't even have that these days.  So it's one staple, and if it falls apart then I help them.
After they create their booklet, they glue the 1/2 page cover on top and have a chance to start decorating it as the rest of the class is still figuring out how to fold and staple it.

When we are ALL ready to move on, I turn on the ladibug (projection camera - don't you LOVE them?!?) and we set it up altogether.
Here's how I break it down.  They do have to write on the back of the little pages - so top and bottom/back and front for each page.
 Page 1: My family (who and why)
Page 2: My friends (who and why)
Page 3: My school (what specifically and why)
Page 4: My house (what and why)
Page 5: My town (what and why)
Page 6: My country (what and why)
Page 7: My world (what and why)
After it's set up they keep it on their desks for those couple of minutes each day that they finish early, or between transitions, etc.  I don't have a lot of specific writing time in them, but they are an important part of our November activities.  Over the 2 weeks the student lists grow significantly.
  The days before Thanksgiving vacation start the kids sharing their lists with each other and full class.  They use their lists as we create a whole class paper chain around the classroom with things we are thankful for.  They use their lists when we make our Thankful trees.  They use them quite a bit.  
I Love Thanksgiving!

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Discussing the Election

This afternoon my class discussed the upcoming election.  
I took the advice and information that Kristin from iteach 1:1 shared the last Sunday.  
1.  We started with a brainstorm about what they already know about next Tuesday.  By just asking the question "What happens next Tuesday, November 6th?" I had half a dozen of different responses - everything from Halloween (really kids?), to Thanksgiving, to a dentist appt., to Veteran's Day... 
2.  Then I shared the Brainpop video that is specifically designed for the Presidential Election.  It discusses how the votes work, that each vote is important.  
4.  I passed out a paper similar to the ones that Kristin shared on her blog to list facts about the candidates, and we used the Elections for Kids website to fill in information about the candidates.  
With all the information available, they tended to keep focusing on their birthdays the most... who was the oldest, youngest, how close in age, etc... 
5.  After we discussed the facts, we turned our attention to another Brainpop video - the one that describes the difference between the parties.  They got a kick out of the animals in the video.
Tomorrow we are starting a brainstorm/roughdraft with the prompt, "If I was president..."  I hope to hear what they think is important to remember as a future president.  I know the prompt is supposed to be for President's Day, but it's rather appropriate this time of year as well - at least this year.  If you click the picture it will take you to the pin, and from there you can get to the real link.  

iTeach had so much other information available, and I hope to incorporate more of it this coming week.
Hope this helps!  

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