Mastering Math Facts

Thanks to the positive feedback we received from both parents and teachers... "Math Fact Power Hours"are back!

Many parents asked us to launch a math initiative for first and second graders again this winter.  They found it motivated their children to spend more time at home practicing addition & subtraction facts.  This is so important, because research clearly indicates repeated practice with flash cards increases 'automaticity'- the ability to quickly and accurately recall answers.  Sweetsir and Donaghue teachers have noticed the students who spent time using the fact triangles last winter, developed greater automaticity.  As a result, they are more secure in their math skills and, even a year later, are demonstrating greater success.

On Thursday, January 24th, there will be a school-wide assembly for all first and second graders to kick-off this year's initiative. The six week incentive program was design to encourage children to practice with fact cards at home.  Each child will be given a math mat, set of triangle cards, and log.  For every 5 minutes spent practicing, they will record their time by coloring in a shape on the log.  After 60 minutes, the log is complete and should be brought back to school and exchange for a new log.   

Like last year, we will tally up all the power hours and graph each classrooms' results on our cafeteria wall.  Each week, the class with the most hours documented will be honored with a certificate and will have a group picture taken for our "Power Hour Wall of Fame."  This year, students who turn in logs will have an opportunity to enter a raffle and win games.  The more logs they complete, the better chance they have of winning!  Several names will be drawn each Monday for the next six weeks.   Highly motivated students could win more than once.

On the right is a picture of our prize table.  We selected games as a reminder to families that most board games are an excellent way to practice math skills (counting, sorting, 1:1 correspondence, etc.).  Funding for the prizes and triangle cards came from the company that takes our school pictures.  As a thank you, they give us a percentage of their profits each year.  That money goes into our activity fund, which is used for field trips and other fun events.  The prizes and fact cards are a gift for students to keep (first graders are encouraged to hold on to them for next year).

Parents of 1st and 2nd graders are encouraged to watch this video!

Last year, some of our students helped create the above video to give parents an overview of how to use the fact triangles and mat. Family members are encouraged to help their children practice.  To view blog postings with additional information, click on the 'math' label in the right hand column.  You will find another math video, photos of last year's gigantic graph on the cafeteria wall, and snapshots of students and teachers wearing crazy costumes. 

I hope to capture more special moments during this year's event, so be sure to check this blog again soon.

Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands...

Our school nurse, Ann Brady-Lozier, recently updated the Sweetsir website with information about the flu (link: Health Information).  She recommends thorough hand washing as the best defense.  Since children tend to skip soap or rinse too quickly, they need adults to remind them of proper washing techniques.  Mrs. Lozier has been visiting classrooms to stress the importance of these five steps:

          1)   Wet hands;

             2)   Add soap;
             3)   Thoroughly wash*;
             4)   Rinse;
             5)   Dry hands with a towel.

*Step 3 should last as long as it takes to sing two verses of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.  Ask your children if they know the catchy lyrics Mrs. Lozier made up to go with that popular tune: 

                   'Wash, wash, wash your hands

                          thoroughly and clean.

                   Spreading your germs to other kids 

                         is really very mean.'

Germ squirt  (aka hand sanitizer)
is available throughout the building.

Lost & Found

Parents, feel free to check the 'Lost & Found' barrel located in our cafeteria. At this time of year, there tends to be a collection of sweatshirts, hats, and mittens.  Unclaimed items are donated to charity during school breaks, so please try to label lunch boxes and outer clothing.  Lost jewelry, eye glasses, phones, and other valuables are kept in the front office.

These purple eye glasses are waiting to be claimed.

(They were left on a school bus, so they could belong to an older student).

Goals for the New Year

Second graders, in Mrs. Rowley's class, created this cool display for our lobby bulletin board.  Following a discussion about New Year's resolutions, they each wrote a goal for the upcoming year.  If you happen to stop by in January, take a moment to view their hopes for 2013.  Below are a few examples of their resolutions.

January Bulletin Board

                  

              

In 2013, I will try to...

"help one of my friends get more friends."

"ete more veges."

"do my best work and... best writeting."

"be nicer to my brother and sister."

"read more."

"do the dishes for my mom and dad."

"do beder in school bye working harder."

"eat wey heltther and get more exersize."

"go to bed on time"

"be a better listener at home and class."
"play less vidio games."

Several students wrote about getting more sleep 

and following a consistent bedtime routine. 

Making a goal to get enough sleep is great advice for all of us.  Research indicates sleep is a key factor influencing work and school performance.  For both children and adults, lack of sleep can impair thinking, memory and attention.  Even one night without adequate rest can also negatively impact a person's mood and energy level.  Although individual sleep needs may vary, 11-12 hours each night is recommended for elementary students.  If your child has difficulty waking up or is easily irritated, it may be a sign they need an earlier bedtime.  Pediatricians and school counselors are a good resource for families whose children are struggling with sleep issues.

Writers' Workshop

Teachers at the Sweetsir School participated in professional development with a coach, Kate Donelin, from the Teaching & Learning Alliance. These coaching and training sessions, which took place over a span of two years, focused on developing writing skills using the "Writers' Workshop Model."

At the kindergarten level, Writers' Workshop begins with oral story telling, and then drawing.  Horn & Giacobbe's book, Talking, Drawing, Writing  Lessons for Our Youngest Writers, served as a good resource for teachers. Throughout the year, teachers provide mini-lessons and model elements of writing.  Focusing on oral story telling first, helps young writers learn the skills to provide information in an organized manner, in order (beginning, middle, end), with enough details for an audience to understand.  Talking about their stories develops 'thinking strategies' which are an essential precursor for putting ideas on paper.  Kindergartners then begin to draw stories in their own special drawing pad. The mini-lessons expand to include adding words and sentences to tell the story.  

 As you can see from these photos, students are fully engaged during the writing block. Many describe 'Writers Workshop' as their favorite part of the day because they love the creative process.  Teachers' have found the lessons are easily differentiated, enabling students to move at their own individual pace.  As you can see from these pages, taken from three students' drawing pads, there can be quite a range of skills among kindergartners.

Kindergartners Visit Pumpkin Patch

Enjoying a hayride and view of the farm.

Learning what animals eat.

Finding pumpkins in the patch.

Mrs. Richard and Ms. Ruest brought their kindergarten students for a field trip to Spring Hill Farm. Students enjoyed walking through a real pumpkin patch.  As you can see in these pictures, they each selected a sugar pumpkin to bring home. The farm visit brought to life information they had studied about plants as part of a science unit.  The tractor trailer hayride and chance to see animals close up added to the experience.

Selecting the perfect pumpkin to take home.

Parents' Report Card

Arrive by 8:30am.

       It is essential parents realize the value of every moment in the school day. Curriculum demands have dramatically increased since we attended elementary school. To cover the depth of material, teachers must carefully plan ways to make maximum use of time.  For this reason, it is so important children arrive on time for school and stay until dismissal.

       Those first few moments of the school day help ease the transition from home to school as children settle in and greet one another.  They love to share the latest news with teachers and their classmates (loose teeth and stuffed animals seem to be the hot topics).  Having time to connect with each other, creates a sense of belonging to a classroom community.  Teachers also use the beginning ot the day to set a positive tone as they review the daily schedule and expectations.

      

       Students should be in their classroom and ready for instruction to begin by 8:35am. If not, the entire class is impacted when someone arrives late, even if it is just by 2-3 minutes.  Teachers must stop teaching to greet the child, help them unpack, order lunch, and turn in homework.  Time is also lost repeating information for the late student.  This can be very uncomfortable for the tardy child, and is unfair to students whose learning time has been disrupted.  Likewise, early dismissals can cause a similar interruption, as the teacher must gather homework, help pack up materials, and devote time to catching the child up on missed information.  

       It is understandable that dismissals and late arrivals are sometimes unavoidable due to life circumstances.  However, the most common explanation for tardiness tends to be oversleeping or loosing track of time.  If your family is having difficulty arriving on time, then it is time to review your morning routine.  Is the TV causing time loss?  Are bedtime routines early enough?  Are clothes laid out and backpacks ready in advance?  Our Guidance Counselor, Sarah Angell Pond, is a wonderful resource for any families looking for ideas and strategies to make morning routines smoother.  Please feel free to contact her at (978) 346-8319.  

      Note: Tardiness, dismissals, and absences are recorded on students' report cards.  ( I was inspired to write this blog post after a parent wisely stated she considers the attendance section her report card).