For years, I've said that I'm not sure if it's harder for the teachers or the students to adjust to being back in school... this year, however, it's obvious: the students are exhausted. Have you ever seen what zombie eyes really look like? Feel free to stop by at 1:00, when we get back from recess and begin math.
I know it's hard, but *please* send your child to bed no later than 8:30 or 9:00 nightly. Students at this age need approximately ten hours of sleep per night. If they are getting up at 7:00 in the morning, this means that they should be sleeping around 9. We all know it takes about 30 minutes to mentally wind-down before sleep arrives - so heading to bed around 8:30 is ideal.
The good news? Nobody has fallen asleep in the classroom (yet).
Because of district testing, this week's schedule is a little funky. The third graders took the Gates vocabulary/comprehension test today. Tomorrow, the students will be taking the district math beginning of year assessments. Wednesday and Thursday, we will have a guest helping me in the classroom while I perform reading assessments on the students. Friday will be cause for celebration, as it will be the end of testing week! (To think, we don't have to do this again until... well.... October.)
Regardless of the assessments, we always have fun in class. I think I showed a little too much of my "weird" side while we were creating our Community Frieze. I was singing, the kids were laughing, we were rhyming, and anybody that walked in could see the joy happening in the classroom. It was plain silly, yet educational and a learning experience on numerous levels. I loved bonding with the class and having fun.
I was telling Jaely about this on the way home, and she buried her head in her hands. "Mom, really? You sang to them?! Oh, those poor kids." My sentiments exactly.
Two quickies about math - you'll see the note in this week's Gater Gab (going home tomorrow in our Tuesday Folders!) about the math matrix. The students DO NOT need to finish this matrix, especially at this point in time of the year. Some addition and multiplication facts are very hard to master. These are being brought home so you, as parents, can see growth and give encouragement.
Also, as of today, students will be bringing home math extension pages. Depending on when I meet with their math group, these may be already finished by the time the student goes home, or they may be incomplete. These are optional practice pieces that may or may not be completed at home. If you are able to work with your student on these, I know they would enjoy the time spent. Please, do not send them back to school. These pages take the concepts we have practiced in class and, in the spirit of GATE, extends their thinking.
For level 2's - the students had to think which two balloons combine to make the target number.
For level 3's - the students had to find the answer, and write it in number, expanded, and word forms.
You will also be getting a couple of goodies in your Tuesday folder - four pages of math games to play with your student (as part of your 20 minutes of math facts nightly) as well as the current GATEr Gab. I'm hoping that our "Twin Lakes Copy Lady" is able to make it in tomorrow, so I can also send home copies of the triangle math flash cards. If not - I'll be getting those out to you as soon as they are ready.
Thanks again for raising such great kiddos. I'm a lucky teacher to be able to spend part of their lives with them.
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