Third Grade Champions

We've been raising money for ALS/Ice Bucket Challenge through a Penny War fundraiser. The class who raised the most money would vote on a teacher to take the Ice Bucket Challenge. Our principal and one of the kindergarten teachers had taken the challenge already. Students were asked to bring in all of their spare change. Pennies, dollars, and golden dollars counted as positive, and silver were negative. Now, I am incredibly competitive. INCREDIBLY. So naturally, I was determined to motivate my students to win. It just so happened that we're studying the government as well. A teachable moment: DIPLOMACY! We held a diplomacy meeting with the other third grade class, developed the Treaty of the Third Grade, and declared the second grade persona non grata (for their act of aggression against us by placing 4 quarters in our bin). We even drafted a formal letter declaring war against them and hand delivered the letter with handfuls of silver coins (lol). My kiddos really rose to the occasion. They donated so much money! One of my students donated $31 in pennies and dollars. I was so proud of them. In all, the third class ended up with 45 positive points (3 times more than the second place winners ^_^). They raised close to $86 and various classes donated about $41 in silver. We voted on one of the second grade teachers to take the challenge, and I volunteered to take it as well since they worked so hard to win. Of course, I have videos....

Test-O-Mania

Well, hello, strangers! It's been a very busy few days. I know I promised pictures. However, my windows aren't finished yet (bummer!). They've installed the actual windows, but we're still waiting for window frames. Naturally, my kiddos are anxious because they are really missing Sparkles, our guinea pig.

So my days have been consumed by data and meetings and testing (sad face). It's very easy to forget about all of the extras that go along with teaching a tested grade. There's a lot of pressure to perform. We've had test-o-mania all week. They are taking their Acuity test for the next two weeks. The Acuity test is the assessment our district uses to forecast MAP (Missouri Assessment Performance) performance and monitor grade level progress in reading, writing, and math. They've completed one session of constructed responses, and we're signed up to take our first ELA session tomorrow (Dun, dun, duuuuuunnnnn!!!!). They are also taking their STAR assessment to progress monitor for RTI. I feel like I'm testing their little brains to mush.

And since we're talking about testing. Here's a student response from their mid-unit math assessment. I grade whether their answer is right or wrong, and I also use a rubric to evaluate their progression toward mastery. This was my first look at them (right or wrong). His explanation made me chuckle, lol.

Well, hello!

Greetings! It's been quite an eventful week. I know I said I'd post a video on Monday, but I really meant Wednesday. And by Wednesday, I mean as soon as I can find a program to blur my kids' faces. Does anyone know a program I can use? Maybe I fiddle with iMovie tomorrow.

I've had a very busy week so far. The construction workers kicked me out of my room early today. I was happy to leave, though, because I'll have new windows tomorrow!! I'm super excited. I will definitely post pictures. I'm writing it down and setting a reminder in my phone. My new windows are double exciting because I can finally bring my guinea pig back to school. Sparkles (the guinea pig) has been on "vacation" in South America since December of last year. The kids have been asking and asking about her.

Welp, it's late, and I have a ton to do. Pics tomorrow! ^_^

The Big 'AHA!': the push for academic vocabulary

My return to the upper grades brought great excitement and great anxiety. Teaching second grade isn't my favorite thing. However, one perk was that I was able to teach the entire year. Because our district is only provisionally accredited, everyone is super-duper, extra obsessed with testing and test scores. While I was excited to have older and more "able" students, it comes with a catch....all this standardized testing stress. Our first round of testing began with the STAR test. Our district uses it to track reading ability and progress. I was completely mortified when I received my data. Not because my kiddos bombed it, I just knew that they should've done better. I racked my brain about why they did not perform as well. And then it dawned on me, VOCABULARY.

So I've definitely been part of the problem. I use vocabulary. However, when that glazed look clouded their eyes and their mouths would open slightly, I was quick to repeat myself in 'lay kids' terms instead of referring to the many anchor charts around the room or their mini lesson hand-outs or their vocabulary flaps. I won't mention my word wall because I was terrible at using it authentically (Sadder school year). This year will be different, though. In an effort to push academic vocabulary and Tier 2 vocabulary words, I'm teaching it explicitly. The ladies over at Second Story Window were instrumental in helping me muddle through teaching second grade. Their blog was where I discovered jargon journals and the weekly words. I implemented both this year, and it's been fabulous. It warms my heart to hear my kiddos using their vocabulary words in conversation and writing. I also introduced the Shades of Meaning center (courtesy of Jen Jones). My kiddos absolutely adore it. I have a very social bunch, so this center is right up their alley.

I'm really excited to watch their progress. Of course, I have a video of a group who did a phenomenal job. They were the first group to actually do the center. It was absolutely amazing. Buuuuuut, I forgot my iPad at school, so I'll upload it on Monday.

Happy teaching!

Finally!

No more excuses! I've been telling myself and my wonderful boyfriend that I would start this blog for months. I had every excuse in the world for dragging my feet. "My blog doesn't look as good as everyone else's." "I'm not that interesting." "I don't have time." "No one is interested in my experience." Yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, today is the day that I commit because all of my excuses are simply mountains of nothing.

A little about me...My name is Jocelyn, and this is my third year teaching elementary. I taught third grade my first year. Second grade my second year, and I've looped back up to third (with most of my second grade students) this year. Speaking of looping, I'm totally sold on it. We hit our groove much sooner this year. A little about my school and school district....My school is unique, to say the least, especially given my overall district demographics. We have a high ESOL population. A little less than half (40-45%) of my students have been ELLs every single year. My school and school district is also considered high poverty. Eighty percent of my students receive free or reduced lunch. My school received the School Improvement Grant (SIG) 5 years ago. The grant provided additional funding to the lowest performing elementary, middle, and high schools in our school district. My first year teaching was the last year of the grant (3 years). We used to be one of the worst performing schools in our very large urban district. Now, we are on the verge of full accreditation. We earned 69.3 points two years ago. Schools must earn 70 points for full accreditation. That was gut wrenching to say the least. This past school year, we earned 68.9. Our drop was a little disappointing. However, a community school located close to ours closed, so we had to absorb quite a few students from that school in addition to a few charter schools that closed as well. Unforunately, many students were lacking basic skills when they came to us....collateral damage of a few dysfunctional schools. We've really turned the school around. I'm hoping and praying and working very hard to do my part, so that we can be fully accredited next year.

I do believe that's enough reading for now. I will be back in a little bit to chitter chat about academic vocabulary and the 'aha' moment I had on my way home from work at the beginning of the year.