Check out the class story, The Common Sense Chronicles- Volume II, The Class Story. It was an awesome experience for me to write. I had a chance to create interesting stories where the characters had to learn or use their common sense to solve problems.
The characters in the story are very loosely based on the students. Obviously none of my students are doctors, mayors, foremen, mages, or hold any other ridiculous job yet. Some may aspire to be doctors, mayors, foremen or even mages and that is wonderful. Because none of the students hold those positions yet, I hope they will enjoy the shenanigans their fictional selves have found themselves in.
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Throughout the day the Brufftopians have had many opportunities to productively struggle. In fact, it is something we do often. In other words, we are doing LOTS of learning. We use what we've already learned to help up solve new problems, we also make meaning of the work we do and make connections to other ideas. Can you explain your process to solve the problem below? Now that the New Year has come & gone yet New Year goals are still on our minds, it's time to set some goals. What are you reading goals for the remainder of the year? How are you going to grow as a reader? How about in math? Are you going to push your thinking by being an independent learner?
Guidance Department is Doing Lessons in 4th GradeThe guidance department has begun a series of lessons in the classroom. The goal is to bring "Intent and Impact" to the fore front of students' minds. Although many students may know the difference between what intent and impact mean. Students are now learning that it is important to think about how we may intend for our words to mean one thing. But those words may come out and have an unexpected impact on others. Earlier this year the students completed the Week of Inspiration by Jo Boaler. Check out some other cool math lessons to get your math mindset readjusted, You Cubed. Below you'll be able to see a student sample of the connections between numbers.
I am so thankful for the students I have this school year. The Brufftopians have done so much this year and it is only November 26th. Some of the things we've accomplished this year include beginning Kid Blog, we wrote to pen pals, completed three units in math, units in reading & writing, but most importantly we've made incredible progress with our growth mindsets. At times, I have wanted to have a fixed mindset about things. I'll think to myself, "I am really good at giving feedback in math." Then, I've thought about how I see so many students embrace their growth mindsets and I remember that my effort and attitude determine things, not my ability. I'll adjust my thinking and rescript myself by saying, "Today I am going to find student exemplars to give context to my feedback." Implementing the growth mindset in the class was most evident yesterday in P.E. class. The students were given the opportunity to design a movement, perform the movement in front of every student and have each student guess what the movement was. Just thinking how much of a risk each student would have to take makes my head spin. Why? Because in order to have students guess what your movement was, first, someone would have to be okay with taking a risk, secondly, take a risk while standing in front of the whole class, thirdly, possibly be misunderstood and asked to do it again. The students knocked it out of the park. For me to watch and observe, I was impressed see studnet embrace the challenge and push through the difficultly. So when I was asked to do the same things as my students, I wanted to balk at the request. However, I changed my thinking and embraced a growth mindset. Check out some of the students as they exercise their growth mindsets and inspired me to do great things. Last night I completed the Tuesday row in my reading log. No need for a standing ovation or fun and exciting music. Why none of the fanfare? Because I am supposed to be reading every night. However, last night I over came lots of excuses and challenges. One such challenge I overcame was I really wanted to watch the Democratic Debate. Although I'd had enough screen time this weekend with all the football I watched, how could I turn down the opportunity to learn more about the potential future president of the United States of America? Knowing that I was expected to fill out the reading log, I buckled down, turned off the TV and laid down to read. It wasn't too hard for me to get lost in my book. Usually I am sucked into the story by the end of the first page. It must be because I am very impressionable. But last night, it took me about a sentence to get sucked into the Kingdom of Wisdom from the book The Phantom Tollbooth. I was almost done with the book so it was easy for me to keep reading until I finished. Once I finished reading The Phantom Tollbooth, I took ten minutes to rock my screaming baby back to sleep and started working to complete another book. I began reading The Orphan Master's Son. Knowing that I expect my students to read at least thirty minutes of a book in one sitting made my leap into the text worth while. I've been reading The Orphan Master's Son for a couple of weeks. Not because I was bored with the story. Not because I didn't have the time to complete the book. I had been reading the book for a number of weeks because I didn't want the story to end. I wanted to live the story for as long as possible. Setting aside the time to read really was enjoyable. I finished two books that were really good. One was a classic children's literature tale and the other was a Pulitzer Prize winner. Without having the dedicated time to read, I doubt I would have finished either one of those books. Now the question for tonight is, what book should I read? At back to school night a parent asked me how do we help our kids on homework. I answered the question by saying, "Ask you child to show you their process." However, A few days ago a student put my words into friendlier fourth grade words, "When I get stuck, I start with what I know." Give your child multiple chances to work or tinker with the problem and explain their thinking. See the chart below that is a good way for you to assist your child.
When I looked at the graphic, I realized the graphic doesn't just represent how to help your child with homework, it will also help you build an independent learner who is able to take risks. Try thinking about how you solve a difficult problem. Do you feel yourself going through the same steps? If so, then you can relate to your child and show the importance of persistence. |
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July 2016
A Noteworthy 4th Grade Bowman Blog
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