Student Led Conferences Part II Thank you for signing up for student led conferences next week. Here is a little bit more information about this conference. Preparation: To prepare for student led conferences, students will be reviewing their work to select samples from each content area that they would like to showcase. This is a thoughtful process for students to reflect about their learning. Students will practice their presentation skills to gain confidence in explaining their selected works as well as why they were chosen. The Conference: The student is the presenter. The parents are the audience. The teacher is the timekeeper and the facilitator. Parent’s Role During the Conference: Please arrive on time with your child to the conference (it is preferred not to have younger siblings present so that the focus is on the student). ***Please ask probing questions! Students will have prepared to speak about their selected works, but it is very beneficial to ask them questions about why they were selected. Here are sample questions to ask: -What makes this your best work? -Why did you select this piece? -If you could go back and work more on this, what would you do? -What was important to you as you worked on this piece? -How does this relate to what you learned before? -What would you like someone to notice about you as a (math/reading/writing) student? -How can you use what you have learned in the real world? -What are you most proud of? -What has been a challenge? How did you work to overcome that challenge? |
| Technology Launch: This week, students have learned about how to use their district email, document sharing, kidblogs, and Typing Pal. With each of these, we will be practicing in class and library before there is any expectation to do these at home. I am glad to see so much enthusiasm about this! Please check out this Q&A about Google Apps used at home. Please read!     |
| Crew Learning Expedition: This week we have been using some expedition time to prepare for student led conferences. Students updated their portfolios with this year’s work, and tomorrow they will begin selecting work they want to share at conferences. Also, we began a mini-unit on geography that we will be working on through December. During a gallery walk, students brainstormed what they already know about this topic and what questions they have. HINTS AT HOME: If you can, please send in various kinds on maps and geographical books/puzzles for us to look at during the next two weeks. | Writing Workshop: Besides our launch of technology, we have been revisiting what makes a good sentence (capital, punctuation, spelling, clear idea of who/what and an action). We have been brainstorming why it is easy to identify a good sentence, but it seems challenging for this to transfer into our writing. Hmm! HINTS AT HOME: Ask students to do some writing at home. Ask them to show you what makes a good sentence. |
| Math: This unit expands our understanding of place value up to the millions. Students have done a great job with reading and comparing numbers with seven digits. HINTS AT HOME: Continue studying multiplication/division facts at home. There are tons of great internet/ipad/cell phone games/resources that make practicing these fun. | Reading/Language Workshop: We are building up to our new genre study, which still has not been revealed. To prepare for the study, we have been thinking about what things we love about books and what big things we remember about a book (which will develop into summarizing). HINTS AT HOME: Many students are choosing books that are too easy or too difficult. Check in to see that students are reading just right books at home! |
All School Meeting: On December 14th, our crew will be leading the all school meeting. Parents are always welcome to come to these! It is a fun way to see how we build culture and to see what is going on at Renaissance.
Spelling : In an effort for students to deepen their understanding of spelling patterns (not just for the weekly test but so that it transfers into their independent writing), I have asked that students begin doing weekly spelling practice homework. Students have a choice on what spelling practice they would like to do. As the year continues, I will add to this list. Spelling homework will be due on Wednesdays.
Book Orders: New scholastic book orders will go home on Friday. Please submit orders online by next Wednesday, December 7th, so that orders will be delivered before we leave for winter break. The website is www.scholastic.com/bookclubs and our class activation code is GP449.
Dec 5-9: Student Led Conferences (Don’t forget to sign up!)
Dec 14: Our Crew Leads All School Meeting
Dec 16: Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal
Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break
Jan 3: Teacher Work Day
Jan 4: Students Return to School
No comments:
Post a Comment