Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Track Santa with NORAD and google Earth

Hello all,

I hope that you are doing other things tonight, but just in case you hadn't heard, it is possible to track Santa tonight. NORAD satellites are following him and using google Earth to map out his last seen location. For techie geeks like me this is just too cool not to share.

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

You can click on his current location and see video of all kinds of locations he has already visited.

My kids just saw him visit Monaco and hustled it off to bed. I'm off to read "The Night Before Christmas " and "The Christmas Orange."

My very best to you all, and may the season bring you joy and laughter!

Kathy Napier

Monday, December 1, 2008

Ouf! Some day!

Anyone will tell you that it is harder to teach in December, but it is only the first and it is hard to keep the students on-task. This afternoon was not our best.

There is a disjunct right now between what the students need to learn and their perceptions of how they are doing. I am having a hard time convincing some students to take ownership of their learning, and to see that there is progress that has to be made. Many seem to believe they are already fine, and there is no reason to improve their work. In some cases, they are actually arguing with me about the content, insisting that they already understand concepts they are simply fouling up.

In all this, the student who wants to learn has a hard time being heard.

Report cards go home this week, and I will be meeting with many of you Thursday night. I hope that you will have had a chance to read thorugh the comments and discuss them with your child. I know that some of the comments will be unexpected.

It would be easier to stick my head in the sand and overlook what is hard to address, but it would do the students an injustice. I have a professional responsibility to call them as I see them, as unpleasant as that is right now. And although it will be unpleasant to hear, the students have to meet me half-way.

So, the question to ask your child - are they putting in their best, or just putting in their time?

See you soon,
Kathy Napier

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Fractions Fractions Everywhere!

Hello Class!

You have been working so hard naming fractions, creating fractions, and comparing fractions. How about a little fraction fun?

Try out these sites in the link at the right:

Cyberchase

Fraction Flags

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/fractionflags/ffthirds.html

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/equivalentfractions/index.html

Each site has games that help you to name, recognize and create fractions, and the site will tell you if your work is correct.

Have fun!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Mini-Project: Drummondville and Our School

Hello Families,

This week, following up on the work we started with Ricky Raccoon, we will be continuing a mini-project on Drummondville and D.E.S.. In our project, we are trying to answer 2 main questions:

What is special about Drummondville?

What is special about our school?

This project is allowing me to assess the research and teamwork skills the students possess. Different students will have different foci, and we will work together to complete the overall project as a Voicethread (you can see this using the Ricky link under "Learning Sites") and perhaps as an iMovie or podcast depending on how the work unfolds.

Also, a family asked for information about Magazine subscriptions for their children. I have added some links in the parent section to some magazines the kids really enjoy. Maybe just in time for Christmas ;)

Have a great week,
Kathy

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

RICKY RACCOON IS HERE!

Today our class welcomed Ricky Raccoon, a puppet that is travelling around the province visiting English schools. We have him for 3 days.

In those three days, we need to put together a part of Ricky's project. We must share information about our school and our town.

What should we say?

Tonight I am changing the homework. Please talk about what makes our school special, and why our town is a great place.

Please write your ideas in your yellow exercise book. We need to work on this right away, since Ricky leaves Friday!

Let's see what we can put together!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

October 21st: Update + games

Hello Families,

Things are rolling along, and with the students I am putting together a list of what we expect to see in their writing. Look for it in the coming days, and next week they will have to polish a text they wrote using the criteria we establish.

As well, students have a new response assignment this week, responding to the poem "Something Told the Wild Geese." You should see them use their dictionaries for this assignment.

I spoke recently with the mother of one of the students about using board games and card games to practice math skills and different strategies. A couple of games I find very good are:

Blokus (visual spatial strategies, planning skills)
Tock (calcualtion practice, planning, teamwork)
Labyrithne (visual spatial skills, planning)
Zoologic (visual, process of elimintation, working backwards)
Crazy 8 (planning, assessing multiple criteria)
Guess Who (looking for criteria, asking questions, eliminating information guess and test)
Puzzles (visual organization, sorting, classifying, working backwards, elimination, guess and test, looking for patterns...)

Many games can be found all over town, but the mother of a former student of mine works in the children's section of Renaud-Bray, and she is wonderful about finding games that stimulate and are fun to play. I don"t know if she would appreciate my mentioning her on the blog, but ask me and I will tell you who to look for.

Which games do you play with your kids? Let's build this list together.
Have a great week,
Kathy

Monday, October 6, 2008

Happy Monday!

Hello Families,
I had a great day with the students. We had to work on the Ministry Math exam, but apart from that we had a great discussion about a favorite book of mine, 'Whose Mouse are You?' by Robert Kraus, and we worked on grammar and text response using the book as a springboard. It was interesting to hear the students express their ideas and to share opinions with each other.

This week there are a few particular things I want to call you attention to:

*Interim Reports went home today - they need to be signed and sent back to school

*Cross-Country Run will take place Wednesday for students involved. I will accompany them to the race, and we will have a supply teacher for those who stay behind.

*Thursday the nurse from the CSSS (former CLSC) will be giving the students a 2-hour first aid course.

* There have been cases of lice in the school. Please tie up long hair to help prevent lice spreading.

* Back to school time is now over, but it is a good time of year to have your child's eyes checked. Exams are free for children under 12 years,and recommended for all, particularly if one or both parents wear glasses. At this age it is important to keep track of this, especially if your child complains of headaches.

As always, please ensure that your child reads every night, adn you can keep track of homework using the link on the right.

All my best to you! Have a wonderful week,
Kathy Napier

Monday, September 29, 2008

Ministry of Education Math Exam

This morning the students began the end of cycle 2 math exam created by the Ministry of Education. I received this test last week and was asked to give it as soon as possible.

This exam consists of 6 "short" questions - 15-45 minutes each, and one "long" question which is explored over 4 days.

This exam is intended to measure what students learned in cycle 2. Therefore there is no need to study or review, since we want to know what the students remember and assimilated from the grade 3 and 4 program.

Please help your child stay relaxed about the exam, and keep in mind that the data about student performance is used to help improve instruction. Each student's performance gives us an idea of what they know and what they need to improve, but it is not the only evaluation I will do. The exam is marked by teams of teachers from many different schools at a later date.

Since we are doing so much math in class, I am not assigning homework this week. I am not allowed to preview questions or assign work that will invalidate the test results, so please do not ask for reinforcement at home for now. I will be able to review and remediate after the test is complete.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Best,
Kathy Napier

Note: the instructions on what happens to the tests vary from year to year, but in general we are allowed to share the results and then must file the tests. Last time I gave the test (2 years ago) we put them in the portfolio. Right now I don't know when they will be 'officially' corrected - that is, by a team of teachers who do not correct their own student's exams, and therefore are unbiased. I'll keep you informed!
K

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Computers!

The students were very happy to see their computers today, and the laptops are all in and charging. However, it is important to know that this year the school and parents have to pay for damages that were covered under warrenty before. We'll need to be more careful than ever!

Yesterday I was in Montreal at a LEARN Quebec workshop on collaboration and technology. The idea is to connect teachers and students through technology and to explore the ways in which such connections can improve student learning. I am involved for the year, and hope to share my projects as well as be involved with other teachers and what they are doing in their classes. I'll keep you posted.

it is important for you to know that the ibooks will be coming home form time to time, but only when there is an assignment stduents need to complete. There are many other "low tech" activities students of their age should be engaged in, and will all the "screen time" our kids have it is important to make sure that we use the computer in novel ways, and not just as a word processor. When we use it, it is as a learning tool and to do something we cannot do as well in another medium.

What do you think, as parents? How do you feel about homework on the laptops? You can leave comments here.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Things are moving forward!

Hello families,

Just a quick note to let you know that things are moving forward, and students are adapting to the routines of the class. They are all trying very hard to do what I ask, and participation is high. You have lovely children!

Thank you also to parents for keeping tabs on the homework and signing notes in the agendas. It helps things run so much more smoothly in class.

We are all looking forward to our outing to the Sherbrooke Science and Natre Museum next week, please send permission forms as soon as you can.

Also, we need a photo of your child for a classroom assignment - 4" by 6" is ideal. Please send it as soon as you can, and please send a note if you cannot so that I can plan for alternate arrangements. I don't want to say too much - I want the students to be able to surprise you with their work!

My best to you,
Kathy Napier

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A word about homework...

Good evening all,

This morning I had a very unpleasant surprise when 8 of 28 students arrived with untouched math homework. Not work that was too hard for them (because they completed it well in class and when called upon to give answers), but work that they did not even begin.

There were various explanations given.

My philosophy on homework is that it should provide reasonable practice of the skills and information we are using in class. It is NEVER new work the students haven't seen before, and ususally practice for what we have done in class that day.

It isn't busy-work, and it is important.

In order to make sure the students know what they have to do, we write the date on the page of work, and we write in the agenda that there is work to be done. In this way, students have seen the page of work and know where to find it. As a parent you can identify it by the date.

Math homework is always due to next day, since we need to correct and review before going on to new concepts. Math homework is found in the exercise book or in the green duotang.

Language Arts homework is usually assigned on Monday and collected Thursday, giving the students several nights to complete their work. Notebooks will vary depening on the assignment.

Reading is to be done every night, because every piece of educational research related to reading done in the last fifty years states that consistent and frequent practice of reading is the most important 'work' that students can do to improve their language skills and general learning. Read every day, and if even if you do nothing else, have them read. Read for pleasure. Read alone or together, but please read.

Homework in other subjects is rare and will be given ample time to complete.

If for some reason your child cannot complete their homework (appointments, unexpected events, practices and lessons), please let me know this in a short note in the agenda. I will always accept such notes, because they let me know that you are aware there WAS homework, and it wasn't possible to complete it.

It is very important to your child's schooling that you are informed of their progress. If they have not done their homework, I take three steps to correct the situation:

The FIRST time homework is not done:
I send a note home in the agenda, to be signed by a parent (please, not a babysitter or grandparent unless they are the legal guardian).
This solves the problem most of the time.

The SECOND time homework is not done:
Your child and I will call you, from school, to let you know the work is not done and to see if we can find a solution to this situation.
This generally solves most homework issues.

The Third time a student's homework is not done:
I call and ask for a meeting with you to discuss your child's progress in school and how to accomodate homework in your lifestyle.
I have had to do this only once since beginning teaching in 1998.

The reason I do this, instead of, say, giving detention, is that I cannot supervise the completion of homework - I can only assure that your child works in class. Homework is, by definition, to be done at home. It is a way for you to know what your child is learning, and to supervise and participate in their learning in a one-on-one way which is not possible in the classroom.

If you are having a hard time getting your child to do the homework, there are different strategies and approaches we can discuss, so please contact me and it will be my pleasure to speak with you.

If you have comments or questions, please feel free to respond to this post, or to contact me directly.

My best to you and your families, I am off to bed!
Kathy Napier

Monday, September 8, 2008

The First Full Week Back at School

Hello Everyone,

It was wonderful to see all the students last week, and to start to get to know everyone. Thank you to all the parents who sent in the materials requested. Having an organized classroom helps us focus more of our time on learning!

In this first full week we can leave the organization of materials behind and begin to concentrate on developing strong work habits, knoweldge of routines and procedures, and appropriate English communication. In everything we do I am assessing the students' knowledge and skills, and as a result we will be touching on many different concepts over the next few weeks.

In math we are working with large numbers, and the unit will review the following concepts and skills:
rounding and estimation
reading and writing large numbers
place value, standard notation, expanded form
calculation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
and the Metric System.

As well, we will be working on developing strategies for answering word problems fully and completely. Ask you child to tell you what 3 things word problem solutions must have in order to receive 3 points!

In Language Arts I will be reviewing writing skills and reading strategies, as well as developing vocabulary and correct grammar while having the students write about themselves and read books that are a "good fit." It is my intention to individually evaluate each student's reading skills this month so that we can use a guided reading program which is matched to each student's abilites. I can begin to do this as soon as the class is autonomous and responsible enough to work on their own while I read with each child.

Your child will be bringing home a book he or she chose to read, please ensure they ready for at least 20 minutes each night, either aloud to you or alone. When they are reading, we want to make sure they can do three things:
-that they can remember text information accurately
-that they can infer information (read between the lines)
-that they can think critically about what they have read.
If your child has trouble with any aspect of this, it may be that the book they are reading is too hard, or that they need to develop different reading strategies.

That's enough for today! I need to get correcting, but please feel free to comment or ask questions about this post, either by email at napierk@ped.etsb.qc.ca, in a note or by phone. It is my pleasure to speak with you about your child!

Warm Regards,
Kathy Napier

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Welcome to Cycle 3!

In just over a day, I will welcome my students back to a new school year, and into a new class. Although I know many of the students already (since we are such a small school), I am looking forward to getting to know them and to working together for the following 10 months.

As a parent, I always want to know more about how my children spend their days, and I want to participate in their education as much as I can. Over the years I have met hundreds of parents, each of whom has been as involved as they can be given everything they have to do. I wanted to make it easier to have a dialogue about what is happening at school, and give parents a chance to participate and have information about what their children are learning.

This blog is an experiment for me. I hope that this allows us to communicate more easily, and to exchange ideas among students, teachers, and parents. Over It is a place to post comments and questions, and for the students and I to share our work. It is a dynamic document, meant to grow and change according to how we want to use it, and meant to reflect what we do and what is important to us.

Please take the time to subscribe and comment - your participation will guide how this develops.

All my best wishes for a wonderful school year,
Ms. Kathy Napier