Subtraction strategies!

We are working on subtraction strategies. It is very important to realize as a parent (and a teacher!) that the traditional North American algorithm (columns with regrouping) is NOT the only or best or fasted way to solve large-digit subtraction. It may seem that way because for many adults, it was the only strategy that we learned in school.

Some of the other strategies that we'll be exploring at school include: Base 10 blocks, Decomposing, Number Line (why subtract when you can add?), friendly numbers and anything else that students come up with that works every time!

I was taught in school the traditional algorithm (cross out the number, borrow from the next), but after learning so many new strategies, I'm never going back!

Check out this video of a teacher explaining 16 different ways to subtract!


 

 

Read. Read. Read.

The biggest concern of parents of children in a French Immersion classroom is that they [the parents] don’t speak French and don't think they'll be able to help their child with homework. In an attempt to ease that concern and bridge a better connection between home and school, I send home monthly “tips” in my newsletters.

FOSTER A LOVE OF READING!

Read with your children at least once a day (in ANY language) for at least 20 minutes. Have a family reading time - where everyone reads.

Continue reading aloud to your child even if they can read by themselves. Even if they are in grade 4 or 6 or 12.

Explore books together. Ask questions, explore character motivations and themes. Point out new vocabulary or ideas. Make connections to your lives.

Vary the text. Reading does not only have to be chapter books. It can also be with non-fiction texts such as science experiments, instruction manuals, magazines, cookbooks, comic books, movie/music/book/game reviews. menus, song lyrics, catalogues, blogs, food & product labels, brochures and newspapers. Try an audio book! Respect the genre your child chooses (even if you are scared of snakes or cannot stand princesses!)

Tell stories together orally. Talk about your family genealogy, or vacation memories. Record yourselves!

Set up a reading space in your home and make sure everyone uses it. Build a great home library. Keep reading materials in the bathroom, in the car, in bedrooms and near the tv!

Be a good reading role model. Let your children see what you are reading - share interesting things you’ve read about in books, magazines, online or in newspapers. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read and your reaction to reading has a huge influence on your child as a reader.

Visit bookstores and libraries. Get a library card, take advantage of programming and explore new authors and genres together.

Ask your child what he or she is reading, and encourage discussion.

Go places and do things together to build their background knowledge and vocabulary. This will give them a stronger basis for things they read.

Be knowledgable about your child’s progress. Find out what reading skills and strategies they are expected to have at each grade level. Talk to your child's teacher.

Add some Writing!  Provide lots of writing materials (paper, pencils, pens, markers, staplers, hole punches, yarn...) Write grocery lists, thank-you cards, posters, family newsletters, make books....

The Set-Up: What My Classroom Says About Me...

To desk or not to desk?  No teacher desk. I haven't had one in years. I have some shelves with teacher books and curriculum documents, as well as unused science/social studies texts. I have a horseshoe guided reading table to work at (I keep my laptop on it) and a couple of cupboards and drawers behind it to store some of my stuff.  I don't need any more space than that. I felt that when I had a desk I just used it to dump things on and shove stuff in. It wasn't useful and I quickly got rid of it.

Tables or desks: I wish I had tables.  I have desks set up in groups. I rarely teach a lesson with the kiddos at their desks. It makes it seem like I am talking to more kids than there actually art. I like them on the carpet in front of me. I sometimes sit with them on the floor, or stand/sit in a chair. I feel much more confident when I am taller than my students. For most work, students have the opportunity to work wherever they want in the classroom. I have camping chairs, a plethora of stools and ottmen, a bunch of pillows and a couple of carpets. Students are usually at "their desk" for artwork and eating.

What's on your walls?  There isn't much....yet. We create anchor charts together as a class and put them up as we create them. Since I do have 13 of the same kids as last year, I've kept some of the anchor charts - since technically we did create them together so that they can continue to refer to until I "re-teach" it to the entire class. Some teachers still put up motivational quote posters, but I can't stand them. Even if I did like them, you can't find them in French anywhere.

Are you in the room?  Not really. There is a picture of me with silly glasses on the door with the rest of my class. I suppose it would be nice to have a picture of Rob & Eli somewhere, but I don't - just like the students don't have photos of their families on their desks. My writer's notebook has some photos of them plastered on the cover.  I have a class photo from each of the classes that I've taught along the top of my Religion board, and a couple of sculptures (past art projects), my rubber chicken and my stuffed Domo (class pet) on some high shelves.

Which way do your desks face?  I keep my desks in groups. It saves space, my kids are (quiet) hard workers and we do a lot of group work. If they turn their heads one way they see the SMARTboard, and if they look the other way, they see the white boards. But as I mentioned, most mini-lessons happen from the carpet or at the small group table.

Are there places for the students to work that doesn't include their desks?  They can work wherever they feel that they work best and stay on task. They choose.

Can they get what they need?  I keep containers of things (pencil crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, staplers, tape, pens, glue, paper clips, paper) all at the writing shelves. They can grab it if they need it. Unless it gets trashed or abused, they have access.

Where are those rules?  I don't have rules/consequences posted anywhere. The first week of school we practice routines over and over again. We also discuss and internalize our classroom rules (My most important two: Listen to instructions the first time and SPEAK IN FRENCH). We practice and practice. If at anytime throughout the year the expectations are not met, we'll stop and review again - but my kids are pretty great.

Where's the tech?  We have a SMARTboard and 4 classroom computers. We have a class iPad and a FLIP video camera. I often have my camera at school too. The kids become very comfortable with the gadgets quickly. This year we'll be blogging, tweeting, animating, playing math games, listening to audio books, creating photo and video projects and doing a lot of media literacy. I think we'll try skyping with Rob's class too!

guiding questions from: Pernilleripp

One month in

I am back to the land of hilarious grade 3 teeth and crazy eyeball glasses.

My kids are lovely, my classroom has been made over and I have received lots of love from my co-workers.

I’ve organized the science fair, gotten back into the arts scene, taught my kids the writing process and done some mad assessments in the past month (and snuck in a March Break.)

I’m baaaaaack!

I  love teaching. If you read my blog before Eli was born, you’d have noticed that I have a passion for it. My dream job really. My co-workers are awesome. We laugh and laugh and laugh together (and cry and commiserate together too).  I get dressed up and wear make-up and fancy shoes and not have to carry around a diaper bag. I feel really confident and happy. I get to be “Mme” and “Lindsay” for a few hours and let go of “Maman” (although students occasionally slip and call me mom). I’m not crawling around on the floor picking up dropped cheerios, making sure the toilet seat is down and plants are out of reach.  I also get a break from trying to change a dirty diaper in warp speed before Eli squirms away on me. Going back to work has also gotten me out of my lazy rut and I no longer feel like a cleaning lady. I love spending time with my baby, but I truly feel that I am a better mom to Eli when I am being fulfilled in other areas of my life. The best part of my day is coming home to my sweet baby. His face lightens up when he hears my voice and he crawls with all his might to me for a big hug and snuggle all night long. My priorities are different. I don’t spend my evenings planning for school, instead I spend time with my family.

There are some things I really miss about Maternity leave (besides being with my wee boy all day). Waking up before 9am is really hard. Especially with a baby all snuggled up next to you. I really miss my morning (and afternoon) nap. I also really miss my impromptu visits with my best friends and their baked goods.

The Next Chapter

This time last year I was apprehensive of being away from my passion for an entire year. I didn’t want to stop teaching. Teaching inspired me, motivated me, challenged me, excited me and brought out the best of me. It also fostered my creativity and shoved me completely out of my comfort zone. I loved the thrill of a zillion projects on the go and making lists and schedules and newsletters and mini-lessons. I also liked collaborating with teachers and modelling lessons and daily staffroom banter. I knew that I was going to miss it.

The other part of me was giddy to begin my new role as baby maman. I knew that I was going to have a year unlike any that I have had before. And I was right. It started off with a teensy little newborn in my arms and is ending with a baby zooming around the living room and talking up a storm. I couldn’t have imagined today back then. In those early wintery months, I spent days on end in pjs with Eli sleeping on my chest while I watch Saved By The Bell and the Golden Girls. He ate a lot (and we overcame some breastfeeding challenges together), napped infrequently (the bouncy chair was a saviour) and cried if he wasn’t near me.

I found a passion for cloth diapering, grew a collection of wraps/slings/carriers, found a deeper love and appreciation for my hubby, renewed self-esteem about my body (I was proud of my mama doughiness), met best friends through La Leche League and fell in love with sharing a bed with my entire family. We went on picnics, made scenes, went swimming, had playdates, took photos, rode the streetcar, traveled north and south, read lots of books and sang lots of songs, and most importantly formed a trusting relationship with each other.

Like teaching, mothering inspires me, motivates me, challenges me, excites me and brings out the best of me. It has fostered my creativity and shoved me completely out of my comfort zone.

But I think it is time for the next chapter. I feel similar feelings as I did a year ago. I will miss being home with my baby tremendously, but I am giddy to resume my role as Mme Wright. I might not put in as many hours planning for my class as I once did, and I’ll squeeze my extra-curriculars in during recesses instead of after school, but I will have a fresh new perspective in my profession. I think that is a good thing. xo.

“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” – Buddha (via a Being Erica episode)