It all started with a flying monkey...

My sweet little flying monkey

Your child may have come home last week to tell you about how my flying monkey went missing.  They probably told you about the threat of EVERYONE receiving a consequence if it wasn't found by the end of the day.  They probably told you how it showed up out of the blue in Mrs. Kinley's book basket at the 11th hour and let everyone off the hook.  Well, as crazy as that sounds...its mostly true.  My monkey did go missing.  He was recovered in Mrs. Kinley's room at the very end of the day.  What the students don't know (or didn't until just before this post was published) is that I orchestrated the entire scenario.  I even went so far as to involve Mr. Ashley, Mrs. Kinley and the admins.  It is part of a social experiment that I do every year about this time.  The experiment is designed to cause suspicion as well as a little panic among the students.  I let them off the hook before the school day is over because I don't want them to lose sleep over this, but I do want them to have a slightly uncomfortable experience at school.


We will begin reading The Salem Witch Trials - an unsolved mystery from history by Jane Yolen this week.

 The purpose of the experiment is to let the students experience just a small taste of what it felt like in colonial Massachusetts in 1692.  It is always interesting to see what happens throughout the day.  As I suspected, students were very nervous throughout the day.  Many came to me with accusations and suspicions.  Some were even over heard saying that they were going to confess so everyone wouldn't get in trouble.  These are some of the very same reactions that occurred in 17th century New England.

During this nine weeks we will be reading a lot of non fiction texts.  The focus will be on finding evidence in the text to answer questions.  This sounds easy enough, but believe it or not, the students really struggle with this.

Students will also complete a tic-tac-toe project this nine weeks.  It is worth 100 points.  Students have already completed 40 points of the project in class through our Puritan research.  All students who researched, wrote notes and sufficiently shared their information with their team received full credit.  The rest of the project is independent.  There are 8 more choice the students can make to equal 100 points.

We will put things in high gear when we return from Thanksgiving break.  We only have a few days left to get things done before our Christmas break comes.  I wish you all a very safe and happy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy your week.  Just to make you smile, here is a fun video to watch.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

OH! The world owes me a living....

I remember when I was a kid, there was an old Disney cartoon about Aesop's the grasshopper and the ants.   The ant spent all summer gathering food and storing it away for the winter while the grasshopper just sat around and played music.  The song he played was, "Oh, the world owes me a living...(insert violin music here)." The video was part of Disney's Silly Symphonies shorts.  We had just gotten cable TV (yes, I'm a child of the 80's) and Disney channel was new, so I watched it every afternoon.   I have included a YouTube link of the video (just for nostalgia's sake).

The grasshopper spent his entire spring/summer playing and singing with no thought about how he would prepare for winter.  He felt entitled to have his summers free from work. He couldn't be bothered by work.  It was "foolishness" to him.  However, when winter came, he found himself in dire straits.  He was cold and hungry.   As he drug himself to the ants' colony, he peeked inside to see the ants all feasting and enjoying the fruits of their labor.  Grasshopper weakly knocked on the door and was carried inside and nursed back to health by the kind and generous ants that he had earlier mocked and ridiculed.  When the queen ant saw the grasshopper among her colony, she said to him, "With ants, only those who work can stay.  So take your fiddle....and play."  The queen was quick to remind the grasshopper that he was still responsible to earn his keep in some way.  He had to somehow contribute to the feast.  The grasshopper's talents were then enlisted to liven up the festivities.  We never find out if the grasshopper really learned his lesson and went on to work through the next summer, but I think that Aesop and Disney would want us to infer that moral.

Entitlement is an issue that we hear a lot about these days. Entitlement encompasses two attitudes: (1) I am exempt from responsibility, and (2) I am owed special treatment.  In other words, I don't have to do my part, and I should get special treatment.

Many of us have "grasshoppers" in our lives. Perhaps it is a co-worker, family member or friend who wants you to wave a hand over their situation and fix their problems.  Maybe your child, despite your best parental efforts, has chosen a path of laziness.  They feel they deserve special treatment with no responsibility.  I am not exempt from "grasshoppers" myself.  I have a sibling who is a perpetual "grasshopper".  I also fight this battle at home with my own children.  We all want our children to do well and maybe have things or do things we didn't have the opportunity to do.   It is a struggle as a parent to find the balance. The difficulty comes in trying to teach them that what they have comes from work or effort of some kind.  It is not "owed" to them just because they were born into this world.  My husband and I want our children to understand that and we hope that we are teaching them correctly.

As an educator, I see many, many grasshoppers.  I see it in all ages and all socio-economic areas.  There is an epidemic among young people of entitlement.  I feel as an educator it is part of my job to show students that their grades, behavior, etc. are all related to their choices.  I say time and time again, "I don't give grades-you earn them."  "I don't give marks, your choices determine your behavior marks."  Don't get me wrong...many students will own their choices-both good and bad.  However, there are always a few that want to throw me under the bus, so to speak.  Their failure on the test or project, their inability to attend the behavior reward party is all due to some fault of someone else.  They plead this case to their parents and even to me or my colleagues in an attempt to get a different result.

Our job as parents is to be our child's advocate.  If we don't speak up for them and defend them, then who will? RIGHT? Absolutely!  I have been guilty myself of jumping to the wrong conclusion about a situation.  I have emailed teachers to ask questions and receive clarification.  I have called assistant principals to ask about a recess or lunchroom issue.  But I ALWAYS look for my child's responsibility in the situation.  Believe me, as good as my kids are, they are NOT perfect.  They do things that embarrass me and make me question my parenting sometimes.  I am not immune.  I learned the hard way how tough crow is to swallow.  So, (keeping with my growth mindset) I learned from my mistakes and I approach issues in a different manner...so as not to make a fool of myself.

I was reading just the other day and came across a post about entitlement by Dr. John Townsend.  He has written a book called The Entitlement Cure.  In this post, he discusses the Biblical story of Naaman and Elisha.  In this story he describes how Naaman, a powerful man, was offended by Elisha's instructions to come wash in the river to cure his leprosy.  Naaman expected Elisha to come to him, say a few "magic" words and he would be cured.  He felt entitled.

Dr. Townsend goes on to say that the way to cure entitlement starts with compassion.  In the post I read, he gave three tips on how to help entitled people (of any age).  I have listed them below.

1. Be truly "for" them.  Entitled people need support.  Even when they are driving you crazy, frustrating you, and making you feel helpless, they still need elements of grace.  We all have failed and need second and third chances.  This will help you have mercy and identify with the person, keeping you away from being judgmental or giving up too soon.
2. Be clear about your expectations.  Entitlement often causes people to not listen well to requirements and to others' needs and expectations.  Because those things don't support their view of themselves as special and above the rules, they tend to dismiss them.  Do all you can to defeat this dismissive attitude by being unmistakable in what you want from them.  Whether it is specifically defining a payment plan or writing out a goal for their future career path, err on the side of being over-clear.  Clarity requires that you don't assume anything in your relationship with your entitled person.  (Just a quick aside-THIS IS WHAT I TRY TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM!!!! I TRY TO MAKE ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS CLEAR SO THAT STUDENTS ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT I WANT FROM THEM!)
3. Find health.  Look for friends, churches, counselors and coaches who are full of grace and truth and who could be a resource for your entitled person. Finding your entitled friend, co-worker, child this kind of help isn't being codependent or enabling.  It is supporting them.  It is doing something for them that they can't do well for themselves. 

-Dr. John Townsend, The Entitlement Cure

Entitlement is not an incurable epidemic.  It won't be fixed by a wave of a hand.  It will take patience, consistency, and compassion to help those who feel entitled become who they were meant to be. We don't want the people we love to get stuck on the escalator.  Watch this humorous video to understand.

I look forward to seeing you at parent/teacher conferences this week.  As I said in our last post, we ARE all in this together.  We are a TEAM united to give our students the best education and provide the best possible future for them. 

Happy reading-

Mrs. Tipton

One down...3 to go!

Can you believe we've already been in school for a whole nine weeks?  Friday marks the last day of the quarter.  It has gone by like a whirlwind!!  I guess time flies when you are having fun.

It has certainly been a busy nine weeks.  We have read 2 novels, completed a project, increased our vocabulary, and learned to identify eight different types of figurative language.

I was pleased to see that, so far, the majority of the projects have been very well done.  I have had more A's and B's on these than I have in the past.  I hope that continues to be the trend.  I'm glad that most of the students took this assignment seriously, listened to my instruction in class and applied it to their work.

We will be jumping into a non-fiction unit next month.  I hope to be able to do some really interesting things in class that will engage the students and get them excited about our study.

If you have not purchased a copy of Tuck Everlasting and would like to do so, you have until October 26.  I will send off the book orders then.  It would be very beneficial for your child to have a copy of the book.  The project that goes with that nine weeks will be a lot easier for them if they can highlight or mark pages and specific evidence in their book.  Of course, this is NOT a requirement.  It is just a suggestion to help make things a little easier on the kids.  This month I can purchase the text for $1.

And some FANTASTIC news to report....ACCELERATED READER IS NOW WORKING AT FMIS!!!!!  Students have taken their STAR test in my class.  I will add this assessment to the others that I have done so that I have a better understanding of where students are in their reading abilities.  Students are now REQUIRED to take AR tests over books that they read and finish.  By Friday, students must take a quiz over Holes and their fantasy novels.  We will take an AR quiz over The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe after we discuss and review next week.

Again, thanks for all the support you give me.  It won't be long...this year will be over in the blink of an eye.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Responsiblility or Accountability?

"Accountability is something that is left when responsibility has been subtracted." -Pasi Sahlberg

I think this quote is amazingly accurate.  When one is responsible, accountability is not necessary.  It is almost the end of the first quarter.  Many students have acclimated themselves to the "5th grade lifestyle" so to speak.  They remember to follow procedures, do their assignments, and participate in class.  These students understand that the bar is high and they are rising to the occasion.  These children are being responsible for their education.  They do not need to me to continually remind them to do what is necessary.  Accountability is not required.

Unfortunately, this is not a unanimous occurrence.    There are a few students who are behaving in an irresponsible manner.  They come to class without their materials...OFTEN.  They "forget" to do their assignments.  These children even fail to follow the procedures (example:  completing their agenda) that are repeated in ALL THREE CLASSES.  This is when I have to hold them accountable.

As of today, I have a total of 12 grades in the grade book.  I have another 5 or 6 coming before the end of the quarter.  Students have been given several opportunities to correct or override some mistakes or poor scores.  One of these opportunities was the reading log.  This was worth 100 points. It is the EASIEST assignment I will ever give.  Students just have to read and write down what they read on 20 different dates.  I want them to read EVERYDAY, but they only have to write down 20 of those days.  That's it.  They can read a book, a bible study, a magazine, newspaper, Internet article...anything with words!  Even studying for another test is reading...IT COUNTS!  When students are not responsible and fail to complete or turn this in, it results in a traumatic decline in their overall score.  For example....one student had a 55% because he/she failed to turn in his/her reading log.  Had he/she turned it in, his/her score would have been a 71%.  A reading log could be the difference in passing or failing a nine weeks.  Please encourage your child to do this assignment.  Hold them accountable if they are not responsible.  I promise it is an important assignment.

Back to classroom responsibilities:

I have added independent work centers to my daily routine.  In these centers, students are expected to complete their word study practice, check over it, and ask me any questions for clarification.  We do a "check point" on Wednesdays because we do not have work centers on that day since it is our library day.  After word study is completed, students move on to writers' workshop.  In writing workshop, students choose a prompt or topic and write according to the directions given.  Students are generally given a full 5 days to 1.) write a rough draft, 2.) self-revise and edit, 3.) peer revise and edit, 4.) write a corrected final draft.  At this time, these are the only work centers we are implementing.  The goal is to make sure students understand the procedures for these two centers so that they are independent of me.  My role during this 30 minutes will eventually be to meet with small groups to work on skills that those students need to improve.  The rest of the class will need to be responsible for their own work so that I can work with these students for an uninterrupted amount of time.

I know 5th grade is an adjustment for kids.  We work with them, remind them, encourage them...we want them to be successful.  However, at some point, they have to take responsibility for their education.  They have to decide whether or not it is important.  They have to see the value in it.  You and I can hold them accountable because they are minors and are not mature enough to make every decision on their own. We just need to work together so that they understand that it is their responsibility to take advantage of this educational opportunity that is available to them.

As the gang at East High would say, "We're all in this together!" (It's a High School Musical reference-just in case you didn't have a daughter who was obsessed with the movies)

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

I'll worry about it tomorrow...

PROCRASTINATION....I think at one point or another, everyone has procrastinated.  I'm really bad about putting off grocery shopping until we are literally out of food in the house...I hate it!

However, procrastination on school projects can cause undesired grades.  I have seen it time and time again.  In the past, parents have spoken to me at P/T conferences to tell me how their child stayed up until midnight the night before some project was due and threw something together so that they wouldn't get a zero.   I promise those students NEVER made an A on the assignment.  The work just wasn't quality.

I am a deadline person.  If I have a project or assignment that is not due for several weeks or months, I set deadlines for portions of it in my calendar.  This keeps me on track and allows me to handle the assignment in managable chunks.  I tried to help the kids create deadlines for this first assignment.  I posted them on the board, had them write it in their agendas, and posted it to our blog calendar.

I want my students to succeed.  My expectations are high.  I only want their very BEST work and anything less will result in poorer scores.  Waiting until the last minute will not provide me with the students' best work.

Even though Scarlett O'Hara told us that, "Tomorrow is another day," we don't need to put our assignments and projects off too long...set deadlines and keep them.  It will pay off in the end.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Time Flies When Your Having Fun!

Can you believe half of the first quarter is already over?!  It has been a whirlwind so far!!!  We are really getting to the heart of literacy.  We are reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  There are many skills that we are picking up as we read this novel.  We are also learning how to use Greek and Latin roots to figure out unknown words within our texts.  I have explained to the students that these word study units are not about memorization...I want them to understand and apply their knowledge of these words.

I have really been trying to focus on growth mindsets in class.  For many children this is the first time that school work has been a challenge.  Some students may be receiving the first C, D, or F in their school career.  It is traumatic for them.  I do understand this.  Because 5th grade is such a challenge and expectations are high,  I am trying to remind them that mistakes are opportunities to grow.  I am trying to explain to them that facing challenges allow us to have those "WOW! I did it!" moments.

I am wanting to post this bulletin board somewhere in the room.  These are phrases that you can use or remind your child to use to help their mindset.  THEY CAN DO THE WORK!!!!  Fifth grade is a challenge, but I know they can rise to it!!

Please...if you have any concerns at all, contact me....I only want the best for my students.

Until then-
Happy reading,
Mrs. Tipton

Why Reading Logs?

I am often asked why I insist on reading logs in my class.  The reason is simple....the more you read, the better you become at it.  There is only one way to improve vocabulary, fluency and comprehension...READ!  Reading logs are a tool that remind students that they should be reading.  It keeps them accountable.  I know how busy life can be.  Without a reading log, my own children wouldn't read.  I have included a chart to show the benefits of daily reading.

You can see from the infographic that the benefits of reading just 20 minutes can greatly increase your child's chances for academic success.  

On another note...students should be working on their independent projects at home.  Students were given a timeline to follow so that things would be done in an orderly and timely manner.  These deadlines are just suggestions.  I wanted the students to have a guide so that they do not wait until the night before to finish their activity.  

Please remember, if you have any questions, you can email me or even comment below.  

Happy reading-

Mrs. Tipton

Filling in the "Holes"

Well, I hope your child has enjoyed our introductory novel Holes.  It is absolutely one of my favorites.  I almost didn't include it in my curriculum this year, but just couldn't part with it!

So far, the year has been going very well.  Students are getting used to the groove of things and becoming more responsible about their actions.  I am enjoying this group of kids very much.

This week we will begin our new novel study.  We are going to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Again, this is another of my favorites.  In Holes, I read the story to the students as they followed along.  I stopped to have discussion along the way and check for comprehension.  I was basically the "sage on the stage".  This novel will be different.  I am going to step back on the reading part.  Students will be reading the majority of this novel on their own in class.  My job now is more of a guide.  I plan to stop occasionally to make sure everyone is on the same path.  We will have class discussions and do activities together, but students will be required to read this text on their own.

This week, students will also be assigned their first independent project.  This project is due at the end of the nine weeks on October 9.  Students will have exactly one month to complete this project.  They are required to work on this project at home.  Time management and organization will be a key component in completing this activity on time.  I will help students create some goals and deadlines so that they stay on track.  You will be receiving a copy of the project requirements as well as all the required handouts.  It will also be located on this blog under the "project" link.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

You should also receive a book order catalog this week.  You can order by check (Please make to SCHOLASTIC), cash, or online at Scholastic.com (class code HWMQW ).  You will only need this class code the first time you set up your child's account.  From that point forward, you should be able to use your personal username and password.

Until next time...happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

And the countdown is on...

Well, it is really almost time to begin. As far as my summer goes, I have have exactly one week left. On August 10, teachers return to work. There is always such a bittersweetness (is that a word?) to this time of year. I thoroughly enjoy my summers. I like to stay up late reading or binge watching Netflix, sleeping late the next morning, lazily enjoying a cup (or three) of coffee before getting into the swing of things. The kids and I can do whatever we want. We can go to town and shop or we can just hang out by the pool. I love summer time.

 However, whenever school time approaches, I get a little excited. I love going into my classroom and setting it up for the new year. I get anxious waiting to see my roster of new kids. I start pinning lots of school ideas on Pinterest. I always end up at Hobby Lobby purchasing more things to make my classroom feel like home - well, let's face it, it should feel homey. (It is still a work in progress, but you can see some of my pics below.)  The kids and I spend most of our time there once the new year begins. I can't wait to see my co-workers again on a daily basis. I miss them in the summer-time. They are my extended family!

 So, in one week its goodbye summer, hello real-life. I have to say that I am especially excited about this new year. I am in a BRAND NEW BUILDING!!!! After waiting an extra year (after a tornado took out our new building and most of our downtown) the 4th, 5th and 6th grades are finally moving into our new intermediate school! We have new admins (who are as excited as we are) and new staff to welcome. Of course, with a newborn school, things are not perfect. I have to wait on bookshelves because ALL the teachers need shelving. We don't have Internet service yet because...well, I really don't know why. There will be new procedures and new adjustments made. Change is a difficult thing. Change is necessary. Change can be, and will be in this case, a good thing.

 Speaking of change and a new year, I wanted to briefly discuss the mindset that I would like to instill into my students this year. It is called a "growth mindset". I will explain.  There are two types of mindsets-fixed and growth.  A fixed mindset is one that belongs to those who think intelligence and skills are fixed/unchanging.  A fixed mindset thinks that he/she is either good or bad at something and there is nothing that he/she can do to change it.  Children who live in a fixed mindset are less likely to engage in challenging or difficult work because they think it is just too hard and they can't do it.  On the other hand, there are those with a growth mindset.  A growth mindset believes that intelligence and skills can be developed and honed through hard work and perseverance.  A growth mindset is not limited to only doing what one is "good at" or has a talent for.  A growth mindset understands that if one works hard eventually a desired outcome will occur.  This is the mindset I want my students to have.  I want to encourage them to work hard and to feel success based on their accomplishments through their hard work...not necessarily success based on a "grade". In order to do this, I need parents to adopt this mindset, too.  Below are some inspirational posters that promote growth mindset, as well as a list of phrases that can be used to promote growth mindset at home. This research is all new to me, too, but I will be happy to discuss it with you or give you links to information if you are interesting in knowing more (here is just one I've found. Parenting with a growth mindset).  I hope to meet you at open house on August 11.  Until then....

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Getting ready for the new year!

During the summer I generally spend my time doing two things-1.) laying by the pool, reading a good book OR 2.) browsing Pinterest for new classroom inspirations.  My non-teacher friends often comment,  "It must be nice!" when they see my pool/book photos on Instagram.
Well, it is!    I can't help it...a literacy teacher should stay literate, shouldn't she?  Anyway, I digress.

 Today I wanted to try a few new things on the blog.  For example, I will be trying out a "Calendar of events" page in an attempt to keep you up-to-date as parents on our classroom happenings.  I will not have a weekly newsletter that goes out via email, so it will be of utmost importance that your child fill out his/her agenda properly.  You will also want to check this blog on a weekly basis for classroom updates, as well as signing up for my Remind number.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT REMIND:
For those of you who might not be familiar with Remind, it is a one-way communication tool that allows me to send you text message updates on school events. Each of your child's teachers has at least one Remind account number.  You must sign up for each teacher's individual account to get those messages.  ALL students should sign up for my literacy number (see photos below), Mrs. Kinley's Science number, and Mr. Ashley's Math number.  For students in MY homeroom, you will also want to sign up for my Homeroom/Soc. St. number.  These Remind messages have been the BEST tool for keeping you up-to-date on tests, projects and other happenings.  We STRONGLY suggest that you enroll.  Your child may also enroll with their device.

This one is for homeroom kids only!

All Literacy Students need this one!!

As always, you can contact me by email christy.tipton@viloniaschools.org or call the school and leave a message.  It is much easier for me to communicate by email since I can quickly scan my emails during the day to see if you have any questions or concerns.  Phone calls must wait until my planning time or after school.

For ALL of my Literacy students, the "This Week in Lit" page will be highlighting classroom projects, activities, etc. I will try to update it as things are changed or added to our routine.  For those who are in my homeroom, the "Homeroom/Social Studies" tab will keep you up-to-date on that class. My homepage is my place to practice what I preach to my students.  I use the homepage to just write my thoughts on teaching, children, philosophy (educational philosophy-I'm not crazy enough to touch politics or religion on this blog!), and all around random ideas.  Its just my way of expressing myself through writing.

I hope that you find this blog useful to you as the year progresses.  I am SOOOO excited to meet your kids and get to know each of them.  Until then...

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Perserverance

Over the past couple of weeks we have been reading articles and watching videos about perseverance. I think it is especially important this time of year to persevere since we are all ready for summer break! :)

Students have been reading these informational articles and identifying the text structures that are used.  We have been discussing why certain text structures are used in certain articles. (What is the author trying to accomplish?)

We will finish up our study of these text structures this week.  We will test over the structures.  Students will have access to their notes to help them identify the correct structure.  After that, we will move on to our final project of the year.  DON'T HATE ME YET!!!!  This project will be done COMPLETELY at school.  If your child uses his/her time wisely, then there should be absolutely no reason for them to have to complete this at home.  I will be devoting ENTIRE class periods to the completion of this project.  I will be available to answer questions. What I mean by questions is that I will clarify instructions.  Students will be expected to use their notes and apply their knowledge of text structures to complete this project.  I will not be enabling helplessness.  Perseverance will be expected.  They CAN do it!
 

Happy reading-

Mrs. Tipton

Testing Miss Malarky

Testing Miss Malarkey is a hilarious book by Judy Finchler.  The book chronicles the days just before the nefarious I.P.T.U. test given in the narrator's local elementary school.  The child recounts the strange behaviors that occur among the teachers and administration.  It is a really light-hearted look at the stress standardized testing puts on both teachers and students.

I just wanted to express how proud I am of our kids.  They worked so hard during the testing days.  I know they were tired...I sure was!  I am so glad the first part of that is over.  We still have our Science Benchmark and End of Year  PARCC, but those are very short days.

Don't forget that our school day will be extended beginning April 15.  On April 15, the tardy bell will ring at 7:45 and we will dismiss at 3:30.

This week we are beginning a new unit.  We are reading Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak: The Geek Heroes who put the Personal in Computers.  We will be focused on reading non-fiction this nine weeks.  We are going to read many texts that show people who have had to persevere to succeed.  We will also be looking at the structure in which these articles and texts are written.  We will focus on the following structures:  description, problem/solution, cause & effect, sequence & order, and compare/contrast.  Students will determine the characteristics of each of these structures and also learn to write them.

The independent project will be a classroom activity this nine weeks.  Students will be given several days in May to complete the assignment in class before the due date.

I know everyone is super-duper busy with after school activities, and with warmer weather, everyone wants to play outside as much as possible.  With that said, please help me encourage students to read a little everyday.  This time of the year is tough, so we are going to have to persevere to do well all the way to the end.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.  christy.tipton@viloniaschools.org

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Here we go again...

It is the beginning of our last nine weeks together.  Although I always look forward to summer time, I admit I am just a little sad that I only have 9 weeks left with these kiddos.

It is going to be a crazy few weeks.  This week, we will begin our new unit on reading non-fiction texts.  Then we have Spring Break! As soon as we come back, we take our PARCC exam.

**Can I take a moment here to discuss this:  PARCC is an assessment.  It is not the Common Core Standards.  The standards associated with Common Core are GOOD STANDARDS.  They are rigorous and focus on teaching authentic strategies students need for success.  PARCC is just a test.  Whether you think it is a good test or not, please understand that it was an assessment designed to test students knowledge of Common Core standards.  I would be happy to show any interested parent the current standards and discuss what is expected of our children...just let me know.

Okay...enough of that.  Back to our new unit...

Students will learn the types of writing that is expected and used with non-fiction texts.  We will be writing A LOT!!!!  I have told the children to make sure they have plenty of notebook paper for this nine weeks because we are going to use it! Students will be writing everything from arguements to brochures.  I am hoping during this writing time, that we can hone those grammar and spelling skills as well.  

You can expect another independent assignment.  I have not decided if it will be something to take home or something we work on in class.  It is still a little early for that.  Don't worry, your child will have plenty of time to complete the assignment.

As always, if you have questions, feel free to contact me.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

When is SPRING?

I feel a little like the wolf in this picture.  All of our "snow" days are causing serious issues in my lesson planning!

I am grateful, however, that we were able to finish reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe before all of our winter weather began.  I am fortunately just in a review phase of our nine weeks.

Students are writing, writing, writing.  Reading and writing stamina are going to be important over the next few weeks.  There will be a lot of independent work in class with selective guidance from me for the rest of the quarter.  The students are acting very dependent, and they need to use the strategies and resources they have been given to solve problems and complete assignments.  We have worked on this all year, but lately we all seem to be reverting back to old behaviors.  I do not want my students to freak out on the PARCC exam.  I feel confident that I have prepared them for this test.  We are analyzing vocabulary that we might encounter and working through any "kinks" that might appear.

I am not a "teach to the test" kind of teacher.  I teach my curriculum.  I do admit I have high expectations, but my students always seem to rise to the challenge.  I believe that my students have all the knowledge that they need to be successful students in the future.  They have been given some tough assignments, been asked to re-do assignments, and pushed to give 110%.  I believe they are better for it.  I hope they understand that I want only the best for all of them.  If I didn't care so much, I wouldn't push them so hard.  I certainly wouldn't assign all these essays and projects-they only have to do one; I have to grade 90!

Thank you for all the support you have given me this year.  We are 3/4 of the way through 5th grade.  Can you believe it?  We still have a lot of work to do, but we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Effort = Results

Learning is not a spectator sport. ~ Anonymous

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle



I tell the students often that effort = results...that the work you put in will determine the outcome.  I have spent the year walking students through every activity and procedure.  I have never assigned anything that I have not modeled MULTIPLE times, given many examples, and answered all questions.

You will notice that the final exam for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has a multiple choice portion worth 100 points and an essay portion worth 50 points.  The students were allowed to use the book on all portions of the test.  The multiple choice averages were nothing to write home about, but the essays...well, I really have no words.

That being said, we WILL redo the essay portion of the test.  I am going to spend this week and next re-teaching point of view and how to write essays.  After the re-teach, they will re-write to the same essay question for the remaining portion of their final grade.

 We are going to spend the remainder of the nine weeks reviewing all skills that we have "learned".  In case I suddenly become very unpopular in the eyes of your child, I want you to know what is happening in the classroom.  Mediocrity will NOT be accepted.  I will require them to go back and redo until they get these skills right.  They CAN do this!

I know that the kids are just being kids.  If I was a 5th grader, I wouldn't want to have to think so hard either.  However, it is the world we live in and these are the skills that are necessary for success.  Please understand that I am only trying to provide your child with the skills and strategies necessary for future success.

Let me know if you have any concerns or questions. christy.tipton@viloniaschools.org

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

ATTENTION, PLEASE!!!!

Please notice the new tab for word study.  I have added this week's review already.  Also, I will be adding some student work to the "Student work" tab soon!  Stay tuned!!!
Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Its all Greek to me!

We have begun to really look at Greek and Latin roots and how they apply to our knowledge of word meanings and spelling.  We started off last week with the roots vis/vid (which means to see or view), aud (means to hear), phon (means to make a sound).  Below is a picture of a study guide for the test tomorrow.  We have been practicing these everyday, so it should be an easy assessment.  This week we will study the roots temp and chron (meaning time) and loc (meaning place).  I have also posted a study guide to use for that quiz (next week).

Students are writing essays in class.  I am specifically emphasizing the three components of an essay: introduction, body, conclusion.  I am reading over these and giving feedback to all students.  These essays must be completed by March 11.

Don't forget about our project that is due on February 27.  I hope the students are working hard to give me some good information from their fantasy novels.

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

Week 1 study guide

Week 2 Study guide

A book a day keeps reality away!

I have always loved to read.  I learned to read at age 4 because my older cousin could read the signs that Bugs Bunny and Wile E. Coyote would hold up during the Saturday morning cartoon shows.  I HATED the fact that he knew something I didn't.  I understand that my frustration stemmed from my competitive nature (if you have seen me at my daughter's basketball games, you understand this about me-ha-ha!) but nevertheless, I wanted, no, I NEEDED to learn to read.

I remember reading great books as a kid.  Books like Green Eggs and Ham, The Little Engine that Could, Peter Rabbit, Little Women, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Charlotte's Web, A Wrinkle in Time (okay, that one was really weird), Cam Jansen, and The Boxcar Children.  Reading just became a lifestyle.

When I entered the education field, I was introduced to new books that I found to be intriguing and irresistible.  These were Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, The Giver, and The Keeping Quilt.  When I became a teacher, I absorbed everything I could about literature.  The one thing I wanted to do the most was make kids love reading as much as I do.  I discovered fantastic stories like Holes, Belle Prater's Boy and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  These stories called to me in a way that I just KNEW would call to students as well.

As a lit teacher, I know and understand that many kids do not like to read. I have two children.  One LOVES reading, always has.  The other reads only because it is necessary to survive in school and life.  My goal is always to figure out WHY kids don't like to read.  Is it because it is hard for them?  Have they yet found a book that could hold their interest?  What do I need to do to change their mind?

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job.  Because I know that many kids don't love reading, I strive to make my class one that they enjoy.  I try to be very entertaining, while driving home important skills at the same time.  I use jokes, puns, idioms, songs, WHATEVER IT TAKES to make them love my class. That is why  I have to admit that I have been a little frustrated lately over my classes' performance. I want students to understand the importance of these skills.  I wondered if I was being ineffective or if they were just not trying.  After discussing my concerns about this with the students, I have concluded that they have become a little complacent in their school work - or at least their literacy.

I am not a teacher that teaches to a state mandated test.  I do teach the mandated standards, but I also believe that these standards are worth learning.  The skills that I teach are to prepare my students for the reading and writing requirements that follow 5th grade.  I try to explain how each skill I impart will be useful in their high school, college and/or career life.  Do I want my kids to do well on those state mandated tests?  Of course I do.  Remember, I am super competitive.  But mostly I want them to do well because it shows EVERYONE (principals, teachers, parents and most importantly the kids themselves) that they KNOW their stuff!  Is my class difficult?  At times, yes, it is.  But I never teach "fluff".  Everything I teach is important for their future.

I saw these quotes on Pinterest today.  I had to post them to this blog because they completely sum up my feelings on reading.  The comment by Harper Lee shows us that we take our education for granted sometimes here in America where we are so blessed.  The second quote by Serafini epitomizes my theory about "hating to read".  The third quote is from Mark Twain.  He explains the reason one should learn to read.

Parents, if you are reading this, would you please continue to encourage your child to put forth their best effort?  Will you encourage reading in your home?  I'm sure many of you are doing so already, but if you are not, I implore you to begin supporting literacy for the future of your child.

Students, if you are reading this, give me all you've got!  If you don't understand, ask!  If you need help finding a book, I will scour the library with you until we find what we are looking for.

This is not meant to be a "Debbie Downer" blog post.  I want to say again that this has been one of the best years of my career.  When I say that I love my kids, I truly, truly mean it.  And just like with my own two children, I have HIGH expectations of them.

We are going to really put our noses to the grindstone over the next several weeks.  I am going to keep pushing.  I hope the kids will keep going right along with me.  Together I think we can create a great future generation!

Happy reading-
Mrs. Tipton

New Year, New Book

I hope you had a very restful break.  I know I did!  Of course, it is difficult to get back into the swing of things, but after a week or so, I will be back to my routine.

This nine weeks we are reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  We will focus on vocabulary this nine weeks, as well.  Students will be learning Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes.  We will look at how knowing the meaning of these word parts can help us acquire new language and enhance our vocabulary.

This nine weeks will also allow us to re-visit our fiction reading strategies and literary elements.  Focus will be on theme, comparing/contrasting, character traits, etc.  Students will be analyzing texts for similarities and differences.

Since this particular choice of text (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) is from the fantasy genre, students will be asked to read a fantasy independently.  An independent assignment will be explained at a later date.

As always, you will be able to check this blog for updates on independent assignments, as well as updates on events in the classroom.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Happy reading!
Mrs. Tipton