Griffin Creek Elementary 3/16/2012

Third Grade
Total Time 8 hours

The end of a great week. I was finally able to speak with a specific student's mom. She came in to do homework folder and I think we made some progress. I’m hoping to make changes in his behavior in class. If his mom can help then the chance for success will increase. many students were amazing today. The whole week she behaves above and beyond. One studentis doing everything that is asked and more with no complaints. I’m enjoying being a part of these young peoples lives. I think it has been very rewarding and I’m so grateful for this opportunity to take over while you were gone. The students still really miss there normal teacher and continue to ask when she is coming back. The parents are asking about the main classroom teacher. Everyone misses you and wants her to come back. There is no substitute for that kind of love.

Get well soon!

Michael Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/15/2012

Total Time 8 hours
Third Grade

Today was another great day. I had many students demonstrate successful behavior and academic work. I was pleased at how the reading went. We finished up much of the packets and watched the community video. A great lesson. Math was exciting, we learned about congruency before music. Music was sweet. Social studies was Time for Kids again which was enjoyable. We did a debate, many students like it, but others might not have. I’m uncertain how they liked the activity. Journaling went fine.

I had a great time today and many things went well. I think the students were a little nervous about their first debate. I enjoyed it, the next time we do it, we will be better becuase we lacked the comfort level with it due to not doing anything like that yet.

Tomorrow I'm thinking roll plays again and I will figure something out.

Until tomorrow

--Mr. Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/14/2012

Third Grade
Total Time: 8 hours

Best day thus far was today! Intro went very well and students were awesome in number corner. We did partner measuring objects in the room and once they had the length and width they were to find the area and perimeter. Reading went smooth with Mrs. A and Tara. The students had time to work on the leveled reader worksheets and most if not all turned it in and did a great job. Math was awesome we did a subtraction game and it seemed to motivate them more than normal. I followed the session 10 closely, but used a game instead of what they had. Art was a lot of fun for all the students. We built paper sculptures and everybody was happy with no complaints. Social studies was what we did for the last part of the day. Short day which meant lots of going over plans.

No major behavior issues. The students got enough points for a bubble gum party during read aloud. The students earned it and they have been doing splendid thus far. I'm encouraged with how well they can do and I'm going to be expecting great learning the next week and half.

--Mr. Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/13/2012

Third Grade
Total time: 8 hours

Today was another great day!

We started out the same and nothing out of the ordinary happened other than instead of going to the library we had joined another thrid grade teacher for P.E. because we went to the libary yesterday. I’m having a great time thus far. I catch myself teaching to a different audience at times. At times I think they can learn like high school age students until a student asks me how pretty her four leaf clover is. These little guys are a joy, and keeping them focused and busy is a challenge.



IROTCIM Lessons continue!

We are keeping up with in math and in reading.


--Mr. Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/12/2012

Total Time: 8 hours
Thrid Grade

I took home all the work the students did last week and graded all of it except for the comprehension test. I couldn’t find the answer key so I was unable to get that done. Many students are not turning much in. I’m concerned and want to change that. I’m hoping to get much more work turned in this week and the following week. I will have a print out of all the assignments with the grades and percent’s for the teacher when she return.

Today:
A great morning. We started the day discussing turning in work and how excited I was to see them all again. We did number corner and have done a great job keeping up with that. Reading went very well today. Each group rotated and I was unable to finish the level readers with both groups. I found the decodable and will have an extra assignment for that group on Wednesday. Reading aloud was excellent and math has been up and down. I’m only on session 8 and trying to keep up has been a challenge. I will continue to work through each session and try to get the students to learn deeper rather than shallow. I don’t want the teacher to come back and have to reteach, I’m hoping that the teacher will be able to move forward when she gets back. Library was fine and Junior achievement went great. We did science this afternoon and that was enjoyable. Great day.

A couple tantrums were thrown by male student today during reading and a staff member wrote him a referral. I was planning on doing it as well and I think it was the best course of action. He has been crying and throwing tantrums much more than any student his age should. He seems to not like having consequences for his misbehavior, which is the result of any misbehavior. I will continue to work him and I’m planning on calling his parents tonight.

No major issues other than that.

I’m looking forward to another week and really like the story this week. Hope all is well with the teacher I'm covering for and that she is feeling better and improving each day.

Thanks,
Michael Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/9/2012

Total Time: 8 hours
Thrid Grade

Looking forward to grading this weekend. I will try to get it all setup for the teacher who I'm subbing for when I get back. Hopefully in piles and have it super organized so that when she comes back the work will be easy to sift through. What effort grade they get, and what number grade they get and so on and so forth. I plan on taking all the work they did and giving them a typed out grading summary that they can give to their parents and for them to look also. My question is, should I give them that typed piece of paper with their scores and their grades or should I give them back their work graded and keep the typed paper with all their grades and summaries. Either way I want to keep something that shows you when you get back what to put into the grade book and something for each student to take that shows them and their parents how their doing.

I had a great day today. I was thinking about how to best teach the 2nd steps and nothing jumped out at me immediately so I bought 6 milk cartons from the cafeteria and told them that if they can do a good job with their skits that I will chug a milk. They seemed to like it and it was fun. Test went well and math was great. I won’t really know how they do until after I grade all their tests. So I hope they are all high scores.

Number corner, reading, math, P.E. health, and journaling all were great today. It was an awesome day and very enjoyable to teach.

The whole day was quick and was over before I had a chance to reflect.

What a great week has come and gone. I'm excited to continue to work with this group for another two weeks.

--Mr. Belzberg

Griffin Creek Elementary 3/8/2012

3/8/2012
Total time 8 hours

Today we started out very strong. The intro went well and number corner was great. I had the students pair up and they went around the room with a ruler and a piece of paper and measure objects in the room. Looking for the width and the length so they could find the perimeter and the area. Reading went well. We finished almost the entire packet and went over some phonics. I think the students are ready for the test. I’m crossing my fingers they all will do great. Read aloud has been awesome. Hank is keeping all of our interest. Math was ok, I think many students are still figuring out the symmetry. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow they will have mastered symmetry. Music was great! Lunch is always good. Social studies went well and journaling was great. I let the students go outside so they could journal. We shared and wrote in the sun. They all seemed to really enjoy it.

Many students are reluctant to do work and I really want to change that. I'm continually encouraging them and it can be very exhausting. I hope they can learn to be self-motivated soon.

Things that went well was the reading and socail studies. I hope there is science tomorrow because that was the best lesson we have had thus far. The group and partner work we did was a blast. The students like to talk and work together. The more partner work I give them the better they learn and develop their social skills. After all school is more than just cognitive growth. It is also social growth and also the learning needs to be focused on the students. Student centered is key to a successful classroom. I hope to see great learning and improvements while I'm here.

Until tomorrow,

Mr Belzberg

Until tomorrow,

Michael