Thank you!!

Here's what I wrote on a small thank you card posted at my doorway:

Dear Students and Families,
     Thank you so much for the lovely appreciations this week.  I've received flowers, home-baked goodies, even google slide shows lovingly created by students.  The gift basket of wonderful delicacies and opportunities is greatly appreciated.
     I love my job, I love my students.  Thank you for your kindnesses.
                                        Love to all,
                                        Valerie McKenzie

Math SBAC Testing Schedule

Thought I'd send out a heads' up for the Math Assessments in May.
We will be testing for the short answer, multiple choice math assessment May 18 and 19.
The Math Performance task is scheduled for May 29.
All our times are scheduled for the morning so it is important that kids have a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast and are in their seats at 8:45.
All things considered, testing has gone really well.  Kids seem relaxed and dedicated.  Three cheers for them!
This Thursday and Friday, we'll be finishing up the last few kids who haven't finished the English Language Arts Performance Task.  Half-way through!

This week in Room 21

Dear Families,
I'm back after a couple days of a cold/flu.  Fun times!  Sounds like the kids were great while I was gone, that always feels good.

This week we'll finish up the essay writing Performance Task of the Smarter Balanced Test.  Good!

For homework, I'm sending home some Math games around liquid measurements (standard not metric) and probability.  They reflect the work we've been doing in class.  Also, I want kids to finish up their Egg Drop Presentations and I'll go over that with them today.

We are, also, finishing up our Biography Lap Books this week.

In third grade, we have several work samples to evaluate and submit to the district.  We have:

• A writing sample, we usually use the narrative they wrote in class about Egg Drop Day.
• A scientific inquiry, guess what we'll use...
• A math problem solving sample, working on it.

AND

• A speaking sample.

For the speaking sample, I thought I would let kids choose between their Biography project and their Egg Drop presentation.  Both lend themselves to oral presentations.  For the bio, kids could dress up as their subject and talk about their life and work and for the Egg Drop kids can use their presentation as a visual aid, they can dress up as a scientist/engineer for this one, too.  The keys to the oral presentation are eye contact, content and NOT reading the text.  I will work with them in class on these key points but this is homework.  They will need you to practice on!  Talk with them about it, I hope to know which they will do by the end of the week and we'll start scheduling them for next week. Thanks and email me if you have any questions.

Have a great week!

Valerie

vmckenzie@pps.net

Field Trip on Friday

We have a walking field trip on Friday.  We will walk the Eastbank Esplanade to the Nikkei Legacy Center and Japanese American Heritage Plaza.  We usually see the plaza on our Urban Walking tour but, this year it was left out.  We've been reading a novel about the internment of Japanese Americans from Hood River and we need to see how our city has tried to heal the wounds of that difficult time. It should be a good field trip.
I need several volunteers to come with us, walking across the bridges and along the waterfront requires some close supervision.  We are leaving at about 11:45 and returning around 2:30-2:45.  Please let me know if you can make it.
Thanks a bunch,
Valerie McKenzie

This week in room 21

Dear Families,

Tomorrow third graders will start their first round of Smarter Balanced testing.  I am excited to marshal them through their first testing experience.
 
I have been reading a lot of articles and op ed pieces in the paper around this year's tests.  I have some questions that won't be answered until we've taken the tests and seen the results.  What I can say is that we have worked hard to keep our focus on the content and the problem solving that is being tested.  All of the reading and analyzing, writing and citing sources, all of the highlighting and note taking is all good scholarship.  We have invested some time in practice and  looked at the lengthy instructions and "unpacked" them so that they can make sense to a third grader.
 
It is a fine dance, to prepare and practice and to stay relaxed and confident.  I am very proud of the work your kids have done with all of this.  They are ready.

They'll start with two, one hour sessions on Monday and Tuesday for the ELA CAT test.  This is reading a passage and answering multiple choice and short answer questions.  We'll have a follow-up session, the following Monday,  to capture the kids that haven't finished yet.  Then the following week, we'll have the ELA PT for another couple of hour long sessions.  That test involves reading two sources answering some questions and then writing a multi-paragraph  essay.  Whew!

In May we'll have a similar schedule for Math.  Since the results involve writing, we don't know exactly when we'll have the results, but not likely before the end of the year.  This test will not have an impact on their placement for next year.

I have heard from another teacher that the fourth graders liked the test, found it engaging and even, fun! It is more interactive and will adjust to how kids are doing, easing up or providing greater challenges.

What you can do is make sure kids get a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast.  Get them to school on time, as we are starting first thing.  I'll take care of the rest.

Tell them to do their best, if they do that, they'll be fine.  Then we'll have a good recess and back to solving math problems, writing biographies and preparing for Egg Drop Day.

                                                                          Enjoy your Sunday afternoon,
                                                                          Valerie McKenzie

Into the Garden

Wow!  We are busy!  This morning we are planting in the Garden.  It might be rainy so I have two pairs of shoes with me.  I think kids should have the same, maybe an extra pair of socks as well.  I hope you get this in time.....
Stop by the classroom and read the Haiku poems kids have written, they are beautiful.  I love working with your kids.
All the best,
Valerie

Weekly writing assignment

Here's the assignment for the week:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rhXVCF04cr3eOTxM8Eb68CN4uOlNxT0RKJuRiRiSZHk/pub
Today they will bring home their research materials.
Valerie McKenzie

I'll follow up soon with all the Egg Drop info.
Glad to be back, hope everyone had a great Spring Break!