Welcome!

Introductions…. Liesl Madden

23 years teaching 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade in California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania

Loving teaching and kids more than ever! Relocated from San Francisco in 2007 Masters in Reading Gifted Education background Mother to 10 year old James

Important Beliefs in Classroom

The teacher understands, appreciates, and builds upon student differences

Multiple intelligences and body-brain compatible curriculum are key!

Assessment and instruction are inseparable

The teacher adjusts content, process, and product in response to student readiness, interest, and learner profile

All students participate in respectful, meaningful work

Students and the teacher are collaborators in learning

Goals are maximum growth and individual success

Flexibility is the hallmark of this differentiated classroom

Daily Schedule

8:30 Homeroom

8:40 Math

10:00 Encore (PE, art, music, library, guidance)

10:45 Intervention/Enrichment (Differentiating Instruction, pull outs)

11:25 Recess/Lunch

12:10 Literacy Block

Word Study/Grammar

Whole class reading/Target Vocabulary/Fluency/Comprehension

Guided Reading and Literacy Centers

Writing

2:10 Science or Social Studies

3:05 Dismissal

TEAMS approach in Room 213

Take control of yourself Earn respect Accept everyone Make good choices Stand up for others

Modeling, rewards

and targeted praise =

preventative discipline

Math – Workshop Format Daily! Warm up activities –Build number sense

and basic skills Introduction of new content – Main part

of lesson often begins with discussion. Apply and explore content through activities.

Centers–practice/review skills through math boxes, small group differentiated instruction, FIM, EDM games, Enrichment projects

Groundworks for Algebraic thinking Study link – review and independent

practice – show your work

Literacy Block

Formal instruction through shared reading – clarifying, predicting, connecting, summarizing, inferencing, etc.

Guided Reading – the heart of the reading program (instructional level, specific needs groups)

Literature Study Groups – responses and discussion, interpreting quotes, using strategies

Independent Reading Read aloud – interactive, shared,

choral, oral Literature extension activities–

genre study, reader’s theater, student-made videos, Multiple Intelligences response opportunities

Reading Strategies:

Connections

Visualization

Questioning

Inferences

Determining Importance

Synthesis

Summarizing

Text Structures

Wonders Reading and Language Arts

Program

Wonders Reading and Language Arts

Program

Writer’s Workshop

Informational, Persuasive, Narrative Modeling/Formal instruction – using Mentor Texts to

model content, organization, style or voice, mechanics, sentence fluency

Conferring/conferencing The Writing Process - brainstorm, draft, share/revise,

edit, publish

Guided and Independent writing – poetry, journals, prompts, letters, reports, stories, jigsaws, etc.

Sharing and Evaluation Wonders Analytical Writing – responding to

reading

Wonders Reading and Language Arts

Program

Wonders Reading and Language Arts

Program

Different Writing Experiences Published Piece:

1 each Trimester, students create published piece Explanatory Essay, Fictional Narrative, Opinion Essay

Apprentice Piece: Students go through writing process with evidence of revision Personal Narrative, Opinion Essay, Expository Essay

Quick Writes: Ongoing opportunities to practice writing technique

Sustained Writing: Periodic time for self-selected topics to build stamina

On-Demand: 30 minute timed writing to plan, write, revise, and edit in response to District Prompt (tied to Apprentice Piece)

Spelling/Phonics/Grammar Study Manipulate words/word parts in

meaningful ways with word sorts/games Study phonics patterns, rules, and

exceptions Target Vocabulary Words woven

throughout literature students are exposed to

Specific grammar skills Personal spelling list – words form

students’ writing

Social Studies

Students engage in discussions,

simulations, explorations, technology, and literature study

Social Studies Project Citizenship Economics See the USA

Science

Students use the scientific and inquiry methods while experimenting, collecting and analyzing data, and answering their own research questions.

Electrical Circuits Watery Earth Nature’s Recyclers

Practice/Intervention/Enrichment

Time when “pull outs” happen (band lessons, reading or speech specialist, etc.).

No new instruction - just reinforcing skills or challenging students to increase complexity of subject areas

Time to differentiate instruction Special needs group (ex: review long division or higher

level task in problem solving ) Literature Extension projects Centers for literacy, math, word study

Technology

Moodle – Forum Discussions, Blogs, Web links, Study Guides and sites

Weebly – Homework, schedules, class photos, etc. Glogster – digital collaboration tools (text, images, movie

clips) Google Docs – Writing conferencing and working from

home Lab – research, composing writing projects Smartboard lessons – interactive lessons reaching audio,

visual, and kinesthetic learners Wikis, podcasts Collaboration across grade levels with little buddies

Classroom Web sites

• Weebly - Portal for all classroom information and Homework assignments• mrsmadden.weebly.com

• Moodle - Online Learning Platform • Search WSDMOODLE• Find SG, Mrs. Madden• *Passcode is sgstudent

Homework Expectations & Information

Study Link M-TH (Please circle problem areas but have children attempt to solve/show their work)

Read 20 to 30 minutes daily, Log mins in learn2earn, and respond in Reading Log (due Fridays)

Math games online (First in Math or EDM)

If schedules are busy or an issue comes up with HW, please contact me so I can extend due dates and\or help the child as needed.

Homework is posted on our Weebly site (can also be accessed through our Moodle site).

*Hurray! One Homework “Thank you” + 4 Thank yous = prize

*BUSY PARENT HW PASS…DON’T LOSE IT!!!

Contact Information:

The best way to reach me is by email.

lmadden@wsdweb.org Please write WSDSECURE in your email to make sure it goes through.

215-619-8106 ext. 4213 If you have an important message to get to

your child, though, please call the office and have a message sent (in case I miss the email).

Before you leave!

Please take a few moments to write a quick note to your child in the Writing notebook on her/his desk.

Have a wonderful night! I look forward to being your partner in your child’s education!