Sandwich Day

Wow! What a wonderful “sandwich day” it was today!!!! A sandwich day is a day that starts well, the middle is rough, and it ends well. I woke up this morning incredibly excited to see my returning students and to meet the new students. I was able to laugh at myself when I realized that I walked into the gas station wearing two different sandals. Unfortunately, that should have been a hint as to what was to come—I sat during our meeting this morning thinking of my to-do list before families came tonight. THEN the worst of the worst- THE PROMETHEAN BULB BURNED OUT! The technology problems continued…my computer locked me out which left me stranded not being able to print off copies for open house or get reading for Day 1. I left school and got some caffeine and soon enough my fabulous students arrived with their wonderful families! Getting to see my returning students and meeting our new students made my night! All of the problems were put behind! THank goodness the students loved the classroom. After moving for the 3rd time, I think this is the "homiest" classroom arrangement yet. My favorite quote tonight was "I LOVE THIS ROOM!...we can line up in front of the door!"

 

I am looking forward to the first day of school and am excited to watch all of the students grow socially and academically. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we will get to use the promethean until we get a bulb, but hopefully my computer will work! Until then, I will use my personal computer to check emails and get other forms and information ready.

Today’s turn out:  15/24 (we missed you if you couldn’t make it!)

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Responsive Classroom

Over the summer, I attended Responsive Classroom training in Brooklyn Park. 

The website (http://www.responsiveclassroom.org) describes it briefly as a "widely used, research-backed approach to elementary education that increases academic achievement, decreases problem behaviors, improves social skills, and leads to more high-quality instruction." 

I always knew a little bit about Responsive Classroom and incorporated little bits and pieces of it in our classroom, but the training opened my eyes to why those little bits and pieces are effective and how to encompass this approach to teaching. 

Here are a few things that Responsive Classroom promotes/includes:

•   Community Building
•  High Expectations for all learners
•  Morning Meeting
• We will always begin with a greeting, sharing (however, no toys-we will share things about ourselves), an activity, and then we will read our morning message.
• Logical Consequences  
• Three consequences will be used: 
• Loss of privilege 
• You break it, you fix it  
• Take a break (in our room or in a buddy room) 
• Ownership of work & Intrinsic motivation   
• Doing a good job for themselves, being proud of themselves
•   CARES (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, self-control)  
• Creating Hopes & Dreams and Rule Making

There many more things that go into this approach but the 7 listed above are the ones that will be most visible and that you will be hearing about the most from your child. 

For the first weeks of school, we will base our lessons on CARES. Each week, students will learn how to work with others, to be assertive, to be responsible, to be empathetic, and how to have self-control. Many of these things will be learned through literature, modeling behaviors, and through activities.

Our classroom already has a wonderful community feeling, but I think that this approach will help us become even stronger as a community, academically, and socially. I am excited for the school year to begin to implement Responsive Classroom to its fullest.

~Tiffany

Greetings 2nd Grade Families!

I am trying something new this year--BLOGGING! This will allow you to check in and see what your child is doing in class. My hope is to post at least once a  week. Forgive me if I miss a week here and there-I will do my best to be consistent.  I did get married this summer and my email address will be changing to my new last name HOWEVER, I am still going by Miss Maczko this year.  Don't forget about Open House on Thursday, August 30th from 5:00-7:00pm The first day of school is Tuesday, September 4th.  See you soon!!!  ~Miss Maczko (new name Brandner)