Slipshod

Careless; not well done

Further On (Up the Road)

Today our learning team analyzed our collective data. Overall, our students have been improving and it is great to see their hard work paying off. Teachers are reevaluating their groups at this point to make sure every student is getting what they need.

Be True

Today our group focused on giving, recording, and graphing our second Words Their Way assessment. We will be discussing our data and finalizing our plans for our January presentation next week.

WOW

Prognosticate - to predict or forecast

It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City

Today our TLT group met to discuss plans for the January 3rd share out. We decided to retest the students during the first week of December. That will give us enough time to discuss the new data and create a presentation.

WOW

Fample
To feed a child.

Born in the U.S.A.

Today, our group got to celebrate Adam's birthday which we met in learning teams.

B.J. ran into a problem with deriving spelling words from the Words Their Way program for her students. For certain concepts such as digraphs (sh, ch, th, wh, etc.), the words that the program uses are too difficult to use as spelling words. It was decided that shorter words will be used instead. An example is using chat instead of cheese.

WOW

Brumal: Wintry

Adam Raised a Cain

Our group is enjoying the structure of the Words Their Way program. The kids are already grooved. Adam introduced the idea to change up Thursdays to add more excitement for the final day of practice.

WOW 11/14/10

Rankle: To annoy or irritate

WOW

ENERVATE (verb)
weaken mentally or morally

to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken

Working on the Highway

Today our group met to re-evaluate our team goal, discuss how the program is working in our classrooms, and to determine future testing. To obtain further data, we will retest our students in December and April. We will start to give students non-study words on their spelling tests as well to see if they can incorporate the concepts.

E-Street is also starting up Word of the Week (WOW) to further our personal learning. Our first word is frabjous.

WOW: Frabjous - fabulous and joyous

"Born in the U.S.A."

I'm glad to be blogged on and looking forward to launching or Words Their Way curriculum in my class. It may take a little getting used to on the part of our students, but hopefully it will be effective.

From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)

Today we met to discuss implementing the spelling program on Monday. We discussed the levels the students are starting at, how to set up spelling notebooks, and what the daily routine is.

"From Small Things"

Today we evaluated our spelling data and determined which materials we would need to order for the year. We hope to receive the materials soon so that we can start the curriculum.

"Working on a Dream"

Our team met today to discuss the scoring of the spelling inventory we gave students this week. It provides fabulous, specific information outlining students' weak areas. We will meet again next week with our scored sheets to discuss placement within Words Their Way and set the spelling wheel in motion.

“Let's take the good times as they go, and I'll meet you further on up the road...”

Welcome!

As a team we have decided to work on our spelling program by investigating and implementing Words Their Way into our daily language arts classes. It provides the opportunity to give pre and post assessments as well as further differentiation of instruction. The program aligns nicely with the FAST concepts and our current curriculum.

We plan to meet on Thursdays at 12:35 in Jenn's or BJ's room. These meetings will focus on the implementation of Words Their Way while other business will be left for division meetings.

Our norms:
1. Be on time, end on time.
2. Brevity, stay on topic.
3. Be prepared.
4. Be mindful of our goals.
5. Be respectful of differing opinions.