Monday; Valentines List; ORQ Revisions

Tonight's homework is:

• Reading: Log; test Thursday on How Night Came From The Sea story and vocabulary
• Science: Test on Thursday (see study guide passed out today in class)
• Spelling: study words

Here is the class list for our Valentine party.  A hard copy was also sent home today with more information, but I wanted to have the names here if you needed them.

Class Members:

Zach

Danny

Jonathan

Colby

Connor

Samuel

Jake

Jacob

Kennedy

Prader

Larry

Leo

Zoe

Jamie

Kendra

Kiersten

Chanse

Lanse

Caitlyn

Ian

Kira

Grace

Autumn

Caite

Tori

Rebekkah

Sean

Dylan

Julianna

 
We are beginning something new with our Open Response and Extended Response Questions. When students take a test or work on an open response question they are scored on a scale from 0 to 4. The goal is for all students to get a 4. From this point on, students will be required to revise any open response questions that they do where they do not earn a 4. Every time they earn a 4, they will receive a class coupon for a variety of things. When students turn in revisions and those are scored a 4, they will earn a coupon. Thus, even if a child does not get a 4 the first time, they have another opportunity to earn a coupon. Students will be given ample time (about a week) to turn in their revisions. Once the deadline passes, students who do not have their revisions done will need to spend some of their "valued" time doing these. Valued time includes: computer/technology time and recess (on days we have PE since they have had physical activity for the day). By the time they have to do a revision, please understand that we have discussed the correct answer in depth and they have seen/heard a model answer. We will even be putting up examples of 4 answers in the hallway. Thus, there really is no excuse to not revise an answer. The purpose of this is twofold. Number one, we hope students find the concept of revising not appealing and they will spend more time the first time giving it their best effort. Secondly, we want students to revise so that they can produce answers that completely answer the question and they learn from their mistakes.
Students will be asked to do revisions on separate sheets of paper so as not to confuse you. For example, on a reading quiz, if I score an open response a 3 and I write what your child was missing or needed to do, I don't want them to fix it right on their answer because you as a parent wouldn't know what was there the first time and what they might have changed after the fact.
We have used this process in the past and it paid off.
Quite honestly, I have been frustrated and disappointed with the lack of effort and overall lack of concern many of the students are showing with their work in general. We really need to grow up a little and realize that we have to take ownership of our learning! I have been on my soapbox lately!
Anyway, you have kids capable of more than I am seeing. Please know I only want to see them reach their potential and my heart is in the right place. It's time to see what this group of 4th graders can truly accomplish!