Math: With Grandparents' Day tomorrow we needed to get this week's formative assessment taken and reviewed. The first page was 3rd grade content and the second was 4th grade content. I was pleased with their comfort level while applying the variety of strategies we've learned about thus far. Speaking of which - in the math section of their binders is a notes page illustrating three of our strategies. Tonight for homework they are to review their formative with an adult and complete the worksheet on variables/unknowns and the grouping property. This content, plus the formative, will be on this week's quiz.

Language Arts: We introduced a text book that we'll use quite a bit the rest of year - Language Arts Today. This is a fantastic resource for exploring the many facets of grammar (nouns, prefixes, comma usage...). Today we established our "grammar journal" and completed a lesson on prefixes. This will become a graded piece on a regular basis after the holiday break. On the inside cover will be a checklist to remind them of all the things I'm looking for while reviewing and grading their work (application of the taught concept, capitalization, spelling, punctuation...). This will primarily be an "in-school" activity.

I also wanted to address the RRJs and how they are used in and out of the classroom. There are times when I will assign a prompt to be completed at home but sometimes they must be completed in class. The reason for this is that too often the work that comes in after a night around the kitchen table is significantly better than their independent work. I appreciate and believe it's essential that parents and students work on (or review at a minimum) homework together; however, we need to be careful as to how much support we do give them. This judgement and involvement is complex to say the least. As always, if homework goes on for 30+ minutes and it loses it's purpose I encourage you to stop, jot me a note, and "leave school for the night."

The process of learning is uniquely challenging but it's important to understand how learning occurs. At the risk of sounding "preachy," my approach to your child's education is to assess where they are performing/functioning and stretch them in appropriate ways. The process isn't always enjoyable but it is where the learning takes place - it's like the saying, "The journey is the destination" in a funny kind of way... There is no magic wand - it takes quality instruction, authentic practice, opportunities to deepen their understanding through questioning, and most of all, perseverance.

With that said, there are times when I realize the directions need to be clarified and/or we need some additional time with a concept - at times like these, I will often write "redo" in their RRJs after reviewing the feedback with them. Once again, it's not focusing on the struggles - it's focusing on how to improve... In a "redo" instance, it is an opportunity to apply the feedback for a better piece - and consequently, a better grade.

I hope this has been taken constructively and if you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at Eric_M_Vogel@mcpsmd.org.

Thank you for being supportive of our kids (and reading this entry)!