August 31, 2011

Homework:
Sections 4 and 5 are to purchase vocabulary books.  I sent home a letter.  The book is $10.
The other classes will not be using the vocabulary book as of now.  I might reconsider at a later date.

Today:
We started the class off with some journal time.  We answered a question and began accumulating the required 700 written words a week.  In one class, the kids counted their words.  Most wrote only around 70 words in 8 minutes.  I will explain this weekly assignment more as the marking period progresses.

Next we copied the Barney rules that I have posted in my room.  Then we watched an episode of Barney.  I want my students to be as close to a Barney classroom as possible.  The class will not be perfect, but we can try.  Here are the rules:

Be caring.
Be fair.
Be honest.
Be responsible.
Respect the rules.
Cooperate with others.
Share with others.
Respect people’s differences.
Be helpful.
Respect the feelings of others.
Do what Barney would think is best.

August 30, 2011 (The first day of school!)

Homework:
None

Today I gave the classes a basic idea of what we will be doing this year.  In short, we will be writing.  To increase their skills in writing, I will be teaching them vocabulary and grammar.  As of today, only sections 4 and 5 need to worry about buying a vocabulary book.  I will send the letter home soon.

Students need to be prepared for class each day.  As of now, that simply means having paper and a pencil.  Over the next few weeks, we will be working on our first piece, and I will be introducing them to various tasks they will be doing throughout the first marking period. The first task will be to write 700 words a week.  More details will follow.

Over the next few days, students will be taking various diagnostics.  We will also be studying Barney the Dinosaur.