March

Well...we sure have been busy with TCAP testing, area/perimeter in math, and learning about Great Americans.  It is exciting and exhausting all at the same time.  Just think, next week we will be done with our first ever TCAP testing experience!  After that we should be able to have some pictures to show off all of our hard work on our Great Americans.  Be on the look-out for that!

We're Back!

We've been working so hard and preparing for TCAP that we fell off the blog radar for a while!  Hopefully we can keep this more up-to-date for the rest of the year!  Back in January I had the privilege of going to a Thinking Maps training.  Thinking Maps are meant to organize kiddo's thoughts and get them to be more critical thinkers.  The really cool thing about Thinking Maps is that they can be used for everything!!  We've been using the maps in math, writing, and reading so far.  Often times I hear, "Are we going to learn a new Thinking Map?"  That is so exciting because I know the kiddos like them and find the value in them!  Here are some examples of Thinking Maps:

Circle Map about Non-Fiction Texts

Tree Map detailing learning about LINES and ANGLES.

Double Bubble Thinking Map comparing/contrasting perpendicular and parallel lines.

Circle Map as a plan to describe their favorite fairy tale character.

Tree Map plan to describe and explain a favorite winter activity.

Multi-Flow Map (cause & effect)

Close up of a Multi-Flow Map (cause & effect) - causes on the left, effects on the right.