I started a new blog today for the students. I am helping them set up their accounts today and they will hopefully have access to the site before they leave school today. This is designed for students to be able to collaborate and share ideas (not answers) and hopefully develop a network of students helping students...I will try to give them chances to get on the blog here at school, and they may definitely get on it at home. Please ensure that they are using it for school appropriate conversation- or problems...I will answer questions that are posted to me if I am able as early as I can, but I may not get to them...I will try.
The web address is
http://www.edmodo.com/
It is a secure and verified safe website designed for teachers and students...
I will also send out a Parent Code if you request one, so that we can communicate through this site if it is something that will make it easier.
thanks
Gollihizzy
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Welcome Back
To quote Aerosmith, we are "back in the saddle again..." We have a lot of review to do and prep for the upcoming STAAR tests in March and April. Our focus for the first portion of the NEW YEAR (2012) in Math will be decimals and fractions and how they represent the same thing; Writing will bounce between editing, revising, and writing both narratives and expository prompts; Science and SS will be focusing on the Great Plains region of Texas; and as always Reading will encompass understanding of Main Idea, Summary, Comparing and Contrasting, Author's Purpose, as well as fluency and developing good problem solving skills in any piece that they read.
Tutoring forms will be sent out in the near future, so that we may begin to address the needs of our kids in the new year. the areas we will be focusing on are writing, reading and math- specifically test-taking strategies and review of materials taught in class. Please consider sending your child if they get a form... students needs of tutoring will be based on our last Math CDB, and grades in class; writing-on their performance thus far, and reading- on their reading-level and performance thus far.
Finally, we are in need of pencils for the class. If you are able please consider sending some pencils...thanks and keep an eye out for the next update...hopefully next week... I will try to stay on this as a simple means of communication...
Important Dates:
Tutoring forms will be sent out in the near future, so that we may begin to address the needs of our kids in the new year. the areas we will be focusing on are writing, reading and math- specifically test-taking strategies and review of materials taught in class. Please consider sending your child if they get a form... students needs of tutoring will be based on our last Math CDB, and grades in class; writing-on their performance thus far, and reading- on their reading-level and performance thus far.
Finally, we are in need of pencils for the class. If you are able please consider sending some pencils...thanks and keep an eye out for the next update...hopefully next week... I will try to stay on this as a simple means of communication...
Important Dates:
Friday, September 23, 2011
Multiplication, Division and Progress Reports, Oh My!
Today September 23, 2011, students will receive their progress reports for the first 9 Weeks. This is where they are currently standing in class right now, which should not come as a surprise. I should have already spoken to you if there is a problem that I am seeing in class. Parent conferences are scheduled for October 7 from 12:45- 4:00. If you would like to meet with me regarding your child's current rate of progress, please call me or email me so that I will be able to set up a schedule to meet.
We are working diligently on Multiplication Facts and Division Facts. It is imperative that your students develop FLUENCY in these facts. They should be automatic. We are teaching them to notice the relationships between numbers- and how they relate to the FACT FAMILY. If they see the relationship they are more able to remember their facts- both Division and Multiplication. The multiplication facts were a 3rd grade promotion standards, and the division facts are a 4th grade promotion standard for math.
We are consistently working on a computer program called- FASTMath to help students develop automaticity of their basic multiplication facts. You can help by having your students practice a little bit daily.
Reading is important too. Please spend some time allowing your students to read aloud to you. It can be an eye-opening experience. Ask them questions about what they have just read- 1) who were the characters? 2) what is the setting of the story? 3) what is the problem in the story? 4) how is it resolved? 5) what is the main idea of the story? 6) summarize the story in your own words. All of these questions help your students to really pay attention to what they are reading and help them to develop meaning in the words they are reading.
Hopefully we can work together to improve your child's performance in 4th grade and beyond!
We are working diligently on Multiplication Facts and Division Facts. It is imperative that your students develop FLUENCY in these facts. They should be automatic. We are teaching them to notice the relationships between numbers- and how they relate to the FACT FAMILY. If they see the relationship they are more able to remember their facts- both Division and Multiplication. The multiplication facts were a 3rd grade promotion standards, and the division facts are a 4th grade promotion standard for math.
We are consistently working on a computer program called- FASTMath to help students develop automaticity of their basic multiplication facts. You can help by having your students practice a little bit daily.
Reading is important too. Please spend some time allowing your students to read aloud to you. It can be an eye-opening experience. Ask them questions about what they have just read- 1) who were the characters? 2) what is the setting of the story? 3) what is the problem in the story? 4) how is it resolved? 5) what is the main idea of the story? 6) summarize the story in your own words. All of these questions help your students to really pay attention to what they are reading and help them to develop meaning in the words they are reading.
Hopefully we can work together to improve your child's performance in 4th grade and beyond!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Celebrate Freedom Week and the Constitution- September 12-16
One of the first things we will do in my class in September is National Freedom Week and we are celebrating and honoring the people and events that helped to define and provide the freedoms that we have today. In keeping with this idea, Mr. Gollihar's students will be MEMORIZING the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. They will be able to recite it either publicly in class or privately at Mr. Gollihar's desk. This will count as a participation grade. A copy of the Preamble will be provided to each student on Tuesday September 6, 2011. I will also include a link to it at the end of this post. We will be discussing the Preamble and the Constitution at length in the next few weeks and feel like this is a fun way for students to take some ownership and get into the mindset of the early drafters of the Constitution. Hopefully, you will be able to assist your child in learning this important piece of American History. Mr. Gollihar will provide some time to practice at the end of instruction, as well.
The link for the Constitution is an interactive site that gives history and details about each piece of the Preamble.
http://72.32.50.200/constitution/ (Interactive Constitution)
Here is a printable version of the Preamble to the Constitution with room to write it out to assist in memorizing it.
Here is a printable version of the Preamble to the Constitution with room to write it out to assist in memorizing it.
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