Happy Earth Day!
This week in ELL we have many different assemblies and events going on!
Second grade has their musical tomorrow morning and Thursday we have an assembly to celebrate Earth Day :)
Throughout the week, our ELL groups will be doing different activities to celebrate going GREEN.
Kindergarten will be brainstorming ways that we can keep the Earth clean. We will be discussing these different ways through cooperative activities and then writing about all of the ways that we can help keep the Earth clean.
First grade has been studying all about insects and now we will be learning how we can take care of those insects as well to help protect the Earth. We sang a song and wrote about Going Green on Friday that can be found on havefunteaching.com! "We're going green and keeping the Earth CLEAN!"
Second grade will be learning about the oceans and discussing ways that we can protect our oceans of the world.
Third grade read a story that they are familiar with since they studied the author Chris Van Allsburg. We read the story Just a Dream and identified what the world would be like in the future if we don't protect it.
Fourth grade is doing a similar activity as third grade with a focus on identifying what the world would look like in the future if we continue our current actions and polluting the Earth. We have been working on past, present, and future tenses, so we will be practicing using sentences that represent events in the future (I will, It will probably..., etc.)
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me :)
Miss Lundeen
May Watts Elementary
May Watts Elementary School
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
This week in ELL!
Hopefully everyone had a great long weekend! Our ELL groups have been working hard in our class to practice furthering our understanding of different skills and English vocabulary.
In Kindergarten, we are discussing different places in our community. We identified that houses, our favorite restaurants, parks, hospitals, etc are all places that exist in our community. Each student created a building that they included later on in our Kindergarten ELL community!
First graders have been discussing the ways that we can take care of our bodies. We have read stories, sung songs and read poems, and are now using our special sequencing words (first, next, then, last) to create a writing piece that describes the different things that we all can do to take care of our bodies!
Second graders are identifying the different landforms that exist on our Earth. We created motions that represent different landforms and have been working on matching descriptions of each landform with their pictures doing a Mix, Freeze, Match activity. We will continue our study of Geography by working with the terms continent and ocean and completing different activities to represent these physical features.
Third grade is discussing the terms immigration and migration. We have identified which students in our ELL group are immigrants and which students are not immigrants and were born in the United States. We have found that there are six students in our group that are immigrants! Later this week, we will be comparing the terms immigration and migration and identifying examples of each.
Fourth graders are continuing our discussion on the different steps included in the scientific method. We have been talking about what each step looks like and what we do during each step. We will also be practicing using these words by performing different experiments that allow us to correctly state a hypothesis and reflect on and revise our predictions for what will happen.
As a side project, we have also been comparing and contrasting currency from different countries. So far, we have compared the different forms of currency from the United States, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Korea! I'd like to thank our fourth grade parents for helping their children find money from other countries so that we can look at it in our ELL class! :)
In Kindergarten, we are discussing different places in our community. We identified that houses, our favorite restaurants, parks, hospitals, etc are all places that exist in our community. Each student created a building that they included later on in our Kindergarten ELL community!
First graders have been discussing the ways that we can take care of our bodies. We have read stories, sung songs and read poems, and are now using our special sequencing words (first, next, then, last) to create a writing piece that describes the different things that we all can do to take care of our bodies!
Second graders are identifying the different landforms that exist on our Earth. We created motions that represent different landforms and have been working on matching descriptions of each landform with their pictures doing a Mix, Freeze, Match activity. We will continue our study of Geography by working with the terms continent and ocean and completing different activities to represent these physical features.
Third grade is discussing the terms immigration and migration. We have identified which students in our ELL group are immigrants and which students are not immigrants and were born in the United States. We have found that there are six students in our group that are immigrants! Later this week, we will be comparing the terms immigration and migration and identifying examples of each.
Fourth graders are continuing our discussion on the different steps included in the scientific method. We have been talking about what each step looks like and what we do during each step. We will also be practicing using these words by performing different experiments that allow us to correctly state a hypothesis and reflect on and revise our predictions for what will happen.
As a side project, we have also been comparing and contrasting currency from different countries. So far, we have compared the different forms of currency from the United States, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Korea! I'd like to thank our fourth grade parents for helping their children find money from other countries so that we can look at it in our ELL class! :)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
This week in ELL
After a long week of ISAT testing for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, we are finally getting back to our normal routine!
Kindergarten has been attending ELL in smaller group sessions for 30 minutes in the afternoons. This week is "W" week and our focus is Who, What, Where, When. The main "W's" in terms of reading and describing stories.
First grade is learning about bones and comparing our bodies to the environment around us. We are using measurement vocabulary terms such as taller, shorter, bigger, smaller and analyzing how we can keep our bodies healthy.
Second grade is beginning a unit on economy. This week, we are creating vocabulary flip books that define keywords such as income, economy, goods, services, producers, consumers. The objective of our unit will be to use this academic vocabulary and use the words in a realistic context. They will create original sentences and pictures using the words.
Third grade is beginning a unit on the moon. This week, we are looking at the 8 different phases of the moon and understanding the keywords that are associated with the unit such as phase, waning, waxing, gibbous, and crescent. The students will identify the appropriate phases throughout the entire moon cycle.
Fourth grade is working on the Southwest Unit. They are working in pairs to "reciprocal teach" different elements of the Southwest such as Economy, Culture, History, and Geography. Each group will be responsible to read, ask questions, identify difficult parts in the text, summarize and make predictions as they present to the rest of the group to teach their topic!
Fifth Grade's flex group with Mrs. Bennick is working with Aesop's fables and understanding morals or lessons. We will be doing a variety of activities this week relating to morals.
The Book Fair at the May Watts library is also occurring this week and will also be open at the fun fair this Saturday from 11-3. Be sure to stop by!
That will wrap up our week this week! Next week will be a shorter day with no school on Tuesday and a half day on Friday, all before Spring Break :)
As always, be sure to contact me with any questions!
Miss Lundeen
Kindergarten has been attending ELL in smaller group sessions for 30 minutes in the afternoons. This week is "W" week and our focus is Who, What, Where, When. The main "W's" in terms of reading and describing stories.
First grade is learning about bones and comparing our bodies to the environment around us. We are using measurement vocabulary terms such as taller, shorter, bigger, smaller and analyzing how we can keep our bodies healthy.
Second grade is beginning a unit on economy. This week, we are creating vocabulary flip books that define keywords such as income, economy, goods, services, producers, consumers. The objective of our unit will be to use this academic vocabulary and use the words in a realistic context. They will create original sentences and pictures using the words.
Third grade is beginning a unit on the moon. This week, we are looking at the 8 different phases of the moon and understanding the keywords that are associated with the unit such as phase, waning, waxing, gibbous, and crescent. The students will identify the appropriate phases throughout the entire moon cycle.
Fourth grade is working on the Southwest Unit. They are working in pairs to "reciprocal teach" different elements of the Southwest such as Economy, Culture, History, and Geography. Each group will be responsible to read, ask questions, identify difficult parts in the text, summarize and make predictions as they present to the rest of the group to teach their topic!
Fifth Grade's flex group with Mrs. Bennick is working with Aesop's fables and understanding morals or lessons. We will be doing a variety of activities this week relating to morals.
The Book Fair at the May Watts library is also occurring this week and will also be open at the fun fair this Saturday from 11-3. Be sure to stop by!
That will wrap up our week this week! Next week will be a shorter day with no school on Tuesday and a half day on Friday, all before Spring Break :)
As always, be sure to contact me with any questions!
Miss Lundeen
Friday, February 17, 2012
ELL Resumes!
Since ACCESS testing is finally complete, we are finally able to get back to our usual ELL routine!
We have had some minor group changes that will allow for more direct instruction to smaller group sizes. So far, this has proven to be a positive transition!
Our Kindergarten group now meets at the end of the day in smaller group setting. This week, we have been reinforcing beginning, middle and end sequencing skills. We connected sequencing stories to sequencing events in our school day.
First graders have been practicing making comparisons between penguins and other animals. They wrote characteristics that were the same and different between penguins and another animal. After completing their writing piece, the students completed their mix pair share activity to discuss their responses with others.
Our second grade group is discussing buoyancy and comparing objects that sink and float. The key element of our discussion has been describing why objects will sink and why they float. Our focus skill for the week is forming predictions and testing those predictions to determine if they are correct.
Third, fourth, and fifth graders are working on ISAT preparation activities. Our main focus in third and fourth grade includes homonyms, homophones, antonyms and synonyms, cause and effect and identifying the main idea in various reading materials. We are doing various cooperative activities that allow them to practice these skills.
Monday is Presidents Day and Tuesday is parent teacher conferences from 1-8. I will be available to meet with various parents of students throughout the day. Enjoy the long weekend :)
Miss Lundeen
We have had some minor group changes that will allow for more direct instruction to smaller group sizes. So far, this has proven to be a positive transition!
Our Kindergarten group now meets at the end of the day in smaller group setting. This week, we have been reinforcing beginning, middle and end sequencing skills. We connected sequencing stories to sequencing events in our school day.
First graders have been practicing making comparisons between penguins and other animals. They wrote characteristics that were the same and different between penguins and another animal. After completing their writing piece, the students completed their mix pair share activity to discuss their responses with others.
Our second grade group is discussing buoyancy and comparing objects that sink and float. The key element of our discussion has been describing why objects will sink and why they float. Our focus skill for the week is forming predictions and testing those predictions to determine if they are correct.
Third, fourth, and fifth graders are working on ISAT preparation activities. Our main focus in third and fourth grade includes homonyms, homophones, antonyms and synonyms, cause and effect and identifying the main idea in various reading materials. We are doing various cooperative activities that allow them to practice these skills.
Monday is Presidents Day and Tuesday is parent teacher conferences from 1-8. I will be available to meet with various parents of students throughout the day. Enjoy the long weekend :)
Miss Lundeen
Friday, January 27, 2012
Telugu TA!
We are proud to welcome a new bilingual Telegu teaching assistant!
Due to our large population of Telugu speakers, Mrs. Anjani Karra will be here at May Watts supporting our Telegu speaking students. We are very happy to have her here to help! :)
Due to our large population of Telugu speakers, Mrs. Anjani Karra will be here at May Watts supporting our Telegu speaking students. We are very happy to have her here to help! :)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
May Watts Open House!
MAY WATTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
800 S. Whispering Hills Drive
Phone: 630 428-6700
FAX: 630 428-6701
January 11, 2012
OPEN HOUSE
Dear Parents and Students:
You and your family are cordially invited to attend May Watts School’s Open House on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. We are holding only one Open House this year. To alleviate being overcrowded, we are asking families whose last name begins with “A thru L” attend from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Families whose last name begins with “M thru Z” are requested to attend from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This is an excellent opportunity for you and your family to see your children's work, meet your child's teacher and see your school. All members of our support staff will also be available for you to visit. Please be sure to stop by and visit with them. Due to the informal nature of the night, it will not be possible to conduct parent/teacher conferences. Our next conference date is Tuesday, February 21st, or you can call the teacher anytime to schedule a meeting.
There will not be a Book Fair during Open House this year. We will be holding the Book Fair in March and more information will be forthcoming.
Please remember to check our "Lost & Found" which will be on display in the Office hallway during the evening. Any items not claimed this evening will be donated to a charity.
We will open all outside building doors in order for you to enter the building so that you may park in the rear of the building. Come on in. We are looking forward to your visit.
Sincerely,
May Watts Staff
Friday, January 13, 2012
ACCESS Testing
Just as a reminder, ACCESS testing will begin next week January 17th and will continue to February 17th. Each student that qualified for the ELL program will be given this test at some point throughout the testing window to determine their current language proficiency level. There are four sections to this test including; speaking, listening, reading and writing. I will be testing each student during their normal ELL time, therefore, they should not miss any of their core instruction during the day.
Your child was given a letter that describes this test in further detail.Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone if you have any questions!
Your child was given a letter that describes this test in further detail.Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone if you have any questions!
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