Colonial Day

Colonial Day

Monday, December 3, 2012

                                                                                

            Fourth Grade Colonial Day has come and gone!  The big day was Monday, December 3.  After much preparation, our fourth grade students were provided an exciting experience which promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

       

     The students rotated through each classroom and participated in colonial activities before going to the gym to perform colonial songs and dances for parents, staff, and our third graders.  Activities included foil embossing, sachets, stenciling, calligraphy, silhouettes, cooking applesauce and Johnny Cakes, and a tavern experience with snacks, games, and music. 

We would like to thank the parents who participated in each station and helped to make this day very special for our fourth graders.  We would also like to thank the music and PE teachers who have been busy teaching our fourth graders colonial songs and dances for the performance. 

Balance Literacy in Action

I got the chance to walk around to all the reading workshops in 1st grade today and saw some amazing learning happening that was hand tailored for each kid.  It's all part of our initiative this year to incorporate a Balanced Literacy Approach as part of our School Improvement Plan. 

Through Balanced Literacy, the teacher is able to model strategies for the students, support those strategies with the students during small group instruction so that they can then independently practice during reading workshop time. 

Typically, there would be a focus lesson at the beginning where the teacher explicitly models the strategies for the students.

During Guided Reading, the teacher individualizes instruction for small groups of children at the instructional reading level.  Here's where she can meet the needs of every student in her classroom. 


Every student gets time with the teacher to learn strategies at their reading level

While students are engaged in the independent workshop time, the students are able to use what they have learned in the focus lesson and guided reading to practice reading.  Much like practicing soccer to play in a game, students need more time actually practicing their reading skills with Just Right Books for them. 

Here are some students "Listening to Reading, "Buddy Reading", or doing "Independent Reading". 

You can reinforce this at home by encouraging your student to read books at home to you and to themselves that are not too hard and not too easy, but Just Right!  The goal is for students to have independent practice and application of strategies they are learning.  It's more about the conversations they are able to have with you about what they read. 

A great way for parents and PTA to support this initiative in our school is to fund additional texts to enhance our classroom libraries with more leveled books that are Just Right for each student.

As time moves forward at DRES and we get more consistency into our Reader's Workshop structure  throughout all grade levels K-6, students will know what to expect and the structure will enable them to move forward at their level and become more strategic readers. 

Hopefully, this blog post will help you know what to ask your students about what they did in Reading today. 

Let's Meet Some of our Great Volunteers!

We have to start with a huge THANK YOU to all of our volunteers!  We have wonderful volunteers at Daniels Run!  Each of them contributes greatly to a school that they care about and we always encourage others to do the same.  Let's find out about a few of our great parents!

Daphne Palomino

Names and ages of children?
Sabrina, age 6

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
I don't know!  International Night what you get to know other cultures and countries, try different food, and thing from other countries.

How do you get involved at school?
Well, the truth is at the beginning I got involved by attending English classes.  Then I volunteered in the Family Resource Center.  I make projects for teacher, go on field trips and help with parties, like the Valentine's Day party.  Besides that, I come and eat lunch with my daughter.

Advice for busy parent not sure how to volunteer?
Maybe they can find time to do something once.  Once a year, once a month, once a week.  It doesn't matter-you can do it.

Best thing about living in Fairfax?
I am comparing it to my country, Peru.  I like it because it's not a big city.  It's quite calm.  You can do activities outside and walk around without fear.  I like the diversity too.  I've met many people from Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Katy Malesky

Names and ages of children?
Kendal, 8
Kelsey, 7
Joshua, 4

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
Spring Fling.  It's a fun family activity for the end of the school year.  We have the opportunity to raise funds for the PTA.

How do you get involved at school?
I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule that allows me to volunteer in a variety of different capacities.  I am co-chair of both the spring fling and fall ball, room parent for my children's classes, and I like to help teachers with their Thursday Folders, field trips and special events like Tribeology and Seussercize.

Advice for busy parents not sure how to volunteer?
I strongly encourage parents to talk with their teachers as well as visit the Family Resource Center.  In combination either avenue is likely to suggest a way you can contribute your time.  It's an ongoing partnership between the school and the parents.

Best thing about living in Fairfax City?
I love the diverse community.  The opportunities-there's something here for everybody: sports, the arts and the endless resources.

Haewon Cho

Name and ages of children?
Sooho, 22
Manho, 21
Inho, 10

What is your favorite event at Daniels Run Elementary?
Seussercize.  There are many different games like pizza box delivery, hula hoop relay, and other fun stations.

How do you get involved at school?
The parent liaison asked if I wanted to get involved in the library, so I started that way.  I have been volunteering here for almost 11 years.  My older children volunteered in the library when they were in high school.  I now volunteer in the library every week and every chance I get I volunteer for other events.

Advice for busy parents not sure how to volunteer?
I invite parents who do not normally volunteer and tell them when there are special events, maybe then they can get more involved with their kid's class.  The best way for people to find out about how to volunteer is to ask another volunteer.

Best thing about living in Fairfax City?
Location.  Fairfax County Public Schools has a great reputation and Fairfax City is safe for kids.

Things for which I'm Thankful...

I was invited on Wednesday of this past week to come to Mrs. Dalone's 1st grade class for some Thanksgiving poetry that they had prepared to read for their parents prior to the luncheon.  Seeing the joy and pride they displayed in sharing what they had prepared for their parents brought great joy to all of us adults who were there and so I wanted to share a short bit of it with all of you. 

It made me want to share with you some of the things that I am thankful for as a new principal here at Daniels Run ES.

1.  750 of the most amazing students who bring the light of learning to us every day. 
2.  100 dedicated and talented staff members who put in tireless hours of effort to make the difference for each child.
3.  Over 1,000 parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caring community members who willingly partner with our school and support us with time and talent.
4.  1 great county and city school system partnership that provides us with resources, tools, and training to support each child.
5.  I'm also thankful for stuffing...I love STUFFING!

At the beginning of the year, we shared with staff a core value of our school which is FAMILY.  Nothing exemplified this value more than the Thanksgiving luncheon this past week when we came together as ONE SCHOOL FAMILY to eat, laugh, and talk with one another.  Thanks for coming in to show with your presence that you care about your child and our school!

Daniels Run Singers entertained the crowd with some Patriotic songs
...who is that bald guy at the piano?

 

 

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Mr. Erbrecht!!!

Check out this great video that FCPS created.  It highlights the great leadership of our new principal Mr. Erbrecht!

Check it out here

Math Science Pumpkin Connections

Student began by making an estimate for each
measurement of the dimensions of their group's pumpkin

Second grade students came to the science lab this week to work with our Math Specialist, Christie Ray, and our Science Specialist, Lori Huberman-Hays to do a Math/Science exploration with...

PUMPKINS!

This timely fall activity asked students to use their estimation, measurement, and place value skills to explore the height, width, circumference, and mass of the pumpkin as well as the number of seeds in the pumpkin. 

Students practiced skills with estimation and number sense in a fun, hands-on, hands-gooey, real life way as they worked together.  Our thanks to the parents who came to help.  Check out the great pics!

Each group was assigned their own pumpkin



Parent volunteers helped students take the measurements



Students recorded their group pumpkin information
on a chart on the smart board.

Finally, they counted the pumpkin seeds into
cups of 10 for groups of 100 to see who had the most.



 

Adventure Buddies

Adventure Buddies

       As a way to create positive interaction between peers of different grade levels, Miss Neeper's 1st grade students have been paired with an “Adventure Buddy” in Miss Dussinger’s 6^th grade class. By sustaining this relationship, there will be many positive benefits for both the first and sixth grade students.

       For example, over the past few weeks, sixth grade buddies have been and will continue to model positive school and classroom behaviors. We feel as though establishing and maintaining these relationships will allow both classes to become accountable for their behaviors in and outside of the classroom setting.

        The students have been looking forward to receiving buddy letters weekly from their sixth grade partner. In turn, the first graders are working hard on their writing skills by writing weekly responses to their buddies. Last Wednesday, we introduced the concept of “bucket filling” to our students.

       This lesson modeled positive peer interactions and encouraged students to treat each other with kindness and respect. The students enjoyed brainstorming ideas about the character traits that a bucket filler possesses! The buddies will meet each week to read, write, or discuss relevant topics that are happening in our classrooms or school community.

       Please ask your child about their experience so far with their Adventure Buddy. We hope that they are enjoying this experience, and are excited to grow with their buddies this year!

The President’s Own Marine Corps Band Brass Quintet

The President’s Own Marine Corps Band Brass Quintet

The President’s Own Marine Corps Band Brass Quintet performed for Daniels Run students (3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders) today.  The program of varied music was presented to show the power of music.  The five musicians demonstrated the emotional power of music through changes in articulation (dynamics!), tempo, major and minor tonal centers.  We were all inspired by their fine musicianship! 

 

Please check out their special website for kids:  http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/kids_corner/kids.htm

This website will be posted on the DRES music website! 

INTERNATIONAL WALK/ BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY

INTERNATIONAL WALK/ BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD

This past Wednesday, over 180 walkers and parents from Daniels Run celebrated International Walk to School Day.  Coordinator Judy Fraser, our PTA members, as well as various community members set up rest stops along the popular paths to school that made the walk/bike ride to school extra fun.  They have been conveying their excitement about the event for the past three days.

At the rest stops, bikers could stop for breakfast treats and stickers. Daniels Run received activity sheets and safety information for all the students.  A local videographer made a video of the event to share with the school’s news team, the school board and the local city council.  Our local Environmental Sustainability Committee also supporting this event.

Adam and Dave would like to thank everyone who assisted with this wonderful event. 

Daniels Run Singers

Math Journals - Making Sense

 

 

One of our big School Improvement Plan goals for this year is to increase students ability to express their understanding of math concepts in multiple different ways.  For many of our kids, math is about getting the right answer and then moving on without really understanding why the steps they just did worked. 

 

Through our Math Journal initiative in grades K-6 this year, we will be having students utilize multiple ways to show the same understanding with pictures, words, and numbers to represent the mind map that is in their brain for how the numbers are working together to make the final answer. 

 

One of the most basic things we see every day especially with our upper grades kids, is counting on their fingers to figure our a basic fact like 6 +7.  They are often afraid to take a risk to think differently than the old method they know will work (counting on their fingers).  Or they are afraid that they might get a wrong answer.  We have to encourage risk taking and our math journals are designed as a safe place for kids to begin exploring new ways of thinking with math.  The goal is that they begin to piece together the many ways that numbers fit together. 

 

This short video below explains a little bit about what I mean.  You may want to expand this video to full screen to see it best.

 

Here are some first grade friends using objects and tally makes to build their understanding of numbers.

Here's a fourth grade friend getting her thoughts down.

 

Some of our 6th grade mathematicians are working together to explain their thinking.

Responsive Classroom

What's distinctive about the Responsive Classroom approach at Daniels Run?

The Responsive Classroom is a general approach to teaching, rather than a program designed to address a specific school issue. It is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills. The Responsive Classroom approach consists of a set of practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies and that can be used along with many other programs. These classroom practices are the heart of the Responsive Classroom approach:

2^nd Grade

We start each day with a Morning Meeting where we greet each other, do a group activity and read the Morning Message. Some group activities we have played include The Warm Wind Blows and a fun skip counting game called POP. The Morning Message gives us a glimpse of what we will learn each day. Students came up with their hopes and dreams for second grade. They worked hard to create either an academic or social goal! From there, we discussed what rules our classes need in order to accomplish our hopes and dreams and learn everything we have to learn in second grade. All students were involved in the rule making process and we came up with Our Class Promise consisting of our rules. We are off to an exciting start in second grade and are looking forward to learning and growing more this year!

3^rd Grade

Third grade has been actively creating a community of thoughtful and respectful students through the Responsive Classroom model.  All the students in third grade wrote their own “Hopes and Dreams” for the year.  After sharing our “Hopes and Dreams” we created our classroom rules that we want to honor each day in order to work and play safely and to make new friendships.  We have been walking in the hallways quietly and the following “Respectful Rules” in the cafeteria and bathrooms.  Our Morning Meetings have helped us get to know one another and learn how to listen, share, and very importantly…..have fun!

4^th Grade

Last Friday, Adam officiated at our “I Can’t Funeral” and we hope to encourage positive effort and thoughts with this activity. 

Mrs. Horn shared a great idea from the RC newsletter which we are implementing.  Students are creating “Memory Collections” and will share parts of their collection with other students.  We are working on how to share an oral story.  Eventually, students will build writing pieces around the different objects in their collections.

6^th Grade

In sixth grade we are working to have full morning meetings 4 days a week.  We have been using reinforcing, reminding, and redirecting language when it comes to making sure all students are conducting themselves properly in various locations of the building (hallways, cafeterias, specials, bathrooms).  We have built a class community by discussing our hopes and dreams with students and some of their parents at Back-to-School Night.  We have created a set of classroom expectations to ensure students are in a safe learning environment, one where they can do their best work. Since we switch classes, we have reviewed our expectations within our math, science, and social studies groups to ensure that the students are aware that we share the same expectations and hopes for their success.  Each classroom has expectations posted that were created by the students.

Rallying Back to School

Even with unexpected events of a presidential candidate visiting the park across the street, we had a great week with Back to School Nights! 

I want to first publically thank all of the city police, fire and rescue, and security officers from the FCPS Office of Safety & Security for their efforts to make sure our school operations could continue as normal as large crowds descended on Van Dyck park before, during, and after our morning arrival time for the political rally.  Their professionalism and quick communication ensured an uninterrupted and uneventful school day for all.  Thanks!

Thanks to our men in uniform for helping us out!

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, we had wonderful participation from our parent community in coming out for Back to School Night.  The PTA sold spirit wear and added new members building excitement for strong parent involvment this year.  Peter Noonan, our new City Superintendent and city board members were here to show their support.  Linda Burke our Cluster Assistant Superintendent visited classrooms. Our resource specialists described their programs to parents in the library. 

  

Of course, the main event was for parents to get to spend time with our great teachers learning about how their classrooms work.  Teachers shared information about our Responsive Classroom practices which help build a sense of community and pro-social behaviors through strategies like Morning Meeting.  Teachers also explained aspects of the New Standards Based Elementary School Report Card.  Parents got to see student work and even leave a note for their students about their hopes and dreams for this year.

     

Thanks to everyone for coming out and working hard to help make these events a success!

The Dragons Are Back!

Welcome to the completion of week one at Daniels Run Elementary School.  We are off to a great start as students get acquainted with their new teachers, classroom schedule, and the daily routines.  The excitement level in the building has been vibrant and obvious from parents, teachers, and students.

As we move into week two, please remember that our mission at Daniels Run ES is to provide meaningful, engaging, inquiry based experiences to meet the educational needs and expand the critical thinking skills of our students as they strive toward their limitless potential as learners and citizens.  By collaborating as one Professional Learning Community and partnering with our community, we ensure the ongoing, purposeful learning of every child.

        Have a wonderful and safe weekend with your family and friends and please remember that we are thrilled to have your family be a member of the Daniels Run family. It takes a community to raise a child.