Click on the button below to study a lesson on the different kinds of maps geographers use to make sense of the world.

This year Parker School has the privilege of being a Leader In Me School. The Leader In Me program teaches students the importance of finding the leader within. The program uses Stephen Covey's much praised 7 Habits For Highly Effective People; used worldwide in top businesses, organizations, schools and homes.  

Last week, students learned about becoming aware of their paradigms (the way we see the world) and identifying their principles (what we stand for). This week we are learning Habit 1 - Be Proactive.  To be proactive, means we recognize our choices are our own, and we worry about the things within our control, not the things outside of our control.  To be proactive, try using proactive language such as I will, or I choose to rather than I have to.  Click on the link below to learn more!

Welcome to a new school year!  I am so excited to be back at Parker! Although it has been three years, it seems like only yesterday I was teaching some of my students in 2nd grade.  We are off to a great start in class, establishing our Classroom Working Agreements, Classroom Jobs, and Class Dojo and beginning our Leader In Me program. We have been super busy getting to know each other and having a great time in the process!

Let's chat a bit about some of the programs in our classroom. I am using Class Dojo to award points to students for positive behaviors such as participating, staying on task, or living the 7 Habits. What is so great about this program is that I am able to quickly award points from my computer or app, and parents and students can see daily updates. It will make bragging about ourselves so much easier now that we have the data to back it up! And trust me, the awesome students in my class have much to brag about!  Signing up is easy and free, and can be done with the free app for your smart phone or through the website.  Check your student's backpack for a note with specific instructions. 

Another program I am using is Remind. This app allows me to send out text messages to all of my subscribers.  It is a super simple way for me to let parents know about upcoming tests, special events, and any important classroom news.  This is also free to sign up with, and there is also a note with specific instructions in your student's backpack.

This year Parker has the privilege of being a Leader In Me school. This means we will be studying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.  This is a great opportunity for ALL students to discover, nurture, and become the leader they are within themselves.  Today, students learned hand signals for the 7 Habits.  Ask them to show you; it's pretty fun!

I can't tell you how excited I am for this school year! Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, encouragement, or friendly salutations! Click on the buttons or images below to learn more!

A simile is used to compare two unlike things using the words "like or as". For example, "I was happy as a clam." A metaphor compares two unlike things as being the same. For example, "she is a walking dictionary". Students can use similes and metaphors in their writing to help the readers create a better visualization in their minds.

Students in Read 180 are currently studying Story Elements. The Story Elements are the parts of a story that make it complete. There are five elements: Setting, Character, Plot, and Theme. Each element is critical to completing the whole story. Setting explains where and when the story takes place. Character includes all the people (or animals, depends on the story) who are involved in the story. The Plot includes the events that happen in the story, especially the conflict and solution. The Theme is the message the author wants the reader to get from the story. Watch and listen to the video below to hear a quick rap that explains Story Elements.