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|  | | | | Betsy's Classroom | | Welcome to our Classroom site.
This year (2007-2008) my classroom is made up of 1st (15) and 3rd (10) graders, what a wonderful class it is! All of our Montessori classrooms are . As each child enters our classroom as 1st graders, they will then stay with each teacher for three years. Next year my classroom will consist of 1st graders and 2nd graders. The following year will be 2nd and 3rd graders, then I will move to a 1st and 3rd again.
This is my 15th year at Nokomis and my 20th year teaching in teaching. I received my B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, my Montessori Certification from St. Catherine's College and my Masters Degree in Education from Hamline University.
Schedule:
Our mornings consist mainly of Literacy activities, with some carryover into the afternoon. Mathematics and cultural work are the remainder of the afternoons. Following is our basic schedule;
8:55- 9:10 arrive
9:20-10:50 Reading Workshop
10:50-11:30 Read a loud, Writing Workshop
11:30-12:00 Lunch
12:00-12:20 Recess
12:30-1:20 Prep: rotation between Music, Science and Phy Ed
1:20- 1:30 calendar, read-a-loud/sharing
1:30- 2:00 Writing Workshop continued
2:00- 3:00 Math
3:00-3:30 Culture
3: 40 Dismissal
Reading Workshop time has many components in my room. There is a word work time, reading lesson, guided reading groups, and a quiet work time. Because of the two grade groups I have many other teachers who come in during this time to help with guided reading groups. Joan (literacy teacher) works with the 1st graders with word building and has a guided reading group. I work with the third graders with their work building, two different guided reading groups for 1st graders and a mixed group of 1st/3rd. Julie, our ELL teacher, works with 1st grade guided reading group and she and Dan (literacy teacher) work with the 3rd graders on reading lessons and guided reading groups. This all sounds very tricky, but it has worked well so far.
Writing Workshop time is used read a loud different genres, highlight different techniques that authors do/use. I give the class time to give to try these techniques, record their own stories and share their oral and written stories with the class.
Mathematics has many components. We use Montessori math materials to teach operations and geometry. For measurement, money, time and pattern work I use a variety of materials. This year the E1 team is working with the University of Minnesota to fine tune our problem solving techniques. Teaching problem solving is taught throught the year.
Culture will focus on reviewing the continent, land forms, all the vertebrates and ending the year with a continent study of Australia.
Contact:
The best time to contact me is before or after school 293-8857. I do check email during the day and this will be a very quick way to ask me questions and notify me. Please try not to call me during teaching time. Too many calls become distracting.
betsy.miller@spps.org
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 Fun Learning Links
math, culture, reading
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