Fair vs Equal

It has been made very clear that I need to challenge my class this year - they want to learn! So today, we discussed the difference between FAIR and EQUAL. Equal is when something is done the exact same for everyone. I gave the example of giving band-aids. Everyone came up with an imaginary booboo. Whether it was their head, arm, nose, or leg, everyone got a band-aid on their right arm. That's fair right?!

We realized that when we say, "Hey, that's not fair!" what we really mean is, "Hey, that's not equal!" So this year I am going to be as fair as possible, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything will be the exact same for everyone. We realize we all have different needs and abilities and I need to challenge those independent needs.

So, kiddos had a chance to tell me how they best learn – working alone or with others, with no noise or with music, sitting at tables or working around the room, etc. It is my goal, to make this year as FAIR as possible for each learner. Learning may look different for each of us, but that’s okay as long as we are all challenged and learning!

We decorated band-aid nametags today which states what we need as learners this year. Here we are decorating our nametags, as well as the up close of our nametags:

 

Classroom Expectations

Today we really focused on what we expect of one another in our classroom from the perspective of the student and the teacher. We were very thoughtful in what expectations we have for ourselves as learners, as well as expectations they have for me as their teacher. They were very honest in what they expected of me. The biggest thing I heard was they all want to be challenged this year. They explained to me that if something is easy, learning tends to be boring, but if they are challenged that's when learning takes place and becomes more fun. What an awesome expectation they have for themselves!

From this list we also developed our Class Promise. We all "signed" the promise by placing our handprints around it, showing that we agree with our promise. Ask your child to show you the motions tonight that go along with our promise!

 



First Day of School

What a great first day of school we had today! We were busy making new friends, learning school and classroom expectations, and getting used to the fourth grade. Today table groups made skits to teach each other these expectations. We also went on a classroom scavenger hunt to find important objects around the room. Together as a class we also brainstormed what we believe a great classmate is, does, says, and is not.

We were all so thoughtful and purposeful during this time. It is our goal to keep these things in mind all year round so that we can all be great classmates to each other. 

Today was an excellent first day and has me very excited for the rest of a fabulous year!