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Back to School:  The Honeymoon Is Over

8/31/2014

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After all of the talk, we have come to the point where the honeymoon is over in our classroom.  The teacher was funny, and the procedures make sense, but it's time to get busy with the learning.  We had a taste of this, last week, with our fast and furious efforts to learn the 44 presidents of the United States in just a couple of days, with less than a half-hour devoted on each day.  That may seem ambitious, but I wanted to see how quickly we could learn them.  We had a little crunch time, Friday, where I knew I had been too zealous in my goals, but some students really worked on it and can probably name the presidents at least as well as I can (Of course, not many of us have ever learned the presidents in order, and certainly not this quickly.).

Parents, I did discover that some kids tend to give up too quickly (Since tomorrow is Labor Day, that hardly seems right.).  They must develop stamina for completing a task even when it seems unsavory to them; they must not quit.  If you are reading this (and your are), please discuss this with your child:  it is absolutely imperative that everyone puts forth a better effort this year than last.  I have already found some holes in their prior  learning, and we really need to make progress from the beginning and catch up.  Now that we have settled in, let's not stay too comfortable with what we already know.  As the song said, "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there..."  Let's get these Eagles flyin'!

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One thing that will help with this is our class having serious, in-a-circle discussions about good citizenry.  A catalyst for such conversation resides right here within our website:  a little things I've dubbed Positive Behavior Conversations.  Positive Behavior Conversations begin with a short video, in which a touching story is told in a very short time period.  The story may be about the importance of paying attention to each other, or it could be about good sportsmanship.  It may be an encouraging song to remind us to never give up, or it might be a simple thought presented through a series of profound images.  Along with the video, I provide questions to lead us through a discussion and bring everything together to make it more personal for my class.  How can we encourage each other?  How can we exhibit better sportsmanship?  What can we do to make the world more awesome?

With this, I hope to influence everyone to be more positive and supportive of one another.  All of this has a direct influence on the academics, as well, and that's a good thing.

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Not-So-Silent Movie:  Two Tars

8/30/2014

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I call this a "Not-So-Silent Movie".  It is, as it sits, a silent movie, but when we read the dialog cards aloud and together as a class, the movie is anything but silent.  Sometimes the cards flash on and off of the screen quickly, and students must be prepared for their appearance.  In this manner, students work on their oral reading speed, accuracy, and inflection, all while being slightly entertained and experiencing a bit of the classics.
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Back to School:  On the Move

8/29/2014

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There is one thing you can say about the Hoggatteers:  we are constantly on the move.  We have spent many minutes, during the first week of school, explicitly learning and practicing the expected procedures for getting from one place to another in our classroom.  Where are we going?

  • Sitting in chairs at our six tables
  • Sitting in chairs in rows in front of the SMART Board
  • Sitting in the floor in front of the SMART Board
  • Sitting in a circle in chairs in the open space in the middle of our room
  • Sitting in a circle in the floor in the open space
  • Standing

We have had discussions for:

  • What walking looks like
  • What is an acceptable noise level for transitions
  • Which route does each class member take in order to avoid collisions?
  • How to safely carry a chair
  • When to retrieve a clipboard and paper
  • When and how to sharpen pencils

Not surprisingly, these skills always seem to revert back to the manners we continue to reinforce in Room 404.  We have discussed our responsibilities for treating other people with respect, kindness, and patience, as well as society's general need for a polite generation.  Whether this instruction takes the form of physical practice, practical discussion, storytelling, or viewing a poignant video, this first week has been very full and very productive.  I hope what we do in the classroom is bleeding into students' lives outside of our school, as well.
All of this movement is organized in such a manner to keep students safe, while at the same time transitioning quickly and quietly between activities, topics, and parts of lessons.  An added benefit to frequent movement is that it keeps people awake and keeps the blood flowing to the brain.
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Back to School:  Stories Are aFlyin'

8/28/2014

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I do a lot of talking during the first few days of school, and I have no doubt that my students take my stories home to their parents.

As this is the 25th first week of school I have experienced as a teacher, I know a bit about the importance of building relationships with my students early in the school year; it's much harder to pick up the pieces, later.  I want my students to know me, feel safe with me, and be comfortable with me as we stretch through the fourth grade together.  That's where my stories and silly comments come into play.  It is the passion and energy that drains me by the end of the day.

At the same time
, I really emphasize the importance of good manners.  More and more, I want to hear "thank you", "you're welcome", "excuse me", and "I'm sorry" from my class at appropriate times.  I will stress the importance of addressing adults with respectful terms such as "yes, sir" and "no ma'am" when appropriate, as well.  These manners become apparent very quickly, and people (administrators, other teachers, peers, and visitors) recognize our class because of them.  It's such a simple thing, but it goes so far and helps students become more personable, conversational, and employable in the future.

I hope you can appreciate our efforts to teach more than just the materials required by a government or district test.  These manners and respectful behaviors go a long way toward building a foundation upon which the academics can be built.


That doesn't mean I won't make mistakes; in fact, I guarantee I will.  I may say something that gets misunderstood.  You should at least know this:  I have the best intentions to make this year a memorable, enjoyable, and meaningful one.  Please be patient with me through the bad days, and we can work together to encourage these 25 students to be the best.


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Music Appreciation:  Your Song

8/27/2014

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Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song? 
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Back to School:  A Quick First-Day Report

8/26/2014

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We had 24 students in our class on the first day, filling every chair, four to each of our six tables (WENDELL was added to our number, yesterday morning.).  We spent the first day (as we will several days) covering procedures, rules, and the teacher's quirky mannerisms.  To be clear, I have announced to my students that I, and I alone, am the class clown. To challenge me on this is probably not a good idea.
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Book Review:  The Young Healer

8/25/2014

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From Amazon:
In THE YOUNG HEALER tradition meets contemporary when what starts out as just another day becomes anything but that for young Feather Anderson. Her beloved grandfather, a traditional Lakota healer, pulls her out of class one snowy morning and takes her on an old-fashioned vision quest in the heart of New York City in hopes of finding the perfect Lakota medicine. It becomes the most magical day ever for eleven-year-old Feather Anderson, the day she saves her little brother’s life. Feather follows in her grandfather’s footsteps of healing as a medicine man and she then earns her newly-given secret Lakota name.
I found The Young Healer to be a so-so novel.  The author never breaks out and wows the reader with the imagery that he could have, and the book is a little preachy in places it doesn't need to be.
The grandfather here really has a chip on his shoulder, and that's OK, but it makes even the narration seem angry.  Not only that, but Feather and her grandfather are placed into a sequence of situations that are simply explained as the universe working its magic; I felt like the reader deserved more.
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Music Appreciation:  This Is the New Year

8/24/2014

0 Comments

 
Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?
0 Comments

Back to School:  Remind

8/23/2014

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Parents, please take out your phone, and do this now.

Sign up to receive important text and/or email messages from me.  Here's how:
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Remind is a one-way text messaging and email system.  With Remind, all personal information remains completely confidential.  I will never see your phone number, nor will you ever see mine or anyone else's.  Visit Remind.com to learn more.
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Back to School:  Milestones

8/22/2014

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AUGUST 25, 2014, WILL MARK A FEW MILESTONES:
  1. It is the first day of fourth grade for the new Hoggatteers.
  2. It is the anniversary of Mr. Hoggatt's birth.
  3. It is the first day of Mr. Hoggatt's silver teaching year (25 years in the profession) and his 20th year in Joplin.
  4. It is officially the first day of Cecil Floyd Elementary's 30th year.  Our building was dedicated on August 25, 1985, making this date in 2015 the 30th anniversary (and marking the golden anniversary of Mr. Hoggatt's birth).
Remember our new hours keep us in class
for an extra 10 minutes each day:  7:45am to 2:55pm.
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Help us celebrate by arriving early, with smiles, and dreaming of a successful year!

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Back to School:  First Day of School

8/21/2014

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Hopefully Monday will NOT be like any of these:
The Principal's Office
Teacher Loses Temper
Dismissal Procedures
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Back to School:  Open House Handouts

8/20/2014

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Here, at right, are the paper sets that I made available for parents and students who attended Open House.  Naturally, those who did not attend will still get copies on the first day of school, next Monday.  Most of the text of these documents also appear on our website.

The first, Believe It or Not, is a unique introduction to to teacher, a little message and a list of interesting facts about me that might sound false, but are not.
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Our Open House Table
Believe It or Not
File Size: 277 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Fellowship of Perspicacious Erudites
File Size: 320 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Missouri Hunting Club
File Size: 66 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Class Handbook
File Size: 490 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The next two files - Fellowship of Perspicacious Erudites and Missouri Hunting Club - are unique ways for students to earn "extra credit".  In our classroom, this comes in the form of bonus Golden Tickets (which are our reward tickets for behavior).  You can always find these linked online, as well, on the Earn Your Wings page.

The last file linked here is our Class Handbook.  The document is different from the links on our website.  I have included pages that I present on the first few days of class.

Additionally, parents were able to sign up for this year's conferences and fill out a transportation information page.  If you did not attend, please find the time to complete these items.
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Back to School:  Ready for Launch

8/19/2014

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Open House is tonight, (Tuesday, August 19) from 5:30-6:30!

Twenty-three eager Eagles are the newest Hoggatteers in Joplin, Missouri, USA.
I heartily welcome this fine collection of students to the family:

GIRLS


BOYS

KAYDEE
JAYLA
DANIELLE
ESMERALDA
MAYCEE
NEVI
SARA
EMILY
ALEXIA
MORGAN
ADDISON
EMMA
MAX
JACK
MICHAEL
BREYDON
FELIX
SKYLER
ELI
ANDREW
JACOB
WILLIAM
BRODIE
ETHAN

Do you think you are ready for an amazing fourth grade year?  Really?  If things go as planned, this year will be unlike any other in your educational life.  While there are things we have to do to fulfill the demands of the federal and state governments (and the district's approach to such), I will always strive to be eclectic in my approach to the classroom.


First Things First

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After saying all of that, we will begin with something that sounds much like every other class in the public school world - introductions, rules, and procedures.  Hopefully, you will see right away, that even if the things look the same in the lesson plans, the Hoggatteer Experience is like no other.

For example, one of the first priorities for your new teacher is to establish some protocol for approaching and speaking to one another, to other teachers, and to adults in general.  We will work on, believe it or not, properly shaking hands and looking people in the eye.  We will practice active listening skills - including something called tracking.

I know you will want to get right into the learnin', but we absolutely must get it through our heads that we are a family.  We will support each other through our actions and speech.  We will cheer for effort and for success.  We will accept each other's idiosyncrasies and differences. We will find ways to celebrate our differences.

In fact, we will publicly identify our own mistakes - yes, publicly, but in a safe and civil atmosphere.     We  will  correct  ourselves  and help others when they have needs.  We will work through problems painstakingly, not minding the investment of time when it will be beneficial to spend it.  And then - again - we will celebrate the great effort to grow and learn.

There is a difference in the teacher handing out corrections and answers willy-nilly, and the manner in which our classroom operates.  Students will be allowed - even encouraged - to struggle through issues and problems, and they will be rewarded intrinsically when they do.  When learning and growing require struggle, learning and growing are appreciated so much more.

Not only is there a teacher in Room 404; there are students who look for ways to assist others.  In the last few years, Room 404 has earned a reputation of being very close:  a family indeed!  We install a foundation of passion, compassion, and good manners, we build memories, and we cap it all with academic rigor.

Look out, here we go!  Keep your arms and legs inside the classroom at all times.

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Music Appreciation:  Take on the World

8/18/2014

0 Comments

 
Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?
0 Comments

That's My Name; Don't Wear It Out

8/17/2014

6 Comments

 
There it is.  Maybe not the prettiest name upon which you have ever lain your eyes, and it's probably not music to your ears, but it's mine.  All mine.
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H-O-double-G-A-double-T.  Two G's.  Two T's.  There is no R.  The vowels are both short.  The emphasis is on the first syllable.  Say it like I do and you'll end up with something like this:

Hog.  It.  I've lived with the name for almost half a century.  My family has had the name for centuries.  And we have heard it pronounced all sorts of ways.  I've received mail addressed to Haggatt, Hoggett, Hoggart, and Hograt.  I've been called Hog-it-all, Piggatt, and most frequently, Hoe-git.  I suppose I'm not alone; people like to make fun of names.  I've never let it bother me much, so if you make a mistake, it won't be the end of my world.  Just don't make a mistake on purpose.

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