Student self-assessment involves students in evaluating their own work and learning progress.    
Self-assessment is a valuable learning tool as well as part of an assessment process.  Through self-assessment, students can:

• identify their own skill gaps, where their knowledge is weak
• see where to focus their attention in learning
• set realistic goals
• revise their work
• track their own progress
• if online, decide when to move to the next level of the course

This process helps students stay involved and motivated and encourages self-reflection and responsibility for their learning.
~Stanford Teaching Commons

Kinders have practiced all year assessing their learning by declaring stars and wishes.  Now they are ready to apply that skill into using a checklist to assess their opinion writing.

As we continue our professional development as candidates for National Board Certified Teachers, we are digging DEEP into writing.  DEEP stands for Details, Engineering, Editing, Purpose.  Kinders are deep in an opinion writing unit.  We look forward to sharing their published writing with you in the near future.

One week later (look at last week's post).  Snow melt in one week.  Tomorrow: Spring Starts!

Topic: Weather
​Types of weather that will be defined during an hour class and illustrated through
hands on activities. The scientific method is introduced or reinforced and applied to weather scenarios.

Our elementary guidance counselor has started a unit with the Kinders to assist them in finding and using strategies to solve problems with peers and skills to decided if a problem is within their reach, or when a problem is serious and adult assistance is needed.  This poster will be up in our classroom to remind Kinders of their choices.

Demonstrating think of your opinion, justifying your reason, and then having a friend disagree with your opinion causes higher level thinking for theses Kinders.  "I think a (animal) is the best because..." Then to hear "I disagree because..."  will launch the next step when Kinders are to write their opinions.

Our Kinder friends were recognized at Community Meeting.

A lot! Underneath these two Kinders are a bench and a picnic table.  It will be a while before we use the bench and picnic table.

What do good readers do?  Today's focus lesson was to notice and use quotation marks.  Good readers read with expression.  We will practice this skill more in future Daily 5 lessons.