Update on our Classroom Schedule!

Due to the continued growth and nature of the course, I have updated the Class Schedule:

You will notice that there are many changes in how I would like the day to flow.

Firstly, our mornings will begin with 100 minutes of uninterrupted Literacy each day. This is to ensure structure and routine for students. I have included Bell Times for a better understanding of timing for classroom changes. This schedule is dependent on the school, rotary teachers for Prep time, and the Classroom Profile and can be adapted based on student needs. I have used the standards provided by the DSBN (District School Board of Niagara). You can find those standards by clicking here.

The morning routine will be as follows:

• Soft Entry:
• Students will enter the classroom in the morning with calm music playing and warm lights switched on, copy any announcements into their agenda, have it signed by the classroom teacher, and then put it into their "home" magazine folder at the classroom entrance. This will be retrieved at the end of the day with any supplemental notes to go home.
• Accommodations: if students have a difficult time with writing, announcements for the week will be cut and printed for these students to glue into their agendas. The goal to write some by the end of the year will be based on the student.
• First 15 - 20 minutes:
• Once students have completed their Agenda, they will complete Bell Work in duo tangs. This work will reflect what current math or language skills they are working towards and need more practice. These should be short questions that support quick-thinking skills. When students are done they can practice their Stamina Reading skills (read independently until the timer goes off).
• The teacher will take up the Bell Work and have some students share their thinking aloud or on the board.
• The remainder of Period 1 Language:
• Word work/phonics direction (such as Heggerty and Jolly Phonics Programming)
• As the year goes on, this can also be time to work on the integrated unit plan (research portion). Students will be able to find the current stage of their writing process on our "Student Fridge" wall space. If students are not working on an integrated project at this time, the year should begin with a class novel study. 
• The book being read aloud as a class for the novel study will follow the Think Aloud/Read Aloud structure with comprehension questions asked prior to/after reading. Once students become accustomed to the routine, the Period 2 Language block can also be used for independent reading and student language interventions as needed.
• Mathematics Blocks
• Focus on hands-on learning experiences to provide students with ample opportunities to work on SEL Skills and Mathematic Processes. Always ensuring that students are making connections to at least one other subject to encourage integrated learning.
• Where is the integrated learning?
• The Science or Social Studies units will guide the themes of our classroom learning throughout the year. Both subjects, Health, and the Arts can always be considered as integrated learning periods. Math and Language will be dependent on the goals of the DSBN Scope and Sequence for the year. Science and Social Studies units should be planned around these to ensure maximum cross-curricular study.
• What is represented in this schedule?
• 100 uninterrupted minutes of Literacy per day (dependent on rotary teachers/schedules).
• 900 minutes of Numeracy, either uninterrupted or broken up.
• 300 minutes of Science (double periods for integrated working time).
• 250 minutes of Social Studies.
• 250 minutes of Health and Physical Education (50 minutes for Health, 200 minutes for Physical Education).
• 250 minutes of The Arts. Aim for one subject per cycle, the final 50-minute block can be used for the consolidation of a unit.