Ready - Set - Go!

At all three elementary buildings our new K-5 math program includes a district wide approach to teaching math.  Within the curriculum teachers conduct lesson openers that involve quick counting and skip counting that support the development of math fact fluency.  Another instructional component in the math program is something called a, "Sprint".  Almost every day students will engage with a Sprint activity. The instructional goal of our math "opener" and a "Sprint" is to build fast, thoughtful, thinking skills and math fluency. 

The teachers and the students are just learning how to participate in the opening activity and the classroom "Sprint'.  The exciting thing is that all students K-5 are participating in similar activities.  As a result, the strategies, routine, and lesson structure of our math block is now seamless from grade level to grade level.  Here is short clip showing one 2nd grade classroom participating in their opening activity and a 2nd and 5th grade classroom finishing up their "Sprint". Given only one minute to complete the Sprint - today - a clap or a "whoop" meant they got the answer correct!   

Engaged students!

Monday Morning

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly everyone falls right back into the routine of "school".  This morning, in every room I entered, students looked like learners 

and 

teachers looked like they were 

right where they were suppose to be!

Welcome Back!

3rd Grade Math

Kindergarten ELA

3rd Grade Math

Kindergarten ELA

First Grade ELA

First Day Celebration 2013!

School started off with a bang this year!  Welcome back signs lined our sidewalk and students were greeted by excited teachers.  

At 1:30 we gathered in our gym for our First Day Celebration Ceremony.  Mrs. Sadlocha and the Riverside Action Hero introduce our school theme... 

A Riverside Hero is Character in Action! 

Jared Cambell, a professional performer, then engaged the audience with interactive songs and stories.  

It was a fantastic start to our school year.

3rd Grade Scientists

Today students in 3rd grade "got involved!"  

While learning about buoyancy they were challenged with designing a boat that would actually float and then they had to figure out how much cargo it could hold.

Students worked effectively and cooperatively together!

Snack Break!

Students in Mrs. Shephard's class take a quick 10 minute snack break in the morning. During this time they can play a relaxing game with friends.  

Today a group of four students enjoyed a friendly game of UNO.

 

Art at its best....

Students in Mr. Neer's class are learning how to draw self portraits.  Due to our Smart Board technology, Mrs. Myers was able to model proper drawing techniques and demonstrate the expectations so that all students could easily see.  

Students could not wait to implement the concepts taught.  

All around the room students were gazing in their mirrors and doing their very best to draw the beautiful face they saw....

    

Dr. Suess Day!

It is Dr. Suess's birthday tomorrow and we are celebrating with a bang in our library.  Today, teachers had an opportunity to sign up for a "party time" slot in the library.  During the party - students enjoyed a sweet cupcake and a Dr. Suess story. 

Celebrity guest readers from outside Riverside School included Police Chief Nayar, State Police Sergeant Tim Pidgeon, and 

Michelle Barry, owner of The Green Toad.

Thank you Mrs. Iannello for planning such a wonderful event!

Thank you Riverside staff for making enough cupcakes for the whole school!