Welcome !

Background

Originally from the Black Hills of South Dakota, I have been living in New England since 1998.  I am new to Malletts Bay but not teaching; this is my fifth year teaching fifth grade!  I have also taught middle school and outdoor wilderness programs.

I love teaching for its expansive terrain and vast opportunities for growth.  There’s so much to focus on: classroom climate, curriculum design, instruction, content knowledge, motivation ...the list is endless.  Engineering student success is very rewarding!

My wife, Amy Renner, and I have two beautiful young daughters, Ada and Zohy.  For fun, I head for the outdoors! I am wildly passionate about skiing and mountain biking! I also enjoy reading, camping, and playing guitar.

Teaching Philosophy

Our diverse and democratic society depends on active, well educated citizens.

Community, schools, and family are key partners in a child's education.

Effective teachers are the greatest indicator of student success. 

Teachers must have the conviction that all students can and will learn in their classrooms.

Learning is relative to classroom climate; students need to be motivated, engaged, and focused.

Teaching practices are void without strong knowledge of subject matter.

Teachers must be critical with curriculum design and the planning of instruction.

True professionals work to increasingly expand and build-upon their repertoire of best teaching practices.

Homework

Students should be spending about an hour on homework per night.

A common denominator of good students is that they are avid readers.  Reading has a tremendous impact in learning and in life! One of the greatest investments of time is for children to read daily.  30 minutes per night is recommended.

It is essential that students have fluency with their math facts.  Efficiency is the key: counting is not.  Strategy development and use should be the focus of nightly practice. Students should have mastery of all four operations by the end of the year. 10-15 minutes of nightly practice is recommended. (scroll to bottom of page for strategies)

To extend and practice the day's focused skills/concepts, students will often have other assignments in writing, math, social studies, science, and/or spelling.

Unified Arts Schedule

MUSIC:            Monday/Wednesday

P.E.:                 Tuesday/Thursday

LIBRARY:        Friday

Check out these great websites:

MATH

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/

http://www.multiplication.com/

http://www.eduplace.com/math/brain/

BOOK SELECTION

http://kids.nypl.org/reading/index.cfm

http://www.bookadventure.com/ki/bs/ki_bs_helpfind.asp

http://www.guysread.com/

http://www.talestoldtall.com/BooksforBoys.html

WRITING

http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/writingprocess/

http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/knowitall/studyskills/writing.htm

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas

WORD CHOICE

http://www.phschool.com/iText/wag/bronze/backmatter/OW_index.html

http://www.wordcentral.com/

SOCIAL STUDIES

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/index.html

MUSIC

http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml

 SCIENCE

http://www.edheads.org/

Math Facts Strategies:

Addition                                                                              

doubles: 8 + 8=16

near doubles: 8 +7= think (7+7)+1 = 15

two-away facts: 6 + 8= (7 comes between 6 and 8: double it) = 14

9s pattern: 9 + 6= (one less than 6 is 5) +10 = 15

8s pattern: 8 + 6= (two less than 6 is 4) + 10 = 14

make ten: 7 + 4= (3 more is needed to make 7 a ten: break 4 into 3+1)= (7+3) + 1 = 11

Subtraction

think addition: 12 - 6 = ?      Think: "6 + ___ = 12"       Answer: 6  ...so, 12 - 6  = 6

use ten as a reference point: 

                     1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20

                                               l---- 3 -----l---------- 4 -----------l  

                                                                                             14 - 7 = (3 + 4) or 7

Multiplication/Division

strategies coming soon