Planners

Personal Planning:
Planners

Personal planning includes planning for, organizing, and taking responsibility for your learning.
We use planners to help us in the process. Most weeks we will follow the following planner schedule.

(also see, Multiple Ways to Study for a Test)

Monday: Skill Building (day one), this week's due dates i.e. tests, assignments
- we will focus on one of the following specific areas

1) Skill Building

Choose and begin an activity to help you learn your spelling words. spelling assessment rubric
Try to focus on a specific Spelling Rule:

e.g. spelling rule: similar sounds in homonyms ( allowed & aloud)

- use 5 other words with this sound of 'ow' or 'ou'

2) study spelling words (test tomorrow)...tests begin in October

and

3) brief Math question(s) e.g. word problem, computation questions (20.4 + 26)

and

4) unfinished work

Tuesday:
1) Skill Building continued (day two)

work on your spelling activity (due Thursday) spelling assessment rubric

2) study spelling words

and

3) brief Math question(s) e.g. word problem, computation questions (20.4 + 26)

and

4) unfinished work

Wednesday:

1) Study Skills: preparing for Thursday's math quiz ... quizzes begin in October

and

2) Skill Building continued (day three)

work on your spelling activity (due tomorrow)

and

3) unfinished work

Thursday: Plan for Friday's Independent Block. See ideas.
- this is a time for you to identify areas that you need extra skill practice, extra time to finish assignments, or learn something new
- you are expected to plan for academic work only (i.e. this is not centre time)
- be specific e.g. Math Blaster (name the skill and the level you plan to practice)
- plan to do more that you will probably have time for e.g. 4 - 5 activities
- prioritize your planning (do what you have to do first)

*unfinished work takes priority and is completed first

Friday: Reflecting on the week.

1) What went well this past week, why?

2) What could have gone better, why?

3) What will you work on over the next week?

Spelling Activity: ideas (stars represent effectiveness)

word search (*)
sentence revealing the meaning (**)
crossword puzzle (**)
words scrambled and unscambled once (**)
jokes or puzzles (**) e.g. 'Guess the Word'
illustrated (**)
list all homonym pairs, underline the letters that sound the same but are spelled differently (**)
writing or typing words out 10 times each (***)
analyzing the words e.g. word families (***)
words scrambled and unscambled 3-4 times (***)
chunking (***)
breaking into syllables (***)
creating a mini-dictionary (***)
flashcards with meanings (***)

Planner Criteria: (part of Health and Career mark)
1) neatness and clarity
2) correctness i.e. spelling, description of tasks, Today's Work form filled in
3) completeness of the tasks e.g. homework complete
4) signed nightly by a parent/guardian
5) consistency of use e.g. brought home and back to school each day

Independent Block

What is it?
- it is a one hour block each Friday (usually) for you to focus on and build skills that you need to strengthen (these are specific academic skills)

.........you plan the subject (e.g. math), the skill (e.g. facts), and the activity (e.g. computer)

Who is it for?
- it is for you, for you to help yourself become a stronger, more independent learner

How does it work?
- you have one hour to plan about 4 – 5 activities that will help you succeed academically

What am “I” (the student) responsible for?
   1) think about areas you need to work on (e.g. math facts, spelling)
   2) plan 4 – 5 activities you will do during the Independent Block that help you as a learner (remember, the only time you work with someone is when someone else has the same areas that needs practice)
   3) then, use this time wisely, do what you have planned

What if I need help?
- if you need help with a specific skill or concept, sign-up on the “Help Please” sheet and I will work with you on that skill

List of ideas for Independent Block:
1) overdue work

2) practice
- spelling words (make flashcards, test yourself with a partner, use the online classroom list)
- math facts (card games, flash cards, run off a worksheet from an online resource)
- math skills: review old quizzes in the back of your notebook or online
- math worksheets (see Students Resources Online > Math > Activities for Practice > worksheets)
- handwriting
- current skills e.g. recorder if learning
- typing: All The Right Type
- CCC (math or spelling)
- language using an online site to practice e.g. http://www.smic.be/smic5022/Onlineexercises.htm

3) finish
- any unfinished assignments, projects etc.
- math corrections

4) continue working on
- research
- e-portfolio
- All-The-Right-Type
- CCC
- a current story that you are writing

5) study (you may choose to check the list under Multiple Ways to Study for a Test)
- current Social Studies or Science material
- math concepts using an online tutorial e.g. www.learnalberta.ca watch clip, run off activity, do and mark
- spelling words by identifying the Spelling Rules

6) begin an independent project
- research a topic of interest

7) building academic skills
- with a partner, read over and discuss "Good Readers....."
- or review and discuss "As a successful Math learner...."
- or review and discuss Multiple Ways to Study (see below)

Multiple Ways to Study for a Test .........ideas created by 2006 grade five class (to print, rtf)

listen carefully during class lessons
think about your work while you are doing it
take notes
memorize material e.g. write out your spelling words and have someone ask you to spell them
make up phrases to help your remember
study with someone
have your parents or siblings ask you questions
look over your notes, old quizzes, or work over the night before a test
memorize material in small chunks
write out your information repeatedly