Station Rotations

This has been our first full week and it's been quite busy for all of us.  We are starting to get into the routine though we are continuing to discuss and put into practice our class norms.  This week was Back to School Night.   The students wrote notes to their parents welcoming them to our classroom. This was also a wonderful opportunity for parents and I to get to know one another a bit. 

We also started our "Station Rotations" this week.  We are going to be having various groupings for Language Arts and Math activities.  I'm excited for these rotations and I'm certain they will make the curriculum more engaging for everyone.

Up and running

This week we are well into our Everyday Math Curriculum. We are discussing angles, quadrilaterals and parallelograms. We have also been focusing on "small moments" during our reading mini-lessons. Using the imagery of a watermelon we compared those small moments to watermelon seeds.

Map of My Heart

Today we did some more community building activities. This time with the other 4th grade classes!

We also read a wonderful story titled, "My Map Book", by Sara Fanelli, after which we made maps of our own hearts. <3

We also brainstormed how "reading is thinking" (Fountas and Pinnell).  Our later discussion on what prompts us to choose books (our interests, recommendations, the 'blurb' on the back - their words not mine) lead to productive silent reading time.

First Day of School

Wow! What a wonderful first day. We spent the day getting to know each other, creating community and establishing our class norms. Here are some pictures of what we did.

At morning meeting I asked them four questions: what should kids in our class be doing to make it run smoothly? What do you hope to learn in our class this year? What will YOU need to be successful this year? What will Ms. Christensen need to do to help you this year.

Their posts were eyeopening, for both me and for them.  I'd like to continue to encourage them to be more introspective.



We established our class norms from that conversation.

Later we read a story titled, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?". This book encourages students to be bucket fillers rather than dippers.

With so many other things we did today, I'll wait to post about them later, or rather, ask your child about them!

I left exhausted but smiling today, I hope your child did as well.

-Ms. Christensen

Sneak Peak

School is about to start and I've finished setting up the classroom.  Here is a sneak peak of the classroom as you will see it the first day.

I'm excited to meet all of your happy faces on Thursday!

-Ms. Christensen

 Welcome to Room 20!  Come on in...

 Here is where we will showcase the fabulous work of all students in Room 20.

 This is what I like to call our, "interactive bulletin board".  A board designed for students to use and respond to (questions, games, skill review, etc.).

This is my favorite place of all.  The reading corner.  Pick up a good book, find a good nook and enjoy!

Curriculum Vitae

LARA CHRISTENSEN, M.A.
Palo Alto, CA

STATE LICENSURE

Multiple Subject – CLAD - CLEAR

Education Specialist – Mild Moderate: Level II

Education Specialist – Deaf / Hard of Hearing (expired)

EDUCATION

Gallaudet University

Master of Arts, Deaf Education – Multiple Disabilities Washington, DC. 05/06

Completed 01/04 – 05/06

Credentials: Deaf Education Specialist and Mild-Moderate Special Needs: Completed

4.0 GPA - with Honors

Loyola Marymount University

Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies Los Angeles, CA. 5/03

Liberal Studies – Education

Concentration / Minor: Dance

Credentials: Multiple Subject: Completed 8/03-12/03

3.6 GPA

Oxford University, Queens College: Oxford, England 07/02

Loyola Marymount University Summer Scholars Program

EXPERIENCE

4th Grade Teacher, Barron Park Elementary School, Palo Alto, CA – 08/12 – present

* Teaching 4^th grade students, in multiple subjects.  Implementation of curriculum: Lucy Calkins; Fountas and Pinnell; Everyday Mathematics.  Assessments: Formal - DRA; ERB; STAR; MARS   Informal - Running Record; Anecdotal Record; Checklists; Conferencing

Kindergarten Teacher, Carden West School, Pleasanton, CA 08/09 - 05/12

* Teaching students, aged 4-6, across all curricular areas. In an academically accelerated private school classroom.  Modify / individualize instruction for each student, in the areas, of Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Character Education.   Curriculum: Lucy Calkins; Mc-Graw Hill; Carden

Special Day Class Teacher ESY – DHH Preschool, Santa Clara, CA 07/11

* Teaching 3 year old and 4 year old preschool classrooms.  Creating an engaging and language rich classroom environment, during Extended School Year.

Special Day Class Teacher, Lower Elementary ESY, Milbrae School District, Milbrae, CA 07/10

* Teaching students with Mild-Moderate disabilities.  Created / implemented curriculum, implemented I.E.P. goals, in a summer school environment.

Special Day Class Teacher, K / 1, Los Altos School District, Los Altos, CA 08/07 - 06/09

* As a new teacher, in a new classroom, I  was challenged to develop my own curriculum, and worked with a team in implementing behavior plans.   Curriculum: Write Tools

Deaf / Hard of Hearing Infant Specialist, East Whittier City School District, Whittier, CA 08/2006 – 06/07

* This employment provided me with the knowledge and experience of Early Childhood development and the foundations needed to build upon, for success in the future.

SKILLS

Language: American Sign Language - fluent

Technology Experience: SMARTBoard; Document Camera

ORGANIZATIONS / HONORS

Toastmasters International, Lee Emerson Basset - Active Member Palo Alto, CA

Kappa Delta Pi – International Honor Society in Education: Pi Rho Chapter

Graduate President’s Scholar – Fall 2005

INTERESTS

I enjoy participating in various outdoor / indoor activities (running marathons, hiking, playing the guitar). I also enjoy travel and the arts.