Which Calendar Do you Prefer?

At the moment, the Houston ISD is seeking input from people about the 2017-18 school calendar.   It's cool to see the district listening to the people on this issue that affects so many.  It also gave my math students a great chance to learn about being a member of a community.  We talked about how being a community member sometimes means voicing your opinion about situations.

To highlight this, we took a vote in class after discussing the calendar options.  Here are the results of our poll:

Option A- 16 students
Option B- 38 students
Option C(no preference)- 3 students

It will be interesting to see how the calendar looks when it is finalized.

A Trick or Treat Surprise

Happy Halloween, students.

If you can follow the clues below and find Mr. Tauser on Halloween night, you will receive a homework pass.  This homework pass will only be good this week.

#1 Mr. Tauser’s house is less than 3 miles from Stevens

#2 Mr. Tauser’s house is less than one mile from Scarborough High School

#3 Mr. Tauser’s house is on a straight street

#4 Mr. Tauser’s front yard has a Magnolia tree in it

#5 Mr. Tauser’s driveway has no cars in it.

#6 Mr. Tauser’s house has 2 windows facing the street.

#7 There are purple flowers in a flower box in front of Mr. Tauser’s house

#8 Mr. Tauser’s house is west of Antoine Drive

#9 Mr. Tauser’s family has a pet turtle

#10 Mr. Tauser’s address has a “6” in the ONES PLACE.

Mr. T Goes to Phydeaux's House of Flowers

Today in math class, we took another trip to Minecraft.  This time, we were joined by Phydeaux the Math Pig.  After the trip, students had a chance to assist Phydeaux by using some of their multiplication skills.

This trip was made possible by Mineday, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 29 at Oak Forest Library.  Mineday is being organized by my 8th grade son as a community service project for school. You can read all the details about the event at this link.

An Experiment Concerning the Location of the Sun

Wednesday, October 12, 5:10 (CDT)

Sunday, October 9, 5:21 (CDT)

Thursday, September 29, 5:30 (CDT)

Thursday, September 15, 5:25 (CDT)

Tuesday, September 6, 5:40 (CDT)

Friday, September 2, 5:30 (CDT)

Sunday, August 28, 2016, 5:30 (CDT)

Thursday, August 25, 2016, 5:45 (CDT)

Tuesday, August 23, 5:40 (CDT)

Sunday, August 21, 5:45 (CDT)

Friday, August 19, 2016, 5:49 pm (CDT)

The Adventures of Phydeaux the Math Pig

Phydeaux the Math Pig appears regularly in my classroom.  He is a math expert who lives in my neighborhood.  Occasionally, I read students an ADVENTURE OF PHYDEAUX THE MATH PIG. You can read these tales by clicking on the links below.

The Day I Met Phydeaux

Phydeaux and the Box Top Caper

Phydeaux Helps Me Buy Some Grass

Phydeaux and the Box Full of Beautiful Things

Thinking Blocks Station

Click on this link to go to Thinking Blocks.  You will be using blocks to solve multiplication and division problems.

Let's Play Place Value Hockey

Today at this station, you will be playing a game called Place Value Hockey.  To play this game, please click on this link and choose place values.  Then answer the questions to play the game with a partner.

Mr. T Goes to Minecraft- Episode 1

Today in Math class, we took a trip to Minecraft.  With the help of two middle school students, Mr. T bought a meal at Alice's Restaurant in Math Land, and we learned a little bit about adding and subtracting decimals.

If the video above won't play, here is a link directly to the video on You Tube.

You can see the written guide that the students followed during the trip by clicking on this link.

How You Can Keep Up With Your Children's Scores

Did you know that you can keep track of your children's scores throughout the year online?

HISD has set up GRADESPEED to make it possible to do this from the comfort or your own home.

Following are links to a presentation that walks you through the steps to sign up for GRADESPEED. I encourage you to use this resource on a regular basis. As a parent of two middle school students, I can attest that this a great tool to know what your kids are doing in class.


GRADESPEED in ENGLISH

GRADESPEED in SPANISH

What Can You Do With Class Dojo Points?

As you may know, students in my class have been receiving (and losing) Class Dojo points this year for various behaviors.  Beginning next week, students will be able to redeem those points for a variety of incentives.  Following is a list of the incentives available from Mr. Tauser

Bring a toy of stuffed animal to class- 50 points
Wear a hat to class- 50 points
First in line for one day- 70 points
Pick your spot in line for one day- 90 points
Home work pass- 90 points
Lunch with Mr. Tauser and a friend- 110 points
1st in line for one week- 150 points
Lunch outside with Mr. Tauser and a friend- 170 points
Your name included in a Phydeaux the Math Pig Story- 250 points
Mr. Tauser writes a song for you- 250 points

I hope that each student finds some of the incentives appealing.  I think saving these points for a reward that a student wants is a great lesson in goal setting and budgeting your resources.

Check out the Ninja Gallery!

All three homerooms have gotten into being Ninjas (the designation at Stevens for silent behavior). However, Ms. Rodriguez's homeroom has taken the ninja activity to a new level.  Several of them have created drawings and art work to help themselves and others remember to be ninjas, when that is appropriate. This work is currently displayed in the ninja gallery(shown above).

Save Your Box Tops

Keep your eyes open tomorrow for information about Stevens' Box Tops Collection Program.  You can save Box Tops(like the ones above) and help earn money for the school.  Send your BOX TOPS in to Mr. Tauser. Thanks.

We're Studying Decimals (and Money) Tomorrow

On Tuesday, we are going to focus on decimals again.  This time we will be using money as our tool to learn more about how decimals work.  To get students thinking about THE MONEY, we will be watching the video above in class.

Monday, August 29, 2016- Decimals Using pictures

Today in class, we were focusing on how to represent decimals using base ten blocks.  This included a trip to the Smart Board for several students.  You can see the number 4.07 represented above. Tonight's homework involves practicing this skill.

The students did a great job adjusting to the switch this morning.  Thanks for the help with that.

Be Ready to Switch on Monday

Students in Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Batson and Mr. Tauser's 4th grade homerooms will be shifting which class they go to first thing in the morning on Monday(August 29).

Ms. Batson's homeroom will begin the day in Mr. Tauser's room.

Ms.Rodriguez's homeroom will begin the day in Ms. Batson's room.

Mr. Tauser's homeroom will begin the day in Ms. Rodriguez's room.

As the day progresses, students will rotate in the same order as they did during week 1

Tauser to Rodriguez to Batson to Tauser

Astros Attendance in a place value chart

Today we dug into an old Astros Media Guide in hopes of learning a little bit about place value.

What exactly did we do?  We looked at this authentic source to find information about the club's attendance between the years of 2009 and 2012.  After students had found and recorded that information, individuals had a chance to represent those figures in a place value chart on the Smart Board.  Below, you can see examples of all three classes work.

Ms. Batson's Homeroom

Ms. Rodriguez's Homeroom

Mr. Tauser's Homeroom

Check out this Place Value Chart

We cranked up the Smart Board in class today and used it to talk about Place Value.  You can see above a picture of a place value chart that was filled in by several students who had the courage to go up to the board for the first time this year.

Writing on a Smart Board can be tricky.  As I tell students, it is like learning to write again.  I am confident that over the course of the school year all of us will be become proficient using this technological classroom tool.

Help Me Pick My First Day of School Tie

I rarely wear a tie.  However, the first day of school (which is on Monday) is a special occasion which merits a necktie.  Having said that, fashion is not my strongest suit, so I am calling on the world of social media to help me decide which tie to wear.  

Pictured above are my two options:

1. a Peanuts-themed Library tie

2. a Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat tie

If you are interested in helping me celebrate the First Day of School in Style on Monday, please visit my Twitter feed and cast your vote.  Thanks.

Tauser/Batson/Rodriguez are one Fourth Grade Team at Stevens

Stevens will have six 4th grade teachers during the 2016-17 school year.  Half of the students will be spending their instructional day with Mr. Tauser(Math/Science-Room 131), Ms. Batson(Writing-Room 128) and Ms. Rodriguez(Reading-Room 127).

The other three fourth grade teachers are Mr. Walters, Ms. Sommers, and Ms. Allen.  Students will also be instructed by various ancillary teachers during the week.

You can meet your new teacher at Thursday's Meet the Teacher Event.

Mr. Tauser's Prime Directive

It was great to see students back at Friday's Back to School Bash.  My room is coming together for the upcoming school year.  One thing to look for on the wall when you come to class are THE PRIME DIRECTIVES.

I am a fan of STAR TREK.  In STAR TREK, the characters in the show are required to live by a prime directive. This is a guideline to help them be productive and get along with other people that they meet.  My hope is that the PRIME DIRECTIVES in Room 131 will help you be productive and get along with others that you meet.

TREAT OTHERS THE WAY THEY'D LIKE TO BE TREATED

If you are wondering about what to say to someone or whether or not to help them, think about what they'd like you to do or what would make them feel better. If you're not sure, ask the person what they'd like.

DON'T JUST BOO.  VOTE!

If something bothers you or doesn't seem right, always try to do what you can to fix it.  If a room is messy, straighten it up.  It's all right to complain if you don't like something, but you can take the next step and become part of the solution.

#YOUNEVERKNOW

Whether in math class or on the school bus or in the park on the weekend, the world is full of surprises.  Indeed, #youneverknow what might happen next.  Whether a surprise is exciting or disappointing, do your best to go with the flow and keep doing your best every second of the day.

CELEBRATE YOUR MISTAKES.  THEY HELP YOU GROW

It's great to make a 100 on a test or have perfect attendance for a year.  However, chances are you will fall short a few times as a student.  When you do,  take the chance learn from your mistakes and do better the next time.  You will be better for it.