This semester has simply flown by!!  I have been so proud of everyone as they jump into these research units. I am no longer teaching; I am simply facilitating the learning. I am learning just as much as the students are and I am having a BLAST!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful kiddos with me!!!

                1^st  Family Traditions and Customs

We have “elfed” ourselves and written stories about our adventures. If you have not sent in five, stamped, addressed envelopes, please send them in by 1/4/2016.  It is hard to conduct our grandparent (or aunt or uncle) pen-pal campaign without those envelopes!!

                2^nd/3^rd    Zoology

We have several invertebrate labs coming up. Come on in and join us Monday if you’d like to participate in our WORM LAB.  After the break, we will continue with our invertebrate labs.

                4^th/5^thANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY

We are in the middle of a 5 SENSES LAB ROTATION.  The mini research project is due by January 4^th. Parent-to-Parent is coming out on January 7^th to host a free SPEEDOMETRY event from 6:00-7:00. (Students MUST be accompanied by a parent.) We also have a field trip to the Whitte approved for January 8^th to see the BODIES REVEALED exhibit.   I am encouraging every student to bring a parent with them.  Permission slips should go home for both events next week.

               1st-5th  

 *** I still have several students who have not brought in their school supplies. Please, please, please try to send in SCISSORS, a PENCIL SHARPENER, and COLORED PENCILS for 2016. 

*** All GT work sessions will be temporarily suspended for a couple of weeks in January. During this testing window, I will be administering tests to prospective GT students.  

***Parents are welcome to drop by any time.  We LOVE visitors!!!!

Friday, November 13, 2015

8:10-9:30 -3^rd Grade and 1 student from Ms Norton’s Class  (7 students)

9:30- 10:45 2^nd Grade (5 students)

10:45-12:00- 4^th Grade (6 students)

1:30- 2:00  1^st Grade  (2 students)

2:15-3:00  5^th Grade (4 students)

Everyone had a fun time using a lever to launch a marshmallow today.... especially because I was the intended target. :-)   They did a great job!!!!!!

The 4th/5th grade group is finally ready to begin the Engineering Design Process for our CATAPULT LAB. The research phase of this is due on Monday morning:

 Catapult Lab-Researching the Problem 

Research the history of catapults and their construction.  Choose your favorite type of catapult and write or type a brief one page summary about this machine.  Include a sketch of your favorite catapult design. Remember… the writing rubric will be used to evaluate your research summary! 

On Thursday, another copy of the writing rubric will be sent home with every 4th/5th grade student.  Feel free to join us on Friday as we use catapults to chunk some pumpkins!!!!

Our ALL ABOUT ME unit is off to a great start!

1^st graders are creating Identity Wordles. These will be completed in class. 

2^nd/3^rd graders are making All About Me Pizza. They started this in class and will finish it for homework. All 5 pieces are due Monday, September 28^th. They should use the grading criteria in the rubric to guide their work.

4^th/5^th graders are working on an Identity Web. They started this in class and will finish it for homework. Completed webs are due Monday, September 28^th.

TPSP Investigative Unit: ALL ABOUT ME (Getting to Know the WHO)

As students begin the new school year, many wonder about who they want to be in this new space and what it means to be part of this group. This curriculum was designed to support and challenge students to explore how they see themselves as unique individuals who belong to a group. Students will think critically about issues of identity and community and work together to build a class culture that supports creativity and learning. This sense of community will encourage students to share ideas, take risks, and help each other. It is going to be a great year!!