Weekly Schedule

You can find me out in room 4 conducting gifted/talented research sessions during the following time blocks:

8:00-8:45        4th Grade
8:50-9:35        1st Grade
9:40-10:25      2nd Grade
12:45-1:25      3rd Grade
1:35-2:05        Kinder
2:15-3:00        5th Grade

I work with the safety patrol from 7:10-7:45 and on Fridays I meet with Student Council from 1:30-2:15.  The rest of the day, I can be found in a variety of classrooms across campus.  My schedule adjusts to meet the needs of our at-risk student population. 
 

Posts

Our 2nd/3rd grade students diligently worked to complete their Mesopotamian art assignment:    AN  EMBOSSED LAMASSU
They each did a fantastic job!!!!!!!

February has been a busy month!

Please encourage your child to complete their Wordly Wise unit each week. 2nd-5th grade should have lessons 1-7 completed by Monday.
 
1st graders have just about finished publishing their Family Tradition books. If you have not sent in a family photo for us to put into your child's book, please do so by Monday.
 
2nd and 3rd graders are wrapping up their study of Ancient Mesopotamia. The next stop on our journey through time will be ANCIENT EGYPT!!
 
4th and 5th graders have finished all of the lab work for the digestive system. Their lab write-ups and digestion poster will be due on March 1st. Our next anatomy/physiology topic will be figuring out just exactly how the body gets rid of all of its waste. 

We're Back In Business!!!

The January testing window has finally closed and we are back on schedule! 2nd-5th graders all have two units of Wordly Wise due on Monday (chapters 3&4).The 2nd/3rd grade group should be ready to turn in  their ancient civilization research on Monday, as well. The 4th/5th grade group will get a bonus day to work on their body systems projects. I will be at a conference in Austin on the day that they are due. Consequently, those projects are now due on Wednesday, February 8th. 1st graders will begin publishing their Family Customs books next week.  It is so awesome to be back on schedule!!!!

2nd/3rd Grade Historical Archaeology Mini Research Project                Due: Feb  6, 2017  

Congratulations 2nd and 3rd graders!! When you complete this project, you will become part of your period/culture’s "expert team" for our class.

1.Select one of the following ancient cultures:    Mesopotamia, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient China, ancient Egypt, the ancient Aztec World

2. Research your chosen period/culture.
 

3.Create a flip book that contains at least 4 of the following topics about your chosen period/culture:   government, daily life, military, education, shelter/architecture, clothing, inventions, religion, art /recreation, sports/entertainment

***The flip book and these directions went home with students today.  For the next several weeks, I will be testing prospective GT students. Consequently, GT classes will not meet until February. This project enables everyone's learning to continue, even though our class is not meeting. I am looking forward to exploring these ancient civilizations when our schedules return to normal!!!  

 

4th/5th Grade ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY Mini Research Project- Year 2

Congratulations 4th  and 5th graders!! When you complete this project, you will become part of your body system's "expert team" for our class.

Due: February 7, 2017

Select one of the following body systems:   Excretory System,  Digestive System, Lymphatic System, Immune System, Endocrine System, Urinary System

Project Objectives:

 Research your system, create a visual aid, and present your research to the class. This should not be extensive. I just want a quick overview. Your presentation will be limited to 5 minutes.

Project Requirements:

  1. Explain the functions of the organ system.
  2. Identify the major organs and their functions.
  3. Create a visual aid. It can be a poster, a model, a power point, a prezi… anything that represents the body system you chose.

 

 Grading Rubric:    5 MINUTE LIMIT!!!

 

A

B

C

D

CONTENT

All required information is presented. 

Most of the required information is presented.

Some of the required information is presented.

Hardly any required information is presented.

VISUAL AID

Visual aid is creative, colorful, easy to read, and used effectively.

Visual aid is colorful, readable and used somewhat effectively.

.Visual aid is lacking color, difficult to read, and not used effectively.

Visual aid is not used at all in the presentation.

PRESENTAION

-Presentation is well organized and easy to follow. Transition between topics is smooth.

- Presentation is loud and given at a slow pace that’s easy to follow.

-Presentation is organized and easy to follow but transition between topics is not smooth.

 

- Presentation is audible and given at a good pace.

-Presentation is somewhat organized but hard to follow.

 

- Presentation is barely audible and given at a fast pace.

-Presentation is very unorganized and difficult to follow.

 

- Presentation is inaudible and given at a pace too fast to follow.

Archaeological Shoe-box Dig
The 2nd/3rd grade group dug  into learning for the new year!! They will attempt to glue their artifacts back together as soon as they uncover all of the necessary pieces.
Our busy 1st grade elves have written wonderful stories and are ready to go home to hang on the Christmas tree.  Due to GT testing, 2nd-5th grade will not need to turn in their Chapter 3 Wordly Wise until January 30th. It is highly unlikely that anyGT classes will meet from January 9-27. I will be administering tests to GT nominees. Classes should resume on January 30th. 

November G T Update

If anyone would like to babysit the gerbils, hissing cockroaches or hermit crabs over either one of the upcoming breaks, they are available. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to thank you for sharing your kiddos with me. Working with these dedicated students certainly makes my day fly by!!!
 
1st Grade: We have started our Grandparent, Aunt or Uncle pen-pal campaign. Please send in those 4 self-addressed, stamped envelopes ASAP. Also, please don't forget that the Family Tradition homework page is due on Monday, November 28th. 
 
2nd/3rd Grades: Congratulations to this fabulous group. 100% of them passed the Lab Safety Test. We will begin  Wordly Wise  and our Historical Archaeology Research Unit after Thanksgiving break.  
 
4th/5th Grades: We have finally wrapped up our Simple Machines Unit and will jump back into Anatomy/Physiology after Thanksgiving break.  Wordly Wise will also begin when we return. I am exceptionally proud of the five students who taught our class this week. They  designed some intricate games and everyone had a blast playing them. 

Pumpkin Chunking Schedule 11/4/16

8:15-9:00              4th grade     9 chunkers

9:15-9:45              3rd grade      4 chunkers

10-10:15               1st grade       2 chunkers

10:15-11:15         2nd grade        11 chunkers

11:30-12               Kinder           3 chunkers

12:45-1:15           Pre-kinder       3 chunkers

1:30-2:15              5th   grade       7 chunkers

4th/5th Grade Simple Machines Project- Due November 7th

Now that we have completed our review of simple machines, the 4th/5th grade students have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge with these awesome project options. They have had time to work on these in class and will continue to have time next week. They are welcome to work on them at home. Don't forget to use the above grading rubric.

4th/5th Grade Inventors Project    Select one of the following options:                 

1. You can build a model of your compound machine. Be prepared  to explain how it works and how it will make work easier for the user.

2.You can draw your machine on a poster. Be sure to label the parts of your machine. Be prepared to explain how it works and how it will make work easier for the user.

3.You can write a description of your machine. Your essay should include information about how it works and how it will make work easier for the user. Be sure to include vivid details and to check for spelling and punctuation.  

4.You can create a game that uses a machine. You need to write the objective of the game and the game rules.  Be sure to try your game at home before bringing it to class. 

 

All About Me Projects

  4th/5th Grade ALL ABOUT ME 3D Project     Due- October 11, 2016

Objective: Students will create a 3D project that includes at least four panels:

Panel 1-Name         

Panel 2- All About Me!- picture and informative text

Panel 3-All About My Family!- picture and informative text

Panel 4-My Future Shines Brightly!- picture and informative text

We have been working on this project in class for the past 2 weeks so it should be just about done. The project and the grading rubric went home with students today. It needs to be turned in on Tuesday, October 11th. 

 

1st/2nd/3rd grades have been working on either narratives or expository texts  in class. Their work will not be due until later in the month. 

 

 

THE FALL TESTING WINDOW IS QUICKLY APPROACHING!

**FYI** I will be administering tests to prospective gifted students from September 12th-September 23rd. Once the testing window has closed, services will begin for identified gifted students.