December 17, 2012

It is the last week before Christmas break, and it will be a busy one. Students are finishing up two big projects; one in science and one in reading. The reading project is also a Christmas present for pre-k students. The 6th graders scanned in several Mo Willems books, formatted the files for iMovie and will soon add voice narration to each page. We will save these as movies then upload them so that they are accessible to the pre-k students. 

The final project for Science is well under way. Some students are working in teams and others are working independently. The rubric is on the class blog. Last week, students constructed a bucket for making “worm compost tea”.  We will start a brew on Monday morning. The tea is supposed to help plants fight aphids and other greenhouse pests. I’ll get back to you with the results.

On Thursday, Gladys is coming in from 12:30 to 1:30 to help students make holiday gifts. On Friday, we will watch the movie Bridge to Terabithia. Students recently finished that book.

I still have openings for teacher conferences. If you were not able to schedule one during the teacher conference week, consider doing so this week. Give me a call or send an email.

December 10, 2012

The first real snow of the year is always magical; now it feels like December. Despite that, we have spinach, lettuce and beets sprouting in the greenhouse. Today, the 6th grade math students will harvest the first lettuce of the winter season. I finally posted the Garden Book. Please excuse the mis-spellings. We will edit and revise again after the Christmas break.

The 6th grade math students have been studying angles and the relationships between them when transversals run through parallel lines. Today students take their second quiz.

In science, we continue to move through time. Today, we begin talking about reptiles and flowering plants (286 MYA - 65 MYA). I am also introducing the final project for this unit. I will post the project outline and rubric on the blog. 

On Friday, December 21, we will be watching the movie, “Bridge to Terabithia” and having a small class party. Gladys has offered to come in and help students make some crafts. The 6th graders will be making treats. Please don’t buy gifts. We are focusing on making our own cards and gifts in class. 

The holiday concert is this Wednesday and if you were not able to schedule a parent teacher conference last week, consider doing so this week. Give me a call or send an email.

December 2, 2012

There does not seem to be nearly enough time to do all that needs to be done and things feel chaotic. We have tried to focus on the positive as we deal with buses, muddy kick-ball fields, late basketball practices and other stumbling blocks. I know these things trickle down to you parents as well. Friday night, of course was the holiday fair. I did not get to see too much of it , sequestered in the Bingo Emporium as I was, but I understand that everyone had a good time. I wanted to send a big THANKS to Gladys for all her help. She was in her element!            The 6th grade math students are studying two-dimensional shapes and measurement and we are continuing to progress in our studies of life through time. We are at about 286 MYA. The amphibians are making an appearance. Report cards are coming out today. The format is new. I will be anxious to see what they look like. Seth, John and Jason helped winterize the greenhouse. It looks like we were just in time. We have lovely lettuce and red russian kale. The winter spinach should be making an appearance soon. If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for conferences on Tuesday evening. I would love to show you some of your child’s work.