posted May 25, 2012 10:13 PM by Chris Heumann
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updated May 25, 2012 10:21 PM
]
Dear Parents and Students,
Even though I spent the week away from most of you, I would still like to send the Friday email -- for continuity if nothing else. I've kept my eye on FB and chatted with a few kids and parents (at school today) about the DC trip, and it sounds like it was just as fun, tiring, and educational as last year. Just for nostalgia, I re-read my newsletter of this week a year ago and was reminded of the fast pace and inspirational experiences of that (and any) trip.
The Cal Coast trip went off as planned. Four sunny days and clear nights along the coast revealed the treasures of our local backyard. I loved spending 4 days and 3 nights "family style" with the group and parents. Some new challenges, some familiar fun, and a whole bunch of laughing. And all under- budget!
Next Week is our last "normal" week of school, including selectives, math, and morning rotations. The astronomy games will dominate our science periods, and in English we'll finish up the unit on mystery and get into poetry briefly as well as a few sessions about a " Pay It Forward" idea. The week after that is HGD and grad practice. After that... well, I'm not quite ready to go there yet... I will miss these kids and the families so very very much. Lets me sure to plan some summer meet-ups.
Chris
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posted May 18, 2012 6:45 PM by Chris Heumann
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updated May 19, 2012 7:32 AM
]
Dear Parents,
I'm writing to you amidst the bustling board-game factory that is room 25. This week's science class time was dedicated to the final three of the four phases involved in the construction of a game that teaches about a topic in astronomy. It has been so amazing to watch the groups discuss ideas, make plans, sketch and build prototypes, scrap ideas, revise, and continually improve their projects! Most importantly, almost all of the time almost all of the kids in each group have been contributing their efforts and talents. My weird way of grading group projects is hopefully serving as a positive factor in this, or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that these kids are getting along better than ever in the year, and that the project absolutely appeals to their strengths. The games themselves are looking out of this world. Ha, had to say it.
Recap of the Week: English: To get warmed up to the genre of mystery, the kids read the first half of "The Scandal in Bohemia" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on Monday, and then took a quiz about it on Tuesday and predicted (and/or read) the remainder of the story. For the reading groups that formed chose (and brought) books, the book club sessions proceeded as they should, with good discussions about what they expected from their books and predictions about what might happen. As the kids read their mystery books over the next 2 weeks, they should keep their "deliverable" in mind -- an online 10-question quiz.
In lieu of the usual (gettin' old) wordy Wednesday vocabulary routine, I gave the kids a set of double-meaning "puzzles" that were both challenging and a bit fun. Give some a try... careful not to get addicted. The last thing that I've asked the kids to do it to write a (private) letter to themselves at 18. My 8th grade teacher had us do that right before I left middle school and when I received the letter as a senior, it was a great little graduation gift to and from myself.
Science: As I said at the opening of this newsletter, the board game projects have been the main endeavor for the week. If any of you have the time and desire to come play some games week-after-next (5/29), then please join us any day from 10:40 to 11:30. It will be fun.
Coming Up: In English, the final unit of the year has the theme "Pay It Forward" and here is the webpage that I'm putting together about it. I'll send out and explain more details when they become clearer in my head. For the last week(s) of science I'm going to ride the wave of Spring fever, and delve into the realm of human growth and development. The value of the "lessons" hinges upon the maturity, honesty, and trust level that the kids (and I) have developed in our time together. In the past I've shown two videos and used a safe question-and-answer format to facilitate the best environment and I have high hopes for this year's group as well. Parents, if you would like links to online previews of the videos, please let me know and I can send them.
DC Folks, have a fantastic trip and get the most out of your educational experiences there -- historical, social, cultural and meteorological. For those of you coming on the CalCoast trip, I'll see you Monday morning at 8:30 with bags in hand, walking shoes on, and smiles leading the way. |
posted May 11, 2012 10:30 PM by Chris Heumann
Important things first: please take a look at the student-created reading groups on the "mystery" page of my site and take the next steps necessary to have a mystery book ready for class on Tuesday. For those groups who have formed and chosen a book, this is just a matter of attaining copies of the book. For those who have formed a group but not yet chosen a book, you must communicate with each other (gdoc) and take both steps. For those not yet in a defined group, you have three steps to do.
Recap of the Week Engish: On Monday I gave out what is likely to be the last grammar assignment of the week (no promises, though) on subject-verb agreement. That mechanics stuff has been a big part of the ELA curriculum this year and I hope that the grammar skills have transfered into the students' writing. Similarly, our vocabulary exercise at the middle of the week was a "recap" assignment, in which they browsed their comp books for any 10 great words that they had entered on previous Wordy Wednesdays but have not assimilated into operational vocabulary. They entered those words into this site, and they played two of the three games it creates. During bookclub time the kids participated in a sleuthing scenario. Each group was given a set of 16 “stolen checks” in random order, a few at a time, and the group had the task of creating the story that could be explained using the checks as clues. It was quite an engaging session and the stories each group created were great.
In addition to those two routine lessons, I had the kids read two articles from SCOPE magazine in order to draw connections between the gladiator games of ancient times and the unscripted "reality" TV shows that are (unfortunately) gaining much popularity and impact. Much class time of the week was also devoted to the completion of a few other assignments, including their autobiographical excerpt, the class newspaper, and a newspaper-based "Non Fiction Friday" form that should be discussed with you over the weekend... ask 'em 'bout it.
Science: Our unit on astronomy is off to a good start. Over the next few weeks the kids will be building board games that are designed to teach about one aspect of astronomy in an engaging and entertaining way. I've had kids build games for many years and the process and results are almost always great. On my website there is a "Board Game" page that explains the project in great detail, and also explains the group-work grading system. There are also pictures of some past games and documents that are designed to keep the project going smoothly and completed on time.
Other Things: Fourteen more days of/at school left. Sigh. I'm sure that I'm not the only one feeling two simultaneous and strong feelings: eager for the relaxed sleep-in schedule of Summer, but also a bit of sadness at the thought of this class departing and dispanding. Well, lets make/take it for all its worth and enjoy every minute together. :)
Pond repairs and improvements were done this week and it is healthy and happy again. It always thrills me when kids notice me tinkering, digging, or hauling rocks around, and enthusiastically offer to help. Yesterday, for example, I began to excavate a four inch deep layer of dirt between the pond and the walkway, and within minutes all the tools were in kids hands I got to stand by in CalTrans fashion and give occasional hints.
Still Thrilled by Tuesday's Trip: I'm very glad that the other two classes are working on student-planned field trips! Ours went as planned and was a blast. Not much more to say!
Enjoy your weekend.
Chris
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posted May 2, 2012 10:14 PM by Chris Heumann
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updated May 5, 2012 10:17 AM
]
Dear Parents and Students,
I wanted to write to you yesterday, mostly just to be able to squeeze the line "May the fourth be with you" somewhere in the letter, but our evening was packed and I didn't get a chance. So, instead I can only say happy Cinco de Mayo and enjoy this beautiful Saturday.
Recap of the Week and Preview of Upcoming Things: English: The focus progressed from biographies about someone else to biographies about themselves. The two-part assignment (timeline and paragraphs) were turned in by many students (they look good so far), but others are turning them in this coming Tuesday. The kids have (hopefully) turned their attention towards writing an excerpt from their own (unwritten) biography. There are three "deliverables" for this assignment and I'm hoping that the kids are enjoying the process. They will also create an audio file of their story and turn that in as well. The next (and final) book genre will be mystery stories. On Thursday the kids used the resources on the mystery page of my site to find some interesting possibilities, and on Monday they'll bring in sample books to share. I'm hoping to have the choices made by the middle of next week so that kids can get the books and possibly read them during the plane rides to and from DC if they like.
Science: We had to skip science on Monday and Tuesday, but definitely made up for it during the following three days. On Wednesday, Thomas and his buddies brought in a whole bunch of lasers, lenses, mirrors, and scrims, and gave the kids some excellent interactions that really brought home the concepts in the current chapter on light waves and the whole electromagnetic spectrum. On Thursday, Alan Biggs taught about how fiber optics works and showed how fibers are made, spliced, and used in the world of telecommunications. The expertise and generosity of the parents at this school never ceases to amaze me. To top it off, the kids' flexibility shone as I asked them to take their chapter 23 test while riding LightRail to San Jose Friday. It was a short test and we had a delay in train departure, so everyone was able to finish by the end of the 15 minute ride. Way to go y'all and thanks for playing along! While I'm on the subject of science book reading, notes, and tests, I'd really like to praise the kids for their year-long tolerance of the reading and testing routine. We have finished the entire book and that is a great accomplishment. The class activities to support and extend the concepts taught by each chapter have been fewer than I had hoped, but the sheer breadth of topics contained in the almost-700 pages of the book has given the kids a wide foundation. Additionally, many students have really honed their ability to read text material and conquer the all-too-predictable multiple choice test. The final two units in science (but not in the book) will be astronomy until mid May and then Human Growth and Development from then until the end of the year.
Other Things: Waterfall: Quite a few kids (and some parents) have asked "what is up with the waterfall"? Well, the pump stopped running at the beginning of last week and so we've had to take things apart a bit and troubleshoot the issue. It turns out that some rotting tan bark had been putting stopping the pump and so I'll need to add a filter system in the bottom of the "pond" as well as find a way to keep tan bark farther away at ground level. That will likely be my activity for tomorrow, so if all goes well, the thing should be flowing again on Monday. Just in case you are interested, here are some pictures that show the construction of the water feature. Wanted: San Francisco buff to help me create a great itinerary of sights & experiences for a dozen kids on the CalCoast trip. Please send me an email if you can help me with this. Tuesday's Trip: Just before recess on Tuesday, my class will be "wheeling" to Hamilton to catch the bus 82 to Pruneyard for the 11:00 showing of The Avengers. After that we'll grab some pizza and then wheel down the Los Gatos Creek trail to its end at Meridian Avenue, and grab bus 25 back towards school, arriving at about 3:20. About half the students in class have really stepped up to make this trip happen and I'm sure it will be fun. Kids, please remember to make any arrangements necessary to get your scooter (or other wheeled-thing) and a helmet to school on Tuesday -- Monday if you would like to play it safe. I'll be paying for lunch and movie up front, and the finance team will calculate your "bill" and collect money next week -- the estimate is $10 per person. Appreciating the Help: As always, the parents who come to class each week are keeping things flowing smoothly and adding great value to the experiences of the kids as well as myself. Papers are scored, room is cleaned, trips are organized, chaparones have stepped up, and great opportunities are provided, all due to the selfless and committed parents in the DCS community.
Reply with "hi" (or other), then get outside and enjoy this great day.
Love you all!
Chris |
posted Apr 27, 2012 9:16 PM by Chris Heumann
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updated Apr 27, 2012 10:40 PM
]
This will probably be one of the shortest weekly emails that you've gotten from me. Not because I've been afflicted by a newly acquired gift for brevity, but instead, simply because the week's academics were ousted by a variety of other (worthy) events -- S.T.A.R. testing, TheatreWorks play, and a spontaneous lively game of almost-authentic GaGa ball. Regardless, it was a good week.
Recap of the week: English: Our academic week started with vocabulary exercises on Wednesday. The kids selected lists from a 9th grade curriculum and learned the words via a variety of online activities. Then, promptly ended today with a class-set of saved up newspaper crossword puzzles and intermittent attention to the WordPlay movie. As stated, it was a short week.
Science: Just as we began the chapter on sound waves with the biology of the ear, we began the chapter on light with the biology of the eye. In addition, I showed a few minutes of "Science Frontiers" (Alan Alda) about some intriguing hemisphere studies and the relationship between vision and language. The chapter covering the electromagnetic spectrum (22) was quite long and complicated in parts, but based on what I heard during the review session today as well as what a saw of the tests at first glance, the students have learned it well.
Next Week: The most important thing due for next week will be the two-part assignment for the autobiography books, due (for most students) on Tuesday May 1 during English class. Other notable events include math STAR testing on Monday and Tuesday, preparations for DC & CalCoast trips during core, and a trip to San Jose for a modified version of the Avenue Q musical.
Lastly: My ongoing appreciation to all of you in this wonderful place. The students, teachers, administration, parents, and support-staff at DCS comprise the most amazing community, one which should (and does) provide a model of success for other educational communities.
Chris |
posted Apr 20, 2012 5:51 PM by Chris Heumann
Dear Parents and Students,
Before I leave school and get swept up into the activities of the weekend (beach, garden, bbq!), I wanted to get a few of the most important reminders entered into this newsletter: - STAR Testing next week. The assignments page of my site has a calendar that shows which tests are on which dates. Come well-fed and willing to concentrate for hours. Also, please bring a book to read during the gap between when you finish and when the test period ends... the room has to be silent during the whole test session.
- Thursday we have a field trip to Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts to see Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Bring bag lunch and make sure that you turn phones off and leave any food out of the theatre.
- Astronomy Night on 4/26 from about 8:30 until about 10. Mrs. Stuart has sent out more information via the Yahoo! group.
- Student-planned trip to San Jose on Friday 5/4. The coordination team will send out an email with more details next week, but here is a quick overview: VTA to downtown SJ, movie, GeoCache, Johnny Rockets, games in the park, razor/blade Guadalupe River trail, museum/library/tour, VTA to DCS.
Recap of the Week: English: We got back into the editing process on Monday, but at a higher level than those ol' daily edits of last semester. The kids read a historical fiction article (Titanic) and identified some general and specifics strengths of the writing, then did a "Lazy Editor" exercise from SCOPE magazine as well as an exercise in identifying extraneous information in writing. On Tuesday we had session one of the autobiography book clubs, during which each student explained a bit about their book and the reasons that they chose it. Wednesday, for vocabulary, the students did a few activities from this site, and then entered four great words into their comp books. Yesterday, two staff members from TheatreWorks gave an interactive preview of the play next week, and the today we began our Class Newspaper project -- more on that later.
Science: The unit on waves continued this week, with a focus on sound. On Monday I got to actually teach a bit of biology -- the parts and functions of the ear. That, along with some annoying but informative BrainPop videos (waves and sound and EM spectrum) should have given a good understanding of the hearing process. On Wednesday I posted some released test questions from old STAR tests and asked the kids to go through them and identify areas that need refreshing using this document format. After the chapter 21 test on Thursday, the kids got to learn more about waves, sound, and electromagnetism by playing with some speakers, magnets, and an oscilloscope that were brought and demonstrated by Thomas Zscherpel and a couple of other great parents from other classes. Lastly, today the kids watched a wonderfully involving (and graphic) video about brain trauma and recovery.
One Last Thing: Although the 8th grade gift has been decided upon, I'd like to test the waters for adding another one as well. Does anyone want to go in on a tree with me? I'd like get a nice healthy native tree and add it to the ever-growing landscaping outside our rooms, perhaps with a small engraved sign saying something about the class of 2012. The redwood benches were the gift from last year and it was fun to build, sand, seal, and install them with the kids. In similar fashion, I'd love to work with some families to choose the tree, dig the hole, provide irrigation, and get/post the little sign. I'm a bit cautious about stepping on toes, so this idea has no "official" role or merit... just a small gesture to honor the families of this class and my ever-growing joy to be a part of this community.
Chris
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posted Apr 6, 2012 9:27 PM by Chris Heumann
Good Evening and Happy Friday. Thirty weekly email newsletters ago I began to communicate to you the depth of the appreciation I felt being a part of DCS and having the honor of working with the great kids, families, and teachers of the 8th grade. As this year winds down I still feel that same gratitude, and often to an even higher degree. This past week provided yet another great boost in energy and enthusiasm for me. With the Civil War battle simulation, trip to the DeAnza planetarium, my partial absence on Thursday, and staff-development day on Friday, we had quite a compressed schedule -- but I think that we accomplished a great deal.
Conferences:
All of the 24 conferences were invigorating and productive as parents, students, and I all discussed the accomplishments so far and the adventurous challenges of the coming first year of high school. Clear communication, candor, and common goals were the ingredients of some great sessions and, as always, I appreciate being able to be a part of your student's growth.
English: Only two noteworthy events come to mind for this week. First, during out first autobiography book-club session it was time to "talk stories". Each person in the group got to relate some sort of impromptu story about some impactive or memorable event in their life. Lots of laughter and volume in the room -- a sure sign of engagement and enthusiasm, at least for some groups (others had some quiet kids)! The second activity that was quite engaging was provided by this week's Time Magazine article's discussion of the MPAA's rating of the movies The Hunger Games and Bully. Your student might be able to explain the details and their own perspective, but it certainly was a thought-provoking article and subsequent writing assignment. Over vacation I'll be catching up on some of the ungraded assignments including the descriptive essays, the supplemental chapter synopses, and the infographics.
Science: I'm embarrassed to report that, other than the reading, brief discussion of, and test on chapter 20 on the nature of waves, nothing much progressed in our science curriculum. Although the technical difficulties at the planetarium lessened our overall experience there, I think that some of the kids learned some new things about our universe and the characteristics of black holes. After break we'll be able to have some good lessons on senses, sound, light, and many characteristics of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Other: I've been a teacher for 24 years and an unengaged attendee at countless staff meetings. During my time at DCS, however, I have never been at a staff meeting or development activity that wasn't educational, invigorating, and extremely engaging. Today was no exception, and I just want to tip my hat to Dale Jones for creating an atmosphere that encourages all of us teachers to do our best work, to always continue to learn, and to stay at the crest of the wave of effective educational practices. Bravo, DJ! Tomorrow I'm off to an educational conference called ShiftEd -- optimistic for innovative and immediately-applicable ideas. After that, I'm headed to Ashland (thx to C.O.) to visit my dad and help with some construction projects.
Have a great week together and keep in touch. |
posted Mar 31, 2012 3:40 PM by Chris Heumann
Good Morning and Happy Saturday.
Today was supposed
to be the day that I got to play "arborist" and climb a big tall tree
with chainsaw in hand (and safety ropes, of course) in order to trim it
down to a level that State Farm approves (fire danger), BUT the rain and
wind have grounded me. So, I get to use the time to sit inside this
mountain house with a cup of tea and recap the week.
English:
The
most important thing to glean from this week's newsletter is that each
student needs to get a biography book for the next set of book-club
meetings. Many of the kids have already entered their preferences onto this form, and you can see the results here.
If your student doesn't have an idea yet, a trip to the library and/or
bookstore will certainly be fruitful. Once I know what books the
students have chosen, we'll put them into groups based on some
connection ( here is a list of last year's groups). This week the kids worked on their Steinbeck Supplemental Chapter/Synopsis
and hopefully turned them in on Friday (80% credit for Monday
turn-ins). They also turned in a non-fiction discussion form (for extra
credit this time). During class, in addition to the book
club session on Tuesday and Science Expo on Friday, we watched the
Sinise/Malkovich rendition of Of Mice and Men -- true to the book, well
acted, and sufficiently depressing.
The second of three rounds of speeches
are now done, and I can't rave enough about the quality of almost all
of them. The kids chose some truly evocative speeches, and delivered
them with the sincerity and understanding that would have made the
original authors proud! My notes/feedback for those will be passed out
on Monday.
Science:
Lots of our class time was spent doing the "publish" phase of the science experiments
that have been in progress since late January. Hopefully the students
have kept you up to speed on this project and included you as a viewer
on their control sheet. We also set the reading and exam calendar for unit 8.
The biggest science event of the week, of course was yesterday's
school-wide science fair. This was my first year to observe this great
event, and it really exemplifies many of the attributes of DCS --
creative ideas, diverse topics, supportive community, and a flexible
interpretation of the typically stringent protocols of formal scientific
investigation. :)
Next Week & Beyond:
Conferences: Every day next week is an early release day for students and a conference or training day for teachers. My conference calendar is almost full and I'm eager to meet with the students and parents who are participating in the (optional) sessions.
Civil War Simulation:
On Monday, our class (HR 25) will be participating in a social studies
simulation all morning in room 22. Mrs. Leftwich will have HR 26 for
ELA during P2 in room 25. Thanks to Mrs. Leftwich for setting this up.
DeAnza Planetarium:
On Wednesday, all of the 8th graders will be going to DeAnza College in
Cupertino to watch presentations at their planetarium. Thanks to Mrs.
Stuart for setting this up! Seems I'm the slacker of the 8th grade team!
Staff Development Day:
On Friday students have a day off! Here at DCS we'll be doing a
variety of professional development activities, including improving
class websites!
Female Chaparone Needed: I'm looking for a middle school mom to come on the CalCoast Cruise on May 21, 22, 23, and 24 (while most kids are in DC). Interested?
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posted Mar 24, 2012 5:52 PM by Chris Heumann
It is a drizzly day up here in the hills and our Internet has been down for almost a week now. We all slept in this morning and now I can sit by the fire with a cup of tea and try to remember last week – quite a blur at this point (and without the ability to check the daily schedule). I remember something about InfoGraphics and Chapter Synopses in English, and element t-shirts and electronics topics in science. Lets see what I can recall in a bit more detail: English: The first part of the week was mostly invested in the “Synopsis of a SupplementalSteinbeck Chapter”. I explained the project on Monday and gave them time to come up with a few ideas, then they discussed their ideas with book clubs on Tuesday. This coming Tuesday, the kids should have a draft ready to show me, and share with their groups, and then the final product is due on Friday. The kids aren’t writing the chapter itself, just a synopsis and sample paragraph.
The other big project that the kids worked on this week was the info-graphic which was (or should have been) turned in Friday. I think that most of the kids really “got it” and have done good work. They are posted online, so I can’t take a look from here at home… drats. Ask your student, perhaps, to show you theirs! Science: As our unit on electricity wound to a close, I tried to set up situations through which the kids could pursue their own interests about the topic as well as teach themselves and each other. They formed special interest groups in order explore more about things like lightning, organic electricity, power generation, and others. I’m not sure what will come of this, but it was good to give them the opportunity. In addition to that, they also got into groups in order to learn and teach about semiconductors, components, integrated circuits, and various signal and storage media.
On Thursday, Mrs. Stuart hosted another successful element T-shirt fashion show, and it was nice to see some of the kids in my homeroom class participate. Coming Up: School-wide Science Expo: This Friday the kids long (long) term science projects will get the exposure that they surely deserve. Display boards are coming together slowly, but I have high hopes that the investigations that the kids have been working on for so long will come to fruition at the end of the upcoming week. Parent conference spots have been almost all filled by those of you, in both classes, who used the link in last week’s emails to reserve a spot. I’m looking forward to seeing the student-created agendas and spending time with you again. Spring Overnight Trips: The DC trip and CalCoast trip are both taking shape and will be very exciting. Kids have submitted forms and roommate requests and I’m sure that Mrs. L&S will put together great groups. For “my” CalCoast trip, I’m in need of a female chaperone. If you are concerned that you’ll miss being around 8th graders during their week in DC, please consider joining us for a few days enjoying the places closer to home – Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, and Marin Headlands.
Time to sneak close to the neighbor's house and mooch their wi-fi long enough to send this!
Chris |
posted Mar 17, 2012 2:04 AM by Chris Heumann
Friday, so soon?
Aw jeez, just when I was starting to have (even more) fun. At this time of year, when summer is
still far off but winter vacation(s) are long gone, there often tends to be a
slump in energy and enthusiasm. But
for me at least, things are on a thrilling upswing and great moments just keep
coming. A few times
in most days I just pause and absorb the good feelings and healthy lifestyle
that permeates Discovery. If I had
to distill this group’s interactions (myself included) down to one word, it
would certainly be “family”.
Quirky and filled with character, loving and intermittently animus, we
are becoming quite a family.
One that I’m very happy to be a part of, of course.
Recap of the Week:
English: Early
in the week some more descriptive essays trickled in and now the stack of eloquent
illustrative creations are going to become my homework for the next few weeks. This assignment had a good mixture of creativity and structure and I'm impressed by what I've read so far. With each of the many writing assignments the kids have had this year, their writing has become stronger, more organized, more expressive, and more effective.
The second round of speaking sessions began this week. The assignment is for the kids to deliver an existing speech that was designed to evoke strong feelings in the audience, and those students who have gone so far have certainly lived up to (or exceeded) the expectations. More amazing things to come, I assume!
The current project is the creation of an InfoGraphic -- a combination of information and graphic assets that are arranged together to make the message clear and engaging. I showed the kids some samples and then set them into production in a set of phases. This is an interesting project form me and one that I hope the kids really enjoy making. Science:
The topics of electricity and magnetism took hold this week. It is easy to make this topic relevant to life and we did so with an analysis of home electricity bills, PG&E's online usage data, and an analysis of various types of light bulbs. At home, you may have noticed the kids looking a little more closely at lighting, heating, various appliances, and maybe your SmartMeter. On Thursday the kids made simple motors and then today (Friday) they took the chapter 18 test. I'll have those scores posted tomorrow.
For the next 5 weeks, the kids have access to a set of great online simulations called "Gizmos" by ExploreLearning. Although manipulatives are always best, these simulations have some great features, connections, and assessments. Check it out if you get a moment.
Upcoming:
1. Conferences are set up for the afternoons of April 2 to 5. They are optional, of course, but if you would like to spend some time discussing the accomplishments and challenges of the year, please sign up by clicking here and selecting a spot.
2. The school wide science fair is coming up at the end of the month (March 30), and the kids are working on their display boards. The element fashion show is also coming up soon (March 22) and the shirts that some kids displayed today were great! In my class there are about a dozen kids participating and I think we'll have some great products show up next week.
3. Today the kids made their personal business cards of their future and Barbara will decorate the toolbox with them over the weekend. There are still about 10 missing, so please send yours to me or her and it will get printed and added to the box. I'm sure that I forgot about something, so reply and let me know what it is (or chat about anything else). Chris
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