Post date: Dec 14, 2015 2:55:21 AM
Hello Room 25 Students and Parents,
Time flew by this weekend so this email got pushed out to Sunday night, for better or worse. On Saturday my family and I volunteered at The Family Giving Tree warehouse in Milpitas, along with a bunch of kids from last year's class. It is the closest thing to the North Pole that I've ever seen; huge piles of gifts and about a hundred of us elves sorting, shopping, and reading/fulfilling wish cards from kids and adults throughout the area. Kinsey's mom has built up this amazing program and her class is going there on Friday -- an excellent holiday experience.
Two Highlights of Last Week:
1. The "Gift I Gave" essay is underway. Inspired by this video, I've asked the kids to write about something (or not-thing) that they have given to someone else and write an essay about it. The process has the usual checkpoints including a list of ideas and one chosen, a list of topics that will become paragraphs, a draft, some on-paper peer and adult edits, and a final copy (by Friday). I hope that they have shared their with you and that it has sparked some good conversation.
2. Mystery Books. The class listed some options for the next book club genre and decided on mystery, which I think is great. On Wednesday we did an activity that involved creating a mystery story for which a set of checks could be used a clues; if you get a chance, ask your kid about it. The books and groups are on the mystery page of my site and I'm hoping that one or two kids in each book can get books by Wednesday.
Two Things Coming Up:
1. The all 8th grade trip to the Exploratorium is coming up on Thursday and I'm very excited because the hundreds of interactive exhibits each teach and excite the scientist in all of us. The experiences gained there also provide the foundation for so many of the physics lessons that I'm planning for the rest of the year.
2. Homeroom Breakfast and Festivities on Friday: The kids are running a Secret Santa process that will culminate Friday, and I'm hoping to get most/all of the class to participate in another gift exchange as well. In addition, I'm hoping that families will be willing to send in some breakfast-ish foods for Friday as well. Please take a look at the celebrations page and add, if possible, enter into the form something that you can contribute.
As always, I appreciate that you read these weekly newsletters and would love to hear back from you.
Chris.
Calendar:
December 17 (Thursday): 8th grade to the Exploratorium
December 18 (Friday): Early dismissal
December 21 - January 10: Winter Holiday
January 14 (Thursday): Mathemagic at Westgate Church
January 18 (Monday): No School, MLK day
January 26 (Tuesday):8th grade class photo
February 5 (Friday): Semester 1 ends
February 6 (Saturday): DCS 10 Year Celebration
February 15 to 19: February Break
February 23 to 26: Room 25's San Francisco Trip
March 18 (Friday): Staff Development Day