Post date: Dec 20, 2013 7:56:28 PM
Hello Room 25 Parents and Kids.
School ended on a very good note and the long-awaited long winter (ha) vacation is here. I want to thank all of you who helped make Friday great -- for the contributions and organization the party as well as for the abundance of kind cards and generous gifts that accumulated on my desk. I am most fortunate to work for you all!
Recap of the Week:
San Jose Scooter Tour: Monday's trip was a first of its kind for me, and it went off very well. We all owe thanks to the kids who came up with the ideas, made arrangements with the destinations, and organized the itinerary and budget. I was very glad to see that all kids brought/got scooters and helmets and traveled very well together. Buying bus passes and lunch worked out well and provided learning experiences unto themselves -- things like exact change and accounting for tips. I did decide to pay the admission to the Star Wars Exhibit at the Tech, with the intention of getting reimbursed from our class' field trip budget because that kind of thing shouldn't be student-funded. So, how many of you parents received that $9 back from your kids? ;)
Science: "Simple" plants were the topic of the week. Kids brought in samples of algae and moss for microscope observations, and the kids used websites, videos, and my explanations to learn about the parts, processes, and lifestyles of those tiny aquatic miracles of photosynthetic power. In addition, each day's science lesson began with a demonstration from a different kid, each of which has been great so far. Those who haven't done their demo yet need to do so before the semester closes on January 24.
English: With Ender's Game behind us and the Gift I Gave essays done, we've moved on to two new things: biography books and public speaking. During the year each student will do three different speaking sessions and this first one is designed to be a low-stress experience that builds confidence and invites positive feedback and suggestions for improvement. For literature circles, the next genre is biography/autobiography. Most of the kids have browsed the webpage showing ideas and previous years' choices, and I've asked them to make a final decision and get their book over vacation. Parents, please discuss this with your kids and help the get their book.
Social Studies: This week we had a few of the best current events sessions yet. I appreciate the kids who have reviewed and lived up to the expectations, brought in great articles, prepared appropriate summaries, and lead great discussions using their pre-written questions. This week marked the beginning of the unit on China, and we are leaving the book-dominated learning strategy and taking a different approach. Each kids submitted five questions to this spreadsheet and then we categorized them and formed interest groups. After vacation, each kid will define their specific area of study, do a bunch of research, organize their findings, build something that demonstrates their new growth and understanding, and then teach those things to their peers.
Behavior: Thank you, parents, for your replies to last week's email about my concerns about grades, behavior, and responsibility. I brought up my list of concerns to the class on Tuesday morning and a good discussion followed. I have noticed more mature and productive behavior for most of those kids who needed to change, but there are still 6 for whom I need to take further action and impose some game-changing consequences. Those involved will get a separate email before school starts up again. The result will be, hopefully, a better class atmosphere and more effective (but still comfortable) learning environment
Walkabout Part 2: The government shut-down did shorten our Cal Coast Walkabout in October, but I think that the second half, which we will do on March 18-20 will more than compensate. The administration of NorCal hostels did offer us, as compensation for our thwarted plans of the Fall, a (rare) opportunity to do a one night stay at the Fort Mason hostel. This will add about $60 to the suggested donation about of the trip, but it gives us the chance to do a full day and night in San Francisco before we head over the bridge to the Marin Headlands. I've put the overview, itinerary, and a link to a map on this document. Oh, and this will be a full-on walkabout this time, covering about 18 miles in 3 days! No need for cars this time (except one luggage/support van) as we will take CalTrain and busses when needed and to the rest by walking. If you are willing to chaperone, please email me. I went to Marin yesterday to walk the only portion of the trip that I haven't done yet and found it challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment, but not so hard that it defeats the purpose of the trip, which is to cover lots of ground, experience autonomy and accomplishment, and learn about the natural, historical, and cultural aspects of our little paradise portion of California.
Enjoy your days and all they offer,
Chris