Post date: Mar 16, 2013 3:45:53 AM
Hello All.
Today was a great staff learning day, and I'm hoping that the ides of March were good to you as well. After our meetings ended at three, I was able to post the scores from the most recent test, clean up my classroom quite a bit, and even get some of the detritus cleared off of my desk. It was also nice to get home before sunset and survey the overgrown garden that will demand a bit of tending quite soon.
Week in Review:
Again, the highlights of the three-day week (battle simulation took up a day) were the demonstrations that Thomas Zscherpel provided for the kids, and the activities that I could do with the kids thanks to his guidance and knowledge. A strong intuitive sense of current should have evolved over the week as well as some great practical knowledge -- ask your kid to explain (diagram?) how the three-way switches in your home work. Just before the test yesterday, Thomas showed the kids reality of various concepts described in the book and also provided an intriguing introduction to the construction projects for next week (electromagnet and simple motor).
Next Week:
This will be the third and final week of the electricity unit, and the kids will be learning about electronic devices and components. I'd like to give the kids some hands-on experience with soldering components to a circuit board, and Fry's has some great little "toys" that the students can assemble (I posted pictures and prices here), but I'm not sure they have enough in stock. Also, we'll need some soldering tools -- parents, if you have anything that might work, please let me know. The chapter 19 test will be Thursday, and about 15(?) kids and I will be gone on Friday for the GPS class' day-trip to SF.
Check Your Calendar:
March 19: Scott Freid
March 22: GPS trip to SF
April 1-5: Spring Conferences
April 8-12: Spring Break
April 18 and 19: Schoolwide science exposition
April 23-May 2: STAR Tests
April 25: "Being Ernest" at Mt. View Center for Performing Arts
May 6: Asian Art Museum
May 14: DeAnza Planetarium
May 20, 21, 22, 23: Cal Coast WalkAbout
May 27: Memorial Day
June 10: Graduation
June 11: Last day of school