Post date: Apr 20, 2015 3:41:24 AM
Dear Room 25.
The week of vacation ends in a few hours so I better get this letter out! I hope that you've been having fun. During my time off I weeded the yard, did laundry and taxes, cleaned up the work-shed, and took a 50 mile bike ride to Half Moon Bay. Great times, but I'm also ready for our remaining 39 days of school. There is lots of work still to be done and some meaningful and memorable times ahead. Lets make the best of it.
Social Studies: We are almost done with the amendments presentations but there are still some blank spots in the presenter-presentee chart so we'll try to finish that up tomorrow. After that the kids will take the class-made quiz and get feedback until they get a perfect score. The kids will also be browsing the Kids Discover magazine on the Constitution and answering some questions. One last episode of Constitution USA will bring the intensive to a close and by next week we should be into the preludes to Civil War.
English: The "Oops" essays will be done by the middle of the week. The kids should be asking you for editing, elaboration, and organization advice tomorrow or the next day. Many of the ELA assignments for the end of 8th grade focus on self-reflection and this one is no exception. I'm also going to propose to the kids that we create talks for a TED-8 event as explained on this blogpost (thanks Elizabeth S) in hopes that they will get on-board and excited.
Science: Our final unit for the year will be about waves. We will explore the various types and characteristics and learn lots about sound, light, and the breadth of the electro-magnetic wave spectrum. As usual, there well be some nightly reading from the textbook and also the in-class demonstrations and activities that bring relevance and application to the subject. The kids will also continue to make progress on their weekly curiosity slides and do one last in-depth investigation into one of their topics. Parents, please take a look at your kid's slide-set (linked from their name on this spreadsheet).
Projects: My life is plagued by the 80% done affliction -- I get most of the work done on a project and then move to to the next thing. This tendency has is quite evident in our house, but now it has infected school as well. There are three projects that need skill and/or determination beyond what I've been able to muster: the stone drinking fountain, the second pair of redwood benches, and fixing/upgrading the red shed. If any of you want to help take any of those to completion, please let me know.
Thanks y'all!
Chris
Calendar
April 28: Levi Stadium Tour
May 6: Courthouse trip
May 9: Spring Auction
May 15: No school for kids
May 29: Middle School dance
June 3 to 5: Rafting the South Fork American River
June 10: Maker Day
June 12: Field Day
June 18: Last day of school
June 19: Staff work day