Post date: Apr 22, 2016 7:32:10 PM
Hello Room 25 Families.
Entry from Friday afternoon:
I'm sitting in the classroom right now, just reveling in the playfulness, productivity, and personality that is our class. These kids and this place have burrowed deeply into my heart and fill me with joy almost every day. In honor of the downpour earlier today we went out on the field for a round of class-wide jump rope, tug of war, wrap the crowd, and drag the teacher across the wet turf.
Entry from Sunday afternoon:
When I got to school this afternoon I was greeted by a door decoration poster (teacher appreciation week) that makes me feel so honored and humbled as well. I don't know who came up with the list adjectives written on the poster, but they sure are the ones that I strive to live up to! Whatever I/we can do/be to capitalize on the attributes we see in each other, I say lets "put it all out there on the field" and make the final 32 days of school be a great crescendo to an already-excellent year together. 'Nuf of the gooshy stuff, lets get to the useful part of this email:
Recap of the Week:
Science:
After tinkering with some low-voltage systems for a while, I've given the kids some home wiring tools, components, knowledge, and training that they will use to build a basic 110v set-up that includes an outlet, switch, and light as well as the Romex and junction boxes that will help them assemble it "up to code".
On Thursday I gave each kid a "Kill-A-Watt" meter so that they can do a simple home electricity audit by measuring the power usage of a variety of electricity-using things in your house. They enter their results on this form and we'll take a look at the results early this coming week.
In addition to the in-class stuff, the kids have read textbook sections on electricity as homework and taken quick quizzes in class.
Social Studies
The current unit on westward expansion has actually emphasized the effects of American policy and action on native peoples. The adage "history is written by those who won" is so often true, and I'm glad to see (and perpetuate) a wider awareness and more controversial knowledge-base. Take, for example, the recently-announced impending change to the $20 bill -- moving President Andrew Jackson to the back and putting Harriet Tubman on the front. Jackson is relevant to our current class discussions because he pushed for removal of southwest tribes to 'bad lands' to the west, defying Supreme Court order in the process. The kids have read and heard and watched about the Trail of Tears, and to wrap it up, tomorrow I'll show the kids "We Shall Remain", a fairly long documentary about the Cherokee Nation in the mid-to-late 1800s.
Of course, we'll continue with the current events processes which alternate weekly between discussions with you parent one week, and discussions with peer-groups the next (using this spreadsheet for accountability).
English
Throughout the week, the writing coaches continued their 1:1 meetings and used this process to structure the essay-improvement sessions. I've gotten valuable and encouraging feedback from both the parents and (a few of) the students about this, and it is great to hear that the quality of writing has improved greatly throughout the year, as has the confidence and willingness.
The other writing task of the week was a "Lazy Editor" exercise from Junior Scholastic's Scope magazine in which the kids had to edit/revise an article called Sneaker Freak with regard to commas, apostrophe's, redundancies, and fragments.
A Few Other Things
Thanks: Using the birthday money that you families generously have me 4 months ago, I purchased an essential-oil diffuser that arrived last week. The lavender and tangerine oils that Stacy donated Friday have made a difference in the smell and feel of the classroom.
Conferences: please take a look at this chart and see if there is a spot that fits for you
Parent Meeting & Potluck: May 12 from 6:30 to 8ish
Calendar
April 27: K-5 Science Fair exhibits
April 30 (Saturday): Student to Student Conference
May 2 to 6: Spring Conferences
May 6: Middle School Dance
May 7: Spring Auction
May 9 (Monday): Possible class fieldtrip (scooter-tour of San Jose & Guadalupe River Trail)
12 (Thursday): Room 25 Parent Meeting
May 16 to 19: Standardized Testing
May 20: DCS to Maker Fair (see messages from Jane/Susan)
May 27 (Friday): Staff Development Day
June 1 (Wednesday): Talent Show (before rafting departure)
June 1, 2, 3 (Wed-Fri) Rafting South Fork American
June 6-10: Chris doing Google training for Hawaii public school teachers
June 8: Science Fair (design challenges)
June 16: Last Day of School