Post date: Sep 27, 2014 8:44:37 PM
Dear Room 25 Families:
I've heard (and agree) that these weekly newsletters are a bit long-winded, so I'll try to keep this one shorter. My thanks to all who read and respond.
Science: The week started off with a quick trip to the GooglePlex in Mountain View to see the amazing projects created by the 12 finalists of the Global Science Fair. Their ideas were impressive and their passion and products provided good models for our kids.
After that we tested the gravity devices that the kids had created -- two containers that have the same size and shape (thus air resistance) but very different mass. The last activity was a fun little exercise to test projectile motion's horizontal and vertical components with rubber bands and a make-shift target. These activities, along with the book readings and online videos should give kids a good sense of the characteristics and complexity of even the most simple physical motions.
Social Studies: The "deliverable" of the week was a completed map of the physical and political features of the US. There were 8 features we agreed to include when we started about a week ago, and yet only a few kids had all of them included on their final product (here is the score sheet template and individual's scores are posted on PowerSchool). Regardless, I do think that most kids learned more about the amazing features of this country.
While almost all of the kids have been keeping up with their weekly current events obligations, they have requested that we make some changes to process (frequency, at least) so that kids have more buy-in and desire to keep up with and share articles that they find and read regarding national and global events.
Our viewing of portions (most, actually) of "Dances With Wolves" did its job, in my opinion, which was to increase the kids view of the great plains and also to gain a deeper understanding of Native American culture and relations to the land.
English: Mrs. Leftwich has making headway into the ELA curriculum during a few one-hour sessions during the latter half of the week. This will get even more "intense" as the classes start their first set of intensives this coming week. The general topics include Steinbeck, Shakespeare, and media literacy. In addition the excellent exercises and activities that the room 25 kids are doing with Mrs. Leftwich, they will also be doing a bit of vocabulary work with me, writing refinement with the writing coaches, and book-group discussions in literature circles.
Parent Presentations: This week was a fantastic culmination to a months worth of presentations by parents. The topics included diverse topics with a huge range of impact and intensity: making meatloaf, textiles and sewing, structural engineering, escaping Vietnam, India-Pakistan relations, cheese tastings , design and invention, and making blankets for donation (Linus Project).
Parent Workshifts: This is probably the most important topic of this email so perhaps I shouldn't have saved it for last. I hope that you've made it this far because I would like to hear back from any of you that are working in the classroom. What job do you have and if you are coming at a certain time on a routine basis, when will you be coming in? You hopefully know that I am very flexible and want to make sure that your job matches your preference and talent as well as fits into your schedule, but I also want to make sure that I'm prepared for you and that I will make the best use of your time.
Sincerely,
Chris
Calendar:
September 29: Selective start
September 30: Math Curriculum Night 8:00 for 8th grade
October 3: Room 25 to Ropes Course
October 10: Middle School Dance
October 22: 8th Grade Parent Meeting #2
October 24: Teacher Learning Day (no school for kids)
October 25: Fall Festival
October 27-31: Fall conferences
October 30: 8th Grade to "Sweeney Todd" @ MVCPA
November 11: Veteran's Day (no school)
November 24-18: Thanksgiving Break
December 11-12: Room 25 to Balclutha, Age of Sail
December 22 - January 9: Winter Holiday
January 20-23 - SanFracramento Trip
February 6: Selectives end
February 6: Middle School dance