We had a wonderful Hibernation/America Reads Day at Prairie Creek yesterday! Thank you to all of our wonderful readers who came to share their time and stories with us. We also had the opportunity to listen to our celebrity reader, Meteorologist Josh Baynes from KCRG. Mr. Baynes read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the sequel Pickles to Pittsburgh. Pictures of his visit were on the channel 9, 6 o'clock news last night. Mr. Young also took some pictures, which we will try to get posted online, too.
Comment below, and tell us a little about what you are currently reading.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Are you out there? An assignment for YOU!
Hey, kids & family members! Yes, YOU! Let me know that you are out there and reading this blog. Leave a comment saying hello and you (or your child) will receive either a really awesome scratch-and-sniff sticker or a very tasty tootsie-roll. If you comment anonymously, please leave a first name and last initial so I know who to deliver the little gift to.
ITBS
Reminder: Students will be partaking in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills next week. Testing will be held from 8-10, Monday through Friday. The remainder of the day will operate on a two-hour late start schedule. Please help ensure your child is well rested, and has eaten a nutritious breakfast. (Of course this is a good idea all of the time!) :)
What's up in math and science?
I apologize that you haven't heard from me in awhile...
We have been busy working on a lot of great stuff at school.
Science -- We recently wrapped up our unit on Variables in science, and have been using the time between units to focus on using the RACE strategy for answering questions and writing responses in a clear and complete way. Students are practicing with a variety of high-interest articles, and using it mostly for science responses at this point, but it is a strategy that can be used when answering questions in many contexts. Students are asked to Restate the question in their answer, Answer it, Cite where the evidence came from, and Elaborate or Extend their answers to provide more information. The math and science teachers at Creek worked together to create a rubric that would help students understand what a quality RACE answer looks like, and as a method for students and teachers to assess responses. After much teacher modeling and guided practice, students have begun using the strategy to answer questions with partners, and practicing using the rubric to self-score. On a science assessment completed this week I noticed a huge increase in the quality of written responses. Our learning is making a big difference!
Math -- In math students have been working on geometry. They have been busy using protractors to measure angles, compasses to draw circles and construct congruent line segments, and identifying polygons by their attributes. Here are some key vocabulary terms and concepts:
congruent - same size and shape
vertex- point at which the rays of an angle meet
adjacent angles - share a common side, and a common vertex (add up to 180 degrees)
vertical or opposite angles - share a common vertex, but no common sides (vertical angles are congruent)
equilateral triangle - all sides and angles are congruent
isosceles triangle - at least two sides and angles are congruent
scalene triangle - no congruent sides or angles
Writing -- In Mrs. Johnson's homeroom, we have been working on developing expository writing skills. Students have been practicing planning, writing engaging leads and topic sentences, and using strong word choice. At this point students have written a rough draft on a self-selected topic. Next week we will be working on revising and editing before typing a published copy.
We have been busy working on a lot of great stuff at school.
Science -- We recently wrapped up our unit on Variables in science, and have been using the time between units to focus on using the RACE strategy for answering questions and writing responses in a clear and complete way. Students are practicing with a variety of high-interest articles, and using it mostly for science responses at this point, but it is a strategy that can be used when answering questions in many contexts. Students are asked to Restate the question in their answer, Answer it, Cite where the evidence came from, and Elaborate or Extend their answers to provide more information. The math and science teachers at Creek worked together to create a rubric that would help students understand what a quality RACE answer looks like, and as a method for students and teachers to assess responses. After much teacher modeling and guided practice, students have begun using the strategy to answer questions with partners, and practicing using the rubric to self-score. On a science assessment completed this week I noticed a huge increase in the quality of written responses. Our learning is making a big difference!
Math -- In math students have been working on geometry. They have been busy using protractors to measure angles, compasses to draw circles and construct congruent line segments, and identifying polygons by their attributes. Here are some key vocabulary terms and concepts:
congruent - same size and shape
vertex- point at which the rays of an angle meet
adjacent angles - share a common side, and a common vertex (add up to 180 degrees)
vertical or opposite angles - share a common vertex, but no common sides (vertical angles are congruent)
equilateral triangle - all sides and angles are congruent
isosceles triangle - at least two sides and angles are congruent
scalene triangle - no congruent sides or angles
- The sum of the angles in a triangle equal 180 degrees.
- The sum of the angles on a straight line equal 180 degrees.
- There are 360 degrees in a circle.
Writing -- In Mrs. Johnson's homeroom, we have been working on developing expository writing skills. Students have been practicing planning, writing engaging leads and topic sentences, and using strong word choice. At this point students have written a rough draft on a self-selected topic. Next week we will be working on revising and editing before typing a published copy.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Progress Reports
I will be sending home mid-term progress reports on Monday, October 11. I was originally going to send them home this Friday, but am holding off until Monday so that I can include information from the latest science quiz and the Unit 2 math test. Thanks for your patience.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Mastering Multiplication
Hey, parents, have you noticed how much things have changed in the world of learning mathematics? Chances are many of the methods and things your child is learning are much different than how you (and I) learned in school.
This week we practiced three different methods of multiplication: (Click on the links to see a You Tube video explaining the method.)
Partial Products
Lattice
Traditional (the way us 'old folks' learned)
While I wanted all students to try and practice the different methods, it is important to me that from this point forward they choose one method that they feel most comfortable with, and do it well, in order to complete problems accurately.
This week we practiced three different methods of multiplication: (Click on the links to see a You Tube video explaining the method.)
Partial Products
Lattice
While I wanted all students to try and practice the different methods, it is important to me that from this point forward they choose one method that they feel most comfortable with, and do it well, in order to complete problems accurately.
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