Monday, September 30, 2013

5th Grade - Pugnacious, which means quarrelsome, was today's vocabulary word. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, was the ponderer of the day. Students completed a logic elimination puzzle for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on respect. The afternoon was spent  working to complete the westward expansion project.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Due to the number of students on my case load, I will not be scheduling parent/teacher conferences unless there is a serious concern. Otherwise, I will be available in my room both evenings. Feel free to stop by and visit either before or after your other conferences.

Friday, September 27, 2013

4th Grade - The 4th grade vocabulary word for this week was interminable which means something that seems forever, as if there's no end in sight. Their ponderer was Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Logic elimination puzzles were completed for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on family traits. Time was spent learning about the electric system and choosing one of the seven ancient wonders of the world to research.

3rd Grade - Carp, which means to complain, was today's vocabulary word. Another author, Dr. Seuss, who was turned down by 27 publishers at first, was today's ponderer. Students completed a logic elimination puzzle for the warm-up activity and then worked on some more with Dudley the Detective in Crystal Pond Woods. Creativity was the focus of the affective lesson. Our lesson on Wonder had students learning about what scientists do. One of the things they do is sort and classify things.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

5th Grade - Pugnacious, which means quarrelsome, was today's vocabulary word. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, was the ponderer of the day. Students completed a logic elimination puzzle for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on respect. The afternoon was spent researching their 7 Ancient Wonders of the World project and working to complete the westward expansion project.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

2nd Grade - Flounder, which means to move clumsily; to struggle or proceed with difficulty; also a flat fish, was today's vocabulary word. The ponderer was Molly Pitcher (Mary Hays McCauly) who received status as a non-commissioned officer during the Revolutionary for taking water to the battlefield and running the cannon when her husband succumbed to heat exhaustion. I'm Gonna Like Me by Jamie Lee Curtis was the focus of today's affective lesson. In Crystal Pond Woods, students learned to use attributes to sort and classify items. Those objects were then placed in a logic elimination grid to solve the problem of item placement. Students were then given a more challenging logic elimination puzzle to solve.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

4th Grade - The 4th grade vocabulary word for this week was interminable which means something that seems forever, as if there's no end in sight. Their ponderer was Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Logic elimination puzzles were completed for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on family traits. Time was spent learning about the electric system and choosing one of the seven ancient wonders of the world to research.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Prognosticate, which means to predict. The ponderer was Earle Dickson, inventor of the Band-Aid, who had a clumsy wife. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm-up activity.Honesty was the focus of the affective lesson. The afternoon was spent developing a timeline as if students were the ones traveling the Oregon Trail and researching their choice of ancient wonders of the world.

Monday, September 23, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Prognosticate, which means to predict. The ponderer was Earle Dickson, inventor of the Band-Aid, who had a clumsy wife. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm-up activity.Honesty was the focus of the affective lesson. The afternoon was spent developing a timeline as if students were the ones traveling the Oregon Trail and researching their choice of ancient wonders of the world.

Friday, September 20, 2013

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Overt which means something that is open to view; not secret. Today's ponderer was Susan B. Anthony. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson had students looking at the ins and outs of their personalities in order to understand friends/classmates/siblings, etc. Students completed introductory activities around the electric system for today's system study.

3rd Grade - Afloat, a floating condition; awash, flooded, was today's vocabulary word. Charles Dickens, who became one of England's most popular author's, was the ponderer of the day. These students also completed Plexer puzzles for their warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on abilities students may have and some opportunities to use them. In Crystal Pond Woods, students worked on more complex logic elimination puzzles. The Relationships study had students brainstorming their relatives and creating analogies about them.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Prognosticate, which means to predict. The ponderer was Earle Dickson, inventor of the Band-Aid, who had a clumsy wife. Students completed Plexer puzzles for the warm-up activity.Honesty was the focus of the affective lesson. The afternoon was spent developing a timeline as if students were the ones traveling the Oregon Trail and researching their choice of ancient wonders of the world.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

2nd Grade - The vocabulary word for today was Buffoon which means a joker who amuses with jokes and tricks, a bumbling or ridiculous person, a fool. John Adams, our second president who lived in an incomplete White House, was today's ponderer. Plexers, common words or phrases put in picture form, were today's warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on the generalization that being gifted means different things to different people. In Crystal Pond Woods, Dudley the Detective and Sybil the Scientist had students working on sorting according to attributes.

3rd Grade - Afloat, a floating condition; awash, flooded, was today's vocabulary word. Charles Dickens, who became one of England's most popular author's, was the ponderer of the day. These students also completed Plexer puzzles for their warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on abilities students may have and some opportunities to use them. In Crystal Pond Woods, students worked on more complex logic elimination puzzles. The Relationships study had students brainstorming their relatives and creating analogies about them.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

4th Grade - Due to COGAT testing, this class will meet with the other 4th grade groups Friday morning.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Quid pro quo which is a Latin phrase meaning an equal exchange. There were two ponderers today: Gottlieg Daimler and Karl Benz, the builders of the first practical automobile. We played 20 Questions for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on courage. For the first Structures study, students read about the Oregon Trail aka. The Bridge Across America. The Wonder lesson had students reviewing the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Students chose one of the ancient structures to research.

Monday, September 16, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Quid pro quo which is a Latin phrase meaning an equal exchange. There were two ponderers today: Gottlieg Daimler and Karl Benz, the builders of the first practical automobile. We played 20 Questions for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on courage. For the first Structures study, students read about the Oregon Trail aka. The Bridge Across America. The Wonder lesson had students reviewing the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Students chose one of the ancient structures to research.

Friday, September 13, 2013

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Oblivious. A person who is oblivious does not know or is not aware of what's happening. Jane Addams, the first woman to receive the Nobel Peach Prize because of her humanitarian efforts in the Chicago slums, was today's ponderer. The warm-up activity was a 20 questions object students needed to identify. "What's on your mind" will be the focus of the affective lessons this year. Students wrote down things they could brainstorm for two minutes. That was followed by a discussion of the importance of getting those things out before learning can begin. Our first system to be studied was languages. After some background information on Braille, students took different languages and tried to write sentences using the new language. Our Wonder lesson began with a look at the seven ancient wonders of the world. Students will spend some time next week researching their chosen structure.

3rd Grade - Outfox, which means to outwit; to overcome by cunning or cleverness, was today's vocabulary word. Roald Dahl, who had difficulty in school, was today's ponderer. Roald Dahl is the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The warm-up activity was an activity called Mystery Object or 20 Questions. Our affective lessons will cover the five traits of competent kids-today was an introductory lesson. Students worked to complete the deductive thinking puzzles they started last week in Crystal Pond Woods. . The Wonder lesson focused on things that are sticky.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Quid pro quo which is a Latin phrase meaning an equal exchange. There were two ponderers today: Gottlieg Daimler and Karl Benz, the builders of the first practical automobile. We played 20 Questions for the warm-up activity. The affective lesson focused on courage. For the first Structures study, students read about the Oregon Trail aka. The Bridge Across America. The Wonder lesson had students reviewing the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Students chose one of the ancient structures to research.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

2nd Grade - Guerrillas, which means members of an irregular military force operating in small bands behind enemy lines, was today's vocabulary word. The ponderer was Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to enter the Continental army in order to escape the hardships of an indentured servant. She served in the army for 16 months before a fever sent her to a hospital and her true identity was revealed. Mystery Object was the warm-up activity. Students were able to identify the object in less than 20 questions. Affective thinking focused on the generalization that being gifted means different things to different people. In Crystal Pond Woods, students completed the logic elimination puzzles they started last week. Our Wonder lesson focused on things that are sticky.

3rd Grade - Outfox, which means to outwit; to overcome by cunning or cleverness, was today's vocabulary word. Roald Dahl, who had difficulty in school, was today's ponderer. Roald Dahl is the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The warm-up activity was an activity called Mystery Object or 20 Questions. Our affective lessons will cover the five traits of competent kids-today was an introductory lesson. Students worked to complete the deductive thinking puzzles they started last week in Crystal Pond Woods. . The Wonder lesson focused on things that are sticky.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Confound which means to confuse or mix up. Bill Cosby was the Ponderer. Not only is he a famous comedian, he has also written several books, donates to charities and produces programs for children (ex. Fat Albert). The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. Since our theme of "Wisdom begins in wonder" is a Socrates quote, we discovered a little bit about this philosopher.

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Admonish which means a mild, cautionary rebuke or warning. Their Ponderer was Archimedes who discovered the idea of water displacement while taking a bath. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. Since our theme of "Wisdom begins in wonder" is a Socrates quote, we discovered a little bit about this philosopher.

Monday, September 9, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Admonish which means a mild, cautionary rebuke or warning. Their Ponderer was Archimedes who discovered the idea of water displacement while taking a bath. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. Since our theme of "Wisdom begins in wonder" is a Socrates quote, we discovered a little bit about this philosopher.

Friday, September 6, 2013

4th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Fonfound which means to confuse or mix up. Bill Cosby was the Ponderer. Not only is he a famous comedian, he has also written several books, donates to charities and produces programs for children (ex. Fat Albert). The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. Since our theme of "Wisdom begins in wonder" is a Socrates quote, we discovered a little bit about this philosopher.

3rd Grade - The vocabulary word today was Gape which means to become widely open, separated; to stare in amazement. Our first Ponderer was Hans Christian Anderson who was bullied as a child but became a famous storyteller. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. The final activity was to take a trip to Crystal Pond Woods where we began learning about Convergent thinking.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

5th Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Admonish which means a mild, cautionary rebuke or warning. Their Ponderer was Archimedes who discovered the idea of water displacement while taking a bath. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. Since our theme of "Wisdom begins in wonder" is a Socrates quote, we discovered a little bit about this philosopher.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

2nd Grade - The vocabulary word today was Abduct which means to kidnap or carry off by force. Our first Ponderer was George Washington who was the first president of the United States under the constitution, but not the very first president. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. The final activity was to take a trip to Crystal Pond Woods where we began learning about Convergent thinking.

3rd Grade - The vocabulary word today was Gape which means to become widely open, separated; to stare in amazement. Our first Ponderer was Hans Christian Anderson who was bullied as a child but became a famous storyteller. The warm up activity was a creative activity. Students drew their initials on a sheet of paper then disguised them among other shapes and lines. We worked together to develop a class code of conduct to follow. Pretests were taken over the topics we will be wondering about this year. The final activity was to take a trip to Crystal Pond Woods where we began learning about Convergent thinking.