Friday, September 30, 2016

3rd Grade - These students learned that Contaminate means to soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association. Their explorer, Dr. Seuss, was turned down by 27 publishers before a friend was able to get And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street published. Students worked together to solve a Quotation Quizzler puzzle for the warm up activity. The social/emotional lesson focused on Creativity. Students were given a plain white sheet of paper and a 4 inch black circle to create something. For the final activity, students advanced their convergent thinking skills by playing a game called Ace, Jumble, Zilch (it is similar to MasterMind just on paper).

5th Grade - Today, students learned the word Pugnacious means quarrelsome. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, would hold his dog's mouth and tongue just right to make the dog sound like he was talking. We worked together to complete a Quotation Quizzler for the warm up activity. Respect was the focus of the affective (social/emotional) lesson. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City/State of Venice, the defense presented their side of the evidence. Our final activity was to complete some research so students would know what has already been attempted in order to create a better way to keep a drink cold.

2nd Grade - This class spent time completing unfinished work from earlier in the week.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Dr. Rains was around the building today sharing coding lessons with different classes.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

5th Grade - Today, students learned the word Pugnacious means quarrelsome. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, would hold his dog's mouth and tongue just right to make the dog sound like he was talking. We worked together to complete a Quotation Quizzler for the warm up activity. Respect was the focus of the affective (social/emotional) lesson. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City/State of Venice, the defense presented their side of the evidence. Our final activity was to complete some research so students would know what has already been attempted in order to create a better way to keep a drink cold.

4th Grade - These students learned that Interminable means something that seems forever, as if there's no end in sight. Their explorer for the day was Clara Barton who started the Red Cross. Students worked together to solve a Quotation Quizzler or http://www.dropquotes.com/play.php Time was spent in our affective lesson discovering how we received some of our traits from parents and grandparents. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City/State of Venice, the defense presented their side of the case. Students didn't have much time to research windmills in our #InvestigateCreateElevate segment.

2nd Grade - Our weekly trip to Crystal Pond Woods had students sorting shapes according to attributes using Venn Diagrams.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

4th Grade - These students learned that Interminable means something that seems forever, as if there's no end in sight. Their explorer for the day was Clara Barton who started the Red Cross. Students worked together to solve a Quotation Quizzler or http://www.dropquotes.com/play.php Time was spent in our affective lesson discovering how we received some of our traits from parents and grandparents. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City/State of Venice, the defense presented their side of the case. Students didn't have much time to research windmills in our #InvestigateCreateElevate segment.

2nd Grade - After listening to a story called I'm Gonna Like Me by Jamie Lee Curtis, students created a storyboard regarding with they liked about themselves.

Monday, September 26, 2016

5th Grade - Today, students learned the word Pugnacious means quarrelsome. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, would hold his dog's mouth and tongue just right to make the dog sound like he was talking. We worked together to complete a Quotation Quizzler for the warm up activity. Respect was the focus of the affective (social/emotional) lesson. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City/State of Venice, the defense presented their side of the evidence. Our final activity was to complete some research so students would know what has already been attempted in order to create a better way to keep a drink cold.

2nd Grade - Today's learning started with a new vocabulary word - Disaster which means something (such as a flood, tornado, fire, plane crash, etc.) that happens suddenly and causes much suffering or loss to many people. The explorer was Molly Pitcher (Mary Hays McCauly) who traveled with her husband during the Revolutionary War serving water to the soldiers. When her husband fell due to heat exhaustion, she replaced him at the cannon. Students worked together to solve the Quotation Quizzler puzzle that was the warm up activity.

Friday, September 23, 2016

3rd Grade - This group learned that Anthropomorphism means an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics: humanization. Their investigator was Charles Dickens who had to earn a living at a young age. While sticking labels on bottles for fourteen hours a day, he would dream up stories which he later wrote down. Students completed a What in the World puzzle for the warm up activity. The focus of the affective lesson was Above Average Ability. Our weekly trip to Crystal Pond Woods had students completing logic elimination grid puzzles.

5th Grade - Prognosticate which means to predict was the vocabulary word for this group. Their explorer was Earle Dickson who invented the Band-aid because of a clumsy wife. For the warm up activity, students were given photos of 8 items that were magnified and asked to identify each object. Today's affective lesson focused on honesty. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City-State of Venice the prosecution presented their witnesses to the jury. The final activity was an introduction to an #ICE activity were students will create a way to keep a cup of water cold.

2nd Grade - We took time to finish the logic elimination grid puzzles we started yesterday. There were a few minutes left, so we began a study of hurricanes using the book Abel's Island.

Thursday, September 22, 2013

Due to the school holiday on Monday, those classes met for Enrichment today.

5th Grade - Prognosticate which means to predict was the vocabulary word for this group. Their explorer was Earle Dickson who invented the Band-aid because of a clumsy wife. For the warm up activity, students were given photos of 8 items that were magnified and asked to identify each object. Today's affective lesson focused on honesty. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City-State of Venice the prosecution presented their witnesses to the jury. The final activity was an introduction to an #ICE activity were students will create a way to keep a cup of water cold.

2nd Grade - This class took a trip to Crystal Pond Woods where we completed some more logic elimination grid puzzles.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

5th Grade - Prognosticate which means to predict was the vocabulary word for this group. Their explorer was Earle Dickson who invented the Band-aid because of a clumsy wife. For the warm up activity, students were given photos of 8 items that were magnified and asked to identify each object. Today's affective lesson focused on honesty. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City-State of Venice the prosecution presented their witnesses to the jury. The final activity was an introduction to an #ICE activity were students will create a way to keep a cup of water cold.

4th Grade - This week's vocabulary word was Overt which means something that is open to view; not secret. Susan B. Anthony actually voted and went to trial because she voted. Her dream was that one day women could vote.  A What in the World puzzle was the weekly warm up activity. The social/emotional lesson focused on the ins and outs of a student's personality. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City State of Venice, the prosecution presented their case. For the final activity, students began researching windmills.

2nd Grade - Today's lesson focused on the idea that being gifted means different things to different people. Sometimes being a gifted student means a lot of pressure to these kids because of the expectations of others.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

4th Grade - This week's vocabulary word was Overt which means something that is open to view; not secret. Susan B. Anthony actually voted and went to trial because she voted. Her dream was that one day women could vote.  A What in the World puzzle was the weekly warm up activity. The social/emotional lesson focused on the ins and outs of a student's personality. In the case of Marco Polo vs. the City State of Venice, the prosecution presented their case. For the final activity, students began researching windmills.

2nd Grade - This class learned that a Tropical Cyclone is a cyclone originating in the tropics; specifically a hurricane. John Adams never climbed the stairs in the White House because the White House wasn't finished and there were no stairs. These students also tried to solve the What in the world puzzle for the warm up activity.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Students were able to enjoy a day off from school while teachers attended professional development meetings.

Friday, September 16, 2016

3rd Grade - Today's vocabulary word was Stressful which means full of or tending to induce stress. The explorer was Roald Dahl who had difficulty making sense while writing as a child but became a famous author. Students completed a logic elimination grid puzzle for the warm up activity. For the affective lesson students were introduced to the five characteristics of successful people. We will cover one each week working to increase strengths and improve weaknesses. Our weekly trip to Crystal Pond Woods had students reviewing the characteristics of convergent thinking with various problem-solving strategies.

5th Graders - Quid pro quo was the vocabulary learning that started our morning. It is a Latin phrase that means an equal exchange. The investigator, Nicholas Cugnot, was credited with the invention of the earliest horseless carriage. Unfortunately, its top speed was three miles per hour. A logic elimination puzzles was solved for the warm up activity. Courage was the focus of the social/emotional lesson.Our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate was introduced by having the students summoned to jury duty. Marco Polo is being charged with fraud in his claims of having gone to China.

2nd Graders - The lesson for today focused on the social/emotional side of being gifted. Our focus was that being gifted means different things to different people. We were then able to complete the logic puzzle we started on Wednesday.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Dr. Rains had the opportunity to teach computer programming skills in several classrooms today while the regular class teachers were involved in their professional learning communities.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

5th Graders - Quid pro quo was the vocabulary learning that started our morning. It is a Latin phrase that means an equal exchange. The investigator, Nicholas Cugnot, was credited with the invention of the earliest horseless carriage. Unfortunately, its top speed was three miles per hour. A logic elimination puzzles was solved for the warm up activity. Courage was the focus of the social/emotional lesson.Our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate was introduced by having the students summoned to jury duty. Marco Polo is being charged with fraud in his claims of having gone to China.

4th Grade - Learning for this group started with the vocabulary word Oblivious which means someone who does not know or is not aware of what's happening. The investigator, Jane Addams, started the Hull House in Chicago which allowed her to become the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Students completed a logic elimination puzzle for the warm up activity. The social/emotional lesson focused on what students are thinking about. By allowing time for students to explore what is on their mind they may be more ready to learn their daily lessons. Today's final activity centered around Marco Polo. Students are involved in a simulation where Marco Polo is on trial for fraud regarding his trip to China. Since students have been sequestered as members of the jury, they are not allowed to discuss the case until it is finished.

2nd Grade - This group tried to solve a harder logic elimination puzzle, but we will have to finish it on Friday.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

4th Grade - Learning today started with the vocabulary word Oblivious which means someone who does not know or is not aware of what's happening. The investigator, Jane Addams, started the Hull House in Chicago which allowed her to become the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Students completed a logic elimination puzzle for the warm up activity. The social/emotional lesson focused on what students are thinking about. By allowing time for students to explore what is on their mind they may be more ready to learn their daily lessons. Today's final activity centered around Marco Polo. Students are involved in a simulation where Marco Polo is on trial for fraud regarding his trip to China. Since students have been sequestered as members of the jury, they are not allowed to discuss the case until it is finished.

2nd Grade - This class finished their logic elimination grid puzzles from Crystal Pond Woods.

Monday, September 12, 2016

5th Graders - Quid pro quo was the vocabulary learning that started our morning. It is a Latin phrase that means an equal exchange. The investigator, Nicholas Cugnot, was credited with the invention of the earliest horseless carriage. Unfortunately, its top speed was three miles per hour. A logic elimination puzzles was solved for the warm up activity. Courage was the focus of the social/emotional lesson.Our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate was introduced by having the students summoned to jury duty. Marco Polo is being charged with fraud in his claims of having gone to China.

Dr. Rains was able to spend a couple of hours this afternoon teaching some coding lessons to kindergarten and first grade classes.

2nd Grade - This class learned that Proper means strictly decorous: genteel. Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man to join the Revolutionary War. It was when she came down with a terrible fever and sent to a hospital that her true identity was discovered. Students then traveled to Crystal Pond Woods where they met Dudley the Detective and Sybil the Scientist who are teaching this class how to solve problems using a logic elimination grid.

Friday, September 9, 2016

3rd Grade - This class started by having students learn that Discover means to see, find, or become aware of (something) for the first time. Hans Christian Andersen was the investigator. While he is well know as a famous storyteller, he never learned to spell. The warm up activity for this week was a Stories with Holes problem. The class worked together to create the rules or Code of Conduct.A pre-assessment regarding students' knowledge of Discoveries was followed by another inventory about student personalities called True Colors. The final activity was to learn the history of hashtag and proper hashtag usage.

5th Grade - Admonish was the beginning vocabulary word for this group. It means a mild cautionary rebuke or warning. The investigator was Archimedes who discovered Water Displacement while taking a bath and trying to solve a perplexing problem. A photo of the group was taken, followed by the weekly warm up activity. Today's warm up activity was a Stories with Holes problem. Students worked together to solve that problem and then continued as a large group to create a class Code of Conduct. These students took the True Colors personality inventory to discover more about themselves. A pre-assessment was administered in order to determine each students' understanding of the word Explorations. The final lesson went along with our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate (#ICE). We covered the history of the hashtag and hashtag etiquette.

2nd Grade - The final class for this week had the students learning the history of the hashtag and proper usage. With the few remaining minutes, students were able to work on tangram puzzles.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Today was a make up day for the classes who missed Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.

5th Grade - Admonish was the beginning vocabulary word for this group. It means a mild cautionary rebuke or warning. The investigator was Archimedes who discovered Water Displacement while taking a bath and trying to solve a perplexing problem. A photo of the group was taken, followed by the weekly warm up activity. Today's warm up activity was a Stories with Holes problem. Students worked together to solve that problem and then continued as a large group to create a class Code of Conduct. These students took the True Colors personality inventory to discover more about themselves. A pre-assessment was administered in order to determine each students' understanding of the word Explorations. The final lesson went along with our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate (#ICE). We covered the history of the hashtag and hashtag etiquette. With the time remaining, students were given an unusual situation to discuss and draw.

2nd Grade - Students took the True Colors personality inventory to discover more about themselves.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

5th Grade - Admonish was the beginning vocabulary word for this group. It means a mild cautionary rebuke or warning. The investigator was Archimedes who discovered Water Displacement while taking a bath and trying to solve a perplexing problem. A photo of the group was taken, followed by the weekly warm up activity. Today's warm up activity was a Stories with Holes problem. Students worked together to solve that problem and then continued as a large group to create a class Code of Conduct. These students took the True Colors personality inventory to discover more about themselves. A pre-assessment was administered in order to determine each students' understanding of the word Explorations. The final lesson went along with our theme of #InvestigateCreateElevate (#ICE). We covered the history of the hashtag and hashtag etiquette.

4th Grade - Today's learning began by having students write down the word of the week which was Confound. Confound means to confuse or mix someone up. After a group photo, students learned about a famous person who overcame a struggle to become successful. Today's focus was on Bill Cosby who overcame poverty to become a famous comedian. The warm up activity was a Stories with Holes problem. Together each class came up with a Code of Conduct (class rules). The social/emotional segment focused on different personalities. Each student took the True Colors personality inventory. Our theme for this year is #InvestigateCreateElevate (#ICE). The lessons will center on Explorations. Students took a pre-assessment to determine their current understanding of the topic.

2nd Graders - This group took a pre-assessment regarding their understanding of the word Discoveries.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Today was the first day of Enrichment classes for the 2016-17 school year. It was so good to see all of the happy young faces again. Here's what we did today:

4th Grade - Today's learning began by having students write down the word of the week which was Confound. Confound means to confuse or mix someone up. After a group photo, students learned about a famous person who overcame a struggle to become successful. Today's focus was on Bill Cosby who overcame poverty to become a famous comedian. The warm up activity was a Stories with Holes problem. Together each class came up with a Code of Conduct (class rules). The social/emotional segment focused on different personalities. Each student took the True Colors personality inventory. Our theme for this year is #InvestigateCreateElevate (#ICE). The lessons will center on Explorations. Students took a pre-assessment to determine their current understanding of the topic.

2nd Grade - These students will meet with me thirty minutes Monday - Wednesday and Friday. Look for a post each day regarding their activities. Their vocabulary word was Discover which means to see, find, o become aware of (something) for the first time. Today's investigator was George Washington who was not the first President of the United States. Someone else was President until the Constitution was ratified. Therefore George Washington was the first President under the Constitution. We started working on the warm up activity but our time was just too short to finish the problem.

September 1, 2016

Welcome back to a new school year. The schedules are in place and we are ready to start Enrichment for this school year. Enrichment classes will begin Tuesday, September 6. Please check with your child as to day and time of when they will be attending class. Updates to this blog are made daily according to the activities of that particular day.

We are looking forward to seeing your students again soon.