What We Learned This Week
We spent a lot of time establishing routines and expectations. The first few weeks will be slow and steady as we create the community and environment necessary for a successful year. We will dig into our academics as we develop independence.
Safety Check
As a safety check, I asked students to write down their address and parents' phone numbers. Many in the class do not know one or both of these contacts. Please review these with your student.
Homework
We will begin homework in earnest next week. I have modeled the reading homework extensively with the class and they should know my expectations. I will go over this in detail during Curriculum Night, next Thursday. For the time being, please have your student write their name, the full date (no abbreviations), number and underline their evidence, and use the text for spelling (no misspelling of frequently used words in the passage). Students should spend no more than thirty to forty-five minutes on their homework, provided they are concentrating and focused. Please let me know if your student's reading homework is too difficult as it will take some time for me to get to know their appropriate reading levels. I will adjust their homework as necessary for their specific reading level needs. Encourage your student to write the first person narrative on the back. For the first week, I just want to see what they can produce. I have modeled this as well and will be sharing student work as a learning opportunity to take our work from good to great.
Science and STEM
The class tried a unique cooperation and communication activity based on the Apollo 13 CO2 filter crisis.
Click on the image to watch a short video clip from Apollo 13.
Students were paired and had to create a figure using Keva planks. They then had to talk their partner through the same construction using only their words. Varying degrees of success were reached, but the larger point of the value of communication was the priority as we develop a collaborative community.
Students took turns building.
Their partners then had to replicate the builders' work using the same materials and only words.
This complex design was reconstructed with great accuracy.
The structure above was communicated to a partner who built the structure below.
Finally, we introduced our physical science theme of matter through film canister rockets. Our solid (Alkaseltzer) was transformed into a gas (carbon dioxide) via our liquid (water) with fun results.
Important 1st Quarter Dates & Reminders
August 29, 2014 - Black and Gold Day: support the opening of the Bear's football season by wearing black and gold
September 1, 2014 - No School in honor of Labor Day
September 2 through 26, 2014 - STAR Reading and Math Diagnostic Testing
September 3, 2014 - Walking Wednesday (See PTO website for future Walking Wednesdays)
September 4, 2014 - Fall Picture Day
September 5, 2014 - Blue and Green Day: Show your Windermere Hawk Pride
September 9, 2014 - PTO General Meeting at 7pm (See PTO website for future meetings)
September 10, 2014 - Early Dismissal/Teacher Development at 1pm
September 19, 2014 - Black and Gold Day: Show your support for UA's homecoming
September 22 through 26, 2014 - PTO Book Sale
September 26, 2014 - Wacky hair day
September 26, 2014 - Fall Family Fun Night from 5 till 7pm
October 3, 2014 - Hat day
October 6 through 10, 2014 - Hawk Walk for the Playground
October 8, 2014 - Ohio Reading Achievement Assessment (Please avoid scheduling absences on this date)
October 10, 2014 - Blue and Green Day: Show your Windermere Hawk Pride
October 13 through 17, 2014 - Collection days for Box Tops for Education
October 17, 2014 - Blue and Green Day: Show your Windermere Hawk Pride
October 17, 2014- Field Trip to Thompson Park (please email if you would like to volunteer)
October 23, 2014 - Fall picture retakes
October 24, 2014 - End of the first quarter
October 27, 2014 - No school, teacher grading day
Important 2nd Quarter Dates & Reminders
October 30, 2014 - UA Trick or Treating from 5:30 till 8pm
October 31, 2014 - Halloween party (extended lunch from 12 till 1:30pm, most students go home to change into costumes)
November 3 through 7, 2014 - First quarter conferences
November 4, 2014 - No School for Students, Teacher Development Day
November 5, 2014 - Progress Reports sent home
November 6, 2014 - Early Dismissal/Conferences at 11am
November 10 through 13, 2014 - Fall conferences
November 17 through 21, 2014 - District Gifted Screening
November 25, 2014 - Scarlet and Gray Day
November 26 through 28, 2014 - No School Thanksgiving
December 1 through January 9, 2015 - STAR Reading and Math Diagnostic Testing
December 3, 2014 - Early Dismissal/Teacher Development at 1pm
December 19, 2014 - Holiday parties 2pm
December 22 through January 2, 2015 - No School Winter Break
January 16, 2015 - End of second quarter
January 19, 2015 - No School Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 20, 2015 - No school, teacher grading day
Important 3rd Quarter Dates & Reminders
January 27, 2015 - Progress Reports sent home
January 29, 2015 - Early Dismissal/Conferences at 11am
February 2 through 13, 2015 - Ohio Wildlife Center donation drive
February 4, 2015 - Early Dismissal/Teacher Development at 1pm
February 9 through 13, 2015 - Collection days for Box Tops for Education
February 16, 2015 - No School Presidents' Day
February 17, 2015 - Math State PBA
February 23, 2015 - English Language Arts State PBA
February 23, 2015 - AASCD
March 9 through 13, 2015 - PTO Book Sale
March 17, 2015 - 3rd Grade Musical
March 20 through 27, 2015 - No School Spring Break
April 2, 2015 - End of third quarter
April 3, 2015 - No School
April 6, 2015 - No School, teacher grading day
Important 4th Quarter Dates & Reminders
April 8, 2015 - Early Dismissal/Teacher Development at 1pm
April 9, 2015 - Spring Picture Day
April 13 through May 22, 2015 - District Writing Diagnostic Testing
April 14, 2015 - Progress Reports sent home
April 21 through 22, 2015 - English Language Arts State EOY
April 22, 2015 - Ohio Reading Achievement Assessment
April 24, 2015 - Kid Fest
April 28 through 29, 2015 - Math State EOY
May 1 through 29, 2015 - STAR Reading and Math Diagnostic Testing
May 9, 2015 - Wish Run
May 25, 2015 - No School Memorial Day
June 1, 2015 - Field Day
June 3, 2015 - End of fourth quarter/Last day for students, Classroom parties 12:05 till 1:05pm
June 9, 2015 - Progress Reports sent home
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