9.18.14 Crew News

Announcements:

Bootcamp 

Our crew set some awesome crew goals:

*If everyone brings in 15 canned goods over the next three weeks, 

we can donate over 400 items to the task force!

*If everyone raises at least $75,

we can raise $2,000.

We talked about some strategies of accomplishing this goal by breaking it into small pieces, such as trying to bring 5 cans a week and earn $25. This will make it more manageable and realistic. Also, we talked about how it's hard to ask families to donate 15 items. We brainstormed that (after checking with you), students could ask neighbors and people in the community. 

As of today, we have almost 100!

Our official 'Pupil/Student Count Day' is Wednesday, September 24th

.  Please make sure all students are in attendance on this day! Our 'Count Window' is September 17th to October 1st.  It is VERY important you are not absent 4 or more days during this window.  Schools receive their state funding based on attendance during this enrollment window.

Calendar Updates: 

Sept 19: Guest teacher Ms. Lucky begins
Sept 24: Official Count Day (Please make sure your child is not absent on this day)
Sept 26: No School; Professional Development Day
Oct 3: Students are IN school (different than other schools in the district)
Oct 6-17: Fall Break
Oct 20: No School; Teacher Work Day (different than other schools in the district)

Exploring and deepening understanding about the 4Cs and 21st Century Skills: This week, I am really proud of the work that student have done in learning about the 4Cs and 21st century skills. For the 4Cs, students read kid-friendly rubrics to find key words and phrases that summarize the main idea of each. Student recorded these on stickie-notes. Next, we listed their words and phrases on the board. Then through partner conversations and whole-group discussions, we eliminated words and phrases that were similar to condense it down. Last, student volunteers created posters to display our learning using the words that the crew decided on. 21st Century Skills were our next mission to learn more about. I gave students the description of each skill with definitions of challenging vocabulary.Then small groups took one skill to become an expert on and explain their learning to the class. The 21st Century Skills are... Problem Solving  Systems Thinking  Civic Responsibility  Health and Wellness  Global Awareness  Resilency Financial Literacy Some students explained their learning by summarizing the main point and giving examples, while others shared with skits and posters.  Many students were able to make connections of how we have discussed topics that fit with the 21st Century Skills, and for the one we have not talked about, it was a great exposure activity to lay the groundwork for future conversations. I am VERY PROUD of this learning, and it certainly demonstrated all 4Cs. Caution: Scientists at Work Here are scientists conducting experiments to learn about the four states of matter.  Liquid  Gas  Plasma  Solid How do questions help us grow as learners? Students are encouraged to ask "thick" questions to help deepen learning. Writers published a personal description paragraph on our CREW WORK wall. When you visit, check it out!  HINTS AT HOME for Fall Break:  Math: Traveling? Staying home? Students have learned several math games that they can play using a deck of cards. Ask about "Less than You," "Name that Number," "Roll to 100," and "Addition Top-It." If you are near a computer, students can.... Khan- They are WELCOME to do as much Khan Academy as they would like. I can see their progress, and it helps me know where they are at with skills. Students love Khan, and so do I! Interactive Games suggested by Everyday Math (we have done Unit 1-2) EverydayMath "Do Anytime Activities" Writing: Look around. Wonder. Play. Explore. Make memories. Imagine. Notice. Collect lots of ideas of things to write about when we return. Write them down, so you don't forget! Reading: Read lots of great books!  Here is a picture of the Dolomites (the Italian Alps) where I will be spending next week, before exploring Italy. Thanks for all your support and well wishes!

Bootcamp!

Hello Families!

Bootcamp information has arrived! I hear it is going to be bigger and better than ever! Envelopes went home today that contain all the information you need.

Our crew set some awesome crew goals:

*If everyone brings in 15 canned goods over the next three weeks, 

we can donate over 400 items to the task force!

*If everyone raises at least $75,

we can raise $2,000.

Wow, they are motivated! 

Attached is the video that was shown in class to kickoff Bootcamp.

Good luck and thanks for supporting this fundraiser!

9.11.14 Crew News

Announcements:

Bootcamp is coming... More information will be sent home next Monday.

Student Led Conferences: Our crew will be holding student led conferences in November. I will send out a sign-up at the end of Fall Break. 

Box Tops: Please cut out and send in box tops!

Our official 'Pupil/Student Count Day' is Wednesday, September 24th

.  Please make sure all students are in attendance on this day! Our 'Count Window' is September 17th to October 1st.  It is VERY important you are not absent 4 or more days during this window.  Schools receive their state funding based on attendance during this enrollment window.

Calendar Updates: 

Sept 24: Official Count Day (Please make sure your child is not absent on this day)
Sept 26: No School; Professional Development Day
Oct 3: Students are IN school (different than other schools in the district)
Oct 6-17: Fall Break
Oct 20: No School; Teacher Work Day (different than other schools in the district)

Experimenting with Mysterious Matter  also known as Oobleck also known as cornstarch & water. :) Students worked as scientists to: ask questions analyze describe experiment discuss This was a great launch into our science expedition! Khan Academy (copied from Tuesday's email and this information can also be found of my Resources page) Khan is a great program, in which I can recommend lessons for students and monitor their growth. Students can click on instructional videos for on-the-spot individualized learning. It is highly motivational for students (collecting points and badges). It will be a resource that we will be using in the classroom and sometimes for homework. Students are ALWAYS welcome to log on and work on Khan at home. :) Instructions to log on: -Go to khanacademny.org -Click "Log in" at the top -Click Log in to Khan Academy with Google (shows a big Google icon) -It will prompt students to log on to Google using their email address and password (if their email is open in another tab, it will skip this step)     *when students log in from home they need to add @s.dcsdk12.org to their username -Click the bell icon at the top for notifications, and it will show lessons that lmgunn (that's me) has recommended. Crew Learning:  Expedition: In expedition, we have been exploring the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Students started doing some experiments to learn more about the characteristics of these in order to give a definition of each. We are creating a science concept map to chart our learning and make connections.            HINTS AT HOME: Ask: What have you learned about matter? Give a definition and example of each state of matter.  Math: This week we worked on time elapse, patterns, and money. When given a combination of items and prices, students solved problems that required an estimation of the price, asked how many dollars would be needed to cover the cost, calculate the exact price, and then find out the amount of change that would be given. Tomorrow, we will take our first math test.           HINTS AT HOME: When you are out shopping, invite your child to help estimate the costs of items. About how much will it cost? Have a calculator and find out the exact cost (before tax). How much change will you get back? Let your child count the coins if you give exact change. It is important to connect this as a real-life skill in authentic situations. Writing: Our literacy routines are coming into place. It is divided into twenty minute chunks where students will do the following: "Ms. L" - They will write with me focusing on one learning target. This week we worked on topic sentences, writing in complete sentences, indenting, and sentence variety. "Directed"- Students write a paragraph on their own showing their understanding of the day's learning target.  "Choice"- This is a time to write for fun. They can be blogging, free writing about topics of interest, writing poetry, illustrating, creating art, and more. "Catch-up"- This is a time to finish to math pages, complete other work that was not finished, or go on Khan Academy. "Rosetta Stone"- Students are working away at learning a new language.           HINTS AT HOME: Have your child share with you about our literacy blocks. Ask: What did you write your directed paragraph today? What are you working on in choice? How is Rosetta Stone going? Reading: We have been polishing expectations and procedures. Students are being given the opportunity to buddy read to practice their fluency. They defined fluency as reading clearly and smoothly, not too fast & not too slow, and changing your voice for dialogue and suspense. Additionally, they have been meeting with me in small reading groups.             HINTS AT HOME: This week, we took some time to read a book to learn about the events of September 11th. We  talked about the facts and timeline of events. As this is a sensitive topic, please take a moment to answer any questions they might still have. Just for fun: Last weekend, my husband and I took our dogs to the "Pooch Plunge" at Butterfield pool. We put a GoPro on our yellow lab Piper, and then had some putting together a video of it. Here it is :)

9.4.14 Crew News

Announcements:

Scholastic Book Orders: Please make all book orders ONLINE (no cash/checks please). Don’t’ worry; it’s super easy! Go to:  clubs.scholastic.com/ and register. Our Class Activation Code is GP449.  You can select books and the orders will come directly to our classroom. The best part is that for every book ordered online, we get a FREE book for our class library! Please make your orders before September 8^th.

Voyage Reflections Update: You can check out your child's voyage reflection on their ePortfolio. Students can log into their email and find their portfolio under "sites." 

CogAt on Monday: Please be sure that your child arrives to school on time on Monday. We will be doing the CogAt in the morning. Click here if you have more information about the CogAt.

Calendar Updates: 

Sept 26: No School; Professional Development Day
Oct 3: Students are IN school (different than other schools in the district)
Oct 6-17: Fall Break
Oct 20: No School; Teacher Work Day (different than other schools in the district)

Connecting with Australia  A conversation from this last week: Would you like to connect with a class outside our school? Outside our town? Outside our state? Outside our country? Outside our continent? We are going be connecting with class in Australia!  We visited their class blog, and students were ecstatic!  Here were their responses: I am very excited to connect with Australia. I really want to connect. I feel scared because I've never done something like this before. I feel good because I get to learn what we have in common! I feel good about connecting with Ms. Rowe's crew because I don't get to talk to other people on the other side of the world! I feel good ubaut having a nuser class. I am looking forwrs to see what we have in comen. Good, because I think that its cool that they get to see kangaroos!!! I also want to find out if they also speak English? I'm feeling awesome about with connecting with a crew in Australia. Why because it's a once in a life time thing for me. I feel like we learn how they do things and found out what we have common. i am excited because i want to learn what things they do difrent. I fell exceeded because contenting with a crew around the world would be so awesome. Also because having friends is awesome but having friends around the world would be even more cool. I feel happy because there in a different state then us and this is my first time connecting with a crew thats not in colorado I look forward to learning about you guys. I feel good because it will be cool. I feel super exited cause we get to connect with a crew out of the Continent Good. I think it will will be cool to learn about them. We can see what we have in common. I feel really good about connecting with Australia because I really want to learn about them and see whats similar and whats not. I am exited because we can make conections. I feel so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so EXCITED to tack to kids in Australia about suff I feel grate to meet a other con trey okras the world. I am feeling happy and exited that we are connecting with a crew in Australia.  I asked what questions they have right now for Ms. Rowe's class: are they nice what language do they speak What is it like there? Why does that bug always have to be wet? (in reference to a science blogs post we saw) If its 1:00 here what time is it in Australia??? what lagwug do you speek. what dos your classroom look like. Haw meny studuns are in your school. None. What is some of your names? Do you speak a different language? Do you have morning meet every day? How many times do you go voyage a year? Why do you go on voyage? do you have a different lagenge If their school is an outward bound school. What language do they speck. What habees do they have as a class. do you guys speak a different langue then english. none. What do you guys do or what is your schedule. What do they do for for fun. I don't have any questions! I want to know what languge you speek. I also want to know what you like learn. What do you do do you have computers What language do you speck . Why do you only have 16 kids in your class. Do you have pm snack. Do you have your own computers at school. I just LOVE the excitement and enthusiasm!!! This all comes at a time that we are building momentum to launch student blogs. They can't wait to get their blog set-up, personalized, and begin actively blogging. Official launch coming soon! Yesterday, we talked about some tips for commenting on blogs.  This was easier said than done. We practiced about how to give polite, specific feedback in blog comments. Also, today we got started on Rosetta Stone. Here is the login information, if you would like to check it out at home. You need a microphone to complete lessons.  Go to: https://douglascsd.rosettastoneclassroom.com Student Log in: Username: lunch #(20000....) Password: rems We will be using this language program as one of our rotations during our literacy block. Crew Learning:  Expedition: In expedition, students have been working with toys to discuss systems, parts of a system, and examples of cause & effect. Now, we can take this learning to a new level... Stay tuned for a lot of fun stories about expedition on Friday!            HINTS AT HOME: Use the language of "systems" at home to develop "systems-thinking." This is one of our 21st century skills that our school district defines as: Systems thinking provide students a more effective way of interpreting the complexities of the world, which is increasingly dynamic, global and complex.  Systems Thinkers analyze how parts of a whole system interact with each other in order to produce overall outcomes and an understanding of the relatedness of forces.  Click here to find out more.  Math: Our math has taken us on a journey of name collection boxes, the vocabulary of chance, calculator problem-solving, and using the number grid to solve differences. Our mathematicians have been working hard!           HINTS AT HOME: Shake out the cobwebs of addition and subtraction facts. There are tons of fun apps that your child can play to freshen up on these skills. Some parents have told me that having flashcards in the car is a great tool. Also, students are welcome to log-on to Khan Academy at home to work on math skills. Writing: We are getting into the routines of our literacy time. We are starting with writing personal descriptions.           HINTS AT HOME: Brainstorm some ideas that your child would like to write a description about and/or blog ideas. Reading: Our class is getting excited about words! Students are noticing words that they do not know (and looking them up) and collecting interesting words/phrases. We are using this list of words to inspire our writing and develop vocabulary.              HINTS AT HOME: Have you set up a routine of reading every night?  Here is some food for thought: