Hi Folks,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Family Math Night. It was very well attended. Thanks to our friends at Little Cesar's Pizza, Whole Foods and New Seasons for contributing treats!
Tia Emmite is looking for photos of third graders for the Memory Book, especially if you took a group shot at the Moda Center. Here's her email address, let's get Room 21 well represented!
tia@davidemmite.com
Thanks,
Val McKenzie
Friday, February 27, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
FAMILY MATH NIGHT Thursday 6:00-7:30pm
Family Math Night is Thursday, February 26, from 6:00-7:30 pm. The event is centered on the Third Grade curriculum but we'll have Math Work Place games from grades 4 and 5. We'll demonstrate the Number Corner calendar, talk about math fluency practice and have food to keep your brain fueled! There will be an estimation table and PRIZES!!! It's a great way to see what we're doing in math and how we are meeting the Common Core State Standards. Come spend some quality family time, enjoy a slice of pizza and figure out the area of a rectangle!
Valerie McKenzie
Valerie McKenzie
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Moda Center Tomorrow
Tomorrow we visit the Moda Center. We will leave at 9:00 in the morning and be back before lunch. Kids are planning to show their Blazer spirit by dressing in a jersey or in black and red. They should wear comfortable shoes and a light jacket or polar fleece.
Since we won't have snack, a big, healthy breakfast is ideal.
Volunteers, please arrive 10 minutes ahead of time.
Looking forward to it,
Valerie McKenzie
Since we won't have snack, a big, healthy breakfast is ideal.
Volunteers, please arrive 10 minutes ahead of time.
Looking forward to it,
Valerie McKenzie
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
News from Room 21
Dear Parents,
What a beautiful, restful three day weekend. I hope you all got out with your family and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.
Our Valentine's Day celebration on Friday was a lot of fun. Kids really put some energy into their cards and boxes. Thanks for supporting the no candy exchange. We saw pencils, tattoos, hand written notes, stickers and even bubbles! Lots of fun.
On Thursday we head to the Moda Center for a tour of the arena, sky boxes and other cool stuff. It would be fun if kids shared their Blazer Spirit and dressed accordingly. We can get some good photos of kids supporting their city and team! We'll leave in the morning and return before lunch.
The play is in full production and this week I'll send home the costume suggestions from Mr. Nelson. We have some things kids can wear; railroad caps, tap dancer dresses and shoes, etc. but the responsibility to dress your actor falls to you. Often it is a quick trip to the Goodwill, a tumble in the washing machine, some strategic safety pins and there you go! Mr. Overton, a fur trapper, a bridge designer! If you have any doubts, questions or such, let me know we can help you come up with something.
We have been working to prepare students to meet the challenges of the Common Core Curriculum and Smarter Balanced Testing. We have been learning how to manage, attempt, persevere through a "performance" task. This is where kids read a couple of articles, answer some short answer questions and then write an essay about the topic. It includes citing resources and takes a fair amount of stamina. I'll send all their work home this Friday so that you can see what we've done. This was what we call a scaffolded and supported project, which means that I guided the kids through the entire process. I wouldn't assign a grade to it, it was a learning tool. We'll try another one soon and I will release more responsibility to the kids. That way when test time comes, they will be ready to take it on themselves. All of this is good scholarship and the kids have risen to the challenge. I am proud of them.
I've been trying some websites in which kids read an article at home and then type a response. I'm assigning two articles this week for kids to read and respond to. If this is not possible, technically, for your student, let me know, I can arrange for them to do the work at school. One interesting part of the Smarter Balanced Test is that kids will be typing multi-sentence responses. We have been learning to type from the beginning of the year and now is the time to put that learning into practice. They should pay attention to spelling, punctuation and capitalization conventions. The TweenTribune site from the Smithsonian has a spellcheck function and I encourage students to use it.
I appreciate all your support and love teaching your kids.
Have fun today, the sun is shining!
Valerie McKenzie
What a beautiful, restful three day weekend. I hope you all got out with your family and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.
Our Valentine's Day celebration on Friday was a lot of fun. Kids really put some energy into their cards and boxes. Thanks for supporting the no candy exchange. We saw pencils, tattoos, hand written notes, stickers and even bubbles! Lots of fun.
On Thursday we head to the Moda Center for a tour of the arena, sky boxes and other cool stuff. It would be fun if kids shared their Blazer Spirit and dressed accordingly. We can get some good photos of kids supporting their city and team! We'll leave in the morning and return before lunch.
The play is in full production and this week I'll send home the costume suggestions from Mr. Nelson. We have some things kids can wear; railroad caps, tap dancer dresses and shoes, etc. but the responsibility to dress your actor falls to you. Often it is a quick trip to the Goodwill, a tumble in the washing machine, some strategic safety pins and there you go! Mr. Overton, a fur trapper, a bridge designer! If you have any doubts, questions or such, let me know we can help you come up with something.
We have been working to prepare students to meet the challenges of the Common Core Curriculum and Smarter Balanced Testing. We have been learning how to manage, attempt, persevere through a "performance" task. This is where kids read a couple of articles, answer some short answer questions and then write an essay about the topic. It includes citing resources and takes a fair amount of stamina. I'll send all their work home this Friday so that you can see what we've done. This was what we call a scaffolded and supported project, which means that I guided the kids through the entire process. I wouldn't assign a grade to it, it was a learning tool. We'll try another one soon and I will release more responsibility to the kids. That way when test time comes, they will be ready to take it on themselves. All of this is good scholarship and the kids have risen to the challenge. I am proud of them.
I've been trying some websites in which kids read an article at home and then type a response. I'm assigning two articles this week for kids to read and respond to. If this is not possible, technically, for your student, let me know, I can arrange for them to do the work at school. One interesting part of the Smarter Balanced Test is that kids will be typing multi-sentence responses. We have been learning to type from the beginning of the year and now is the time to put that learning into practice. They should pay attention to spelling, punctuation and capitalization conventions. The TweenTribune site from the Smithsonian has a spellcheck function and I encourage students to use it.
I appreciate all your support and love teaching your kids.
Have fun today, the sun is shining!
Valerie McKenzie
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Valerie's Valentine Craft Emporium
Valerie's Valentine Craft Emporium is my yearly card making/math session with kids. Students are given a budget and a wealth of luxurious supplies. They need to make cards and stay within their budget!
I could use a couple volunteers, tomorrow from 1:00-2:00. Just show up in Room 21.
No worries, no glitter!
This is a fun event for kids and a good lesson in home economics.
Valerie's Valentine Craft Emporium
February 11
Wednesday 1:00-2:00
Thanks,
Valerie
I could use a couple volunteers, tomorrow from 1:00-2:00. Just show up in Room 21.
No worries, no glitter!
This is a fun event for kids and a good lesson in home economics.
Valerie's Valentine Craft Emporium
February 11
Wednesday 1:00-2:00
Thanks,
Valerie
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