News from Room 21

November 25, 2015

Dear Families,

We have been very busy scholars in Room 21.  For the past week and a half we been researching the Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag People.  We have summarized Virtual Field Trips to Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts. .  We have compared and contrasted the lives of Plymouth pilgrims and Wampanoag children. We have read closely a couple of fictional narratives that tell the story of “modern pilgrims” from diverse cultures and built an essay around the notion of the search for freedom to think and live independently.  We have “gotten into it!”.   When writing an essay about the two books we read and citing evidence from the text that showed they were “modern pilgrims”, one student insisted that there are no modern pilgrims “they are immigrants!”.  I asked him to write his essay about the differences between the two and he dove into his writing.  

Kids will bring home a folder containing all their scholarship this weekend.  Please take time to talk with them about their work.  They put in a lot of effort on material and strategies that are new to them.  I am proud of them.

I want to wish you all a very happy, peaceful, and loving holiday weekend.  Our little family is together this weekend and I know there will laughter and full tummies!  I am very grateful for all your support.

Thank you,

Valerie McKenzie

I’ve included photos of kids working on their thankful poems.  Enjoy!!

We are more than halfway to our goal!

More than halfway to our goal!   We’ve raised $977.00!!  $944.00 to go.

Students in Room 21 using Chromebooks in the Writing Workshop!

 

Dear Families,

In just a few short weeks we are halfway to our goal!  If we can gather the additional support through our community, we can have a group of chromebooks in the classroom, all day, every day!  Already students are motivated and learning.  This week in their Google classroom, they have worked on an Opinion Writing Essay, compared and contrasted life for Wapanoag children and Pilgrim children.  They have access to the virtual field trips we took to Plimoth Plantation and the Wapanoag homesite.  

If you haven’t made a donation, please consider it.  If you have, thank you so much.

Take a look at my project, share it with anyone you think might be interested in supporting us. This is great for kids!  

The links below will take you directly to the website and my classroom project.

In partnership,

Valerie McKenzie

DonorsChoose.org,

Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects

Art Project this afternoon

Hi all!
I have a gap in my schedule (Mr. Nelson won't be here for a rehearsal) and want to do an art project with the kids -one I've done every year of my career.
We'll start after PE at around 1:45 and go for a good 45 minutes.
It runs better with some extra help.  If you can be here, come on in.
Thanks,
Valerie McKenzie

Field Trip Next Friday

Dear Families,

Oh boy, today went too fast!  I meant to put together a notice about an upcoming field trip.

Next Friday, we'll have a walking field trip to "find Klickitat Street".  This will be our celebration for finishing our Book-based storyline:  Henry Huggins' Neighborhood.  We'll find Beverly Cleary's home and the houses that we think belong to Henry and Beezus and Ramona.  Afterward, we'll have lunch at Grant Park, near the tennis courts where Henry went looking for Night Crawlers.  

We'll leave Friday after our Grandparents/Special Friends Day, around 10:15.  It is a long walk and we'll return to school between 1:00 and 1:30.  I need some parents to bring up the rear, four parents is ideal but, I can manage with three.  If you are available, please let me know.  

Students should dress for the weather (we'll reschedule if it's too rainy) and the long walk.  

Kids really enjoyed reading, writing and creating around the Henry Huggins story.  Now it's time to show them that such a wonderful author lived in a neighborhood just like theirs.  Maybe someday they'll write a story about growing up in Portland, too!

Have a great weekend,

Valerie McKenzie

vmckenzie@pps.net

A Great Way to Start the Morning

Dear Families,

    What a great surprise, this morning,  to see that families had begun to contribute to our class project through Donors Choose.  You are amazing!
     Find my classroom project at:

                  Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects

     Thanks so much for supporting our classroom and students.

                                                                                    All the best,
                                                                                    Valerie McKenzie

Donors Choose -My students need your help!

My students need your help! Hi Friends, I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed. So I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity. I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. Until November 4, any donation you make to my project will be doubled (up to $100). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class. Here's my classroom request: Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the promo code SPARK on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through November 4. My students and I greatly appreciate your support. Ms. McKenzie