Word of the Week -1/10/2011

The word of the week this week is:

Wait for it......

Can you guess?

Are you on the edge of your seat?

 anticipate !

Anticipate means to give advance thought to, await, hope or watch for.

I think this might be a great word to use during reading....what things can students anticipate before reading the whole story?  Are there things they look forward to in their own lives?  What happens when we anticipate something and it does not turn out the way we had expected?   

Dr X. Perry Ment

Dr.X Perry Ment was visiting the 4th grade classrooms and 3/4 classrooms yesterday to share her scientific problem. Although she had been hired by Boeing to design some new wings for the latest airplane, she just didn't seem to have a method to answer their questions.


 Students listened to her scattered ideas, and then brainstormed ways to design an experiment that was more appropriate.  Students encouraged Dr.X Perry Ment to do a number of important things that she had missed:  understand and define the problem, make a plan, design an experiment that was fair, repeatable and had controlled variables (no windstorm testing for her planes!). They told her to make sure to use a science journal, to write down her plans, and to record her observations and results. All of this with minimal prompting!


Dr.X Perry Ment might make another visit to learn more about this process of designing experiments as these groups work on their matter unit in science over the next few weeks.


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I enjoyed a chance to be DRAMATIC in a mini-lesson on the scientific method and experimentation. I also found that students were not only highly engaged, but by proposing the opposite of the scientific method as a dishevelled and unorganized scientist, students displayed strong critical thinking skills in determining the correct method to attack the shared science problem.  And as I walked down the hall in the upper grade wing on Friday, I got the feeling that I will be known as Dr X to students for a while!!

Enrichment for All Session 2

I am VERY excited about the second session of Enrichment for All this year.  We have gotten a large number of teachers in a variety of subjects---something for EVERYONE! So if you always do after school enrichment, or are considering it for the first time.....this session is a GREAT one!

Check out these topics!!!!
Yoga
Drama
Celtic Dance
Jump Rope
Beading
Model Building
French Culture
Knitting
Science and Chemistry Using Everyday Materials
The World of Panda Bears
Creating Greeting Cards
Cooking

Enrollment forms will be sent home on Monday January 3rd (our first day back) and the deadline for enrollment will be January 6th....but placement is done on a first come first serve basis---so get those forms back ASAP!

Science Fair COMING SOON!

Start planning your science fair projects! The RES fair is set for Tuesday February 16th!  The fair is a non-judged family event that encourages everyone to explore their innate curiosity!  Have fun and do a science fair project!  Entry Forms will be sent home next week and students will have until February 1st to submit their projects---but don't delay--start your project now!

Word of the Week - 1/3/2011

Happy NEW YEAR!

The word of the week for our first week back is 
RESOLUTION

Resolution means determining a path or course of action, OR a firmness of purpose OR the settling of a problem.

I wonder if any students or families at RES have a New Year's resolution?

This would be a great word to think about ways we can set goals in the new year! 
Do we have some academic goals? Will anyone resolve to do an enrichment challenge once a week?  How about create a science fair project for the February fair??? I hope so!

Word of the Week - 12/20/2010

A short week next week!  The word for next week is:
FESTIVE

Festive means joyous or merry, or characteristic of a holiday.

Did you see all the festive teacher sweaters at the RES sing along on Friday?
What festive things will you do over the vacation break?

Celtic Rhythms- After School Enrichment

I had an opportunity to observe the Celtic Rhythms after school enrichment class, run by Heather Morris this week.  I love the idea that this class is just not a dance class, but incorporates musical instruments (mainly drumming) AND dance.  It was also great to see a mix of male and female students participating from a variety of grades!

Enrollment spots for this class were limited....but look out for a similar offering during the after school enrichment program in the Spring!

A few picture hi-lights from Celtic Rhythms: