Week of September 2 - 5

Language Arts (Blocks 1 and 2): --Students analyzed a childhood narrative for the 9 elements of writing.  These were due on Tuesday, evaluated and returned on Friday. --I taught students about various pre-writing techniques. --Students worked on rough drafts of their own childhood narratives.  These will be due next week. Mysteries of History: --This was our first week of this semester-long social science class. --Students examined and analyzed "mystery" objects. --Students brought in 5 personal objects from home, and other students analyzed these objects.  We tried to guess who brought which objects. --I taught 14 Culture Universals.  Students were assigned one Culture Universal and found examples of it on the internet.  I showed all of these in class. --Students began work on creating a culture.  This simulation will continue next week. Co-op: --Fall Trip forms are due by Sept. 18. --I will assign conference times based on the sheet your child brought back to me.  I will send these home on Wednesday. --Back to School Night is Sept. 9 at 6:00 PM.

Week of August 25 - 29

Language Arts (Blocks 1 and 2): --Students completed final copies of the "Who I Am" poem.  Some students shared these in class. --This week we studied 9 elements of narrative writing. --Students acted out one of the elements in small groups. --I read several short childhood narratives out loud and the class identified literary elements. Co-op: --We won the Regatta!! --I will be meeting with students next week to go over rough drafts of goals. --Art cubes will be due on Thursday Sept., 4 --Integrated classes start on Tuesday, Sept. 2

Week of August 18 - 22

Welcome to a new school year in CHOICE!  I will update this blog every week with important information from each class I teach.  I will review what we did in class during the week and remind students and parents of important dates coming up. Language Arts (Blocks 1 and 2): --I introduced the procedures for independent reading this year. --Students were given a book log to keep track of reading. --We visited the library and had a quick tour from our librarian. --Students started on their first assignment--a "Who I Am" poem.  Students completed a pre-write and rough draft. The final copy is due on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Co-op: --We did a lot of get-to-know-you and team-building activities this week. --I introduced the goal setting process to students.  Students should have a typed copy of goals and strategies by Thursday, Aug. 28.  Goals will not be finalized until our conference on Sept. 17 or 18. --We started an art project this week.  --We began our planning for the Regatta. --On Friday, we went on our first field trip--a hike to some fields near Manhattan Middle School.  Integrated classes start on Tuesday, September 2.  Classes will be posted Friday, Aug. 29.