| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Welcome to
Mrs. Andrews'
class page!
Welcome back, Families! What a great year we have in store. During the summer, Mrs. Kreiner, Ms. Tracey and I shared an opportunity to work together to create a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that is submersible! I actually got do the electrical work on the vehicle! It was very exciting, as we designed and made our vehicle from scratch. In the end, we had to compete with our machine in a friendly competition against 7 other teams made up of high school teachers and some elementary teachers. But guess what?! We won third place! The best news is that we were able to keep our vehicle. We decided that we'd like to use our ROV to check out what goes on underwater in our area. So, be prepared to go where we have never gone before! Yeah, yeah, yeah: I'm a Star Trek fan. (Insert smile and laugh, here!)
Another interest of mine is the weather. If your looking to check out the temperature or just to see if you need to remind your youngsters to be aware of rain, here's a couple of sites I check out regularly:
The Weather Channel
Accu Weather Forecast
Below are listed some highlights of things that we are currently investigating in the classroom:
Language Arts
Storyworks Magazine! This popular publication is a regular part of our language arts time providing students with great fiction from famous authors, reader's theatre based on popular books and movies, fascinating non-fiction, and perfectly ponderous poetry. There are also many items that helped to reinforce our writing and grammar skills. The magazine is published 6 times during the school year and each student will receive their own copy. We are currently awaiting the arrival of our first magazine.
Our young authors will be approaching the writing process utilizing the Lucy Caulkins approach to Writing Workshop, as well as 6+1 Writing Traits, and Four Square Writing. Literacy is a strong component of writing. This year, we are also partnering with Eastern Michigan University's Writing Project to help us improve our skills.
Our young editors are also utilizing "Everyday Edits." This short editing practice gives students the chance to find ten errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling and grammar, in a short paragraph about a person or event in history.
If you'd like to help reinforce your students reading skills at home, your local public library has awesome resources.
Ann Arbor District Library
Ypsilanti Library
Michigan eLibrary
Or you can buy Scholastic books online! Yay! Click on the link below to go directly to Scholastic's website. Our classroom login is mrscandrewsclass.
Scholastic Books
Mathematics
Arrays! Arrays! Arrays! This is our first and foundational unit for the year. Students are working to recognize arrays in our everyday life and to assist with multiplication. Need more information on arrays? Check these sites out:
Arrays Video
Space Arrays Game
Other vocabulary that students are practicing are:
Prime Numbers: Numbers that have one factor set; 1x3=3, 1x2=2, 1x3=3, 1x5=5.
Composite Numbers: Numbers that have more than one factor set; 1x4=4, 2x2=4.
Square Numbers: Numbers that when made into an array have the same dimensions on all sides making a square: 2X2=4, 3X3=9, 4X4=16.
As a regular part of our math class, students will be expected to do homework. Homework is always due on the next school day. If you have questions about if your student has been assigned homework, please check their planner. It will be labeled "HMWK:" with the assignment written afterward. If there is no homework, the date will be labeled with the mark, "NH." Much of the homework assigned will be extensions of what we are learning in the classroom or to practice skills necessary for our mathematicians to be proficient enough to complete higher computational goals. Please help your student to understand the necessity of practice through homework. I do not grade homework, but I do collect it, record who has turned work in and make comments and corrections on the work to assist students in their learning. I compare this to being on a baseball team. Practices do not count as games, therefore daily practice and homework should be an opportunity for students to practice skills, make mistakes, get some feedback and make corrections toward their math goals. Students who do not turn in their work, miss out on these valuable opportunities to gain feedback for growth. I use assessments to determine the skill level of a student. These are like the actual baseball game. This is where it counts, a time to put all your practice into play. Assessments are given during units and a final assessment is given at the end of each unit.
Speed drills of basic facts will become a regular part of our math week. It is important for students to have fluency in computational skills as the mathematics that they will be asked to do becomes more complex and involves multiple steps towards solutions. We will be focusing on basic multiplication and division facts.
The following websites can make learning multiplication facts fun and can also substitute for traditional flashcard practice:
Bitesize Multiplication
Multiplication.comThis site has lots of multiplication games. My favorite games are "Math Wash-Up," "Diaper Derby," and "Cone Crazy."
Have fun!
Looking for mathematics assistance and games? Check these out:
Cool Math Games
Math Support and Games
National Council of Teachers in Mathematics
Student Math Handbook
Social Studies
|
|
Students learn about the Constitution from a parent volunteer.
|
This year, our young historians will be learning about geography, Native Americans, the age of exploration, the colonies, the French and Indian War, events of the Revolutionary War, Shay's Rebellion, the Constitutional Convention, and the Three Branches of Government.
Currently, we are studying cartography, and the Seven Natural Regions of the United States.
Want to have some more geographical fun? Check out the National Geographic website below:
National Geographic for Kids
Our young historians are currently studying about Native Americans and are working on a Native American Triorama Project. For more information on Native American tribes check out the link below:
Native American Facts for Kids
We Are Michigan History
Each year students create individual or group projects for Michigan History Day. This is an exciting opportunity to do a project that is based on a national theme. This year's theme is "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History." Look for more information at the National History Day site:
National History Day
|
|
NHD 2010, College Park, MD (Former Room #16 students) Go, John and Austin!
|
The AALC History Club has commenced! Join Ms. Kuhn, Ms. Esch and Mrs. Andrews each Wednesday to explore our History Day topics. The club meets in rooms 16 and 19, from 4-5 pm. It is a fee free club and parents are welcome. All students in Mrs. Andrews room will need to produce a project irregardless of whether they are competing in the statewide competition.
Want to know who won last year? Here's the listing! Great job, AALC History Club Members!
MHD Winners 2011
Looking for help with the project? Check out the Michigan History Day website below:
2012 MHD Student Teacher Handbook
2012 Theme Sheet
Historical Topic Impact Worksheet
MHD 2012 Brochure
We are competing in District 8, and will have our district competition on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Detroit Historical Society Museum. The deadline for our registration is February 17, 2012.
The History Club will continue to help assist students up to the state finals, which will be held April 28, 2012 at a location yet to be determined (TBD). All state finalists must register by April 1, 2012.
Joe Capuano, a state finalist from our classroom, won second place with his website about Fourth Amendment Rights. Check out his website and leave a message on his blog by clicking here:
Joe Capuano: Fourth Amendment Rights
Here are some local resources to help with ideas:
The Henry Ford
OnInnovation Website
Ypsilanti Historical Society
Washtenaw Historical Society
Michigan Historical Center Online Exhibit
Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (A National Motorcities Automobile Heritage Area)
We would also like to extend a big "Thank You!" to Dr. Richard Nation from Eastern Michigan University . Dr. Nation has generously given his time to help our students and competitors find information related to their topics and in how to construct thesis statements. We greatly appreciate you, Dr. Nation!
Science
Our young scientists will be studying about magnetism and electricity, the solar system, nutrition and the human body.
Our current studies looks at magnetism. Students are using the science process skills of observing, predicting, classifying, collecting data, and reporting data. Our scientists are discovering what a magnet will stick to and what will magnets attract. Other investigations will include where to find magnetic material and how this is related to electricity.
Try these interactive games for fun:
Magnets and Springs
Magnetism! The Game!
Another part of our science program is the Intermediate Sustainability Block. One afternoon a week, students will rotate classes (weekly) with Ms. Tracey, Mrs. Kreiner, and myself to explore different aspects of sustainability. Ms. Tracey will investigate with students in regards to water ecology, Mrs. Kreiner will explore the garden with our budding gardeners, and I will work with students to help them gain a greater appreciation of the outdoors utilizing Project Wild.
Looking to explore in the great outdoors, now? Here's a couple places to consider.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
Hidden Lake Gardens
Milk and Juice Orders
You can now order milk and juice for your growing scholar online. Just click on the link below. You may still leave your order at the front desk in the milk jug, as well. Intermediate and middle school students may be able to make cash purchases during lunch.
Milk and Juice Orders
If you should need to contact me, please feel free to call, email, or stop by the classroom. I'm looking forward to a great year and hope that you are too.
Cynthia Andrews
Room 16
734.477.0340 ext. 116
charris1967@yahoo.com
| |
|
|
