All parents are invited to attend Curriculum Night, this Thursday, September 22, from 7:00pm -8:30pm. We will gather in the gym as Mrs. Bradford introduces some news and highlights for the year. Then, from 7:30-8:00, all parents will join the homeroom teachers back in the classrooms. The last half hour is available for the Book Fair (media center) and to sign up for volunteering / conferences.
Hope to see you all!
Structures in our Neighborhood!
A shelter built by 2010-2011 Hoover 6th graders. This year, all 6th graders will go to School of the Wild the week of April 9th!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
University Learning Connections - Things to explore
In One Week:
John Dilg on the Legacy of Tom Aprile
Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile,
Second Floor North Reading Room, UI Main Library
John Dilg, Professor of Art at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, will present a gallery talk on "Retracing the Path of the Labyrinth - A Close Look at Tom Aprile's Real and Mythic Daily Exits" on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Second Floor North Reading Room, UI Main Library.
Dilg's gallery talk will give an in-depth look into Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile, the exhibition currently in the UI Main Library. As a colleague and friend, Dilg curated the exhibit, which showcases the late Aprile's drawings and wood works. Dilg will discuss Aprile's unique labyrinth motif and how it transformed throughout his artistic career.
Tom Aprile, who passed away in September 2010, was a passionate artist and sculpture professor at the University of Iowa for over fifteen years. It is an honor to share his presence with the University of Iowa and visitors.
This event is free and open to the public.
Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile will be open for enjoyment and studying during library hours through the fall semester: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-2:00 a.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.; closed Monday.
John Dilg on the Legacy of Tom Aprile
Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile,
Second Floor North Reading Room, UI Main Library
John Dilg, Professor of Art at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, will present a gallery talk on "Retracing the Path of the Labyrinth - A Close Look at Tom Aprile's Real and Mythic Daily Exits" on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Second Floor North Reading Room, UI Main Library.
Dilg's gallery talk will give an in-depth look into Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile, the exhibition currently in the UI Main Library. As a colleague and friend, Dilg curated the exhibit, which showcases the late Aprile's drawings and wood works. Dilg will discuss Aprile's unique labyrinth motif and how it transformed throughout his artistic career.
Tom Aprile, who passed away in September 2010, was a passionate artist and sculpture professor at the University of Iowa for over fifteen years. It is an honor to share his presence with the University of Iowa and visitors.
This event is free and open to the public.
Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile will be open for enjoyment and studying during library hours through the fall semester: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-2:00 a.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.; closed Monday.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Guest Speaker -Nancy Porter
As students have been full of wonder about their plants in the science unit, we were able to expand our view of what it means to have wonder in many areas of scientific exploration. Today, Nancy Porter, a retired ICCSD teacher and advocate, came to speak about her daughter, Tracy Gregg, a former City High student. Tracy is a volcanologist. She, and several other scientists took a month-long research cruise on a research vessel, Atlantis,to the Galapagos Spreading Center to investigate exactly how lava erupts at an intermediate spreading rate mid-ocean ridge. The goals included trying to figure out how big, how fast, and how long the eruptions are. Nancy shared some of her literature published, research, photos of the crew and mission, and the Galapagos area.
You can access the GRUVEE (Galapagos Ridge Underseas Volcanic Eruptions Expedition) site at:
http://www.gruveecruise.org/GRUVEEeducation/Home.html
You can access the GRUVEE (Galapagos Ridge Underseas Volcanic Eruptions Expedition) site at:
http://www.gruveecruise.org/GRUVEEeducation/Home.html
Saturday, September 10, 2011
What's New in Language Arts?
What makes a hero? How do we define heroes and what do they mean to us?
These are a few questions that have guided our discussions and new theme in Language Arts (Heroes). These questions have been a springboard for debate and further questions as we read, write and listen to each other.
-Students have been reading about different people who share many qualities that some define as heroic.
-They practiced mini-essays that include a thesis statement with reasons to support their opinion.
-We focused on using spelling strategies to self-identify which words are invented and which words were spelled correctly in our writing.
-A fishbowl discussion was held, in which 4 students gather in the middle to debate their own questions about literature we've read. Students gather in a circle around the group of 4 and "tap in" and "tap out" to share their opinions.
Questions that we will consider this upcoming week: What is adversity? How does it shape our ideas and actions?
-Students will continue to read literature and focus on the ways that we can comprehend and make meaning from text. A term that your student will become familiar is a "think aloud." A "think aloud" is just my term to ask them to stop and reflect on the text through connections, inferences, predictions, opinions and feeling.
-We will work on vivid imagery in the descriptions in our writing. How can we use all 5 senses to guide our reader?
- Students will continue to work on spelling (Tuesday and Thursday) and Spanish mini lessons (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
- We will watch a clip of Erik Weihenmayer, the first person (who is blind) to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25, 2001. He says that people succeed, not in spite of adversity, but because of adversity. Students will use this quote (and others) to reflect on their own feelings of the difficult moments in our life. Then, they will start to draft an essay about their opinions of adversity. This essay will build on their practice with vivid imagery, paragraphs that include details and peer conferencing in the writing process.
OTHER NOTES / REMINDERS
-5th grade MATH test on Tuesday. ALl students received (and started) a Ch. 1 math review in class on Friday. We will go over this review on Monday.
-Curriculum Night for 3rd-6th grade classrooms on September 22nd.
These are a few questions that have guided our discussions and new theme in Language Arts (Heroes). These questions have been a springboard for debate and further questions as we read, write and listen to each other.
-Students have been reading about different people who share many qualities that some define as heroic.
-They practiced mini-essays that include a thesis statement with reasons to support their opinion.
-We focused on using spelling strategies to self-identify which words are invented and which words were spelled correctly in our writing.
-A fishbowl discussion was held, in which 4 students gather in the middle to debate their own questions about literature we've read. Students gather in a circle around the group of 4 and "tap in" and "tap out" to share their opinions.
Questions that we will consider this upcoming week: What is adversity? How does it shape our ideas and actions?
-Students will continue to read literature and focus on the ways that we can comprehend and make meaning from text. A term that your student will become familiar is a "think aloud." A "think aloud" is just my term to ask them to stop and reflect on the text through connections, inferences, predictions, opinions and feeling.
-We will work on vivid imagery in the descriptions in our writing. How can we use all 5 senses to guide our reader?
- Students will continue to work on spelling (Tuesday and Thursday) and Spanish mini lessons (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
- We will watch a clip of Erik Weihenmayer, the first person (who is blind) to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25, 2001. He says that people succeed, not in spite of adversity, but because of adversity. Students will use this quote (and others) to reflect on their own feelings of the difficult moments in our life. Then, they will start to draft an essay about their opinions of adversity. This essay will build on their practice with vivid imagery, paragraphs that include details and peer conferencing in the writing process.
OTHER NOTES / REMINDERS
-5th grade MATH test on Tuesday. ALl students received (and started) a Ch. 1 math review in class on Friday. We will go over this review on Monday.
-Curriculum Night for 3rd-6th grade classrooms on September 22nd.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A few reminders and inquiries
-Early release today at 1:00 due to weather concerns.
-School photo day Friday. If you don't have a form or have misplaced it, let us know and we will send a new one home with your child.
EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS!
We have started planning our controlled experiments for our science unit. Students are grouped by the variable they are changing: Water, Light, Pollination, Fertilizer, and Space. They have thought through their question and have begun to think about materials they will need to accomplish their experiment accurately, completely and creatively. Some students will be coming home and looking for resources (such as food coloring, salt, recycled cardboard) to use for their experiment.
I want to invite anyone who may have experience, passion or a background in the following areas to consider coming in to be a guest speaker. I love having other people share their experiences and perspectives with the students.
I am looking for:
-Beekeeper
-Botonist
-Garden enthusiasts
If you know of any people that would like to be a special guest for our class, feel welcome to ask them and let me know! Thank you.
-School photo day Friday. If you don't have a form or have misplaced it, let us know and we will send a new one home with your child.
EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS!
We have started planning our controlled experiments for our science unit. Students are grouped by the variable they are changing: Water, Light, Pollination, Fertilizer, and Space. They have thought through their question and have begun to think about materials they will need to accomplish their experiment accurately, completely and creatively. Some students will be coming home and looking for resources (such as food coloring, salt, recycled cardboard) to use for their experiment.
I want to invite anyone who may have experience, passion or a background in the following areas to consider coming in to be a guest speaker. I love having other people share their experiences and perspectives with the students.
I am looking for:
-Beekeeper
-Botonist
-Garden enthusiasts
If you know of any people that would like to be a special guest for our class, feel welcome to ask them and let me know! Thank you.
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