World Read Aloud Day!

Scholars had a great time participating in World Read Aloud Day today! My first two rotations listened to Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown.

In addition to hearing Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, my second rotation also connected with Ms. Deborah Morgan's Texas Discoveries class at Colleyville Middle School, whose seventh graders read What Do You Do With an Idea by Kobi Yamada.

Finally, my third rotation had a blast as GCISD's Director of Humanities, Dr. Suzanne Newell, read The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak. Here's a video that Ms. Berumen took of Dr. Newell reading one of its many hilarious pages. pic.twitter.com/VOO6rH98j8 

Dr. Newell also read Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair by Patricia Polacco! Thank you to everyone for making our WRAD enjoyable and memorable!

Golfer Research

This week, our scholars have been researching a famous golfer on MackinVia, including Arnold Palmer, Babe Zaharias, Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Lorena Ochoa, Lucy Li, and Michelle Wei. They have looked up and summarized information about their golfer's early life, achievements, awards, influence on others, fun facts, and they inferred character traits about them. They then used their research to create diamante poems using Read Write Think's Diamante Poem maker! RWT also has a diamante poem app that students may download onto their iPads! 

The next step, which many students have completed, is writing a script for an interview with their golfer with the purpose of telling others about their golfer's life and achievements. The final step will be students recording their interviews later this week! 

Learning Objectives - Week 24

Reading:

I can research a famous golfer's career and write a script for an interview.

Writing:

I can revise to improve my expository writing.

I can identify a central idea to assess the relevance of supporting details. 

Social Studies:

I can explain how the growing conflict with Mexico led to the Texas Revolution, Texas's independence, and the formation of the Republic of Texas.

This week:  

• Reading log - Read 20 minutes each night, 1 response (Due on Mondays)
• Sentence Combining Homework due on Friday
• Words Their Way Spelling words - Practice on SpellingCity App or Spelling City - Test on Thursday
• Monday - Scholars will sort their words and receive practice lists. 
• Thursday - Test will include 10 words from the practice list and 4 mystery words that follow the spelling pattern.
• Students will sort their words into categories as part of the test.

Learning Objectives - Week 23

Reading:

I can monitor and adjust comprehension while I read.

Writing:

I can revise to improve my expository writing.

I can identify a central idea to assess the relevance of supporting details. 

Social Studies:

I can explain how the growing conflict with Mexico led to the Texas Revolution, Texas's independence, and the formation of the Republic of Texas.

This week:  

• Reading log - Read 20 minutes each night, 1 response (Due on Mondays)
• Sentence Combining Homework due on Friday
• Words Their Way Spelling words - Practice on SpellingCity App or Spelling City - Test on Thursday
• TUESDAY - Scholars will sort their words and receive practice lists. 
• FRIDAY - Test will include 10 words from the practice list and 4 mystery words that follow the spelling pattern.
• Students will sort their words into categories as part of the test.

Valentine's Day Party

Scholars had a wonderful time at our Valentine's Day Party today. Thank you for everyone who made this possible for our kiddos! Students voted on their favorite Valentine's Day box designs, passed out valentines, folded origami hearts, and enjoyed ice cream sundaes!

Most Festive Valentine's Day Box Design

Most STEM-Inspired Valentine's Day Box Design

Most Creative Valentine's Day Box Design

Designing Valentine's Day Cards

Scholars were so excited to once again partner with GRACE to provide student-written and illustrated holiday cards for senior citizens. Scholars put so much love into creating these Valentine's Day cards. Take a look!

Shadow Poetry

Today in Science, scholars learned about how the position and length of a shadow is influenced by the time of day and the location of the sun. In Humanities, to connect to their learning, scholars analyzed a poem, read and discussed "Sunshine and Shadows," and wrote their own shadow poems! In their poems, scholars had to include at least three of the following elements of poetry: stanzas, rhyme, meter, similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, repetition!

Source: http://www.sciencerhymes.com.au/