Welcome to Patty's Class

Week of October 27, 2008

• He's arrived!! Tyler Emerson Tasch was born on Saturday, Oct. 25 weighing in at a whopping 9lbs. 3 oz.. Jodie is well, Kevin has a permanent grin on his face, and baby Tyler is healthy and beautiful. Our kids are busily completing needlework squares that will become Tyler's quilt . Thanks so much to Ronda Whaley for taking on this project.
• There has been a large increase in the number of student s volunteering for community service recently. Despite the fact that service was required to become a "voting citizen" of the classroom, many children are continuing even after they've met the requirement. I believe that the good feelings they're leaving with are addicting, and I've heard nothing but great feedback about how genuinely helpful our kids have been throughout the building.
• This year's Pumpkin Fun (Oct. 31) activities will include writing and illustrating stories and/or poems, preparing for the Presidential Debates, completing illustrations for Culture work and we will end our day playing board games.

Week of October 20, 2008

• This week marks the start of our exploration of the election process. We have spent approximately 20 minutes per day discussing the guidelines that have been established by our government and the issues that are important to our students. This will lead to our own simulation of the process over the next two weeks; which will include developing party platforms for candidates, primary elections, campaigning, a debate, and finally, a classroom election on Nov. 4. Stay tuned for updates on the excitement. (Rest assured, mud slinging and dirty politics will not be a part of the simulation!) 
• Also, this week, please look for our new approach to I.D.I's (I Did It) in your child's day planner. Because every child has so many reasons to feel pride each week, I have asked students to not mark what has become a generic "I.D.I." in the classroom. Instead, I'm hoping your children will leave the classroom on Friday with a wonderful sense of pride that can be duly noted and acknowledged at home with mom and dad. As we move toward personalizing "pride" and making it more meaningful to each student, I have also asked that students to come up with a new acronym that can be written in their planners after their week is shared with families. This should not eliminate the need for strategizing work plans nor lower academic expectations, rather, I hope it will move your children toward relying on internally driven catalysts for being their best, each week.

Week of October 13, 2008

• This week finds the 5th level students excitedly seeking their 2 animals to research and compare for our Vital functions work. The goal this week was to choose a chordate and a non-chordate, locate a minimum of three resources in the classroom and to find the animals' classification (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species). 
• The 4th level students have presented a variety of writing styles to present their understanding of A. Afarensis---everything from traditional expository writing to first person journalistic reporting and even an account about an encounter with one of those rascally early humans via a time machine. Hurray---I love the creativity I'm seeing with what some might consider a fairly dry subject! 
• The 6th levels had a debriefing regarding their first KNO, as well as the first accounting work of the year. It proved to be a huge success not only financially but for the lessons learned that will make the 2nd event even better. Next month, managers Gabi Whaley and Erik Anton will be succeeded by Ryan Roehler and Coleman Ankerson.

Week of October 6, 2008

• This week your 4th level students are undertaking the writing process on their own with a study on Australopithecus Afarensis----the first of four hominid groups we will research in the coming months. Each body of work includes research, writing, and some form of visual support. 
• Our 5th level students have been busy educating the youngest students in the building about the importance of recycling. The story "Goldilocks and the Three (environmentally wise) Bears has been presented throughout the primary wing. After much discussion, it was decided that the skit that they have been working on might be too "silly" for the parent gathering but just right for the elementary wing. They all hope you took their message from our "Glorious Green Gathering" seriously and will soon begin looking at more ways you can reuse, recycle and reduce in your homes. I hope all of you understand that although whole group projects such as this take precedents over their traditional weekly responsibilities, the learning that occurs is just as important to their development. 
• 6th level students have made the grand opening of Kids' Night Out their primary focus this week. The managers met with Michele to present the business proposal, others worked on a serious ad campaign and made sure no detail was forgotten. Please go to our school website to see details about the evening. I want to thank parents in advance for allowing your children to participate in this rich experience, particularly Jill Anton, this month, for taking KNO employee Erik Anton to Sam's Club to purchase supplies. 
• Thank you for coming to our first family gathering of the year---I hope you had as much fun as I did.  

Week of September 22, 2008

• This week our 4th and 6th level students were able to visit several farms with Trish and Cymbre as a first outing for the classroom kitchen and Della Terra. Make sure you ask them what differences they noted and what they brought back to school.
• Our 4th and 5th level students walked a 4.6 billion year time line all around campus. It was over 900 meters long and took them from the present back to the formation of the earth. They began their journey by contributing historic events that took place as far back as the early 1300's---all of which filled only the first centimeter!
• The 6th level students just completed cell research, noting differences and similarities between plant and animal cells. Next they will create edible cells.
• The 4th level students went through the entire writing process---exploring and gathering information, mapping and planning their research, drafting and expanding a first draft and creating a beautiful final draft as a team. Their finished product was a strong paragraph about a group of early humans called the Australopithecines. The 5th levels went through the same process, but as individuals, so we compared notes in a large group when everyone had finished. Very impressive work from all. 

Week of September 15, 2008

• As of this week, The fourth level students have now attended each of their afternoon specials. I hope questions arise in the areas of music, art, Spanish and P.E. as you discuss your child's day planner. They are always doing something wonderful and your asking makes it all the more important for them. I told them quizzing parents on spelling words was a great (and fun) way to practice spelling---consider yourselves warned!
• 5th level students have done a great deal of work on their upcoming recycling presentations. They have had many discussions to decide which type of presentation was most fitting for each of their audiences (primary students, lower el, upper el and parents). I loved that they determined upper el students were capable of understanding the parent level presentation. Confidant group, or what? The outing they had on Tuesday went very well. They came back with a plethora of facts, complimenting each other on their good behavior and raring to incorporate their information into their stories and work. Many thanks to Andy Gale for so kindly making this possible and to Jill Anton for volunteering to drive.
• 6th level students now have three major areas of work up and running. The Cosmic Paper is underway with a first assignment introducing the Big Bang due next Wednesday. Human Anatomy and Physiology (H.A.P.) has them reading an introduction to the body systems. The business aspect is coming along nicely and the year's first managers are Gabi Whaley and Erik Anton. They were selected because of my and the counselor's observations of leadership skills employed while at camp. I wish we could have all of them be the "first" managers, but it was decided that two was the right number. They know that each will get a turn to step into manager's shoes this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how they continue to work together at this important task. 

Week of September 8, 2008 

• The new 4th level students are up and running! They are learning new aspects of the classroom everyday and are looking forward to giving a presentation of their first full week to parents. Please remember that the best way to support your child's efforts in the classroom and to encourage open communication about school is to acknowledge accomplishments they are proud of and to be genuinely curious about specific areas of their week. This will emphasize to them what an integral part of the teacher-child-parent triangle they are.
• 5th level students are already thick in the throes of research. In addition to preparing presentations for the whole school, they will also be giving a presentation to all our parents on recycling and its importance at our first family gathering. I'm looking forward to famiiles telling us which day of the week is best for meeting so as many as possible can attend our community gatherings.
• 6th level students were incredible at camp this past Friday. We began as twelve individuals and came back a team with a new understanding about the value of a group effort, about positive encouragement and support, and the importance of sharing your ideas. It was a pleasure to see the evolution and I believe they are ready to dive into their year as the oldest students on campus. I hope you have discussions with them about the planning that has already begun for the "Cosmic Paper" and the business they are planning.