ENTREPRENEURS 2011

SO...the heavily anticipated video of the new year is here!!

Our Entrepreneurs Unit in pictures...we had six amazing companies, each of whom made a profit once all was said and done!

The employees are all shown in the pictures above and their hard work and committment to creating a marketable product can be viewed by clicking on the words

"ENTREPRENEURS 2011" below.

ENJOY!!

ENTREPRENEURS 2011

UES Junior Pals

On our last week before Winter Break we had a great time with our Junior Pals! We exchanged cards and the kindergartners taught us how to play the dreidel game. We had a lot of fun with our Pals!! Click on the link below to see a photo video of our time together!

UES Junior Pals

What a week!!

It's hard to believe it was only a three and a half day week...whew...we got a TON accomplished!

As I'm sure you've heard by now, we had two Market Days this week. This was the culmination of our economics unit. About three to four weeks ago, we began the ENTREPRENEURS unit...we had six companies in our classroom. Each company perused the materials they were allowed to use and then made up some proposals for different goods they could produce. Each company chose one product and then was given a loan. Using the money from their loan, they had to decide how many goods to produce, and what type of advertising they would use. Once that data was collected, they had to figure out at what price to sell their good so that they could cover their costs AND make a profit. Once those plans were approved, production began. The children had to specialize and cooperate...when you have a classroom FULL of leaders, this can be a challenge! They each had jobs that were important, so they got to see interdependence in action! Once all production was complete, Mrs. Maenner's class and our class got together to see any commercials that had planned...and then each student was given a $5 debit card as their salary for working in their companies. The companies split up and 1/2 were consumers on the first Market Day...the others were sellers. The consumers got to shop in both classrooms and spend their money on the goods produced. Some companies sold out...others did not. That afternoon after shopping the companies got together to see what their sales had been and to make a plan if they felt sales needed to be increased. They had to decide how many more goods they would produce, what it would cost, and whether any advertising needed to change. I was SOOOO impressed with the conversations. Tuesday the companies spent in production. And that leads us to yesterday when the kids had their second Market Day. The consumers became sellers and the sellers, consumers. Overall...EVERY company in our classroom profited enough to pay back their loan and come out on top! One company made over $20!! We had a great discussion about the differences in profits and the reasons that such differences occur. TODAY...the kids had to write a paragraph about their ENTREPRENEUR experience...I'm excited to read them!!

While doing all that, we also managed to continue with poetry...we read one of my favorite poems of all time this week. Its a poem by Langston Hughes titled, "Mother to Son"...in this poem, Mr. Hughes compares life to a set of stairs through a mother's perspective...she is giving her son advice on life...I only wish you could have been in the classroom for our discussion...sometimes I think I'm in a college classroom...your kids are AMAZING! We will wrap up poetry the week we return from Winter Break.

And we also kept the geometry unit going...we worked with transformations...slides, flips, and turns....otherwise known as translations, reflections, and rotations! We will move into function tables, growing and repeating patterns, and line plots, range, median, and mode upon returning from Break.

On Tuesday we got together with our UES Junior Pals...we exchanged cards and the kindergartners taught us the dreidel game...it was a lot of fun!

Today I showed a movie as a treat...I tried to give small holiday gifts all week (less homework, 15 minutes of free time in the computer lab, etc)...and then today each student received a set of three pencils with their names on them...I'm hoping that helps us get through at least January! ;-)

I can't begin to thank you all enough for your generosity towards me this holiday season. I am humbled. It is my absolute pleasure to teach your children!

Cherrie Sampley's last day of school was today. Her family is moving to Georgia and we will miss her very much...that's another thing we did this week...we made cards wishing her well!

No matter what you celebrate...have a happy or merry one! I look forward to seeing your kids in the new year!

In case you missed it...the post before this one is a movie long awaited! I am going to work on one more...the Entrepreneur Unit...so keep your eyes out!

The Long Awaited Video...

Back in November we helped Mr. Esko and his class plant over 75 trees in the UES Bioswale and on the back of the property...we had beautiful weather, lots of teamwork, and a lot of fun! Click on the words "Planting the UES Bioswale" below to enjoy the video!!


Planting the UES Bioswale

OMG...a blog on Friday?

Hi, everyone...we have been soooo busy this week...we are HEAVY into production...and writing...and geometry...and poetry...I think you get the idea! It has been a very busy week for me, personally, too. As many of you know, I spoke at the BOE meeting this week, attended the PTA meeting this week, sent letters to the superintendent and BOE members this week...all to make sure our program stays intact! I hold this program, your children, and your families close to my heart...I really think we made a difference this week...our voices were heard! All this and trying to pull the holiday shopping and fun holiday plans together for my family...I have to admit...I'm EXHAUSTED!! But that doesn't stop us here at school!!

PRODUCTION
You should see how well the kids' companies have come together! I have been taking pictures and documenting their progress and will put it all together into a movie when we are finished! Each company has their advertising completed, some have finished production, others are feverishly working to complete their products by our Monday deadline! The prices are set, the income is anticipated, and the consumers and producers will be in full swing Monday afternoon during Market Day. Each child will have a $5 debit card to use...their salary from this past week...and they will have lots of economic decisions, and plenty of opportunity cost, once they realize they have limited income to spend!!! ;-) Don't you LOVE how it's all coming together!!

LANGUAGE ARTS
Your kids brought a writing piece home this week. I explained to them, but I will also explain to you...the rubric and the grade don't necessarily correlate. The grade is given based on the expectations set for the particular assignment...all the parts of a paragraph, sentences/examples that support the topic, conventions, etc. The rubric is more specific to what areas in writing your child needs to focus on when writing, or in what areas your child is strong. I appreciate your willingness to review it with your child and send it right back. Those pieces are kept in their portfolio for this year. I am still waiting on TWO writing pieces to be returned...if you haven't seen your child's writing, please look for it, sign it, and return it ASAP. Thanks! We write almost every single day in one subject or another...only certain pieces are taken through the entire writing process to the publishing stage. Any questions? Please feel free to email me at any time.

Your kids have been reading poetry, writing poetry, analyzing poetry, and starting on Monday, they will be presenting poetry to our class. As I'm sure you know, your child is presenting a memorized poem on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of next week (they got to choose their day...thank you for that great idea, Vincent!) They will be scored on volume, clarity, expression, and eye contact. This grade will be applied to their communication grade on the report card. PLEASE have your child practice at home before they present here in school!

MATH
We are ALL about GEOMETRY right now...today the kids worked with transformations: translations (slides), rotations (turns), and reflections (flips) in the computer lab. I also gave the kids 20 minutes of free time in the lab as a holiday gift..they enjoyed that immensely!! GOOD NEWS: I am finally ready to share the QUARTER ONE POST TEST scores in Math with you...today the kids got to see their tests, each question was discussed, and points were explained. This takes a whole class period, but it is extremely rewarding in what they learn about taking tests. If you email me I can send you the pre and post test scores so you can see their growth.

Speaking of learning a lot from taking a test...the kids took "Mock MSA tests" on Monday. I scored part of it and shared the score with them, but then they scored the second part. We took 10 minutes after checking to share what they had learned about themselves as test takers. I wish you could have been flies on the walls....

"I have to remember to support my answer with examples from the text."

"I have to read the directions more carefully."

"I have to look at ALL the choices in the multiple choice questions before I decide."

NO KIDDING...quote, unquote from your kids...and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we do what we do! The kids will take one more "Mock MSA" and it will focus on math. Then we get the real thing in March...fun, fun!!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend full of family, friends, and holiday fun! If your kids are half as wound up at home as they are here...good luck. ;-)

p.s. While typing this post today, I realized last week's post never posted...so keep scrolling down...two posts for the price of one...not bad, huh!??!

Late again...maybe Monday should be the new Friday?

OMG...I am writing THIS week's post right now and saw that LAST WEEK's post (this one) never posted...OMG...then you'll see that my first line is REALLY appropriate...'cause this post is SUPER LATE. I am almost done today's post and was so excited to be "on time"...here is last week...this week's is on it's way....

I guess I need a nickname...how about "Late Kate"? I'm really sorry...that's all I can say!

Let me tell you about last week...

First of all...we've started our Entrepreneurs unit...I'm sure you've heard about it by now...the kids have formed six companies within the classroom...and last week they brainstormed products, worked through finances to see what materials they could afford, which type of advertising they'd use, and their cooperative skills were put to the test!! It's hard when EVERYONE is a leader! So after they decided which materials they needed and what types of advertising they would do, they had to use mad math skills to figure out the cost of each individual product. Then, based on that amount, they had to set the selling price for their product...all in hopes of making INCOME!! This week they will specialize, complete production, create advertisements, and become interdependent...wish me luck!! ;-) Next week we will commence with two different Market Days...more on that at the end of this week!

In poetry we have continued our focus on figurative language and the tone and mood of poems. Today I introduced the "diamante" poem and the kids picked a person, place or thing to write about. Later this week we will be researching a famous person of choice to write a diamante poem about. We will use SIRS and I will instruct them on all the important components of that research portal while we gather info.

Last week in Math we worked with geometry...3D shapes, angles, lines...we got out protractors and measured angles to determine whether they were obtuse, acute, or right angles...we looked at triangles and categorized them based on their angles...we saw isoscolese triangles, scalene triangles, and right triangles...we determined the difference between prisms and pyramids, and made 3D models to help hone in those differences! We will continue with geometry this week.

And then finally, we spent five lessons last week focusing on Personal Body Safety. Your children have been extremely mature and have asked excellent questions. We have discussed safe touches, unsafe touches, and unwanted touches. They have been introduced to new vocabulary: victim, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and have been taught the difference between an OK secret and a not OK secret. The students created a Trusted Adult Directory so they know they have more than one person to turn to with a question or concern. At the end of each lesson the students are given a file card to jot down a question that they are wondering about...even if the kids do not have a question, I require them to write something down...this way, all questions are confidential since everyone has dropped one in the box. Again, I have been extremely impressed with their maturity handling this subject.

NEWSFLASH!!
In case you haven't noticed...IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE!! Please make sure you are sending your child to school with hats and mittens...unless the temperatures drop below 20 degrees fahrenheit, we go outside...even for a short time...to run off some energy...SOOOO...please help your child remember all the necessary pieces of clothing to stay warm...thanks!

YOUNG AUTHOR'S CONTEST
I sent home information about the Young Author's Contest on Friday...unfortunately, we received this info kind of late, but your child does still have TWO days to turn in a piece of writing. Twenty kids put their hands up saying they were interested, and we sure do have some excellent writers, so I hope they'll be able to participate. I believe the entries are due Wednesday!

Whenever I find a contest that some of the students might be interested in, I try to send the information. Contests are such a great way to show off their talents...I believe I sent a paper home last week about an Economics poster contest, too. Check the Take Home folder for info on that!

I hope you and your families are enjoying this very joyous time of year! Stay warm and as always...email me with questions or concerns. Maybe I'll see some of you at the PTA meeting tomorrow night or the BOE meeting on Wednesday. I'm planning to speak at the BOE meeting...hope to see you there!!

Did you know it? We've got poets!!

BREAKING NEWS....

Someone is eating the PENCILS in our classroom!

They disappear at the drop of a hat!

If you would please replenish your child's pencil supply in the next week,

that would be very helpful...thanks!

Poetry is our focus this month in language arts...and all of the poetic elements that go with it...figurative language, mood, setting, tone, etc! We spent all week reading and analyzing poetry...and the kids wrote poems...they wrote beautiful haiku!! We read two fun books written in completely in similies, and one written completely in haiku poems...titled Dogku and written by our favorite...Andrew Clements! This entire unit is centered on reading and writing poetry...wait until you see the final products...you will be amazed...WE'VE GOT POETS!!

We will continue with poetry next week...each child will choose a poem of their own to memorize...they need to show the poem to me by Wednesday of next week. Then they will have 10 days to work on the memorizing. Their communication grade will be all about eye contace, volume, expression, and fluency. The poem has to be at least six lines...I will provide plenty of choices within the schoolday, but if your child would rather choose one from their own collection at home, that is perfectly fine with me! More on that next week!

Social Studies...this week we read about supply and demand, then we got in groups and discussed different situations and how supply and demand would affect prices and profit! The best part of our week was our visit from Mr. Judd, Mehta's dad. He is an economist and he brought his immense knowledge to us today...he shared where an economist might work, what an economist does, and why that work is important. Then he connected it all to the production of chocolate...we had a wonderful discussion about how and why chocolate bars are priced differently. We learned that some chocolates are made locally and others are made across the country. We found out that some companies participate in free trade and others do not. It was a morning of enlightenment and I believe we have a writing assignment that will come from all of it...more to come on that next week!

Math...give me a G, give me an E, give me an O, give me an M, give me an E, give me a T, give me an R, give me a Y...what does that spell!?!? A whole lot of fun, that's what! This week we worked with shapes...all the "gons", we talked about angles, we found right angles, obtuse angles, and acute angles...and today we began using protractors to measure angles!! Vocabulary is just flying around the room...words like: segment, ray, lines, angles, obtuse, enneagon (that was a new one to me!), quadrilateral, equilateral, equiangular, isosceles, scalene, etc...can you just imagine how all of your sponges are soaking it up!??!?! The Q1 post test was given today...I will try REALLY hard to grade them this weekend...but they take FOREVER (can you hear the whine! :-)) As soon as I have the post tests graded, I will share them with the kids and then I can let you know how your child did...feel free to send me an email mid week and ask for your child's score!

CURSIVE...aiyaiyai...we are working our way through the letters...most of the kids are fine when the letters are set apart from others...but once they start connecting them is where we run into problems...please keep an eye on your child while they are forming the letters and connections...it really does end up making a difference once they are required to write everything in cursive.

Have a great weekend!