How do we solve a problem?

Here is what my experts had to say....

Challenge For the Week:

Trading Card

www.bighugelabs.com

Kids can go and create a trading card on something that they are an “expert” in.  They may use Picaso, Flickr (if the picture is not copyright protected) or a photo that they have taken, or one taken by an adult.  Unfortunately, they may not use a picture with the file extensions: .gif, .png, .btm  It must be a: .jpg.

I have told them that they can either email me the trading card or print it out.  If they do so, they will earn 10 tickets!

Topic Writing

Parents, we have been consuming many books that are written about specific topics.   We have also been charting our “Noticing About the Convention of Non-Fiction”.  To help your child become more of an expert about 1 topic, I showed them how they could use the Encyclopedia to help them gather fast facts & connect to their “Use of Prior Knowledge.”

Here is a way that they may access it from home:

Library Resources 

Next, go to the Librarian’s “Power Page”: 

Click on Encyclopedia Britannica: http://school.eb.com/

Select Elementary!

Then, your child may enter a subject into the search box and start becoming an expert!

I have told them that whatever information they get, they need to give credit where credit is due.  So, please help me encourage them by reminding them to write down their source!  By the way, if they print it from the Print form – it automatically includes the MLA documentation!  J

Weather

We had such a wonderful time speaking with Mr. Anthony Yanez from Channel 2 News, KPRC Houston.  We learned many things and appreciate the time he spent with us answering our questions!

For today's weather forecast, you may visit: http://www.click2houston.com/_video-frame/29264840/index.html

Thanks again for taking the time to speak to us!

I will be posting a clip from today at a later time.  Stay tuned!!!

Problem Solving

Here are a few examples of the different types of strategies that we have been working on.  Have your child explain to you about why we need to have many different ways to solve a problem!

Constitution Day

Yesterday, the government celebrated our government's birthday.  We will be learning more about this on Monday, but for those kids who would like to jump on in and get ahead, I am offering an opportunity for them to earn tickets.

For 10 Tickets, watch the below movie:

 Then, respond to the questions (using Anonymous ID) in a comment below.  

Remember - only use your initials!!!

1.  What are the goals of our family?  (Example:  We the people of the __________ family, share the following goals....)

2.  What will the government of your family be like?  

3.  What responsibilities and rights does each family member hold?  (Example:  Our family government.....)

4.  What freedoms will the citizens of your family have?  (Example: Our family members will enjoy.....)

Few Things

I am looking forward to seeing everyone this upcoming Tuesday evening at our 2011 Back To School Night.  I will begin our discussion at 5:30.  Hopefully, everyone will be able to make it. 

Also, I have set up a “back channel” so that you can post some of those “burning” questions that you might have.  I will read them and try to provide answers for all of them either that night, or sometime that week.

http://www.todaysmeet.com/2ndRCE

 Don’t forget, I will have a conference schedule signup sheet so that you can select your preferred time.  As always, I can meet before school at 7:20 and during my planning time at 1:40.

We have some fun and exciting things that will happen this year – I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

If you are interested in volunteering in our classroom or even go on field trips, please fill out the volunteer form that our district provides.  I know this might seem like a hassle, but it really intended to keep your child safe at school! http://www.springbranchisd.com/partners/PART_DEV/volunteers/volunteers.htm

Lastly, I will wait on placing the book orders till Monday.  That will give those people who wanted to order, a few more days to submit it either on line or with the order form.

Weather Questions

For a challenge, you may:

• Create a Wordle of weather words
• Create an Animoto of different types of weather
• Answer these questions in the comment box below...

1. What is weather?
2. How does weather affect your life?
3. Can you explain what is happening with the weather in our community right now?
4. What weather changes would you make and why?
5. Which weather station would you recommend and why?  

QR Code Reader

This icon takes a person to my blog from any iPhone! How cool is that?

Wordle

• Describe yourself using 10 words and type them in a word document.

(Start / Programs / Microsoft Office / Microsoft Word)

When you have 2 words such as Ice Cream, type it: Ice~Cream.

~ Tilda (It tells the program to make a space there and it keeps the words together. To make it, press the shift key and the little key below the ESC button on the left hand side of the computer.)

• For words that you want to make big, copy and paste it several times.

• Save the word document into your folder.

(File / Save / My Computer / Poland / RCE / Theresa Trevino / Pick Up / Your Folder)

• Highlight all your words and right click / copy.

• Open the internet and type in: www.wordle.net

• Select Create

• In the white box, right click / paste.

• Select Go!

• To make a picture of it, Select CTRL Print Screen.

CTRL Print Screen (Takes a picture of what is displayed on your computer’s monitor.)

• Next, open up Microsoft PowerPoint.

(File / Programs / Microsoft PowerPoint)

• On the slide, right click / paste.

• You can choose the format tools and crop off the stuff that is around the Wordle. When you have finished, save!

(File / Save As / My Computer / Poland / RCE / Theresa Trevino / Pick Up / Your Folder)

• On the bottom part, Select: JPEG Interchange Format!

My Plate

	Balancing Calories
	●	Enjoy your food, but eat less.
	●	Avoid oversized portions.
	Foods to Increase
	●	Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
	●	Make at least half your grains whole grains.
	●	Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
	Foods to Reduce
	●	Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
	●	Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

SKYPE w/ Katie Kattner

Katie Kattner is a nutritionist for the district!  We had a wonderful opporutunity to SKYPE with her after Trish Schappell did Problem Solving Lesson on Wedensday.  We had a few technical "hic-cups" but the kdis really learned a lot! Here are a few things that we learned:
How many fruits and vegetables do we need to eat each day?

What kinds of foods should you have for breakfast?

What are some healthy foods?

How many calories are right for your body?

I cannot believe that tomorrow is already Friday.  Where has the time gone this week?  I crack up at some of the kids who are asking about homework and end up reminding them that this only the 4^th day of school!  LOL  J  So, if they come home and wish to do something extra, have them practice their math facts and read a book for 20 minutes.

Today was a very busy day!  First, we dove into preselected books which help guide a discussion on books that are Easy (E), Just Right (JR) and Challenging (CH). 

I shared with them a pretty cool APP today.  It is called:  Book Crawler. Book Crawler is a way to keep track of all the books one has read digitally.  It allows for the person to scan in the ISBN bar code.  When you do, it automatically comes up with all sorts of data.  Then, you can select the toggle switch to say that you own it.  You can also place a review on it.  There is a “lite” version that is free but only lets you enter up to 20 / 30 books.  I paid $1.99 for the full version.  It is just a cool way to see how many books one is reading and of what type of genre.  We have entered 4 so far – I am in hopes to see how many I actually read this year!

I also introduced Work on Writing with the kids.  I did some modeled writing about a pet Tarantula I had that escaped.  They even had the chance to see the “molting” of Tommy.  Then, we brainstormed an I Can Chart for this time during the Daily 5.  Here is what they said:

Work on Writing

I can…

·         Think of ideas;

·         Work quietly;

·         Do my best!

·         Concentrate!

·         Stay in one spot;

·         Get started right away;

·         Make up a story;

·         Write about something that has really happened;

·         Not worry about mispelled words;

·         Reread;

·         Include Backstory.

We successfully read for 10 minutes this morning and worked on writing for 5!

Here is a problem that we worked on in math:

Those who were finished, got to play a fun card game called Pirate.  I will place the instructions on our blog.

Paul Revere

He is one of our first heroes that we will be studying.  Just a recap to yesterdays and todays lesson:

• Lived from 1735 - 1818
• Born in Massachussettes
• He was a Silversmith
• He was a Patriot
• He warned the American Troops in 1775 that the English were planning to attack!

A Patriot are those Americans who wanted the colonies to be free from British rule.  Check out this small video clip about Paul Revere for more information:

 

Math

We had a special treat today! Trish Schappell came and discussed how to make a word problem using nutritional data from Subway.

The class discussed the importance of eating healthy and how to make better choices.



Steps in making the problem:

• Pick a sandwich or two.
• choose to use calories or fat grams.
• Write a question(?)
• Work the problem.
• Write the answer statement.

Here are some problems that the kids came up with:



I really enjoyed seeing their learning take off!

>Homework Ideas

Word Study:
From time to time, we have different activities that we do to help the children become familiar with their words. One of those things is to sort their words. Each Monday, your child will receive a copy of their words to take home. I will also do my best to email them to you. If I forget, please just remind me! Also attached are various Spelling Activities. Your child may select one of his / her choice to complete as their word study for the evening. I also have placed these words on www.spellingcity.com. You can search for it by teacher… i.e. Theresa Trevino

Green Group: Blue Book Sort 13
Red / Orange: Sort 13
Blue: Sort 25
Yellow: Sort 2

Reading:
Your child must practice their reading for at least 15 – 20 minutes a night. This includes having them read to you, or you reading to them. The idea is to practice and reflect. Also, double count that towards a popcorn party through the RCE Library Primary Reading Program. I sent home the “Passports” last week. If you can’t find yours, jot it all down and we can submit that! Those will be due October 31st!

Math Facts:
Also, for math facts, they can visit my blog and click on any of the links under my voki. They need to at least practice their math facts, as well as read, every night!

Scholastic Book Orders:
These went home today. You can either write a check made out to Scholastic or:
1. Go to www.scholastic.com
2. Create a login for yourself.
3. Class code: GQVZL

I hope you have a great week!

PGP Animoto Directions

1.  Take or find pictures to use in a video.
2.  You may use pictures off of Flickr.
3.  Ask your mom or dad if you have permission to upload family pictures.
4.  Animoto

annschwab@yahoo.com

5.  Create Movie
6.  Upload Pictures
7. Spotlight
8. Shuffle
9.  Add text
10.  Select Music
11. Click Done!

Do not delete anything!!!