Science Center Here We Come!

Hello All -

This week is jammed packed with fun and exciting events.  The students are working hard to complete their Biome Project.  They are creating a presentation, a one-page handout, and a 3-D model.  All the work looks amazing.

We are also continuing our exploration through the world of fractions.  We will begin working on adding and subtracting with proper and improper fractions, as well as mixed numbers.

On Thursday we are off to the Fleet Science Center for an interactive field trip.  We will be leaving school around 9:20am and returning just after 12:00pm.  Thank you to all of the parents driving and chaperoning!  We will be touring the center and then participating in a hands on lab!  I predict another wonderful week!

Welcome Back

Hello All,

Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break!  I hope you all enjoyed some time off to rest and relax.  This week we will continue to embark on our journey through the world of fractions.  We will be playing fraction memory and learning to compare and model with fractions.  We will also begin learning how to add and subtract fractions by finding a common denominator.

Also, this week we will continue working in cooperative groups on The Biome Project.  The students seem very excited about creating a 3-D Model and presentation for the class.

Just a few reminders....This Thursday Dec. 2 is Family Night, so come by and see our classrooms from 6-7pm.  Also, this Friday Dec. 3 is a staff development day for teachers, so NO SCHOOL for students on Friday.

We Are Off To The Zoo!

Hello IA Families,

This week will be an exciting one!  On Thursday, November 18, 2010 we will be taking our field trip to the amazing San Diego Zoo.  We will leave the school around 9:15am and will return around 2:30pm, so please have your children pack a lunch they can take with them and will not need to be heated. 

This week in Science we will be jumping into our newest project, The Biome Project.  This project involves students working in cooperative groups to produce a biome, and then teach the class about that biome.  In math, we will begin to take on factions.  Students will be doing many fun, hands on activities, as we work toward the much anticipated Rice Krispie Treat Recipe Project!

Next Week, November 22-26 we are off for Thanksgiving Break, so enjoy and get some rest.

Field Trip Coming Soon

Hello IA Families,


On Thursday Dec. 9th, 2010, we are taking a field trip to the Fleet Science Center. This field trip will include an interactive tour, as well as a hands-on science lab. The cost for this field trip is $10 per student. Please have your student bring in cash for the field trip as soon as possible so that we can secure our spot.
Also, Tami Herman is heading up the effort for parent drivers. If you are available to drive from IA to the Science Center in Balboa Park on Thursday Dec. 9 at 9:15am and pick up at Balboa Park at 11:45am, please let Tami know as soon as possible.

This week we will be performing our group presentations for the Why Does Stephanie Have Worms Project.  Students will be doing game shows, newscasts, and other skits to demonstrate their knowledge of worms and composting,  We will also be making our worm bins late this week, or early next week.

Also, we have already begun learning about tessellations, so this week will will add to that knowledge and make a beautiful final product to display.  I just know we are going to have an amazing November!

Moving on to Tessellations

Hello All -

This week we have lots of things happening in our math and science class.  First, in math we will be reviewing the rules for order of operations and then moving on our next project, making tessellations!  This project will be hands on, combining both math and art in the most beautiful way.

In science we will be finishing up our "Why Does Stephanie Have Worms Project?"  I am still looking to recruit that amazing parent who is not afraid to travel to city farmers nursery and back to our school, carry 400 red worms along the way.  If you are interested in doing this and helping our school compost, please email as soon as possible.  This week is going to rock, I just know it!

Why Does Stephanie Have Worms?

This week students will answer that question, as they begin their quest of vermicomposting!  Students will be researching in groups, learning vocabulary, building worm bins, and developing a presentation all about composting.  We still need 3 dark colored plastic storage bins (18 gallon) in order to build our bins.  Also, if you have any old newspapers laying around, we could really use them for worm bedding.  Within the next two weeks, I am looking for a parent volunteer willing to buy and bring red worms from City Farmers to our school for our worm bins.  Please email me if you feel you could take this on!

In math this week students will continue working with integers, adding on the new challenge of learning the proper Order of Operations (also known as P.E.D.M.A.S.).  We will first learn all the rules, then make an artistic representation of our math knowledge.  I predict another great week!

Family Night - Thursday October 14, 2010!

Just a reminder to all our IA families, this Thursday October 14, 2010 is Family Night!  Our theme for the evening is Math, which I happen to believe is the best subject ever and the key to lifelong happiness.  So, come and join in on working some open-ended math problems and experience first hand what your student does every week in class.  Family Night will begin at 6:00pm, but come at 5:00pm and buy a taco dinner hosted by our 8th graders.  The evening promises to be one of good food and math fun.  So come one, come all, and take the challenge to see...Are you smarter than a 6th grader?

Student Led Conferences - Next Week

Hello IA Families,

Student Led Conferences are happening all next week.  If you have not signed up for a time to meet with myself and Michael, then please email us.  We look forward to the chance to have your student lead the way through their first few weeks of learning, help them set goals, and measure their success.  As a reminder, school is half days on Tuesday Oct.12, Wednesday Oct. 13, and Thursday Oct. 14, meaning students are released at 12:30.  Also, their is NO SCHOOL for students on Friday Oct. 15, as it is a teacher only work day.  Thanks again for another amazing week!

Project Info and Classroom Needs

Hello Sixth Grade Families,

This last week has been a blast.  The students have been introduced to some concepts of the life cycle and are getting ready to begin their worm project.  For this project I really need some parent support and donations.  I need at least 7 more 18 gallon plastic storage bins.  Later I will be asking for soil and red worms, so stay tuned all of you gardeners.

Also, this week we have begun discussing addition and subtraction of positive and negative integers.  This is leading up to the final part of our Nimble with Numbers project, where the students will create a number line that represents pivotal moments in their life.

Once again, this week was amazing!

Thank you Parents and Students

Hello IA Families-

Thank you all so much for making Thursday night's pasta dinner such a big success.  We continue to be amazed by all of you and appreciate your dedication to the school.  I am pleased to announce we were able to raise over $600 for sixth grade camp!  Some of you may have also noticed your student's science work hanging on the wall during the dinner.  The students did an excellent job learning about calories and then provided that information on posters to our diners.

This week we are continuing our work on the Nimble with Numbers Project.  We will be finishing our number books and moving on to our Timeline of Me.  Coming soon......Why Does Stephanie Have Worms?

Projects on the Horizon

Hello All -

This has been an amazing first few weeks.  We have already started out Me, Numerically project this week, and the students' work looks great.  Within the next few weeks we will begin our vermicomposting project, incorporating composting within our school by building worm bins! 

Also, please remember that this Thursday is Parent Night.  Sixth grade will be hosting a dinner from 5-6pm, with the parent night occurring at 6-7pm.  Dinner tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 and benefit our sixth grade camp fund!

First Week of School

I just wanted to thank all of the sixth grade students and families for making this an amazing first week of school.  On my first post I listed some school supplies to bring in for this year.  If you haven't already, please try to have those items in by Tuesday, as we will be setting up the binders and notebooks for use this year.  Also, I wanted to thank all families for the donation of items on my wish list.  If you are interested in donating to the classroom further, both sixth grade teachers are in need of projector mounts and cords.  These items are posted on the cork board in the sixth grade hallway with all of the specifics.  It has been great meeting everyone this week, and I can't wait to get started on this years projects!

Hello IA Families

Hello Innovations Academy Families,

Let me first begin by saying how excited I am to join the IA family and build a safe, warm, and enthusiastic environment this year. I cannot wait to begin this year and learn all about you!

Since this is my first year with IA, I wanted to introduce myself and let you all know a little about me. I am a proud mother of three children. My daughter Crysta is 17, and my sons Aris and Joshua are 14 and 6. I have my Undergraduate Degree in Finance and my Masters Degree in Science. Prior to IA, I worked in 6th grade Math/Science at High Tech Middle School and worked as a College Instructor teaching courses in accounting and business. I enjoy teaching in an environment that doesn’t dictate but rather guides students’ interests, fostering growth and never stifling creativity. IA will allow us to embark on an educational journey together, and I can’t wait to get started.

My favorite quote is, “He who knows best knows how little he knows” – Thomas Jefferson

Below you will find a classroom supply list. It is not necessary to have all the supplies on the first day, but it would be greatly appreciated if the supplies came in within the first week of school.  Also, some of these items will be used by the class as a whole, so try not to get too attached to any one item.


Supply List
- One large 3 inch binder (stays at school) – Please put student’s name on the side

- Loose leaf 3 hole filler paper (1 pack of 150 - wide ruled)

- Dividers (5 count)

- Several #2 pencils (around 10 -20)

- Pencil sharpener with cover

- Colored pens (2 of any color other than black/blue)

- Highlighters (2 of any color)

- Thin colored markers or Standard Markers (1 of either)

- Colored pencils (12 count)

- Scissors (1)

- Glue sticks (2)

- Spiral Notebook (70 page)

- 12" ruler (1)


Wish List for Additional Supplies:
Expo Markers, Kleenex, Antibacterial Wipes, Paper Towels, Napkins, Paper Plates, Plastic Forks, Plastic Spoons, Clipboards, Paper Clips, Binder Clip, Staplers, Construction Paper (all sizes and colors), Poster Paper, and White-Out.

Thank you! I know we are going to have a great year of exploration. Have a great rest of summer, and I’ll see you soon.

Stephanie