Moving into our Mathematician Profiles

Last week students finished up graphing the results of their multiple intelligences test.  It is so interesting to see all the different learning styles we have within the classroom, and to have students reflect on how they learn best and where they may have difficulties.  Students were able to apply feedback they had received from their rough draft to create a beautiful final piece of work.  We will be placing a huge focus on beautiful work this year, and the students are off to a great start.

On Monday, students began working on their math autobiography.  The autobiography asks students to explain some of their earliest memories of doing math, their feelings about math, topics that need some work, and goals for math this year.   This autobiography is the first part of our Mathematician profile, where students will describe themselves in numbers and learn that math is everywhere.  Ask yourself, "when is the last time I used math or numbers?"  It was probably within the last few minutes.  Students are describing all aspects of their life with numbers, finding out how many miles away from school they live as well as their height and armspan in inches.  The mathematician profiles will be due at the end of the school day on Friday, so be sure to check in with your student as to their progress.

Today in class we also spent some time discussing a huge aspect of earth science, water.  We discussed that___% of our body is made up of water, as well as ____% of our Earth's surface.  Are you intrigued, as your student to help you fill in those blanks.  We will continue our quest for water knowledge this week and in many weeks to come, as one of our first science projects will tackle this amazing combination of elements.

Stay tuned for more learning information!

Our First Project

First, let me just say how much fun we all had at the beach on Tuesday.  Thank you so much to the parent drivers that made the field trip possible.  When we arrived at the beach the students had such excitement and wonder.  We had groups playing volleyball, football, boogie boarding, making sand sculptures, and looking for marine life.  Some of my favorite moments included teaching a few young girls how to throw a spiral football and just enjoying conversations with students and parents.

Yesterday we returned from our beach trip knowing more about each other and ready to embark on our first project.  This project is multidisciplinary and will include parts from both math/science and humanities.  The project poses the essential question, "Who am I?".  Students in my class will begin answering that question by taking a learning styles assessment to figure out how they learn best.  Students are currently working on graphing this information, giving and receiving feedback on their work, and creating a beautiful final draft to be displayed in class.

As this project progresses it will include a math autobiography and a timeline of important events in their life.  A full project description can be found on the Me, Numerically page on the right hand side of the blog.  I am so excited we had such a nice field trip and have begun work on our first project!

First Week

First let me just say we have had an amazing first week of school.  We have been getting to know each other and doing amazing challenges to learn new things.  Yesterday, we had the students learning karate, guitar, origami, and ballroom dancing.  This gave the students the opportunity to learn new skills, and also the opportunity to teach a classmate something amazing.  We learned we all have skills to share and skills to still gain. 

As the week progresses the class will be creating agreements in which they will follow this school year.  These agreements begin with a discussion on community and culture.  We asked the students, "What do you want your community to look and feel like?"  From that driving question the students create the framework for our year.  I can not wait to see all of their ideas.

Next week we will be having a field trip to the beach on Tuesday with the entire middle school.  On Micheal's blog will be a sign up for drivers.  If you can take a group of students, please sign up as soon as possible. Stay tuned for exact times and location. 

Hello Innovations Academy Families,

Let me first begin by saying how excited I am to be continuing teaching sixth grade for a third year at IA.  I will continue this year with my IA team to build a safe, warm, and enthusiastic environment for our students. I cannot wait to begin this year and learn all about each and every one of you!

Since this is many families 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 19, and my sons Aris and Joshua are 16 and 8. 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 allows 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

Sixth Grade Supply List Fall 2012

Items for Individual Use:

(2) Two Subject  Spiral notebooks 

(2) 2 inch three ring binders

(1) Pack of twelve pencils

(1) Pack of Lined Paper (either college or wide rule)

(1) Pack of colored paper (either construction or card stock)

Paint Supplies (we would like every student to contribute either paint brushes ((all sizes)) or paint of your choice)


Items for Classroom Use: (Please choose at least five items from this list to donate to our classroom)

Markers (regular and thin)

Sharpies (all colors, fine and ultra fine tip)

Colored Pencils

Dish Towels

Adult Size Scissors

Duct Tape

Glue Sticks

Tissues

Rulers

Pens (any color)

Dry Erase Markers

Teacher Wish List

Michael –Classroom Plant, Tennis Balls
Stephanie – Decks of Cards,  Heavy Metal Stapler,

Last Week of School

As we approach the last week of school, I've been reflecting on what an amazing community our sixth graders have built.  Last night I had the privilege of watching them put on an amazing history carnival.  I ate homemade baklava and Greek yogurt.  I played a pyramid ring toss and a Great Wall of China bag toss game.  It was a blast for me and hopefully all that attended.

This week I have also had the honor of witnessing some of the most profound POLs given in sixth grade to date.  It has been wonderful hearing students reflect on their growth both academically and socially.

As we approach next week, we have a few upcoming events.  First, next Tuesday, June 12 we will be going on a student organized field trip to Soak City.  The cost will be $23/student.  We will need both chaperones and drivers.  If you can drive, please have your student let Maddie Bucky know, as she is organizing the field trip and drivers for the sixth grade.

Thank you again to all that attended our Exhibition Night yesterday, and to all the families who have made time to come in and see their student's POL. It has been an amazing year.

Our Progress with Percents!

Last week was amazing.  Students created their own challenging problems with discounts and tax for each other to solve.  They are displaying this beautiful work, and this week we will begin solving these problems.  Some of the problems include purchasing unicorns and planning a vacation.  Also, we will continue our work on the Earthquake project this week.  Students are finishing their introductory research phase and moving into the planning phase of the project. 

With such a short window of time left in the year, we will begin this week to plan events fort he last week of school.  We will keep you posted as to the events and places the students choose to attend.

The Earthquake Project

Hello Families,

It was so nice to be back last week!  I enjoyed coming back and being able to visit with all of our families during conferences.  I was also so very impressed by how well our students did leading their conferences!  It was amazing to hear them all talk about their learning.

This week we will be diving head first into our next project in science, The Earthquake Project.  Students will be in groups and have one of four possible job, either an architect, contractor, seismologist, or investigator.  For more information on this project, please visit The Earthquake Project page on this blog.

As for math, we will continue our work with percents and proportions, and throwing decimals into the mix.  If your student is struggling with these concepts, please have them work on Khan Academy for 15-20 minutes at night for extra practice.  The site has instructional videos and interactive lessons!

I'm Back

Hello Students and Families,

I will be returning on Monday May 7, 2012.  As many of you know I spent 13 days in the hospital with some complicated medical issues.  I wanted to thank each and everyone for being so supportive during this time.  All of the cards and posters were so beautiful and thoughtful.  Reading them put a smile on my face when I really needed it! Needless to say, I am so excited to be returning to teaching on Monday.  I have missed everyone so much.

I thought I would first start off by telling you a bit about what has been happening in class while I have been away.  Students have been working on several new math concepts including percents, proportions, and variables.  On Monday,I will be continuing the work on variables, moving on to one-step algebraic equations.  We will also begin our next Science project.  Students will be choosing between the Biome or Earthquake project.  More information will follow on the project.

Again, thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and support during the past several weeks.  I appreciate each and every one of you.

Welcome Back

Hello IA Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break, and was able to enjoy some family time together.  Coming back to school this week we will be focusing on planning for our camping trip, finishing up our fractions knowledge, and introducing our new science project about earthquakes.

This week we will be making rice krispie treats in class.  The students worked hard on reducing and increase the recipe size, so now they will be able to make their treats to celebrate.  Also this week the newest Earthquake Project will be introduced.  More information about this project is on the Earthquake page of this blog.

Also, below is a supply list for the camping trip, so make sure you check out the items needed for the trip.  Later this week we will send home the information about food.  We are planning a menu and each student will be responsible for bringing some food items to contribute to the group.

Personal Camping Supply List

Clothing:

Pajamas

Shorts

Pants

Bathing Suit

Short and Long Sleeve Shirts

Jacket/Sweatshirt

Gloves

Beanie/Baseball Cap

Socks

Undergarments

Tennis Shoes

Sandals

Essential Items:

Toothbrush/toothpaste

Sun block

Bug Spray

Sleeping Bag or Blankets

Pillow

Deodorant

Reusable Water Bottle

Quarters (to use the shower)

Shampoo and soap (if using showers)

Towel (if showering or swimming)

Flashlight

Optional Items:

Band-Aids

Chap stick

Medicine (First Aid Supplies, Tylenol, Sea Sick Medication)

Fishing Supplies

Deck of Cards

Hand Sanitizer

Camera

Tissues

Goggles

Games: Frisbee, Football, Yahtzee, Pickup Sticks, Twister, Apples to Apples

I am looking forward to a wonderful week back!

Last Week Before Spring Break

I can't believe this is our last week before spring break.  This week we will be wrapping up our Water Project by researching a country and making recommendations for helping solve the county's water issues.  We will also be completing our work with fractions and making some amazing Rice Krispies Treats in the process.  I hope everyone is looking forward to a restful and rejuvenating spring break.

Hunger Games and 6th Grade Camp

Good Monday Morning Everyone,

This week is a busy one!  On Wednesday March 21, 2012 we will be having a family night from 4:30-7:30pm.  Please come join us to check out your student's great work. 

Also, sixth grade camp permission slip and money are due this Thursday March 22, 2012.  We need all forms in at this point to secure our non-refundable payment for the campsite and ferry.  

Finally, this Friday March 23, 2012 all sixth graders will be embarking on a 2.9 mile hike to see the movie The Hunger Games.  Please have your child bring in their permission slips no later than Wednesday March 21, 2012 to secure their spot.  Due to the movies PG-13 rating, we will need persmission slips in order for your student to attend. 

Thank you in advance for keeping all of the above dates in mind, and helping us ensure the most amazing experiences for our students.

The Water Project Continuing

Hello Families,

This week we are entering into the third phase of our Water Project.  Students have chosen their country of study and will be researching the country's water, health, and sanitation problems.  They will be investigating the root cause of the problems, and then making recommendations for solutions.

Also, our fraction study continues.  We have learned how to compare, add, subtract, and covert mixed numbers and improper fractions.  We will be beginning our Fraction Mini-Project soon, so I will keep you all posted.

This week will continue to make progress in the backyard.  The Cafe group has begun priming the school store.  We have the sail shade hung, and the group is beginning to plan seating for underneath.  Our garden bed is nicely laid out, and we have some soil ready to plant vegetables.  We are having so much fun, and incredible learning is taking place.

6th Grade Camp

Dear Friends and Families,

We’re excited to share the decisions that have been made for this years 6^th grade camp. After a few rounds of research and discussion, we have come to the conclusion that we will be going to the Hermit Gulch campground on Catalina Island from Tuesday, April 24^th-Friday, April 27^th.

We will depart from school at approximately 7:00 am Tuesday in order to make the Catalina Express Ferry that leaves from Dana Point at 9:50 am. We will then spend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night in Tent Cabins on the island before returning to school at approximately 12:30 on Friday (the ferry leaves the island at 9:45 am).

The class will work together to create a list of supplies each individual will need to bring as well as a list of supplies that we need to gather as a class. We will also create a list of food that we will bring on the trip. Each individual will select one or two food items that they will contribute to the class’s food supply. All food will then be shared by the class as a whole.

The total cost of the trip will be $115, this includes the cost of both the ferry and the tent cabins. We will need to have this money in by Thursday, March 22rd. We will also need approximately 5 chaperones to escort us on our trip. Depending on the amount of students we can fit into our chaperones cars we may also need a few other drivers to get us to Dana Point and back. If you would be willing to either chaperone or drive, please let us know. 

There will also be the option of participating in different activities such as deep sea fishing that will carry an additional cost. We will send home a list of these options once it is compiled.

We would love for all members of our class to join us on this adventure. If you have any concerns or issues with your child attending please share your thoughts with us.

It’s going to be an amazing trip, we hope you’re as excited as we are,

Michael and Stephanie

Making Water Filters

Short Week

First, on a scheduling note, this week is a short week.  We are off the Friday, February 17 and next Monday, February 20.  I hope you are all able to enjoy some extra family time over the holiday weekend.

Last week our student succeeded in making their water filtration devises.  We all started with water that was tested at 800 ppm (parts per million), which is well above the safe range for drinking water. We tested the water after filtration, and most students were able to reduce the contaminants in the water by at least 300 parts per million.  This brought the water into the technically safe drinking zone, though we did not venture trying it!

We also began our discussion and work with fractions, filling in a blank number line from 0 to 1.  Many great realizations came out of this activity, including the fact that numbers can be infinitely small and go on forever! 

We have also been working hard on our backyard.  Students have been tweaking plans, building structures and it is really coming along nicely.  We will continue our efforts, and hopefully have a beautiful space fully developed soon.

Happy February

Hello Families,

I can hardley believe it is already February.  What an amazing year it has been.  This week we are moving right along into our second phase of The Water Project.  During this phase students will be reseraching different ways to make a water filtration device.  In pairs, they will be compiling a list of materials needed, as well as a detailed plan of the procedure for creating such a device.  By Wednesday we should have the materials in class and be making our filters.  I am so excited to see what they all come up with.

Also, this week we are diving right into fraction fun.  We will begin with some work on a number line, and end the week with converting fractions to make Rice Krispies Treats.  Have a wonderful week.

Our Backyard is Moving Along

Hello Families,

Our backyard project is moving along.  We have installed a water collector and built garden beds.  We are also in the process of building our school store, pond, and hanging our sail shade.  The progress has been amazing.

This week we will move forward in our reading of the Number Devil and working our mathematical adventures that go along with the book.  We are also moving along with our Water Project.  The students have graphed the results of their water audit and are now in the stage of making their water reduction plans.  All the students have found out valuable information about local water usage and resources.  It has been eye opening!

Semester Wrap-Up

I can't believe this is the last week of the first semester.  The year so far has been amazing, and I am humbled to be working with such a reflective group of students.  This Friday, January 27, we will be sending report cards home, so please be expecting them from your student.

Also, this week in class we are reinforcing our knowledge of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative integers.  We played a rousing game of integer bingo, so ask your child about the game.  We are also using math to calculate our average daily water usage for the first part of our new H2O project.  The students are graphing their water audit results and making a plan to reduce their wasteful consumption of water.  Hopefully it will also help in reducing your family's water bill!

 For their plan to reduce, students can demonstrate their reduction in a variety of creative ways that range from making a song, creating a video, taking photographs, or writing an inspirational poem.  The goal is for them to produce proof of their water reduction in a unique way.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Presentations of Learning

On Thursday January 17, 18, and 19, 2012 students will be giving presentations of learning, or as we call them POLs.  Students will be individually presenting two projects or topics, one from humanities and one from math or science.  They will be explaining what they have learned, show their work to prove their learning, and reflect on goals made at their student led conferences.  Students are practicing their presentations, but please also help your student practice at home.  Their presentation should be around 10 minutes total, so time them, and help them add to or edit it as needed.

Presenting work and being reflective is a hard skill for anyone at any age, so some questions you might ask your student to spark their thinking might include:
1.  What are some of the meaningful concepts you learned in the project you are presenting?
2.  What work do you have that shows you learned those concepts?
3.  How did the work you did in this project help you in achieving your goals set at your student led conference?

Presentations of Learning are a wonderful way to showcase learning and reflect upon how to continue to improve and grow as a life long learner.  Thank you for helping us share in this experience.

Welcome Back

Hello IA Families,

I hope everyone had a relaxing time off with families and friends.  Coming back to school we are diving right into Math and Science.  Our first science project is all about our most precious resource, Water. 
The project description is below:

Essential Question: How can sixth graders become a part of solving the water crisis? Project Mission: To investigate water within our personal lives, our community, and our world. Learning Objectives: 1. Students will learn about the flow of water in the hydrologic cycle, water usage breakdown, and the distribution of water geographically. 2. Students will learn about water quality and various methods of testing and purifying water. 3. Students will research local, state, and global water issues and possible solutions to these crises. Project Vocabulary: Hydrologic Cycle (water cycle), Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff, Aqueduct, Water Table, Reservoir, Watershed, Point-Source Pollution, Non-Point-Source Pollution, Dam, Irrigation, Agriculture, Desalination, Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, Filtration, Wastewater Products: *  Personal Water Audit: Students will assess their own water usage and devise plans to lessen their impact on the water crisis. *  Water Filtration Experiment: In class, students will work in pairs to create a water filtration device to demonstrate one method of water purification. *  The Global Water Crisis: In class, students will complete individual research on a particular country. Research will include the water, health, and sanitation issues of their assigned country and then as a group students will make two to three recommendations for improving the water and sanitation conditions in their country. Resources: www.globalwaternetwork.org/ www.cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm www.water.ca.gov/ www.brainpop.com http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/?source=NavEnvFresh

In math we will now be moving into the exploration of integers.  We have begun adding and subtracting with positive and negative numbers, and will soon be learning the rules of positive and negative integer multiplication.  From there, we will move into our learning of fractions, decimals, and percents.  This learning will take place in a variety of ways including skill building, open-ended problems, and real life exploration.


Have a great week!