I'm sure many of you have already received the I Love Math Day problems from Mr. Lawrence. I hope you have been either trying it on your own or talking to your student about the problems. We will have a total of four problems before I Love Math Day on February 11th. Students are encouraged to not only come up with answers but be creative with their response.
I will be working on midterm reports this Friday. If you have any questions before or after the midterms, please feel free to contact me.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Social Studies and more Social Studies :)
The 7th graders have done an excellent job this week preparing for their History Exhibitions. Miss Rupke has been assisting them with their research and I have been very impressed with their diligence and their determination. Watching them all work so hard on the computers makes me realize how much they have grown as students this past year. Please talk to them about what they have been researching and what they have been learning. I understand talking with students about their work outside of school can be tedious (for both the parent and the student) but I believe that when parents talk to the students about their work at home it really helps them be more engaged with their assignments.
Having said that, also ask them about what they have been learning in Social Studies. As we near the end of our unit on World War II, I realize we have gone over a huge amount information. I think it would be a shame if all they got out of this unit is some interesting facts. I want them to be able to answer complex questions using the information they have been taught. This will be the basis for their assessment for this unit. So instead of asking them to memorize dates and key figures, I will ask them questions such as these:
Why was the war in the Pacific so brutal?
Was the dropping of the atomic bomb by the US justified? Why or why not?
If you were President Truman, how would you have ended the war? What if you were Emperor Hirohito?
How do you think the outcome of World War II has influenced our lives today?
Why was it so important for Japan to agree to an unconditional surrender?
Should the United States have involved themselves with World War II? Why or why not?
How did technology play a huge role in World War II?
When is it okay for civilians to be attacked in war or is it never okay?
One reason we learn history is so that we can learn from our mistakes. What lesson do you think we have learned from studying Word War II?
Having said that, also ask them about what they have been learning in Social Studies. As we near the end of our unit on World War II, I realize we have gone over a huge amount information. I think it would be a shame if all they got out of this unit is some interesting facts. I want them to be able to answer complex questions using the information they have been taught. This will be the basis for their assessment for this unit. So instead of asking them to memorize dates and key figures, I will ask them questions such as these:
Why was the war in the Pacific so brutal?
Was the dropping of the atomic bomb by the US justified? Why or why not?
If you were President Truman, how would you have ended the war? What if you were Emperor Hirohito?
How do you think the outcome of World War II has influenced our lives today?
Why was it so important for Japan to agree to an unconditional surrender?
Should the United States have involved themselves with World War II? Why or why not?
How did technology play a huge role in World War II?
When is it okay for civilians to be attacked in war or is it never okay?
One reason we learn history is so that we can learn from our mistakes. What lesson do you think we have learned from studying Word War II?
Upcoming Events
We are already almost half way through the Winter Term, wow how time flies. Here is a quick look at what is ahead:
February 8: WWII Essays are due
February 10: History Exhibitions
February 11: I Love Math Day
February 12-February 16: Mid-Winter Break
February 8: WWII Essays are due
February 10: History Exhibitions
February 11: I Love Math Day
February 12-February 16: Mid-Winter Break
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
School Worship
This month we are learning about Heaven during school worship. Some questions we are exploring:
What does the Bible tells us about it?
How does it affect us here and now?
What does it look like?
What will we do there?
Talk to your students and see what they have learned.
What does the Bible tells us about it?
How does it affect us here and now?
What does it look like?
What will we do there?
Talk to your students and see what they have learned.
History Exhibitions
History exhibitions will be held on Wednesday February 11. The seventh grade students will report on a historical figure that lived around the time of World War II. They will also be contributing to a webpage for their artifact. Next week students will sign up to stay after school to work on this part of the exhibition.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Social Studies Winter Term
January 5-Febuary 11
We shift our focus from the war in Europe to the in the Pacific. We will continue to study key figures and battles and will hold debates on the dropping of the A-bomb. Also on February 4th we will have a test and the 7th grade will be giving their History Exhibitions the following week.
We shift our focus from the war in Europe to the in the Pacific. We will continue to study key figures and battles and will hold debates on the dropping of the A-bomb. Also on February 4th we will have a test and the 7th grade will be giving their History Exhibitions the following week.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Geography Bee
In December the students of the Upper School competed in the preliminary rounds of the Geography Bee. Each student from 4-8 competed with their classmates and 10 qualified for the final round. The final round will take place in the Community Room this Friday January 8th from 2 to 3. The Finalists are:
Michal Rubingh (4th)
Zoe Oro-Hahn (4th)
Francesca Marsh (5th)
Hans Schundler (5th)
Tomas Silva (5th)
ZoeGrace Raak (6th)
Adrian Voysey (6th)
Pedro Gavilano (7th)
Eliot Kaufmann (8th)
Franklin Prado (8th).
2010 Thoughts
As we start a new term and a new calendar year I wanted to share some (brief) thoughts. During the break I had some time to reflect on being an educator and my personal philosophy on education. (For Mustard Seed's philosophy on education check out this link on our website http://www.mustardseedschool.org/about/philosophy). My challenge this year is to better integrate my educational philosophy into the day to day affairs of the classroom. So what is my educational philosophy? It has changed quite a bit over the past 12 years and I'm sure it will continue to evolve as I grow as an educator. Two specific beliefs I want reflected in my classroom are: 1. Education should involve the whole student so not only guiding them academically but socially and spiritually as well and 2. Teach students to learn and understand rather than memorize and regurgitate. I will try and post my progress regularly so as to hold myself accountable.
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