Kiker's Strength-Based Learning Cohort

This week learned a great mindfulness strategy. We learned that our brains tend to focus on the negative in situations. We had a visual of a bottle with a thin neck that only lets in these smaller, negative "balls." The larger, and positive, green balls bounce off the top and don't fit in the neck. We need to OPEN the bottle neck. We can actually, "use our mind to train our brain," (Rick Hanson) We know that teaching ourselves to be optimistic helps our overall health, so this is important! We learned HEAL. Try it at home! It's super relaxing and calming! In reading we honed our skills as summarizers of fiction. We are CSERT experts! Focusing on the main Character, the Setting, narrowing the Experience they are having, watching for the Resolution, and finally, adding the Theme or lesson results in a very accurate summarization of the text. We practiced with a number of books, including one from our Dec. 15th visiting author. We enjoyed Phil Bildner&#

Hello, scientists! Use the links below to learn more about mixtures and solutions! Part I: Separating Mixtures http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/materials/changes_materials/read/5/ Part II: Mixture Basics http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_mixture.html Part III: Mixtures and Solutions Project ***You will have to click the small x to close the ad to view the video. http://www.teachertube.com/video/mixtures-and-solutions-project-32432 If you get finished, you may play a mixture and solution game here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/materials/reversible_irreversible_changes/play/

Use the information on the site below to compare (find similarities) and contrast (find differences) the lives of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. Record at least one similarity and one difference for housing, clothes, food, chores, school, and games. http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/daily_life/housing.htm

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We packed quite a bit into this chilly, abbreviated week! After a visit from real-life heroes Lieutenant Commander Scott and Chief Warrant Officer Scott, we discussed the definition, character traits, and importance of veterans. Second grade even learned how to create a word cloud using the characteristics they identified. We also capitalized on this authentic opportunity to teach the elements of a thank you note. These heartfelt letters are sure to bring smiles to our special guests' faces. We reviewed our understanding of heat energy and its effects, then wrapped up the week by showing what we know! In reading, Fourth Grade finished their study of Valli in Deborah Ellis' book,  No Ordinary Day . It's incredible the impact that this book had on our thinking. The discussion was rich, the awareness turned on, and our curiosity piqued about others outside of our daily lives. We also took our reading benchmark, which was an opport

Happy Veterans Day! We were lucky enough to have two veterans visit yesterday, Lieutenant Commander Charlie Scott and Chief Warrant Officer Chuck Scott. A special thank you to our local heroes for their service and for taking time to share about their experiences in the armed forces. We sincerely appreciate you! Chief Warrant Officer Chuck Scott, United States Army Lieutenant Commander Charlie Scott, United States Navy We'll share more from their presentation on Friday.  In the mean time, remember the reason behind today and take a moment to be grateful...  for our veterans...  for the the many sacrifices they've made... for the freedoms we have because of them.

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Second grade lunch project. Students googled a menu to a local restaurant, created a meal, and found the price of the meal. Second grade subtracting usung manipulatives to show their work  Third grade responding to subtraction story problems. Third graders making multiplication arrays   with manipulatives. Fourth graders teaching each other about the distributative property. This week in reading, we have been honing our skills in summaries and synthesis. It is tough as our stories get more complex to pull all the events together into a unifying theme, but we are doing a great job! Third and Fourth Graders continue their journey in their novels, and Second Grade is enjoying several books around a theme (understanding differences, accepting others). In writing, we have drafted some great pieces, and are beginning to use checklists and mentor texts to help us revise. We are learning that writing is not "done" in the first draft. It'

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Hello, scientists! Click on the links that match your grade level below. Use the websites to learn more about heat energy. Make sure you read all directions! 2nd grade Part I: Experimenting with Solids, Liquids, and Gases http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/solid_liquids_fs.shtml Part II: Kitchen Materials http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/science/changing_materials/play/ 3rd grade Part I: States of Matter: Changes in State http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX4372644d6e7071506f5b77&t=States-of-Matter Part II: Solids, Liquids, and Gases http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/changing_state.shtml  4th grade Part I: BBC - Changing State   http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/materials/changing_states/play/ Part II: Crickweb - Changing State   http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2science.html#changingstate Part III: Condensation   http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/condensation.html