Kiker's Strength-Based Learning Cohort

We arrived back from Spring Break refreshed and ready to learn! It felt wonderful to jump back into routines with fresh energy. Math Third graders had fun finding the perimeter of rectangles and different shapes. They used geoboards and rubber bands to make a shape then they found the perimeter of their shape. They also found the length of an unknown side using the perimeter. Fourth graders worked on classifying triangles and quadrilaterals. They also made designs using pattern blocks then told  how many lines of symmetry their designs had. Second graders enjoyed learning about polygons, 2-D shapes, and how to compose 2-D shapes with pattern blocks. Language Arts Fourth Graders are ready to take their STAAR writing test Monday and Tuesday! We have challenged ourselves with material that we know beforehand is a stretch, and have risen to the occasion by thinking critically and analytically. Let's get a good night's sleep Sunday night and a healthy breakfast M...

Use the links below to learn more about our government leaders! City Leader https://www.austintexas.gov/department/mayor State Leader http://gov.texas.gov/ Country Leader https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama

Second Grade Part I http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html Part II http://www.units.miamioh.edu/dragonfly/water/watercycle.shtml Part III http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/EvaporationandTranspiration.htm Third Grade Part I http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_for_kids_main.html Part II http://www.educationsoutheastwater.com.au/game/natural-water-cycle.html Part III http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/web//starsguide/our-star.html Fourth Grade Part I http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/watercycle.htm Part II http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/water-cycle.htm Part III http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/cycles3.htm

Hello, fourth graders! Click the link below to use an interactive map to view pictures, examine artifacts, and then compare and contrast similarities and differences between missions in Texas. http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/st-plains/images/he15.html photo courtesy of Texas Beyond History

Use the link below to learn more about our capitol building and its history. http://www.senate.state.tx.us/kids/Tour1.htm photo courtesy of Senate Kids

It's been a busy week! Fourth and second graders had fun field trips (and don't forget...our third graders will be going  to the State Capitol on Monday, March 23). All of us had the privilege of attending our own Brass Ensemble Concert! The brass section of the Austin Symphony visited us Tuesday morning and shared some fun tunes with us. In math fourth graders learned formulas to find the perimeter and area of a shape. We also started on a swimming pool project. First, they designed their own swimming pool then they will spend time finding the area of their swimming pool. Third graders learned about congruent figures, 3-D solid figures, and how to find the area of a shape. Second graders worked on subtracting 3-digit numbers and solving subtraction and addition story problems. They also learned a strategy called break-apart for adding three digit numbers. Second Grade has been hard at work! We've added some skills to Mountain Language: prefixes and suffixes, categ...

Hello, 4th grade archeologists! Click the links below to learn more about the La Belle, how archeologists excavated it, and the artifacts they found.  When you are finished exploring, leave a comment with: 1) something you learned and 2) a question you have about the La Belle or La Salle's expedition. http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/belle/excavations.html http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/belle/explore.html http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/belle/treasures.html * Photo courtesy of Texas Beyond History

Hi, SBLC meteorologists! Use the links below to learn more about the science of weather. If you complete your Web Surf early, please: 1) leave a comment sharing something you learned 2) explore the other grade's weather sites. Be sure to double-check your comment before you publish! :) 2nd grade Part I: Weather Maker http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/sim/game.htm Part II: Be a Scientist! http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/BeAScientist/default.htm 3rd grade Part I: Texas Weather http://www.wunderground.com/US/TX/ Part II: Texas Annual Rainfall http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/annualrainfall.htm 4th grade Part I: Tips for Forecasting Weather https://scied.ucar.edu/webweather/thunderstorms/make-weather-forecast Part II: Ed Heads Weather http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/frame_loader.htm Part III: Interactive Weather Maker http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/sim/game.htm

This week during Project, as Second Grade arduously prepared for their magnificent play,  "Bugs on Parade," Third and Fourth were doing some practice in our testing areas. Fourth Grade continues to produce amazing pieces and are fine tuning our writing. We have been practicing precise words, sentence variety, grabbing your readers' attention, and really ending our pieces with the clear significance. These talented writers are showing how hard work and persistence truly pays off! We also started a new novel, A Girl Named Eva , set in WWII. Third Grade has turned our focus on looking at how reading applies to our test questions and interpretation. We have spent all year doing this with literature, however, now its time to see how those look in test format. We are getting ready for our "marathon" by doing some hands on practice. Second Grade is honing their skills in reading responses. We have begun some deeper interpretation. This week we examined a quote, ...