The Iowa Assessments will be given from October 20-23 and 26. Testing will happen from roughly 8:30 to 10:00 each day. The rest of each day will be a normal schedule. Please be sure your child gets a good night's sleep and an extra good breakfast on those days. I will give less homework that week to help make that possible. It is a longstanding tradition that the students at Willowwind are allowed to chew sugarless gum during the testing time. It will not be allowed after the test is over. Please send enough to have a piece of gum at the beginning of each testing session. Finally, please have your child at school by 8:20, so that we can begin promptly at 8:30. Let me know prior to 8:20 if your child is sick on a given day, so that we do not wait for your child. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Art Field Trip
On Wednesday, October 21, the Wolves and Owls will be traveling to downtown Iowa City to view murals, visit Mr. Ryan's art show at Prairie Lights, and complete some architectural sketching under Ryan's direction. We'll be traveling by city bus. Debbie, Christine, and I will all be attending to join this art class on the road.
An Update on our STEM Explorations
One of my very favorite elements of teaching at Willowwind is that our classroom learning is influenced by the interests and excitement of my students. We get to learn together as we explore the world. It also means that the students can rewrite my teaching plans when they have an even better idea. How lucky I am to have kids so excited about learning! Last week, the Wolves came up with a GREAT idea. I'm going to follow them down this fun new path.
As a direct result of their love for William Kamkwamba's story, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, the Wolves have requested that we learn about the inner workings of electricity and electronics. So, we're going to do it! After we complete the Iowa Assessments and wrap up our exploration of organisms and their environments, we are going to begin learning about electronics, including circuits, resistors, diodes, capacitors, and current. I anticipate this work beginning the first week of November.
To make time and space in the curriculum for our electronics exploration, the students have chosen to shelve their Ralston Creek work until January. They came to the conclusion that we'd reached a logical stopping point, having tested the water and developed some understanding about the health of the creek (ask them about it - you may be surprised by the conclusions!). We will return to our bigger question of global water quality after winter break.
Willowwind Halloween 2015
The Willowwind community will be celebrating Halloween the afternoon of Friday, October 30. Please visit THIS sign-up sheet if you wish to volunteer at our snack stations during the event.
Students will be asked to bring their costumes to school. We ask that costumes not be too scary. No weapons, blood, or gore will be permitted. We understand that costumes often include these things, but please save them for trick-or treating to avoid the disruption at school. Students will change into their costumes for our afternoon celebration, but are expected to wear their normal clothes to school for morning activities.a Families are invited to join our festivities from 2:00 - 3:15 for our parade and K-6 Halloween celebration.
Each year, Partner Families cherish the Halloween season as it gives them opportunity to spend time and work together. Preparing for Halloween, each Partner Family spends GD time creating a "top secret" pumpkin character. This year, students are charged with designing their pumpkin to represent a person, real or fictional, that is a "maker" and inspires others to go out and "do". This week, Partner Families will meet to plan out their pumpkin character and outline the pumpkins needed.
Students in fifth and sixth grades will bring in the materials to decorate the pumpkins. Supplies should be minimal. It is very important that the supplies are here by October 20. Thanks in advance for making this amazing Willowwind tradition possible.
We are Makers! Are you?!
Willowwind is calling all Makers!! We are looking for parents and family members to share the importance of doing with our student community. You can help change the way we learn, ideate, design, create, and build the feature. Does your career require you to think outside of the box? Do you like to get your hands dirty with your hobbies and passions? We'd love you to share your expertise with our students. If you are interested in coming in to talk with our students please let me know. Showing students how "doing" is an important life skill is essential. Your support in helping grow our makers is much appreciated. Make, collaborate and share!
Save the date! Barnes and Noble is hosting a mini Maker faire - November 6-8.
Click HERE to learn more about the Maker movement!
Updated Media Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently released new screen time and digital media interaction recommendations for children. As this is a topic of discussion in many families of tweens, I wanted to share the resources with you:
News Article: http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/36/10/54.full?sid=b604d67b-1b43-4c74-a370-999634028472
Full Document: https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/digital_media_symposium_proceedings.pdf
Wishing all a wonderful week,
Rachel