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Word Wizard

The Word Wizard this week is Jovana Fuentes from Ms. Fortnum's 5th grade class. Congratulations, Jovana!

Bilingualism Will Supercharge Your Baby's Brain

Word Wizard Winner

For the first time this year, the Word Wizard is a boy! Luis Pineda, a third grade student in Mr. Hare's class is this week's Word Wizard.

Congratulations, Luis!!

We are thankful for...

Here is a picture of this year's Thanksgiving tree. The tree is decorated with turkies that the students have decorated with the things for which they are thankful.

Word Wizard

This week's Word Wizard is Maria Hernandez from Ms. Nussbaum's class! Congratlulations, Maria!

Butterfly Migration

My second graders participated in the Symbolic Butterfly Migration project through the group Journey North. One of our butterflies was posted on their website. Can you find it?

Butterfly Gallery

Third Grade Soil Activity

Mrs. Edwards Third Grade Students:

Here is the link to the webpage that you will use to answer the questions about soil:

Soil Website

Responsibility

Responsibility is the character trait for the month of November. Unfortunately, due to the irresponsible actions of some students, this question of the week will be the last one that is posted on my door. Some students decided that it was OK to write bad words and to cross out the positive comments that other students had written.  However, I can still read the great comments about how to be responsible, so here they are:

• Keep track of your belongings
• Do your homework
• Don't lose your homework
• Be responsible for what you have
• Don't blame other people for your actions
• Help others
• Bring all of your materials to school
• Listen to the teacher
• Be responsible for partnerships

New Word Wizard!!

This week's Word Wizard is 5th grader, Destiny Montgomery from Ms. Nussbaum's class.

Congratulations, Destiny!!

Fall is Here!!

In honor of fall finally arriving to Monroe, the question I asked East Eagles last week was:

What is the best part of fall?

You may have already guessed this, but many of the responses were about Halloween! Here they are:

• Halloween
• Trick or Treating
• Candy
• Scaring little kids
• Halloween costumes
• Jumping in the leaves
• Leaves falling off the trees
• Fall break
• Playing football

Cooperation

The character trait for the month of October is cooperation. I asked East Elementary students how they demonstrate cooperation. Here are their answers:

• having a team
• be nice
• helping your family
• getting along
• helping others and encouraging them
• following the rules
• helping your classmates
• take turns
• be respectful
• help the teachers
• walk in a straight line
• keep the school clean
• help the little kids so they can be smart
• work together

New Word Wizard

This week, the Word Wizard is Desnee Bryant from Ms. Nussbaum’s class.

Congratulations, Desnee!!

Question of the Week

Since today starts the beginning of the Fall Intersession Break for East Elementary School,  I asked students:

How will you take responsibility for your learning during the two weeks that you will not be here?

The answers were a mixture of both good and bad. I have to be honest when I say that I was pretty disappointed with some of the responses.  What do you think? Here they are:

• Read every day
• I will do my chores when I need to and I will read sometimes.
• I will do my homework every day.
• Play with my friends
• Play Xbox
• Study and exercise
• Play PSP
• By not reading
• I'll feed my dog every day.
• Read and finish my intersession packet
• I will do the math that I saved from my class and read every day for 30 minutes.
• I will read a lot

What makes your family special?

In honor of Thursday's Family night, I asked the East Elementary students about why their families are special. Here are their responses:

• They love us.
• They take care of everyone in our family.
• They give me money.
• They give us what we need.
• They give us stuff.
• They care about me.
• They love me and care for me.
• Be there for you.
• They are nice to me.
• They love me and and love them.
• They put a roof over my head.
• They love me and that's all that matters.

Another Word Wizard Tie!

This week, there was a tie and we have two Word Wizards! Daniela Sanchez, from Ms. Nussbaum’s class and Ruth Rodriguez from Ms. Hinson’s class, are the Word Wizards this week.

Congratulations, Daniela and Ruth!!

The Question of the Week

This week I asked East Elementary students what characteristics do they think make a great teacher. Here are the answers:

• Respect thier students
• Speak correctly
• More recess
• Be nice to the students
• Love
• Great learners
• Speak a little Spanish
• Teach us what we need to know
• Decorate their classrooms
• Don't be a bully
• Don't shout at students
• Intelligence
• Great skills
• Be active
• Give presents
• Respect students' answers
• Be kind
• Be friendly
• Have more fun and games

The New Word Wizard

The five week winning streak from Ms. Hinson's class has finally been broken! The new Word Wizard is 5th grader, Daniela Sanchez, who is in Ms. Nussbaum's class.

Congratulations, Daniela!

What is the best thing about East Elementary School?

This week I asked the students of East Elementary what they think are the best things about our school. Here is what they said:

• We soar.
• We study hard and pass the EOGs.
• The rules at the school.
• We get to do Word Wizard.
• It's fun!
• AIG
• recess
• specials
• art
• the teachers
• the students
• computers
• fitness
• Mrs. Foley
• Mrs. Preville
• learning
• The teachers help us learn and teach us what they need to know.
• Lunch and breakfast
• Everything, almost.

Unfortunately, there were some students who wrote that they think that there is "nothing" that is the best at our school. I wish I knew who they were so that I could help them find something good about East.

It's a TIE!!!

This week there was a tie for Word Wizard! The two winners are both from Ms. Hinson's thrid grade class, which is no surprise to me. They are Ruth Rodriguez and Tarry Marsh!

Congratulations, Tarry and Ruth!!

September's Character Trait: RESPECT

This week's question was about respect. East Elementary students shared how they can demonstrate resepect while at school. Here are their responses:

• Be kind to others
• Follow directions
• Be helpful
• Follow the rules
• Don't be a bully
• Listen when someone is talking
• Don't gossip
• Be friendly
• Don't think you're perfect
• Don't fight
• Don't talk when someone is talking
• Follow: SPECIALS 
• Strength
• Perserverance
• Endurance
• Confidence
• Intelligence
• Agility
• Love
• Success

Second Grade and the Life Cycle of Butterflies

The second grade students have been learning about life cycles. One life cycle that they have been studying is the life cycle of the butterfly. In ESL class, we have learned many new words about life cycles by reading books, watching our own caterpillars become butterflies, and by writing about the life cycles.

In this picture, Axel, Omar, Jessica, and Giselle are illustrating a poem we read about the life cycle of the butterfly:

Here is the final product:

Word Wizard Winner

For the second week in a row, the winner of the Word Wizard contest is Estrella Ordonez from Ms. Hinson's class.

Congratulations, Estrella!!

How Can Students Take RESPONSIBILITY for Their LEARNING?

This week's question asked East Elementary students about how they can be responsible for their own learning. Here are the responses:

• Do your homework
• Behave
• Use the strategies that teachers give you
• Ask questions
• Read more
• Listen
• Don't interrupt
• A= Act safely B= Be respectful C= Come prepared
• Follow directions
• Do not talk while the teacher talks

Early Morning Technology

Every morning, Daniel and Christian come to Mrs. Edwards' classroom to practice their English using computers. They use a fun program called Zip Zoom English.

Word Wizard for Week Three

This week's Word Wizard is Estrella Ordonez . For the third week in a row, the Word Wizard has been a third grader from Ms. Hinson's class. I wonder if they can do it for a fourth week...

Congratulations, Estrella!!!

Fourth Graders Working Together

The fourth graders in Mrs. Edwards' ESL class are currently practicing their writing skills while learning about nutrition.

Here is a picture of Laura and Rodrigo working together:

In this next picture, Jennifer is working with Jorge to edit his sentence about calories.

Jose is talking to Gerardo and Jonathan about what happens if people consume too many calories:

These fourth graders do a wonderful job of sharing ideas and working together to learn!





What are your favorite HEALTHY snacks?

This week Mrs. Edwards asked the East Elementary students about their favorite healthy snacks!! It is obvious that East Eagles love fruit! Check out the list!

• apples
• bananas
• pineapples
• cherries
• watermelon
• oranges
• yogurt
• strawberries
• mangoes
• cantaloupes
• carrots
• banana and strawberry smoothies
• healthy snack bars

Word Wizard Winner!!!

This week's Word Wizard is Melissa Silva from Ms. Hinson's third grade class. Congratulations, Melissa! You did a great job!

What is the title of your favorite book?

This week's question was about East Elementary students' and teachers' favorite books. Some of the responses were:

• Amulet I
• Tales of a Forth Grade Nothing
• Charlotte's Web
• J.T.
• Goosebumps
• Loser
• Baby Mouse
• Bone
• Shiloh
• The Littles
• The Miraculous Journey of Edwards Tulane
• Get an Award
• Baby Mouse Queen of the World
• Invasion of the Road Weenies
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• La Llorona
• The Best Book of Big Cats
• Macaroni Boy
• Dork Diaries
• Criss Cross
• Amazing Sharks
• Trains
• La Luna
• Books by R.L. Stine
• The Harry Potter Series
• Trains
• I Love You Blue Kangaroo
• Secrets of Droon
• Bone Handbook
• Girlfriends

This year's first Word Wizard

Mrs. Edwards is very excited to announce that the first Word Wizard of the 2011-2012 school year is Ruth Rodriguez, who is a 3rd grader in Ms. Hinson's class. Congratulations, Ruth!

What new things do you want to learn this year?

This week's question was about topics that East Elementary students would like to learn this year. Some of the responses were:

• animals
• the world
• snakes
• sharks
• how to draw
• cats
• dogs
• play music
• lions
• play guitar
• division
• art

What are your goals for this school year?

Mrs. Edwards asked and East Elementary students answered. Here is what some students and teachers said their goals are for this school year:

• finish my homework every night
• to be the best I can be
• don't give up
• get my diploma
• go to college
• get into NC State College
• pass the EOGs
• make a new best friend
• become smarter
• pass the 5th grade
• stay positive
• do you best and forget the rest
• read a new book each week

What are your goals for this year?

Fun Things at the Public Library

Hey, Kids!

If you are looking for things to do at the library this summer, check out this web page.

Union County Public Library - Summer Reading

You will need to scroll down a little bit to find the activities for the Monroe Public Library.

Ideas for Summer Activities

Instead of watching TV or playing video games this summer, these are the ideas that East Elementary students have for staying busy this summer:

• read
• go swimming
• play baseball, football, soccer, and volleyball
• go to the park
• make cake pops
• go camping
• ride your bike
• have a sleepover
• play with your friends
• do zumba
• have a cookout
• go to the beach
• go to the movies
• learn to skate
• practice math
• write stories
• ride your skateboard

More Third Graders' Favorites from ESL This Year

Laura from Mrs. Bennett's class enjoyed growing plants.

Jennifer H. from Ms. Haglund's class liked being the Word Wizard and going to the library.

Abril from Ms. Haglund's class liked making sketches from reading selections.

Christopher from Mrs. Bennett's class had fun researching about Australia.

Third Graders' Favorite Things about ESL Class This Year

Ever from Ms.Davis' class says, "Planting seeds and learning about Australia" were his favorite activities in ESL.

Yaned from Ms. Robinson's class says that her favorite part of ESL was "getting ready for the EOG's and doing the Word Wizard".

Donovan from Ms. Davis' class says that "drawing cartoons" was his favorite.

"My favorite part was reading selections and drawing pictures to go with them". Daniela from Ms. Robinson's class.

Lus from Mrs. McDonald's class said that "going to use the computers" was her favorite thing.