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