Parent Note 9/16

September 16, 2013

Dear Parents Guardians and Students,

            We made it through the first 3 weeks and our class is becoming a team of learners and leaders.  We are learning to work together, help each other do our best, and make good choices.  Students are practicing their 7 Habits skills to be their own leader.  We are currently studying equivalent fractions, multiplication fluency, solving a mystery to study the Scientific Method, and Argument Writing.

            I was awarded 2 grants, one from a Northrop Grumman Company and one from Donors Choose.  (Thank you to those in our class who donated to our class through Donors Choose.) For those who do not know about them:  DonorsChoose.org is a tax deductable charity that helps teachers give students advantages the teachers would not normally be able to afford. We will be writing Thank You notes to the everyday people who donated to our project. I need to upload pictures to thank our donors as well. Please take a minute to read the Photography Permission Slip from Donors Choose.  Signing this slip gives permission to put pictures only on this website without student names.

 These two grants will allow each student in our homeroom to experience their own personal computer (Artificial Intelligence) math tutor, named ALEKS.  www.ALEKS.com 

ALEKS will help me pinpoint holes in student’s math understanding, and accelerate their math study, as they can work at their own pace.  ALEKS is aligned to our core and our textbook.  Students will have some time to use ALEKS in the classroom but they are encouraged to work on it additional time. Students without Internet access at home can work on ALEKS at the public library, and I will make arrangements for them to use the computers in the classroom before school or during lunch recess.  

            I have used ALEKS personally as a student in college, for my own children, and with small groups of students in my classroom. This is the first time I will be able to use it for my full class, so I am thrilled with the possibilities.

            A few upcoming events:

                        September 16             Start using personal Artificial Intelligence tutor – ALEKS

                        September 30             Safety Patrol / Bus Duty for the SP Students and me

                        October 22                 Students will begin a unit on Electricity

                        ~October 31               Market Day  - Reward activity – Students can bring items to

     sell for classroom money with a permission slip

   (Permission slip available when date is confirmed)

                        November 13              Walking field trip to West Jordan High School Theatre

            Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

                        November 27              No School until December 2 Thanksgiving Break

http://teamrendell2013.blogspot.com

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                B. Rendell