Aleph Academy

Our first three presentations were amazing on Friday. Congratulations to all the students who presented for having such interesting and entertaining projects. Monday our last four students will present. Rochel, Chana/Shaina, and Max. We will begin presentations around 2:15 and go through to the end of school.

By popular demand projects are being split up to be presented Friday and Monday. Friday: Griffin, Moshe, and Bassi will be presenting. Monday: Rochel, Chana/Shaina, and Max will be presenting. I hope this allows for a comfortable project presentation.

Hello,

This week our final research project comes to a close. Friday we will be presenting these projects. This will begin after lunch and after we read to our buddies, at 12:30. All students will be presenting and all parents, family, and staff are welcome to come observe. We will use up as much of the afternoon as we need for each student to present his/her research.

For the students who are not yet finished with their projects, I am giving work record time, in class, for them to work. If more time is needed they can schedule time with me after school or are free to use the classroom to work after school with a parent. If there is an emergency with time, please let me know and I can work out a special schedule with that student. There is a possibility that students who need more time to work or present will be able to do so on Monday instead.

Any questions please let me know either personally or through email,

Ms. Andrea

It’s great to be back in school!

Yesterday, we made a special bracha on the blossoming apple and cherry trees. We praise Hashem for creating a beautiful world filled with trees, lacking nothing. This bracha can only be said during the month of Nissan, over a fruit tree in bloom.

Today, being Rosh Chodesh Iyar, we learned all about the new month. Iyar is an acronym for “Ani Hashem Rofecha,” I am G-d your healer. We went to the Iyar Clinic, and got a checkup! We discussed how medicine is just an agent of Hashem; it is G-d who heals us essentially.

Hello,

Last week felt like it would never end. In school and out of school I had a lot going on so I apologize for this information being a little late. I can feel spring break calling my name and look forward to the days of relaxation. However, before we all give ourselves to the joys of the beautiful spring weather, let me lay out the plan for this year’s last research project.

The overall theme is Inventions. The children were allowed to research anything that has been invented. We are getting a wonderful variety of topics such as, motorcycles, toaster ovens, robots, and more… This project started out a little different. This time I not only let the students pick out what they wanted to study but how they wanted to demonstrate their understanding of the topic and lay out their own action plan (with the help of the worksheet I passed out). This magnificent tool was found in a book called Instruction for All Students by Paula Rutherford. The focus of the book is to create a classroom where all children can learn no matter what age, grade, developmental level, and ability is. For our mixed age classroom this seemed appropriate. Each child can pick a project that fits and interests them.

Now, because I gave the students a little more independence on the lay out of this project the timeline and rubric are going to be a little bit different too. The Action plan each student created on their worksheet is their own timeline. Last Friday I met with each student and we discussed the timeline and evaluated it realistically. It is their goal to follow their plan. Every Friday when we meet in class to work on the project, I will check in with each child to see if they are following their timeline or falling behind. I will also pick two to three students to work with and help on their project or research. Of course, I will be spending more time with students who need my help the most, like our first graders, but I will donate time for each child.

I gave a month for the students to complete their projects (Due April 30th). Based on previous projects, some students may need less time but most students will use the whole month to manage their time. If they finish too early or you feel what they picked is too simple for them let me know. The best thing about the worksheet and this project is that it can be adapted to be easier or more challenging based on the student’s abilities.

In the end, the final product will be graded on similar rubrics of past projects. However, I am looking specifically for three things on every project.

Inventor

Date of invention

and Use of invention

I will also be grading on their oral presentation, their model/poster/computer show/video…

I will be looking for a presentation that flows and makes sense. They can either focus on one topic, like history or how it works, or they can provide a summary of the invention but it needs to make sense and have connections to each piece of information.

Overall, I am looking to see that the student understand the topic and can demonstrate this understanding to his/her peers, teacher, and parents.

If you have any questions please let me know

Ms. Andrea

Here is the final cut. The sound may be a little off.

Aleph_shadowPlay

This week we reunite our whole class together again. Griffin will be back from vacation and Max is feeling better! Last week the class found their voice in Reader’s Theater. We practiced with a great book called Voices in the Park and decided we would like to show off our talent to our preschool class. If practice goes well on Monday, we will be preforming our Reader’s Theater in the afternoon, just before school gets out, around 2:45. All is welcome and pictures or videos will be posted on the blog.

Congratulations Elementary Class! for reaching their second prize for class points. For earning 40 class points, they have earned a reading day. Reading day will be coming soon. It will be on a Friday. The students will be able to bring blankets, pillows, comfortable clothes, and lots of books for a good part of the day dedicated to reading and relaxation. We may even be able to have some snacks available to munch on as they read. The date of the reading day is TBA. I am aiming for the Friday of this week since the class has been so patient as they wait for their prize!

New in March! This month we will begin a vocabulary unit in replace of our writer’s workshop. Hopefully, by the end of the month we will be filled with new, colorful words! This week we will start out exploring the dictionaries and thesaurus’, great tools for spicing up writing with new bold vocabulary. We will also start planning for our third and final research project around the end of this week or the beginning of next week. This project’s brainstorming will be similar to the first project. I can’t wait to see what the students come up with as our new general topic!

As the weather gets sporadically warmer the students and I are getting more excited about being outside and exploring nature. Soon, we will be able to really immerse ourselves in nature’s wonders  with our new nature curriculum. Not only does it get us outside but it integrates social studies, science, writing, and more in it’s lessons.

Ms. Andrea

Yesterday Morning’s Science Fair was wonderful. It was so great to see the kids so excited about their projects and their peers projects too. Everyone did a great job. You can really see the effort they put into the projects. I am so proud of all my students!

Presenting their Projects

Leaving comments for each other.

We also had a surprise visitor! Monty the snake, Max’s family pet, came by to say hello. The kids were so interested in the snake the questions never ended. He was able to spend the whole day with us and we learned so much. The class even was able to hold and wear Monty, just another way to discover and explore this amazing animal further.

Wearing Monty as a hat

Monty really liked Chana

Rochel being very brave!

Bassi really liked holding, wearing, and petting Monty

Moshe was able to share with his online class his new neck tie!

Ms. Andrea

In light of adding joy to the month of Adar, we play an educational game each morning. Torah is compared to water, (or juice when it’s snack time!) We raced to see who could drink up the “Torah” and absorb it fastest, using Twizzlers as our straws.

What do you know about Purim?

This question was posed in class, and the overwhelming answer was, “We eat candy!” Well, our class goal is to learn about Purim and recognize that it is SO much more than just candy. Please ask your child to recount something new they learned about Purim!

Hint: We are concentrating on the plot of the Purim story and how Hashgacha Pratis is woven into every aspect.

• Achashvierosh “happened” to pick Esther as queen.
• Mordechai “happened” to save the king’s life.

Hello again,

I wanted to create another post containing all the new and exciting things going on this week in elementary. Book report sandwiches are coming home this week as we make room for our new literacy project: Facts I didn’t know… The students each read a book and came up with facts they did not know before they read the book. I gave student’s free reign for production of this project and am impressed with the variety and creativity of their final projects. We have started making alot more literacy projects. We have been producing so many great pieces that some have lost their way for being displayed. The last project we did was creating interview questions for a character in a book and answering them for the character. I was blown away with some of the detail in the questions that I have to share some with you here. These will be coming home at the end of this week but here are a few interviews I loved.

Pinky Pink from Geronimo Stilton:

Q: Why do you want to work for Mr. Stilton? A: Because I like to publish.

Q: Why did you pick this specific job? A: I thought I would be a good secretary.

Max from Dinosaur Hunt

Q: Where do you find dinosaurs? A: I find them outside. But I need to bring some stuff with me.

Q: Did the dinosaur you made scare the cat? A: Yeah, he never came back.

Delicoious from Apples to Oregon

Q: Hello Delicious, Why do you think you were named that? A: Well as you know my father loves fruit and fruit are totally delicious!

We are also on our last step to finishing the ABC books for writer’s workshop. This week they will be assembled. This has been a long project that the kids have really worked hard to make everything look right and really kept an eye out for great pictures. I know some of the students would like to share their stories with the preschool class. I hope to set up a time with Ms. Carey and everyone once all the books are complete.

The last new event that has been going on is the trench being dug to connect the river to the water pipe. Sarah has recently posted about the trench but I have some never before seen photos of the trench in action. I hope you enjoy them, I know I do. (oh and it might be wise to send some extra clothes with the kids while the dig (;  )

Expanding the trench

The beginning

Making Flood Prevention Ditches

I hope everyone had a great weekend and I will see you on Monday,

Ms. Andrea