Week 1 Sept 8-11

Welcome back to school!  It was nice to meet many of our 7th grade families at our Back To School Night.  I handed out a Parent Information Packet.  Click here to view it.  Thank you for the help with class school supplies and volunteer field trip drivers.

I am still in need of a ROOM PARENT!  If you can help in that capacity or have questions about room parent duties, please contact me at lisa@innovationsacademy.org

Our first week together included: 

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• Community Building  We created Lego Ducks to show how everyone sees things differently. When given the same tools(6 identical sized Lego pieces) often we create different outcomes (different shaped ducks) Is one right? Is one wrong? As we come to appreciate differences, we can see that everyone has something to contribute.

 We did the Marshmallow Challenge in order to learn to work, plan and design together. Students learned that prototypes and multiple drafts lead to a stronger, better finished product. The Pyramid Cup Challenge tested students' ability to work together as a team to complete a common goal. I got to know my class better by having them write a letter me. Click here to see letter assignment.

• Setting the Tone of the Classroom We created a gecko tessellation (finished product coming!) by coming up with words that would create an awesome classroom environment. We also drafted out Classroom Expectations. Both products will be posted in our classroom as reminders of what we want for the best year ever.

• Rules and Routines Students talked about the importance of jobs and routines in the classroom. Jobs will be assigned next week. We started the routine of daily reading by introducing "The Outsiders" as our first class novel. We are currently into Chapter 2.

• Guided Discoveries We had our first guided discovery in Science by investigating 5 Mystery Boxes.  The objective was to learn about the steps used in the Scientific Method

All students started a School to Home Communication Journal.  It will be their means to communicate their week with you.  It came home Friday and is to come back signed by a parent each Monday.  It includes a checklist of the work that was expected to be completed that week. Students not completing classwork during school time are asked to finish it at home.  Those who still need support will stay after school on Monday's for our Monday Makeups.

I can't wait for another great week!  Look for more information on our upcoming field trips as well as the class schedules in my next blog post