In this Newsletter:
Announcements!
Library Lessons Coming THIS YEAR!
K-1: Aug./Sept: Library Orientation
December: Holidays January: Digital Citizenship February: Reader's Theater March: Reader's Theater Continued April: Research Projects May: Kamishibai Stories & Fables June: Code.org | 2-5: Aug./Sept: Library Orientation
December: Rhode Island Children Book Awards & Holidays January: LAUNCH
March: RICAS Practice Grades 3-5 April: Reader's Theater May: Research Projects June: Code.org |
PLTW LAUNCH Information
From the PLTW Website:
"Your PreK - 5 students already have the qualities of great designers and innovators. What PLTW Launch does is tap into their exploratory nature, engage them in learning that feels like play, and encourage them to keep discovering – now and for years to come. PLTW Launch’s 28 interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. And as students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge."
I am very excited to bring this curriculum to North Scituate Elementary School this year! This past summer I attended a Project Lead the Way Training (PLTW) with Ms. Donovan, the K-12 STEAM coordinator, to become a certified LAUNCH teacher. Students in grades K-5 at North Scituate will participate in the Computer Science LAUNCH modules provided by PLTW. This curriculum aligns well to Scituate's Middle and High School PLTW curriculum. This curriculum is student centered, highly engaging, and hands on. It uses a problem-based instructional design that centers on hands-on, real-world activities, projects, and problems that help students understand how the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom may be applied in everyday life. The problem-based approach "scaffolds student learning through structured activities and projects that empower students to become independent in the classroom and help them build skill sets to apply to an open-ended design problem." It also "provides students with unique opportunities to work collaboratively, identify problems, apply what they know, persevere through challenges, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning."
I am very excited to begin this curriculum with Grades K-1 in October and 2-5 in January!
"Your PreK - 5 students already have the qualities of great designers and innovators. What PLTW Launch does is tap into their exploratory nature, engage them in learning that feels like play, and encourage them to keep discovering – now and for years to come. PLTW Launch’s 28 interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. And as students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge."
I am very excited to bring this curriculum to North Scituate Elementary School this year! This past summer I attended a Project Lead the Way Training (PLTW) with Ms. Donovan, the K-12 STEAM coordinator, to become a certified LAUNCH teacher. Students in grades K-5 at North Scituate will participate in the Computer Science LAUNCH modules provided by PLTW. This curriculum aligns well to Scituate's Middle and High School PLTW curriculum. This curriculum is student centered, highly engaging, and hands on. It uses a problem-based instructional design that centers on hands-on, real-world activities, projects, and problems that help students understand how the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom may be applied in everyday life. The problem-based approach "scaffolds student learning through structured activities and projects that empower students to become independent in the classroom and help them build skill sets to apply to an open-ended design problem." It also "provides students with unique opportunities to work collaboratively, identify problems, apply what they know, persevere through challenges, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning."
I am very excited to begin this curriculum with Grades K-1 in October and 2-5 in January!
pltw_launch.pdf |
STEAM Enrichment 2019-2020
Students in each grade level see me every other week with another itinerant teacher for STEAM Enrichment. Students will spend about 30 minutes during this period learning and working on their final projects (See below).
What is STEAM?
Steam is an incorporation of S-Science, T-Technology, E-Engineering, A-Arts, and M-Math together.
What are the Benefits of STEAM?
Students will learn by engaging in creative processes and solving problems. Students will think more broadly and innovatively about real-world issues. They will also engage in their curiosities.
STEAM jobs are growing more rapidly than any other sector. Students will be more prepared for the workforce with the skills needed for careers in engineering, design, advertising, and more. Collaboration and artistic skills make job candidates more qualified for highly sought-after positions.
Steam is an incorporation of S-Science, T-Technology, E-Engineering, A-Arts, and M-Math together.
What are the Benefits of STEAM?
Students will learn by engaging in creative processes and solving problems. Students will think more broadly and innovatively about real-world issues. They will also engage in their curiosities.
- Trans-disciplinary
- Taught through learning from others
- 21st Century Skills
- Student-centered
- Student interest and choice
- Real world issues
- Group oriented = Collaboration
STEAM jobs are growing more rapidly than any other sector. Students will be more prepared for the workforce with the skills needed for careers in engineering, design, advertising, and more. Collaboration and artistic skills make job candidates more qualified for highly sought-after positions.
What will my child be learning this year in STEAM? Kindergarten- Drums Alive: is a program that fosters a healthy balance physically, mentally, emotionally and socially! It provides an element of fun and creative expression. Students will also learn about patterns and rhythms. Grade 1- OSMOS & Algorithms: Osmo merges tactile exploration with innovative technology, actively engaging children in the learning process. Students can learn about and practice math, spelling, coding, drawing, business, puzzles and more. After each group of students rotates through the OSMO games, students will then learn about coding and algorithms to create their own real-world algorithm (Algorithms are a list of steps.) Grade 2- Designing a board game: In groups students will first learn about the history of board games and the many kinds of board games before creating their own educational board game. Grade 3- NEED Program/ Energy: In groups students will research an energy source to present to the class. Students will then create their own computer games based on a way to save energy using Bloxels. Grade 4- Science of Sound: Students will first learn about how sound works and will then learn about the different parts of a computer using a Raspberry Pi computer (a computer the size of a credit card). With the Raspberry Pi students will then create music to accompany Grade 3's video games. Grade 5- A.I., Apps, and Stop Motion: Students will first learn about Artificial Intelligence through exploring different Chrome Extensions and Apps. Then students will create a Stop Motion video. |
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NEW! Bedtime Stories
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Volunteers NEEDED!
Would you like to volunteer in the library? Here are some things I would have you do:
Here is what I need from you: Send me an email regarding your interest to [email protected].
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