April/May Update
* Lunch Meetings on 4/11 and 5/15
* School Store on 4/13 and 5/10
* Planned and created middle school video for 5th grade parents/students
* Students created a flier of items left from school store - distributed to teachers in the building
* Planned and created teacher reading posters for next year
* Individual meetings
It has been a pleasure to work with the 8th grade Paltag students for the last two years. I wish all 8th graders the best of luck at the high school!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
March Update
* Students worked during School Store on Thursday 3/1
* Individual meetings with Mrs. Mahaffey were on March 19th
* Lunch meeting was held on 3/22 - during this time we outlined the order for the 5th grade video
* Students began creating the 5th grade video in small groups on 3/26. Small groups will meet again during the month of April to finish the video.
* I continue to meet with the Dolphins team teachers to monitor progress and assist with differentiation as needed.
* Individual meetings with Mrs. Mahaffey were on March 19th
* Lunch meeting was held on 3/22 - during this time we outlined the order for the 5th grade video
* Students began creating the 5th grade video in small groups on 3/26. Small groups will meet again during the month of April to finish the video.
* I continue to meet with the Dolphins team teachers to monitor progress and assist with differentiation as needed.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
February
February update:
* During our lunch meeting at the beginning of February, we had four 9th grade students attend and talk about high school and the courses they were taking. 8th graders had the opportunity to ask questions of those students.
* Each student met individually with Mrs. Mahaffey at the beginning of the month to talk about scheduling.
* Students worked a shift during the Scholastic Book Fair. Duties included assisting students, record keeping, and stocking.
* School store was held during lunches on Friday, 2/17.
* During our lunch meeting at the beginning of February, we had four 9th grade students attend and talk about high school and the courses they were taking. 8th graders had the opportunity to ask questions of those students.
* Each student met individually with Mrs. Mahaffey at the beginning of the month to talk about scheduling.
* Students worked a shift during the Scholastic Book Fair. Duties included assisting students, record keeping, and stocking.
* School store was held during lunches on Friday, 2/17.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
December and January
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a relaxing break! December was a busy month for the 8th grade students. Here's a look at what we worked on...
* school store during 6th, 7th, and 8th grade lunches
* individual meetings to discuss classes, grades, and the 5th grade video
* 5th grade video meeting
* 5th grade video taping
* finished up presenting powerpoints to the Dolphins team teachers
* lunch meeting - students worked in groups to place pictures from the book Zoom in order. Sounds easy, right? There was a catch. Students in the group were each given their own pictures and were not allowed to show the other group members their pictures. They had to place the pictures in order without actually seeing all of the pictures.
Individual meetings were scheduled last week. With the students that attended, we began to talk about course scheduling for 9th grade. Students in reference this semester are working with Mrs. Dorwart to learn more about scheduling and the high school. Students taking reference during the second semester will start the class with Mrs. Dorwart and learn more about the scheduling process. Mr. Jones, high school principal, will also be visiting the middle school in the next few weeks to meet with each of the 8th grade teams. During this time, he will present the course catalog and talk with the students about scheduling and the high school. There will also be a parent meeting - more information on date and time will be coming soon.
During the January lunch meeting, students were given a scenario about a plane crash. Working in pairs, they were asked to order the 12 items that survived the crash, thinking about which would be the most useful and why. We ended the meeting with a great discussion about which objects/items could be used for what.
School store is scheduled for this Friday. I will also be visiting Mrs. Wehr's Language Arts class this month to talk with the 8th grade students about their reading workshop progress.
* school store during 6th, 7th, and 8th grade lunches
* individual meetings to discuss classes, grades, and the 5th grade video
* 5th grade video meeting
* 5th grade video taping
* finished up presenting powerpoints to the Dolphins team teachers
* lunch meeting - students worked in groups to place pictures from the book Zoom in order. Sounds easy, right? There was a catch. Students in the group were each given their own pictures and were not allowed to show the other group members their pictures. They had to place the pictures in order without actually seeing all of the pictures.
Individual meetings were scheduled last week. With the students that attended, we began to talk about course scheduling for 9th grade. Students in reference this semester are working with Mrs. Dorwart to learn more about scheduling and the high school. Students taking reference during the second semester will start the class with Mrs. Dorwart and learn more about the scheduling process. Mr. Jones, high school principal, will also be visiting the middle school in the next few weeks to meet with each of the 8th grade teams. During this time, he will present the course catalog and talk with the students about scheduling and the high school. There will also be a parent meeting - more information on date and time will be coming soon.
During the January lunch meeting, students were given a scenario about a plane crash. Working in pairs, they were asked to order the 12 items that survived the crash, thinking about which would be the most useful and why. We ended the meeting with a great discussion about which objects/items could be used for what.
School store is scheduled for this Friday. I will also be visiting Mrs. Wehr's Language Arts class this month to talk with the 8th grade students about their reading workshop progress.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Building Bridges
8th grade students worked in pairs to create a bridge with given materials during their lunch meeting. Every bridge had to look the same and groups weren't allowed to see each other. In addition, there was a new language for students to use. Ask your 8th grade student about what materials they could use and how the bridges turned out!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
September and October Update
The 2011-2012 school year is off to a great start! September and October have been very busy months. Here's a quick look at what we have been doing...
* Prior to the start of school, I met with the Dolphins team teachers to discuss each student and plan enrichment opportunities for first marking period. I met with the team again following the completion of all GIEP meetings to review updated GIEP information.
* GIEP meetings for all 8th grade Paltag students were held with each student preparing and presenting a powerpoint about themselves as a learner/leader and their plans for the future. Each student will be presenting their powerpoint to the Dolphins team teachers in early November as well.
* School store was open during the Middle School open house in August as well as one day during lunches in both September and October.
* We began preparing and planning for the 5th grade video, including taping parts of the open house in August and interviewing current middle school students.
* During reading workshop in Mrs. Wehr's language arts class, students conferenced with me about the books they are currently reading.
* I met individually with students in September and October.
* The September lunch meeting focused on introducing the powerpoint presentation for GIEP meetings.
* At the October lunch meeting, we looked at the high school course catalog and summer reading requirements for the honors language arts courses. This information is available on the school district webpage (www.pasd.us), by clicking on the student/parent information link and then clicking on the high school option.
* Several 8th grade Paltag students responded to my request to help teachers and students at Pine Street Elementary.
I am very proud of all the 8th grade students for their thoughtful preparation of the powerpoint presentation. Each student put time and effort into thinking about themselves as students and leaders as well as their plans for the future.
The spelling bee is coming up at the middle school. Sign ups for the written spelling bee will be held next week in language arts classes. Based on the results of the written spelling bee, students will be invited to participate in the oral spelling bee. Please consider participating in this event.
Also, sign ups for the peer mentors program took place last week during lunches. This is a program run through the school counseling office. The peer mentors program takes place on Wednesdays after school. Peer mentors work with other students at the middle school in need of support. If interested in participating, please contact Mrs. Dorwart in the counseling office.
* Prior to the start of school, I met with the Dolphins team teachers to discuss each student and plan enrichment opportunities for first marking period. I met with the team again following the completion of all GIEP meetings to review updated GIEP information.
* GIEP meetings for all 8th grade Paltag students were held with each student preparing and presenting a powerpoint about themselves as a learner/leader and their plans for the future. Each student will be presenting their powerpoint to the Dolphins team teachers in early November as well.
* School store was open during the Middle School open house in August as well as one day during lunches in both September and October.
* We began preparing and planning for the 5th grade video, including taping parts of the open house in August and interviewing current middle school students.
* During reading workshop in Mrs. Wehr's language arts class, students conferenced with me about the books they are currently reading.
* I met individually with students in September and October.
* The September lunch meeting focused on introducing the powerpoint presentation for GIEP meetings.
* At the October lunch meeting, we looked at the high school course catalog and summer reading requirements for the honors language arts courses. This information is available on the school district webpage (www.pasd.us), by clicking on the student/parent information link and then clicking on the high school option.
* Several 8th grade Paltag students responded to my request to help teachers and students at Pine Street Elementary.
I am very proud of all the 8th grade students for their thoughtful preparation of the powerpoint presentation. Each student put time and effort into thinking about themselves as students and leaders as well as their plans for the future.
The spelling bee is coming up at the middle school. Sign ups for the written spelling bee will be held next week in language arts classes. Based on the results of the written spelling bee, students will be invited to participate in the oral spelling bee. Please consider participating in this event.
Also, sign ups for the peer mentors program took place last week during lunches. This is a program run through the school counseling office. The peer mentors program takes place on Wednesdays after school. Peer mentors work with other students at the middle school in need of support. If interested in participating, please contact Mrs. Dorwart in the counseling office.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
May Lunch Meeting
PALTAG students are invited to a lunch meeting on Tuesday, May 10th. We will have several 9th grade PALTAG students with us to talk about high school, the courses they are taking, etc. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about high school as well. I am hopeful this will give them answers to their questions while also giving them a few more familiar faces to see at the high school.
7th grade PALTAG students will be visiting the elementary schools to have lunch with 5th grade LEAP students. They will be talking with them about middle school. Again, my hope is that the 5th graders will have some questions answered for them while also having a few friendly faces at the middle school next year.
On Friday, May 13th 8th grade PALTAG students will have the opportunity to meet with Rep. Gingrich. She will be joining us during lunch to talk with the 8th graders about the budget situation and answer any of their questions.
7th grade PALTAG students will be visiting the elementary schools to have lunch with 5th grade LEAP students. They will be talking with them about middle school. Again, my hope is that the 5th graders will have some questions answered for them while also having a few friendly faces at the middle school next year.
On Friday, May 13th 8th grade PALTAG students will have the opportunity to meet with Rep. Gingrich. She will be joining us during lunch to talk with the 8th graders about the budget situation and answer any of their questions.
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