“A Few Simple Tricks Make The Lessons Stick”

“Our senses evolved to work together-vision influencing hearing, for example – which means that we learn best if we stimulate several senses at once.

–Brain Rules, by John Medina

As part of our study of Nevada history and geography students were able to use food to make maps of Nevada.  Chocolate chips were used to indicate mountain ranges, frosting for water features, and sprinkles for ecosystems.  Students made flags to highlight major cities and points of interest.  Food and sweet smells make this lesson a favorite memory and the information really “sticks”!

During our writer’s workshop, students were introduced to the genre of fantasy.  To help students understand the elements of fantasy writing, students used prism glasses to see how just one magical element could transform our classroom into a different world.  Students are preparing to publish their fantasy stories.  Check out the October blogs for student samples.

The class is buzzing with excitement around 12:30 pm when the mail is delivered.  Receiving mail from their individual states brings beautiful images that motivate students to learn more.  Matching a positive emotional response with learning is the type of experience we try to create each day.  

We will do whatever it takes to learn about the 50 states.    States and capitals “Bump It” games, gummy bears vs. swedish fish, help students learn the location of the states and their capitals.  Concentration card games, songs, coloring, and playground balls help us review for quizzes.  

National Hispanic Heritage Month is being celebrated with the beautiful images of picture books as well as our first “audio” book.  Kids are enjoying listening to “Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish” by Pablo Cartaya.  Using literature is a great way to help students understand the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

Our class loves to find different ways to learn and the teachers appreciate student participation.  We have had such a fun month and we look forward to “Celebrate America Day” where we can enjoy student presentations and celebrate all of their hard work.

Please visit our picture galleries to see more images of  E6 students learning with all of their “senses”. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cRVNOPzhyRwh-6DfC_X4JzQRFMuiCNON?usp=sharing

Our class has really enjoyed reading some interesting articles this week. They’ve read about blood-sucking fish, invasive species, and the first civilian crew to ever go to space. Their StoryWorks magazines have made them interested in what is currently happening in the world and we love to encourage that kind of curiosity in E6. In order to foster that yearning for knowledge, we have introduced our very own E6 newspaper. In this newspaper, each student will work with a partner to write an article where they have to do research and learn something new. Here is a sneak peek of what the newspaper will entail! 

Study Tips

By: Miya and Lilah

Today we are going to be giving you some great study tips.

This is our first tip, we suggest that whenever you get frustrated

with any school work or other stuff to take three deep breaths and take a break! For our second tip, we suggest that if you don’t know a question or a math problem, be confident  in yourself and don’t give up. Keep trying! For our third tip, if you get mad and want to give up do not cheat or look at someone’s paper. Ask a friend or a teacher for help! For our  forth tip, if you are very competitive then we suggest that you cover your paper and tell the other person to do the same 

thing so you do not see their paper and are not tempted. For our fifth tip, we think that if you are mad, you are most likely hangry. Here are a few great snacks for you: Made Good bars, Goldfish, bananas, and apples. These are some great snacks for studying. For our last tip, we suggest that you just keep trying and never give up. 

Here are a few math problems to challenge yourself.

For the fourth years:

45+79=

For the fifth years:

46-32=

For the sixth years:

473+45-329= 

And if you want to be challenged here is a good one:

124×46

Book Report

By Amber and Emma

    Looking for a good read? Well you’ve come to the right place! Here’s our top book 

choice: Artemis Fowl

  Why should you read the Artemis Fowl series? Well, the series is about a boy named Artemis Fowl II, a  12 year old genius criminal mastermind. He’s part of a family of criminal billionaires.. That is, until his dad dies taking with him lots of the family fortune. The Fowls are still quite rich, but the billionaire title is no longer theirs. Therefore, Artemis begins his quest to restore the family fortune.

In the first book Artemis Fowl decides to try and get gold from  the fairies… Make no mistake though, these aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories. They’re armed and dangerous. Artemis kidnaps one of them, Captain Holly Short, an elf and a captain of the lower elements police reconnaissance  force [leprecon] [see what they did there] yet even he doesn’t know what he’s got himself into…   

If you didn’t know there’s also a movie on Disney+!

Artemis Fowl is by Eoin Colfer, New York Times best-selling #1 author who has written many books about Artemis Fowl and other stories.

– Review –

 See what other people think of Artemis Fowl!

“It is an amazing, fantasy, expressive book”

                                               – Sophia

“It’s fine…the movie, I mean…”

                       -Rylee

 “The book is one of the best I’ve ever read. The movie’s garbage though…”

                                             – Donya

“Honestly, In my opinion he’s weird..”

                                              – Kellan

“Honestly I’ve never read the books, but I think the movie is pretty good!”

                                               – Casey

Be on the lookout for a printed copy of the full E6 newspaper coming home soon and don’t forget to check out our photo link! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cRVNOPzhyRwh-6DfC_X4JzQRFMuiCNON?usp=sharing

Often the best way to get to know both the students and teachers is through language arts.  A favorite tradition in E6, is to start the year with an art piece that highlights the unique qualities and interests of each student.  This year the students completed a tee-shirt design following the artist Piet Mondrian.  Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was a Dutch artist best known for his abstract paintings.  His work influenced later artists and designers in architecture, furniture, and fashion.  Enjoy looking through our slideshow and getting to know the students and teachers of E6. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Fh9VUJoY_qdeKUH8ZGBZlcL84VqD2zDG1n_0SKtX-To/edit?usp=sharing

We are all writers…

We launched our Writers’ Workshop and kids enjoyed brainstorming and sharing their thoughts about writing.  Ms. Heather posed four questions.  What do we write?  Why do we write?  How do we prepare for writing?  What have you written?  Anything with post-it notes gets the kids involved.  Here is a sample of some of their answers.

“To express our feelings and emotions”

“It’s a way of communication and it’s fun!”

“To be creative”

“To tell stories about life”

“I have written lots of comic strips”

“To plan for writing I use bubble maps and brainstorming.”

Visit our photo galleries to see examples of our students’ writing.  Next up in writers’ workshop – fantasy writing!

Practice Real Reading

This past week was reading week and we started with a reading strategy lesson that focused on metacognition.  Students practiced “thinking about thinking” as they read.  Students and teachers shared examples of real reading and examples of fake reading.  We use this lesson as we begin to meet for reading groups.  Practicing real reading helps students with plot and character predictions, questioning and inference, and overall comprehension.  The kids and teachers of E6 love reading together.💓

Looking forward to the month of September and we focus on US geography and state research projects.  In science, our study of ecology will focus on the levels of organization within ecosystems.  Our next blog will feature pictures of their progress.  Please visit our photo galleries!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cRVNOPzhyRwh-6DfC_X4JzQRFMuiCNON?usp=sharing

What a “FANCACTUS” start to the school year!  Students arrived to warm welcomes as they greeted old friends and welcomed new ones.  We have spent the past weeks playing, illustrating, writing, and working together as we get to know one another.  Our community is “LOOKING SHARP” with introductory lessons to US geography, ecology, and Mindset Mathematics.  The week ahead is going to be “PLANTASTIC” as we launch our “Great Lessons of Reading” and writer’s workshop.

We enjoy our time together.

Students spent time during the first few weeks playing games and participating in community building activities that promote working together.  Ice breakers, name games, and STEM projects gave children the chance to meet a new friend and understand that we all do better when we work together.

We work creatively.

You don’t have to be a great artist to express yourself artistically.  The teachers and students were able to share their unique personalities with decorations, illustrations, and portraits.  The start of a school year is the best time to introduce art projects that are full of self expression.

Ms. Taylor led the class in a collaborative art project which asked each student, “What unique quality will you bring to the E6 each day that will help make our year a success?”  Students responded with words like, positivity, imagination, honesty, leadership and patience.  Students then wrote their words on a puzzle piece and when put together is a reminder of the contribution we all make to our classroom, our friends, and our school community.  

When we put our heads together, we learn better.

Our curriculum is loaded with lessons that involve collaboration.  Students were able to work collectively to solve math tasks, complete science challenges, investigate the timeline of life, and build baskets like ancient hunters and gatherers.  

We have so many pictures of students working together, please make sure you look through our photo albums.  Check back at the end of the month to see photo galleries highlighting E6 student artwork.

Click here to check out our E6 photos! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cRVNOPzhyRwh-6DfC_X4JzQRFMuiCNON?usp=sharing

“What is going on?  Are the chairs mad at us?” remarked Logan as he entered class on Monday morning.  The chairs are done!  They complain of unfair working conditions, constantly being tilted on two legs, knocked over, food spilled on their seats, and no rest from sweaty children.  Listen to the following recording in our google photo album to see what the chairs have to say.  

Students were then asked to write a persuasive essay to the chairs to convince them to return to work.  Ms. Heather has taught the students the “OREO” method of persuasion, Opinion, Reason, Evidence, and restatement of Opinion.  Thanks to the words of the E6 students almost all chairs returned to work.  Please enjoy the student samples below.

Dear Magnificent chairs,

You are right, E6 didn’t realize how much we needed you. Now we do.  Probably because we are sitting on the floor.  Without you, chairs, we can’t work properly or sit still.  Sometimes we can be unproductive but I think today will be the most unproductive without you helping us.

My second reason is that I’m sure everyone is already tired of being on the floor.  Therefore, we will promise to not rock, spill or draw on you again. By the end of this, I hope you have the smile some kid drew on you.

The last reason is you are very important in everyone’s lives.  We just didn’t realize it.  Maybe we could make a holiday just for chairs…what do you say?!

Sincerely,

Rocco

Dear E6 irritated, wooden chairs.,

I’m sorry for rocking my chair, I deeply apologize.

I don’t do it that often, I really, really try.

I’ve seen people fall, and crash, smash and cry,

But we should think about you, who also took a dive.

You’ve been hurt, battered, and bruised,

But that’s what makes you E6 chairs you!

And about the kids… I know I smell it too!

Once I almost fell back 

and nearly hit my head,

I caught myself in time,

If you remember that.

Ever since then I’ve tried not to rock,

For both of our sakes, we all need to stop.

As much and I want you to leave,

I need you even more,

After a long day of playing many sports.

How about lets do this,

We wipe off all the food

We accidentally drop on you,

And maybe if we rock

We immediately stop

And when we begin again, we can be punished A LOT!

So try to give a chair,

To those who are good

Not to the other disrespectful rocking fools.

So think about this,

Before you try to leave,

I’m really sorry if we upset you,

But will you come back please?

Sincerely,

Your empathetic friend,

Cayden

Dear chairs,

I need you.  You are the best thing that I have ever sat on.  I am sorry for everything I have ever done to you.  We children are childish and we didn’t understand your feelings and we understand you now.

We never told you this but we are very grateful that you’ve let us relax on you for the past years.  You and the table make such a good pair and with you we are complete.  You complete us.  We could never survive work and school without you.

We never meant to hurt you and we promise to stop taking you for granted.  Will you forgive us?

Your very sorry friend,

Saagar

The students are finishing biology by investigating the different cycles that support life; the water cycle, the oxygen cycle, the nitrogen cycle and last but not least, the carbon cycle.  Students take notes and use their notes to transfer the information into another medium.  This helps all the new information really stick.  Below is a sample of a student who summarized the nitrogen cycle  into a poem.

Nitrogen Cycle by Addi B.

In the plant I sat alone.

Until an odor hit my nose.

Bacteria flew from up above,

And soon I had,

Friends?

Three little oxygens hopping around,

Rolling, twirling, spinning about.

They grabbed my hands and leapt to the skies.

I won’t admit I’m afraid of heights.

Landing in a pillowed fray,

Water was all that they could say.

“What?”

From far ahead I felt a buzz,

But I didn’t want to leave the fuzz.

I tried to run

But…

ZAP!

Down I went falling, falling back again.

I said in a hurry.

Curling back to my rooty home.

Until an odor hits my nose.

We are finishing the year strong with lots of reading and writing.  In the weeks ahead we will be preparing for “Shakespeare Unshackled”, our musical that highlights the life and times of William Shakespeare and the Renaissance.  More details to come.

It’s hard to believe that this unprecedented year is almost over.  This is definitely a year none of us will ever forget.  Thanks again for all of your kind words, hot coffees, and endless support.  Please visit our photo galleries, new pictures have been uploaded.

Take care,

The E6 Team

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HtDfUYD4SGyg6N1UEpza6FkAvdF7Espq?usp=sharing