Dear Sixth Grade Families,
Happy new year! 2014? Wow! Read on for news of the upcoming week:
Brief Review
Just before our break in December we completed our first three-week Physical Science block. There was great interest and excitement amongst the students as we explored the science of sound (acoustics) and also heat energy. After all, these phenomena surround us, and yet we rarely cue into it all. Hot air balloons in the morning? Clouds moving through the afternoon sky? Car engines ticking and clicking as it cools down? What are the scientific concepts that help explain how these things happen? It is really so interesting! During our study we practiced the super important skill of observing, using the contexts of the many different (sometimes surprising) scientific demonstrations as our training ground. Along the way we also worked on note-taking and writing simple, short, step-by step directions for how to perform the many demonstrations. It was quite enlivening to see the spark of interest light up in the eyes of the students as we began applying the scientific concepts gleaned from the demonstrations to the world around us. During this block I also worked with the students to maintain an organized binder and desk, and also how to study for an end-of-block test. As the students move into adolescence, the habits and skills involved with staying organized and on task are severely tested and yet so, so important (and helpful)! I will continue to press the children to further develop these habits and skills, and I will also encourage them to ask themselves this question along the way, often: Does this work represent my very best effort? If the answer is yes, then learning will happen, whether they realize it or not!
Upcoming Blocks
Beginning this week: Economics
January 20th: Cyber Ethics
February 3rd: Physical Science #2 (More heat energy, magnetism & optics).
New Book Response (#3)
I asked the students to continue reading in a book of their choice over the course of the month of December and through the Winter Break. I will be handing out a new "Book Response" assignment to the students this week and will be spending a good amount of time in class going over the directions in order to help everyone get started on it. It will be due on Thursday morning.
Mark your calendars!
The Senior Choir (Grades 6-8) has been selected to perform this year in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. On February 5 at 6:30, Waldorf schools from Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties will take the stage to each perform unique pieces of music before their classmates, parents, and members of the general public. More information (i.e. arrival time and tickets) will be coming soon, as Michele hears from the folks organizing this year's event.
That's all for now. I look forward to seeing everybody again in the morning.
Justin
Happy new year! 2014? Wow! Read on for news of the upcoming week:
Brief Review
Just before our break in December we completed our first three-week Physical Science block. There was great interest and excitement amongst the students as we explored the science of sound (acoustics) and also heat energy. After all, these phenomena surround us, and yet we rarely cue into it all. Hot air balloons in the morning? Clouds moving through the afternoon sky? Car engines ticking and clicking as it cools down? What are the scientific concepts that help explain how these things happen? It is really so interesting! During our study we practiced the super important skill of observing, using the contexts of the many different (sometimes surprising) scientific demonstrations as our training ground. Along the way we also worked on note-taking and writing simple, short, step-by step directions for how to perform the many demonstrations. It was quite enlivening to see the spark of interest light up in the eyes of the students as we began applying the scientific concepts gleaned from the demonstrations to the world around us. During this block I also worked with the students to maintain an organized binder and desk, and also how to study for an end-of-block test. As the students move into adolescence, the habits and skills involved with staying organized and on task are severely tested and yet so, so important (and helpful)! I will continue to press the children to further develop these habits and skills, and I will also encourage them to ask themselves this question along the way, often: Does this work represent my very best effort? If the answer is yes, then learning will happen, whether they realize it or not!
Upcoming Blocks
Beginning this week: Economics
January 20th: Cyber Ethics
February 3rd: Physical Science #2 (More heat energy, magnetism & optics).
New Book Response (#3)
I asked the students to continue reading in a book of their choice over the course of the month of December and through the Winter Break. I will be handing out a new "Book Response" assignment to the students this week and will be spending a good amount of time in class going over the directions in order to help everyone get started on it. It will be due on Thursday morning.
Mark your calendars!
The Senior Choir (Grades 6-8) has been selected to perform this year in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. On February 5 at 6:30, Waldorf schools from Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties will take the stage to each perform unique pieces of music before their classmates, parents, and members of the general public. More information (i.e. arrival time and tickets) will be coming soon, as Michele hears from the folks organizing this year's event.
That's all for now. I look forward to seeing everybody again in the morning.
Justin