TWIS 10/31-11/4

Parents,

   Here's to another wacky week at school!  Just some highlights coming up-

Monday- Halloween parade and classroom parties begin at 2:30.  6th graders DO NOT dress up or participate in the parade; we will decorate our classroom so younger grades may walk through and enjoy our halloween themes, though!  Your student may ask to bring materials to decorate- as long as it's "G" rated, I'm cool with it (if you are).

Also, these parents have signed up to donate treats for the classroom (we have 29 students)-

Healthy Snacks- Val E and Mischa T

Sweet snacks- Makell M and Mindy P

Drinks- Jen T

Cups/napkins/plates- Andrea F

Thank you for your support and for your mindfulness on classroom food allergies!

Friday- This is an early dismissal day for teacher report card writing time.  Conferences are November 15th and 17th.  If you have yet to sign up for a conference, please do so by following these directions:

1. Visit the school’s homepage http://www.cfschools.org/schools/southdale and select the Online Scheduler icon/link. 
2. Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”
3. Enter the school password = southdale
4. Enter your student’s “Student ID”.  If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.
5. Verify the student’s birth date 
6. A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed.  Check the box next to the name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.
7. If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’ teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students.  If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.
8. You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.
9. Select the times that work best for your schedule. 
10. Enter your email address (**highly recommended**) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)
11. Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule.
12. ***Write down the Confirmation Number*** (you will need this number to cancel or edit your appointment)

Here's This Week in Switzer:

Math: We are finishing our Benchmark test over the first 4 topics in the math book.  This test gives us a chance to see what material is "sticking" with our students and which concepts we may need a little more work on.  Some great news: All of our 6th graders have passed the first 4 Common Formative Assessments (CFA's) with at least an 80% or higher.  That means every 6th grader has a minimum B- in Math... our goal is to make sure every 6th grader leaves elementary school with no lower than a B- in Math, Reading, and Writing.

Reader's Workshop: Students are dutifully writing and reading everyday.  Our goal is still 30 minutes per night- we've been logging all of our minutes everyday.  We will begin another Book Club book this week- make sure to ask your student about what their reading each night.

Writing: Students are working on their Doggy World articles and finishing up this unit on Research writing.  

Social Studies: Students took a test last week and are making corrections before they begin their next unit.

Science: We do a final test of our Thermal Energy Mugs on Tuesday and write up our lab reports this week.  The lab reports are serious work and may require a little extra computer time at home this week.

Have a great week!

--

Matthew Switzer

6th Grade Teacher, 

Southdale Elementary

TWIS 10/24-10/28

Parents,

   Ahh, Fall.  Perhaps my favorite time of year; football, leaves turning, weather cooling, and 6th graders trying to figure out how to wear shorts everyday throughout the coming winter. 

I had the opportunity last week to serve on a jury for two days, which gave our students a chance to shine for a guest teacher- Mr. D (our former Guidance Teacher at Southdale).  I was very proud of how well our students interact with guest teachers- and this was no exception.  Of course, I had to regale the class with my exploits in the jury box and tried to turn it into a "teachable moment" on civic duty.  Our big lesson from my experience: don't mess with the law.  Oh, and Be Kind. Always.  From the mouths of babes...

Next week is Red Ribbon week at Southdale- it's a pledge to stay drug and alcohol free.  With it comes "dress up/ theme days," which include:

Monday- Crazy for Healthy Choices (Crazy Hair Day)

Tuesday- Black Out Bad Choices (Wear Black and Shades)

Wednesday- "Chews" Healthy Choices (Chew gum day)

Thursday- Rock Out a Healthy Lifestyle (Dress like a rock star)

Friday- Rock the Red (Wear red/ CF Tiger clothes)

Coincidentally, Friday is Picture Make-up day

#tl;dr-  Math test, Social Studies Test, Building stuff in Science, Keep them reading every night!

Here's This Week in Switzer:

Math (Switzer): My math class is working through the end of Topic 3 (multiplying and dividing with Decimals) and will take a Topic 3 test on Monday (if we're ready) or Tuesday.  We begin Topic 4 on Tuesday. 

Reader's Workshop: Students finished their Book Club books and are continuing through their free read books.  We will begin a new book club book soon.  We are journaling every day and logging our minutes reading, so don't hesitate to ask your student about what they are reading or writing about!

Read-aloud: We finished the book, Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate and are starting the science fiction novel, The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forrester.  I've included links to Amazon if you'd like to see an overview of these books.

Science: Students have finished researching Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer and are ready to design their blueprints for a coffee mug that retains the most heat over a 30 minute time span.  Students may also begin bringing in building materials to create their coffee mug- I will allow:

- A "core" material (something to hold 1 cup of hot water)- this could be a ceramic mug, paper cup, plastic cup, or glass.  I will provide styrofoam and plastic cups if a student needs a core.

- Anything they want to use that they can find around the house (with parents' permission).  I am NOT asking students to purchase anything.  Whatever they bring will be for their use on their project only (unless they choose to share).  I will not redistribute materials they bring from home.

- I will have materials for students to use, including cardboard, plastic bags, tin foil, tape, and anything else we find laying around my classroom (within reason, of course).  Your student is NOT required to bring anything, and will not be at a disadvantage academically for not bringing materials.

Social Studies: Students have a test on Monday and should be reviewing their study guide on Slavery and pre-Civil War America.

Writing: Students are beginning to take their Doggy World research and synthesizing it into a research article.  

Leader Notebooks: We are going to put in plenty of work with our Leader Notebooks in the next two weeks, mainly to prepare us for Student-led conferences.  Conferences this year will be held on November 15th and 17th.

Speaking of which, the conference scheduler will open for scheduling on Wednesday, October 26th at 1 a.m. (in case you wanted to stay up late for the event ;-).  It will close on Wednesday, November 9th.  I will post the link to Southdale6.com when it becomes available.  

The 6th grade participates in Student-Led Conferences, which means that we expect your student to be at conferences to walk you through their Leader Notebooks, Grades, and Social expectations.  You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from me.  As always, if you have a concern, please do not hesitate to email me ASAP- 

I'm having such a blast with your student this year; thanks again for sending me your very best every day.  I can't tell you what a privilege and honor it is to teach your child each and every day!

--

Matthew Switzer

6th Grade Teacher, 

Southdale Elementary

TWIS 10/17-10/21

Parents,

   What a great week last week!  I had such a good time at our last General Music concert on Thursday- you have an incredible student!  I'm also very proud of our efforts in helping pack meals with the Feed My Starving Children organization.  

A reminder that we are continuing to accept Hy-Vee receipts and Box Tops for Education- we are also still working on our fundraiser as well.  Here's This Week in Switzer:

Math: In Switzer math, we're working through Topic 3 on multiplying and dividing multi-digit numbers, along with decimals, fluently.  We will have two CFA's along those lines which will show up on the report card.  I plan to have a Topic test early next week.

Reader's Workshop: Many students have finished their book club books- and I am so impressed by their thinking and effort in journaling about characters, themes, and life lessons.  We are transitioning to journaling on our free read books (fiction/ literature), and in a couple of weeks I'll assign another book club book.  Your student should be reading 30+ minutes per night- this is the most important homework they can do each night (along with Chores and playing outside ;-)

Writing: Students are working on three things: Writing a couple of paragraphs on their Service Projects (Crop Walk Trail Mix and Feed My Starving Children), Researching a dog breed for their Doggy World article, and finishing up their final drafts of "I am" writing piece.

Social Studies: Students are working through a simulation in class on the economic and social conditions in the United States prior to the Civil War.  

Science: We are continuing to research Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer to build a knowledge base for creating a Thermos.  Our goal is to design and build a thermos (or coffee mug) that can retain the most heat over 20 minutes.  After our research phase, we will move into a blue print phase, then our build/ experiment phase.  All our research can be found on Southdale6.com.

Math WIN: In Switzer's WIN group, we are working on two different things: some students are practicing for the Math Bee (a statewide Math Competition held in March), and others have been working on computer coding with a number of different coding tutorials (like Hour of Code, Khan Academy, etc.).  All coding programs are on Southdale6.com- feel free to explore those with your student (and learn some coding!).

Thank you for sending me your student everyday- I am having a wonderful time with these exceptional young people!  Please do not hesitate to email with any questions or concerns.

--

Matthew Switzer

6th Grade Teacher, 

Southdale Elementary

@matthew2switzer

TWIS 10/3-10/7

Parents-

    Welcome to This Week in Switzer!  A few reminders- Crop Walk donations need to be at school by MONDAY!  We can still take donations the rest of the week, but the 6th graders will begin creating Trail Mix snack bags for sale Monday afternoon. Thank you for donating to this worthy cause! 

   Students will need headphones for Science and Social Studies beginning on Monday- I have a few loaners, but it will be best if your student can bring their own.

   In Science, we'll be looking at Thermal Dynamics (NGSS Standards- CLICK HERE) and heat transfer in a lab where students design a coffee mug.  I'll ask students to bring a ceramic or plastic mug from home, if they can (I'll have a few extras).  I'll also invite students to bring foil, tape, cardboard, foam, or any other similar construction material to design a thermos.  I just wanted you to be aware in case you catch your 6th grader rooting through your kitchen.  All mugs for this experiment will only be containing water.  If you'd like to donate mugs or materials, feel free to email me and let me know.

   Finally- here's This Week in Switzer:

#TL;DR- Math tests and WIN groups, Science experiments, Crop Walk, and as always- reading book clubs!  

SWITZER Math: We're slowly wrapping up Topic 2 in Math.  There are plenty of new skills involved in this topic.  Look for a Topic 2 math test possibly by the end of the week.

Math WIN: We begin our Math WIN groups this week- some students will be working on exponents (a past skill), others will be getting extra practice with exponents or Order of Operations, and students that really understand the skill will be challenged with Math Bee.

Science: We are finishing up looking at how scientists make claims based on evidence, and will begin a thermal dynamics unit where students explore heat transfer.  I'm really trying hard this year to make all materials available online for Science- if your student is having trouble, please check Southdale6.com (Click on SCIENCE button) to find resources.  You may also have your student sign into Google Classroom for assignments (especially if your student is ABSENT or will be gone).

Social Studies- Students finished a test on Landforms and are beginning a unit on the Civil War.

Writing- Students continue to work on personal narratives and using digital writing tools.

Reader's Workshop- Your student has been assigned a book to read for book club.  Our goal is to finish the book in about 8-10 days and discuss what we are reading.  This means your student will need 30+ minutes per night to read and journal- I've purposely avoided assigning any other superfluous homework with the exception of reading this year, to make sure your student can focus their homework time on this research-based, powerful learning skill.  You can really help out at home by providing a specific time and place for your student to read uninterrupted.

Finally, make sure to check out Southdale6.com for links and buttons to important school-related websites and materials.  Have a great week!

   

www.southdale6.com