Announcements

April 9-13th
Welcome Back!
This week will explore "Team Challenges" as a part of our Problem Solving 
Unit. Students will be assessed on how well they can work as a team and 
complete the given task. Each task will be timed!

March 26- 30th

Continuation of Problem Solving Unit
Exploration of the Hits' Method, as well as an assessment of strategies 
learned thus far. 
I will also begin my introduction of "team building" activities.


March 19-23, 2012
Jr. Great Books Week

Parents,
Please be aware that Challenge report cards have been sent home as of 
Thursday March 15, 2012.

Thanks!

Parents,
 
The SRS Silent Auction has begun!! Be the first to bid on an outing for 2 
with Ms. Clark. Copy and paste the link below into your browser, click on 
Teacher Outings, and search for Putt Putt with Ms. Clark. Happy 
Bidding! Hurry the auction ends March 20, 2012!

https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?documentId=151311039

March 12-16th
Continuation of Problem Solving Part 1 strategies: Forced Relationships, 
Braindrawing, HIT's. 


March 5-9th

Part 1 of our Problem Solving Unit
This unit is the second installment in preparing students for the Future 
Problem Solving program in 4th and 5th grades. 
This week will review the basic language of problem solving skill, by 
introducing each strategy. This weeks' strategies are: brainstorming, 
piggybacking,categories,  and forced relationship equations. 

OKGO Video
http://twooctobers.com/tag/piggyback-effect/

This is the video we used to demonstrate the piggybacking effect. Copy and 
paste this link into your browser. Have your child explain how this video 
connects to piggybacking. Enjoy!



Week of February 27-March 2nd
Junior Great Books Week "The Mushroom Man"
Friday we will have a "Mushroom Man" Feast, students will vote on the top 3 
foods from the story. The top 3 will win, an opportunity to be tasted by our 
3rd grade challenge students !! Happy Voting!

February 20-24th
Class Presentations "Any State Project"


February 13-16th
Students will complete their "Any State" projects. This week they will begin 
the Synthesis Level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Presentations will begin Wednesday 
and Thursday of this week. 

THERE WILL BE NO AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT HELD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH. 

February 6-10, 2012
Students will continue their "Any State" projects. This week they will begin 
the Synthesis Level of Bloom's Taxonomy.  Students will create a sculpture 
using Playdoh, of one significant thing in your state. Write one paragraph 
explanation of it's significance. 
By the end of the week, students will present their scultures to the class. 
Student will also average their student grade to be averaged with teacher's 
final grade. 

Please look for the following letter in your child' homework folder: 

Dear Parents,

In lieu of tutoring, I will be offering Challenge Enrichment every Wednesday 
from 2:30-3:30. Enrichment activities include Mind Benders, Logic Problem 
Solving, fun-filled simulations and self-directed activities. Classes will 
begin Wednesday February 8, 2012.

Please sign and return, if you like for your child to participate.

Thanks!

Week of January 30th...

Parents,

Thanks so much to those that have sent in items from our wishlist! Please 
remember we are still in need of supplies :) 

There will be no Challenge classes this week due to testing.


THIS WEEK In Challenge
"Any State"

Students will continue with their "Any State" Project.
Each student has been assigned a state to research. Each week the activity is 
correlated to the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Students have learned that 
Benjamin Bloom created a list of how we think about thinking. Each week we 
are exploring each of the levels thru project based assignments.

Currently we have completed:
Knowledge(Remembering)
Listing 15 facts about your state
where is the state located?
What is the primary language?
Population?
Land area?
Major Agricultural Products?

Comprehension (Understanding):
Students had a choice of making a:
Six sised project cube to describe 6 different characteristics of their state.
Create a travel brochure summarizing the highlighlights of their state.


This week we have moved to the Application level:
Students will draw a map of their state and lavel at least 8 important 
features and places. Also, students will create a map of their state. They 
must include a description to show the meaning of its colors and symbols.