A Special Guest Speaker/ One of our Upper Parents

     We were so glad to have Sergeant Major Joiner speak to the students about his experiences as he served to protect us by going on his tour of duty.  This visit was arranged by the fourth grade teachers (Kerr and McCafferty) and they invited me (Mrs. Land) to hear the presentation.    There were tears in the eyes of teachers and students as he talked about the Valentine Candy that he received from his daughter while he was overseas......he never opened the candy, wanting it to be a constant reminder of his sweet family back home, and those that he was serving to protect.

      It was interesting to hear Sergeant Major Joiner tell about the foods that he ate and about the backpack ministry he started. The children overseas had very few supplies for learning.  Sergeant Major Joiner realized that and started a campaign to make sure that they had what they needed to get a good education.   For the most part, you could have heard a pin drop as he spoke about some of the things that he encountered.  The students listened attentively to each word and were especially excited to see samples of items brought back from his tour of duty.

  It was wonderful to hear about the special book, HIS BIBLE, that he depended on to get him through each day.

  He became emotional when he told about how much he had missed his family, and how thankful he was that he came home safely to them.  After he spoke, his children were eager to pose with their dad!

 This was a very interesting and informative visit from a very special dad. His children, who are Kosciusko Upper students, were grinning from ear-to-ear with pride for their dad.

Personality Letters

In the midst of doing many activities such as Logic Problems, learning Chess, creating a personalized "Flat Stanley" who will travel from Upper to somewhere in the States, and so many other activities; the students have worked on large personality letters, using the first letter of their first name. Some students were really challenged on this project because they are called by double names.  I have learned that we have some students who are diligent,patient, creative, and have so many traits of giftedness.  This is not the easiest project and it is not one that will be done in a day. I am so proud of these students for the work that they have done.  The letters will soon  be displayed in the halls for all to see. 

The picture above shows two students working on their own version of "Flat ?" These characters will be sent to relatives who live in other states, and pictures will be made of the character and the relatives visiting  attractions within that state.  The relatives will mail the character back with all of the information in the envelope, and that student will be able to do an oral presentation from the information sent about that state. 

Below are students beginning to learn about Chess.  This was during the second week of school and most of the students can name each piece and tell you how they move.

 

The "Personality Letter" project!  This has been a very time-consuming project and I am so proud of the way that all of the students have taken so much pride in their work.

When students are not working on their project, they are working on a project on the computer which will be displayed with their final Personality Letter in the hall.

A Special Activity: "Following Directions"

A Special "Following Directions" activity!

Students loved the special activity about following directions.  I chose this activity as an introduction to the instructions that would be given for a special "All About Me" project that the students will be working on.

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This is what happened:  I gave a 10 minute discussion about the importance of following directions or instructions....whether on a test or given orally. I used the word "explicit" several times.  Students provided feedback about WHY it is so important to follow directions.  

 THEN!!!!

All students were given a sheet of paper with 20 questions on it.  The instructions at the top of the page were:  Read all of the questions on this sheet before you begin to answer! 

 At the end of the page, the last instructions were: Now that you have read all of the questions, write your name on the top of the paper and turn it over on your desk. 

(In other words, NO question should have been answered)

Well, this is what happened!! All 37 students in the fourth grade Quest Class began answering the questions immediately. 

Some of the questions were:

1. Write the Whippet Pride Motto.

2. Say your name out loud.

3. Look at the person on your right and say, "I am glad you are my friend."



4. Who was buried in George Washington's grave?   (This one really threw the students!)

 5.  Stand up, turn around, and bounce up and down three times.

 6. What is Mrs. Land's signal for getting her class quiet!

The students were so glad to hear that when I was in college I took the same test, and did the same thing that my students did.  They loved the fact that a JUDGE visiting my classroom last year watched the students taking the test and asked for a copy to use in his office with his workers.

We all had a good laugh at this silly test, but the students realized the relevance of following directions carefully. After that activity,  I gave the students directions for making yummy "mud rocks"!  They were told that if one person could retell the directions exactly the way I said them, that they would all get some.  In all classes, the students were able to have a little cup of these delicious treats because they listened very carefully.

The recipe is written below......BE SURE to ASK YOUR CHILD what the word EXPLICIT means!

 Ingredients: 3 cups of chocolate chips, 2/3 of a medium size jar of peanut butter, 1 stick of butter, 1 large box of Crispix or Rice Chex, 1 bag of confectioner's sugar. ( I did not use the whole bag of confectioner's sugar), a large, brown paper bag.

Melt the first three ingredients in the microwave for about three minutes.  Pour the cereal into the melted mixture and gently stir until sugar is covered. (Don't spend too much time or the melted mixture will harden)  Pour all of the above into the paper bag and pour the sugar in also.  Close the bag and shake, shake, shake.  Pour the mixture on a cookie sheet and separate the pieces.  Store in air-tight container.  ENJOY!!!