Friday, March 23, 2018

Mrs. Speer's Reading Log 3.23.18

First, I have to say, if you haven't read it - you NEED to read Wolf Hollow. It is really a great book! I don't want to spoil it, but if you want a quick idea about the book, check out this synopsis from goodreads {and you could sign up for a chance to win a copy}.

This week I've started reading... 
What We Found In the Sofa and How It Saved the World by Henry Clark [Genre: Science Fiction] 
Pax by Jon Klassen [Genre: Animals, Adventure]
The Only Game by Alan Gratz [Genre: Sports Fiction]

I finished... 
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar [Genre: Scary, Mystery I gave it 3.5 Stars
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk [Genre: Historical Fiction] I gave it 5 Stars
Refugee by Alan Gratz [Genre: Historical Fiction] I gave it 4 Stars
One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth [Genre: Science Fiction] I gave it 4 Stars

Plus I read some new books and old favorites with my boys...
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin
various books by Eric Carle

Check out my rating system here.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Priority Standards for March 21-28

4th grade Lab

Online Research: CultureGrams continued
21.3-5.TL.1 Use technology resources to create original projects, identify patterns,
make predictions, and propose solutions.
*I can choose from a variety of resources to add content to a project.
21.3-5.TL.4 Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for
investigation.
*I can use more than one source.

4th grade STEAM

Rube Goldberg Machines continued


5th grade Lab

National Women's History Month: Creating a digital "scrapbook" to showcase the accomplishments of women
Check out the National Women's History Project* to see the 2018 honorees!
21.3 -5.TL.3 Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real–world issues,
answer questions, or solve problems.
*I can follow a plan to find information using digital tools.
21.3-5.TL.4 Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation.
*I can use information from more than one source.
21.3-5.TL.5 Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology
for lifelong learning.
*I can use copyrighted materials responsibly.

5th grade STEAM

March Madness basketball activity continued


6th grade Lab

National Parks Research Project - finding information about a park and
creating a slideshow to share that information
Mrs. Speer's Sample - Denali National Park
21.6-8.TL.1 Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of
innovative technology products and problem solving.
*I can work individually and collaboratively to create and display, publish, or
perform products.
*I can create and share new ideas and products related to curriculum content.
21.6-8.TL.3 Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information.
*I can locate and utilize information from a variety of sources.
21.6-8.TL.5 Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to
individuals, cultures, and societies.
*I can use copyrighted materials responsibly.

6th grade STEAM


March Madness basketball activity continued

*These links are to websites outside the control of this blog
or the Benton Community School District.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Reading Log 3.12.18

This week I've started reading... 
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar [Genre: Scary, Mystery
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk [Genre: Historical Fiction] 

I finished... 
The Unusual Suspects {The Sisters Grimm} by Michael Buckley [Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery] I gave it 4 Stars
Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff [Genre: Realistic Fiction] I gave it 3 Stars
A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen [Genre: Historical Fiction] I gave it 4 Stars

Plus I read some new books and old favorites with my boys...
Steam Train Dream Train 1-2-3 by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Steam Train Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Check out my rating system here.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Priority Standards for March 8-20

4th grade Lab
Online Research: CultureGrams
21.3-5.TL.1 Use technology resources to create original projects, identify patterns,
make predictions, and propose solutions.
21.3-5.TL.4 Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation.
4th grade STEAM
Rube Goldberg Machines (cause & effect)


5th grade Lab
Digital Reading Resources: MackinVIA, ScienceFlix, FreedomFlix, and TrueFlix
21.3 -5.TL.3 Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real–world issues, answer
questions, or solve problems.
21.3-5.TL.4 Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation.
5th grade STEAM
March Madness basketball activity

6th grade Lab
Tinkercad continued - creating a 3D printing project
21.6-8.TL.1 Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of
innovative technology products and problem solving.
6th grade STEAM
March Madness basketball activity

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Summer Opportunities

Another TAG teacher in the area shared this list of summer opportunities. Please let me know if I can help you with an application or recommendation for any of these. ~ Mrs. Speer
CAMPS
Kirkwood STEM Camps (Cedar Rapids) https://www.kirkwood.edu/kick
Engineering Camps (Iowa State University) http://www.isek.iastate.edu/camp/camps-summer-2016/
Art Camp (Cedar Rapids Museum of Art) http://www.crma.org/Event/Detail/1085/CRMA-Summer-Camp.aspx
Art Camps (Ceramics Center Cedar Rapids) http://www.theceramicscenter.org/summercamps/
Science Center of Iowa Camps (Des Moines) http://www.sciowa.org/learn/camps/directory/
Acting Camps (Cedar Rapids) http://www.theatrecr.org/education/
Acting Opportunities (Vinton) http://www.act1.org/
Reading/Math/Engineering Camps (Iowa City) http://www.willowwind.org/summer-program/
Engineering/Outdoor/Art Camps (Zearing) http://thresholdlearningcenter.org/education/index.html
Camp Invention (Waterloo) http://campinvention.org/about-us/
Chess Camp (Prairie Point Middle School, Cedar Rapids) www.chessiniowa.org/camp2015.
Belin Blank Programs and Classes for Students http://www2.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/
Summer Camp for academically talented students http://crdiscoversummercamp.weebly.com/
Day Camps: Learn from Professionals and Artists http://www.summitschools.org/
Iowa State University Summer Programs http://www.opptag.iastate.edu/summer/index.php

Friday, March 2, 2018

Mrs. Speer's Reading Log 3.2.18


This week I've started reading... 
The Unusual Suspects {The Sisters Grimm} by Michael Buckley [Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery] 
Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff [Genre: Realistic Fiction] 

I finished... 
Finding Fortune by Delia Ray [Genre: Realistic Fiction] I gave it 4 Stars

Plus I read some new books and old favorites with my boys...
Good Morning Digger by Anne Rockwell
No More Water in the Tub by Tedd Arnold
How does a Dinosaur Go to Sleep? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
First 100 Animals Board Book by Roger Priddy
That's Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watts and Rachel Wells

Check out my rating system here.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Priority Standards for Feb. 28-Mar 7

4th grade Lab

Typing Practice

Supports ELA standards
4th grade STEAM
Teamwork with Digital Breakout EDU


5th grade Lab
Contests: create a STEAM logo
21.3-5.TL.1 Use technology resources to create original projects,
identify patterns, make predictions, and propose solutions.

Typing (supports ELA standards)
5th grade STEAM
Teamwork with Digital Breakout EDU

6th grade Lab
Tinkercad - creating a 3D printing project
21.6-8.TL.1 Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development
of innovative technology products and problem solving.
6th grade STEAM
Teamwork with Digital Breakout EDU