Veteran's Day Assembly

Veterans Day at RAE

When I originally came to RAE, I noticed how loving and caring the people were.  It was a vision of mine to build community between the children, staff and parents.  I became the Social Studies Representative at RAE and saw that Veterans Day was not being celebrated.  This bothered me as I have family that were enlisted in the Armed Forces and saw how our society does not appreciate the sacrifices they made as much as they used to.  This was the perfect way to building community, while teaching to honor, respect and celebrate the true heroes in America.  I asked the new principal at that time, Kristen Harper, if I could organize a Veterans Day celebration and the tradition was born. 

The first Veterans Day Celebration was held in November of 2009.  The Social Studies committee planned for each grade level to have a part in the celebration in order to give them ownership and feel as if they were personally involved.  This way we could teach about patriotism and honoring the people that sacrificed their lives for our freedom.  I wanted to make this real to the students and figured what better way than to have them bring in pictures of family members that served, or are serving in the Armed Forces.   Wall of Honor arrived and the pride in students’ faces as they saw their relatives’ pictures was priceless.  This year we had two actual former StingRAEs enlisted into the Armed Forces.  It then became tradition for me to scan all the pictures and create a video presentation of the Veterans that were special to RAE.

The committee also decided to have an actual celebration honoring some veterans and have the students sing the National Anthem and Grand Ole Flag.  Mrs. Nemec decided that the fourth grade students would learn both of the songs to sing at the assemblies.  After that year, The StingRAE Choir was created and the Veterans Day program became their first performance of the year.  They were spectacular.

The committee also decided to hold an Essay contest, but figured the 5^th grade students would be the best contestants as they also study American History, and understand the sacrifice more than the younger children.  The topics to choose from were, “What does freedom mean to me?  or What is a Veteran?” The essayists were chosen and then allowed to read their essays at the assembly.  Some of those essays brought tears to many people in the audience.

Each year our celebration has grown and changed and I feel so blessed to be able to see the faces of the Veterans as the children sing and celebrate them.  Some of the Veterans have been coming for the past eight years, and I feel as if they are now family.  One Veteran even delayed his vacation so that he could attend our celebration this year.  Now, that is community and family!

Each year I wanted the PTA to help in this celebration and we finally found a way to include this special group of parents.  PTA decorated for the actual reception that was held for the Veterans after each program.  What a beautiful sight!

I have seen an idea blossom into a full-fledged celebration that has become one of the favorite assemblies for many.  I thank my committee members for their hard work and dedication to a worthy cause that makes our heroes feel appreciated and honored.  I know that this tradition will be one that remains at RAE in the years to come.  Thank you RAE family for a wonderful Veterans Day Celebration!

11-16-2016
It was our first STEAM club meeting. I woke up with a headache.  I was rushing around, got to school at 7:15 and I see about 50 parents and K-2 students huddled around our side entrance.  I hear parents and kids already talking to each other about the first meeting.  I walk into class and I have a decision to make.  Do I go and help or do I skip it because I have a headache?  I decide to go and when I walked into the science lab I quickly remembered why I became a teacher.  I walked into the lab and saw 37, K-2, students full of energy and ready to learn at 7:30 A.M.  Mrs. Twiggs did a quick introduction of the teachers and she explained what would take place in the club. The kids were being great listeners.  The conversation that took place next blew my socks off.  A 4th grade student modeled a marshmellow launcher he made for a STEAM project.  He explained he could only use a few materials: cardboard tube, tape, marshmellow, scissors, balloon, etc. Then he started to talk about how he modified his marshmellow.  So we asked, "Why do you think he modified his marshmellow?"  There were K-2 kids talking about squeezing the marshmellow together so that the air leaves the marshmellow so it is more dense.  Then that led to the word volume and then that led to lighter objects flying farther than heavier objects.  This was all coming from K-2 students!  Parents and teachers, I challenge you to get your child here at 7:30 for our STEAM club.  These kids are going to have some awesome conversations!

REMSL

11-16-16

Each week I get the opportunity to participate in a great program through Rice University, REMSL. This program has given me access to so many hands-on, authentic science activities that I have happily brought back to my classroom. Through this course, I am able to better understand the TEKS and more confidently teach my students through the exploration of science. Hands on and dirty are the two major components to these labs and the kids love it!

The REMSL program is available to elementary school teachers, K-5, who would like to increase their knowledge in science curriculum. We actually complete the labs that the students would be doing in the classroom, so we can be well prepared before presenting it to our students. Another wonderful benefit is that you get to see the vertical alignment of the science curriculum throughout the entire elementary level. You collaborate with teachers from other grade levels and from different schools, and get a better insight to how the TEKS are built upon each year. It helps to create more thoughtful planning as well as help to lessen the gaps that may occur between grade levels.

My favorite part of the program is that we are shown and able to explore labs that can be implemented into the curriculum. The labs are planned and designed around the materials that a teacher has access to, and the labs can fit within the time constraints that we face every day. The guiding questions in the labs allow for the students’ natural curiosity to flourish and they become the teachers while I become a facilitator. I have seen such a growth in my own personal teaching of science as well as a growth in the students’ understanding of the science concepts. I would recommend this program to any teacher who is willing to grow professionally, wants to gain loads of resources, and have fun! This is definitely not a sit and watch a slide show professional development. J   

4th Grade's Trip to the OLC

10-26-16 and 10-27-16, 4th grade had a great time at the Outdoor Learning Center learning about Science and Social Studies.  The OLC was established in 1981 and is ran by Katy ISD.  It is nestled between Katy High School and I-10 on 34.5 acres of land.  Most of the land is still wooded.  The OLC has a Science classroom full of native animals: insects, spiders, snakes, etc.  There is a caretaker’s cottage, a Texas History classroom, and a barnyard full of farm animals and a small pond.  There are also trails that have native plants and trees marked along the way.  The OLC is great for our kids because it gives them many hands-on learning opportunities.  

Today on our trip, we were introduced to Tex, a cornsnake.  Mr. Grubb got to hold the snake.  The students were able to touch the snake and feel the scales on his back.  Tex was a trooper to put up with all of those kids and Mr. Grubb. “The snake was the best part of the trip,” said Gage, 4th grader from Mrs. Elofson’s class.  

Students were able to pump water and see what it was like to really have to work the land.  Here 4th grader from Mrs. Eubank's class, Ryan Elofson, had to put all his weight onto the handle to get just a trickle of water.  “Wow, I am glad I don’t have to do that every day,” said Ryan.

Throughout the year, the OLC will have multiple festivals.  Please check out their website for more information: http://www.katyisd.org/dept/olc/Pages/default.aspx. 

Our Primal Instinct

Our Primal Instinct

Looking at the lifestyle of our Paleolithic ancestors we learned that in order for them to survive they relied on movement and exploration. Fast forward to the 21st century and this still holds true. While we aren't running from tigers and have a steady food source, we still need to move (exercise) and explore (learn) in order to propel the human race forward.  

What does this have to do with teaching, math, and elementary school??......

If you have ever seen me walking down the hallway with my 1st graders, you would see them swinging their arms, bouncing and skipping down the hallway. This is their natural movement patterns, they crave to move!

Last year, we did a field study with a first grade classroom in which students were allowed a 10 minute break in the morning to go outside and play. The kids were expected to come back in the classroom after the 10 minutes and get back to work. The results were an increase in the overall classroom’s ability to stay on task. In addition, individual kids were able to stay on task for a longer duration. This study supports the need for movement.

Our school supports this idea of movement in our daily activities. From extra breaks for kids, flexible seating, workstations, and Friday chants that might bring down the portables one day. I am so fortunate to work at this amazing school!