Week of December 6

Hi Everyone,

My word for this week's blog is WOW! The reason why that is my word is because we have literally taken off with our network learning.

Here is a list of some of the things that our students are doing:

• HS students are doing discussion protocols using a shared google doc

• Both HS and MS students are receiving some impressive and good feedback from experts

• HS students are using the teaching resources of Khan academy and other open source online lessons to help them figure things out when their FLVS courses are confusing and they need another explanation
  

• Elementary blogs now include all their daily work.
  

• There is a lot of video conferencing going on at all levels.

• Use of web 2.0 tools has exploded. We are now using: symbaloo, google docs, bloggers, skype, presi, power point, PeBLr, capzles, gloogster, slideshare, photobucket, google calendar, google spreadsheets, online gaming, gmail, pbworks (wiki), youtube, screencast, online video editing ...and a whole lot more.
  

Things to ask your student about:

• HS: tell me about and share your chalktalk googledoc on Frederick Douglas.

• MS: tell me about your group and individual project.

• Elem: tell me about your elementary mythbuster.
  

PBL presentations this week/update:

• Elementary is working on getting their presentations ready to present next week.
  

• HS is working on their civil war papers which are due the Friday before winter break. They are also finalizing projects based on expert feedback.
  

• Middle school is working with Randy on a group project and Tim on an individual project.

This week's schedule:

• Please look at the email from me about our schedule change for Thursday. We will not be on the OH campus that day but we will still be doing our work.
  

SAT/ACT info:

• Spring ACT dates are: 2/12, 4/9 and 6/11.

Travel update:

• The younger students have come up with two potential trip ideas for the Spring. One idea is a trip to Washington D.C. and the other is a trip to the Grand Canyon and Best Friend's Animal Sanctuary to do some service learning.
  

Fundraising update:

• All families will be receiving Raffle tickets this week to try and sell to offset costs for the Spring trips. We are asking each family to try and sell at least 10 tickets if possible.
  

• The next meeting is set for this Friday at Amavida 8:30am.
  

Coming Soon:

• Winter Break 12/20-1/2

Things we need:

• Snacks- the healthier the better! Chex mix is being requested.
  

Attitudes of gratitude:

• Thank you Hunter, McKenzie, and Connor for giving OH the "gift" of making our school look so nice for the holidays! We love the decorations!!! Thank you Ms. Mel for the cleaning supplies!!!Thank you Mr. Tim and Mr. Randy for some amazing co teaching with MS PBL!!!
  

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I will learn."
-Benjamin Franklin

I am looking forward to another great week!
Amy