Harper Pictures As Requested

Please feel free to read the post below this one for an update on what we're doing in the classroom if you haven't done so already.

Click here to view slideshow.

What We're Doing These Days

Here's an update on some things we've been and will be working on.

Social Studies: Just before winter break the students were divided up into five different Native American groups representing five different regions in North America for a research project. Each team is expected to research their tribe's location, food, clothing, shelter, transportation, arts, crafts, festivals, and the effect of their impact with Europeans. Each member of the group is responsible for one or more sections of the research. They have all been given Native American research folder for this unit and the inside cover has a project sheet with questions to help guide their research. Each group has a leader responsible for making sure their team meets the specified criteria on the project sheet. Then, they will be writing a group paper and giving a brief group presentation. Each member writes the section they researched and the group leader writes ties up any loose ends and writes the introduction and conclusion. They will also be filling in a classroom matrix on our wall with the information they find along the way and will give a brief presentation on their findings to the rest of the class for note-taking, comparisons, and discussion. There is a Language Arts component to this unit addressed below.

The kids have also been reading, note-taking, and doing packet work in the textbook on chapters 6-9. They will have a test for each chapter, which will be reflected on their spring report cards.

Writing: Before winter break the students were working on a piece about their rooms and specific "treasures" within their rooms. They turned in rough "final" copies the Ms. Kellom. This past week we've been working on revising them for content and organization. We'll be typing these final copies at school either Friday or Monday.

As I mentioned previously, their current social studies project has a writing component as well. The kids will continue to write to me in their personal journals as well. They will also be writing their next piece in their "10 Things You Need to Know About Me" installment.

Language Arts: The students will be reading, dissecting, and doing a mini report on a Native American myth or legend in the coming weeks.

We're going to suspend book clubs after tomorrow for a few weeks in favor of a whole class novel study on the book Thunder Rolling in the Mountains by Scott O'dell and Elizabeth Hall. This is an historical fiction book that sheds light on the forced removal of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce indians from their home in the Wallowa Range to a reservation by the American Army. It's told from the native perspective. The criteria sheet and work packet for this will be coming home Thursday or Friday.

Math: We will be taking the Unit 3 test this Friday and we'll be starting Unit 4, place value, next week. A letter explaining Unit 4 will be coming home on Friday.

Science: All three classes will be rotating in a few weeks. Our class will either be studying human body systems with Mrs. Krueger or erosion and the environment with Mrs. Quraishi Mian.

That's it for now. Oh, some folks have asked for updated photos of Harper, so I'll try and get some up in the next few days.

-Mr. Schwindt

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful and restful holiday break. I'm looking forward to coming back to school, although I will miss being at home with baby Harper. Has it been 10 weeks already? I heard good things from Ms. Kellom.

Monday morning is just around the corner. Please remember to bring your Book Club books and packets, as I believe you're due to have your third and final meeting on Tuesday.

I'll see you bright and early with smiles on our faces.

-Mr. Schwindt

Harper Lauren Schwindt

Born October 19th, 2010

Planting Days

Thanks to those of you who have donated plants the students were able to begin Planting this week with the help of Dawn and Abeer as our volunteer garden helpers.

Click here to view our planting slideshow.

Garden Update

We've received some wonderful donations this week for our garden. Based on conversations with parents and students I know there is still interest in helping out. So, I've decided to post an update on what we've received so far.

What we've received so far:

• 3 Native Huckleberry plants
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Mint
• Chives
• Various flower bulbs
• Gardening tools

Still on our wish list:

• 3 Oregon Grape plants
• 2 Maidenhair Ferns
• 8 Wild Ginger plants
• 3 Camelia (small variety)
• Espallier Apple Tree
• Chard, kale, collards, lettuces, leafy greens (winter variety)
• Salvia Sage
• Hebes
• Echinacea (Hot Lava & Hot Papaya)
• Pansies
• Rudbeckia
• 3 watering cans
• Organic fertilizer

Thanks again to those of you who have donated, helped, or offered to help bring our garden into fruition. If you have a green thumb or are particularly garden savvy we welcome your advice on everything from necessary supplies to seasonal planting ideas to design and layout. Please don't hesitate to call, email, or drop in.

-Grade 4 Team

Our Garden is Here

Last spring I put my 5th graders to the task of designing their "dream garden." One of the criteria was to measure and design sketches for a garden that could fit in some of the open spaces near our portable. They were so excited by the idea we wound up planting beans, tomatoes (donated by Al's Gardens Center), and herbs in planters outside our portable.

All along our ultimate goal was to get a garden going at Sexton Mountain. So, in June I sent a Capital Improvement Proposal for our potential garden into the Beaverton School District, which included sketches and measurements created by my 5th grade class. Our garden was approved within a week.

With the help of some dedicated Sexton Mountain parents we created a slideshow to promote our potential garden at the school carnival last year. We were lucky enough to make contact with someone at Home Depot. It turned out HD has a whole division of volunteers who specialize in building school gardens. I sent our plans to HD and we were awarded a $2000 grant for our garden.

Long story short, HD's team of garden construction volunteers came to Sexton Mountain today with trucks, tools, lumber, and soil and built our gardens for us in the quintessential Oregon rain. Despite the weather they stuck it out and the garden beds look great. We are very thankful for their efforts.

Parents...if any of you happen to have a green thumb, extra tools, supplies, or ideas for our raised beds we welcome your contributions.