Second Unit - Science

I just finished teaching my science unit on food chains/webs and the energy pyramid. This was definitely my favorite unit to teach. I found this wonderful activity where students make their own food chains and then as a class we linked the food chains together to create a food web. A great visual for the students and they loved creating their own unique food chain. My next unit is Math...YUCK! I personally struggle with Math alot and have a hard time explaining Math to other people. My biggest challenge for myself is to learn new startegies to help me better explain Math concepts to my students (which isn't really happening in Fiske's class). We aren't sure if we will be teaching our 2nd graders or 3rd graders for Math since we are in a split class. I have heard mixed reviews about teaching using "Everday Math". Do any of you think it is a good program?

I can't wait to see everyone's Math Centers, Lindsey and I are doing 3-D geometry, I think we have a really fun and engaging center for 5th graders. Does anyone know what school we are doing the Math Centers at? Just curious.

We have a student who is moving to Europe in two weeks, she is going to live in Slovakia. I can't imagine making such a huge move (across the Atlantic Ocean) at age 8. I would of been nervous and scared, but she is excited about it. She had Lindsey and I sign a shirt last week, she had everyone in her class sign it to remember them by. She is a bright young girl, she will do really well over there. We also just had a student who spent her sping break skiing in Vale, Colorado and winning medals. She is in 2nd grade also. Another student was just diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. To say the least it has been an interesting past week or two. I hope everyone else has exciting students like we do.

Good Luck to anyone teaching this week!