Pruett's AIG Blog for IBJ

Here's the AIG Update for this month. I'll email to everyone, as well. (BTW, I've tried using Smore to provide a fancier version, but I've been stymied by their interface with Google.) AIG Update for March 2017 ASGM 5 Math students have continued work on the simulation Cliffbound! This math work focuses on rates and presents students with a stranded couple of hikers to be saved. We’ve had some challenges with space and technology, but the students have largely completed this work. I’ll say the last chapter was not nearly as easy as they seemed to think! 4 These students have been working on Adrift!, a simulation where they have to work together to help save a lost sailor. There has been some review of coordinate pairs and measuring (both time and distance) using maps. Of the two chapters, the second seemed more a challenge! We’re wrapping up some homework assignments - don’t worry, I’ve given them class time! 3 These third graders have moved...

Another in our series of inquiry videos from 4th grade ESG students.

Third grade readers recently finished work with a Haitian folktale, The Banza. After a critical reading and a seminar, students considered what might happen after the story, and they wrote letters between main characters. Here's a couple of examples:

Fourth grade ESG students have been working on self-generated inquiry projects. Students came up with questions they had about our universe, researched their interest, and presented the information. Here's the first of such presentations. I'll continue to post them with the tag "Inquiry" and then the question. Enjoy!

Third grade ESG students have been focusing on the 'intellectual' part of AIG. They have been playing challenging thinking games. Here's a couple of snaps of them at work.

Here are two issues I discussed with ALL fourth graders today. I. NOETIC Math Contest for fourth grade is on April 6th of this year. ASGM kids I've compelled to participate, but the contest will be open to all. It is a 20 question, 45 minute endeavor with pencil, paper, and NO calculators. The IBJ student with the best score will receive a medal and a certificate. Students finishing in the top 10% (of the US - thousands of students take part!) will also receive a medal and certificate. Top 50% finishers will receive a special certificate - as will ALL IBJ participants! A permission to feature winners on their website went home today. Look out for it! II. I spoke with all classes about Safety Patrol and sent home "Code of Conduct" sheets with parent permission to anyone interested. I have only a handful turned in. We've had pretty decent turn out in the mornings thus far, however, there's room for improvement. Students do NOT have to volunteer everyday! Ho...

NBC is in the process of producing a new television show called "Genius Jr." It is billed as a competition show for "the nation's smartest kids." I am IN NO WAY endorsing this opportunity, but I thought it was interesting. Here is a link to the NBC site: https://geniusjrcasting.castingcrane.com/age-gate

Fifth grade ASGR students took a break from our work with JGB to focus on reading fluency for a bit. To achieve this, we read from Paul Fleischman's book of poems for two voices, Joyful Noise . Reading fluency can be trickier than students expected! Ask them how long it took for them to be able to present these poems!

According to the World Economic Forum, here are the top 10 skills in 2015 and 2020. How are we preparing students for these skills?

Here's a letter that will go home this week with third grade ASGR students. Hopefully we're laying groundwork for continued success in seminar-type instruction. Dear Parents and Supporters: Once upon a time, two University of Chicago educators put forth that the best way to provide a liberal arts education is to discuss the writing of the world’s greatest thinkers. This Great Books movement continues to be a force in the world and education. Students who qualify for the AIG Advanced Subject Group in Reading (ASGR) have completed working with an introduction to Junior Great Books (JGB).  JGB is a product of the Great Books movement specifically written for elementary students. In this work, students consider open-ended, high-order questions about stories. They reflect on these questions prior to a formal seminar with specific behavioral expectations. After the discussion, students again reflect on their thinking. I am including for you the graphic representat...

Fifth grade ESG students only recently completed their simulation:  The Great Ocean Rescue. Congrats to Team Warren for spending the least money in completing all four missions. Here is a handy-dandy compilation of how teams performed. Ask your kids about their decisions and how things worked! Team R:  Tuesday   2nd Team DJ: Wednesday  3rd Team W:  Monday  1st Fishin’ Mission $10000 Barents Sea X $10000 GB $500 SONAR $5000 Monkfish $25500 Fishin’ Mission $10000 Philippine X $10000 GB $500 Depth $500 SONAR $5000 Monkfish $26000 Fishin’ Mission $10000 George’s Bank $500 Food supply $500 SONAR $5000 Monk $16000 Pollution Pirates $10000 Red Sea $500 Water sample $500 Sediment $5000 Incinerator $5000 Household Trash $21000 Pollution Pirates $10000 Red Sea $500 Sediment test $5000 Incinerator $5000 Sewage sludge $500 SatelliteX $5000 Household Trash $26000 Pollution Pirates...

One amazing resource for Asheville is the new UNCA STEAM Lab which is part of the River Arts Makers Place. Integrating engineering and the arts, this space provides a phenomenal array of tools for working with any materials. UNCA students as well as Asheville Middle School's IRL (in-real-life) have access to this amazing place.  Open only in recent months, the scope for community involvement looks to expand further into our community. Here are some snaps of the space specifically highlighting the available machinery. Do not the CMC (computer numerically controlled) machines to create arts and design limited only by the imagination! Many thanks for an amazing tour for ACS folks this week!

Our fourth grade ESG recently completed their simulation, The Great Solar System Rescue. In this work, teams had to do scientific background readings and pay close attention to video clues to make collaborative decisions about finding/rescuing lost space probes.  Specific decisions and an explication of these missions can be found in Action Plans for each mission (sent home today) AND through discussion with your kids! Ask them about this work; I’m sure you’ll get an earful! Congratulations to Team Hollander, btw! It was a tightly contested race until the very end! Mission Team B:  2nd Place Team H:  1st Place Team F: 3rd Place 1:  Probe 449 $10K Mars $500 Weather $5000 Argyre B. X $5000 VallesM $20500 $10K Mars $500 Camera $500 Elevation $5000 Argyre Basin X $5000 VallesM $21000 $10K Mars $500 camera $5000 Olympus X $5000 Polar X $5000 VallesM $25500 2: Probe 721 $10000 Venus $5000 Squat $150...