5th Grade Interest and Service

Another Laurel Mountain example of an E-slot activity based on student interests.

One of the top interests for the Myrick Mustangs is photography. So, we hit the building with Canons in hand! The Mustangs took pictures to prepare "How To's" for new students to Laurel Mountain. The Mustangs will use either Photo Story or Movie Maker for their final product.

Continuing to develop the whole child...

Expert and Guest

Today we were excited to have two exciting visitors on campus.

First of all, Ms. Hazel Barbour presented to our "Rainforest Heroes" enrichment cluster (A BIG thank you to Julia Harrod, LME parent, for making this happen).  Ms. Barbour is from the non-profit group Rainforest Partnership.  They are committed to protecting and conserving the tropical rainforest.  This was right up our "Heroes" alley.  She spoke to the group about her experiences in the rainforest, the importance of conserving the rainforest and answered many questions.  Ms. Barbour was very impressed with our students and their knowledge.  There was even talk about one day partnering with school children in the rainforest and talking over the computer.  For more information on Rainforest Partnership, please visit the website http://www.rainforestpartnership.org/

Ms. Barbour talking with "Rainforest Heroes" students.

Also, Jan Richards and I were very happy to tour Dr. Matt Matthys around the second and third grade enrichment clusters and the school.  Dr. Matthys is the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Support in RRISD. He had an opportunity to see not only the enrichment clusters in action, but also our 1st graders presenting their IIM products on a variety of animals and our 4th grade E-slot Electives.  After the tour, Mrs. Richards and I sat down with Dr. Matthys to answer his questions and talk about the engaged learning that takes place everyday at Laurel Mountain.  One thing that Mrs. Richards and I are passionate about is the Schoolwide Enrichment Model.  And that is because the model has shaped the philosophy of teaching and learning that takes place everyday at LME.  Our school works from a strength model that focuses on getting to know our students and their strengths.  Working with students' strengths is something that Dr. Matthys feels is very important as well.  It was a pleasure spending the morning with him and I hope that he stops by again in the future.

Continuing to develop the whole child...

More Visitors

This past Friday, I was excited to welcome four gifted and talented teachers from DeSoto ISD (which is outside of Dallas).  I met one of the teachers (Cecelia) during my presentation at the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented conference in the fall.  My presentation was about the importance of using the students' interests when teaching and building your classroom community.  Cecelia contact me about coming for visit to learn more about the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and how we use the interests of our students in planning our lessons and curriculum. 

Cecelia, Janet, Debbie and Elizabeth left DeSoto early Friday morning and made it to Laurel Mountain by 7:30 am.  I had the pleasure to tour them around the 2nd and 3rd grade enrichment clusters and show off the talents of our students and teachers.  After the tour, Jan Richards and I answered their questions about SEM, interest surveys, enrichment cluster, E-slot and more. 

It was a great morning.  I always enjoy sharing the amazing things we do at Laurel Mountain with our guests.  The four ladies were going to take all the information from the morning and share it with their principals and staff at "home".  My hope that their principals will want to come down for a visit later in the spring. 

At the end of this month, we will have another visit from our friends in Coppell ISD.  How exciting that schools from across the state are finding out about SEM at Laurel Mountain and are wanting to come "check us out".   I think that speaks volumes to the amazing work that our teachers, staff and students achieve everyday in our classrooms.  Our doors are always open. 

Continuing to develop the whole child...

5th Grade E-slot Activity

Enrichment does not stop in 5th grade just because the students are finished with their enrichment clusters.  Today, Mrs. Myrick used the students' interest in clay to guide their E-slot activity. 

The Mustangs boarded a ship and took a flight! They saw space fly by them as they looked out the window. Their window was a huge screen in front of the plane that showed an amazing space flight! Finally, they landed on "Mozelleville".

The creatures of Mozellville were hiding in clay. The Mustangs worked the clay with their hands and made the creatures come to life! The Mustangs will be discovering what adaptations these creatures will have to make to live on Earth.

Yes, the creatures traveled back to Earth with the students! Their flight was two light years long. The Mustangs will be using their math skills to find out just how far away that is.

Continuing to develop the whole child...

Creature from Mozellville

Funny looking aliens...

Primary Education Thinking Skills, or PETS Lessons

This week in PETS....

1st grade: We are continuing to learn about Sybil the Scientist and analytical thinking.  The students are working on classifying some funny looking creatures, called Limpets, into 4 cages.

2nd grade: We are moving on to visual thinking with Max the Magician.  This week, the students are working with tangrams to create different shapes and figures from the story.  We are really using our eyes and brains together!

3rd grade: We are continuing to work on our divergent thinking skills.  The students have to look at Skedoodles (a mix between a sketch and a drawing) in new and different ways.  With divergent thinking we are creative and using our imagination.

Here is a short video I found on YouTube about the PETS series.  It features the creator, author and illustrator of the series, Ms. Dodie Merritt.

Continuing to develop the whole child....

Special Guests...

Last Friday, during our 2nd and 3rd grade enrichment clusters we had several special guests.

Monica Araoz, a LME parent and owner of A+ Art Academy, presenter to our "Dreamy Drawing" enrichment cluster. These students love to draw and Mrs. Araoz gave them a basic drawing lesson that included perspective, shading techniques and adding details to the drawings. The students were very engaged during the lesson and were excited to have a drawing expert and professional visiting and teaching their enrichment cluster.

Our "Under the Sea" enrichment cluster went south to visit the coast. Well, at least it was a virtual visit. This enrichment cluster participated in a video conference with the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. Adriana Reza, of the Texas State Aquarium, communicated with the students over video conference equipment. Ms. Reza taught a lesson that centered around coral reefs and preservation of the reefs. The students got to see real examples of different types of coral, learned new vocabulary and even built a coral reef out of LEGOs. The students had a fun and educational time talking with a "Under the Sea" professional.

Finally, I had the privilege of touring five parents around our 2nd and 3rd grade enrichment clusters. It is exciting for me to share the enrichment cluster experience with our parents. The parents are able to see the students in action, engaged in their enrichment clusters. I love showing off our teachers, students and enrichment clusters. If you have not taken a tour yet, please join us on our next one. It will take place on Friday, February 17 from 8:00-9:00 am.

Continuing to develop the whole child...