As we near the end of October I look back and think about all of the fun happenings that have occurred here at Christie this month.

I went back to my roots and taught sight words to first graders.

I worked on sound symbol correlation with 2^nd graders.

With 4^th grade I have been working on capitalization and punctuation.  I even taught Idioms in one class.

 

Yes, I know I am known for my math, but I can do LA too!  Don’t worry though; I also did plenty of math.

First graders are working hard with their basic facts and strip diagrams.  Just today my group was so proud that they didn’t have to think about 7 + 7, they just knew it was 14.

Second graders are going to be pros at subtraction with regrouping.  They have been working so hard on it and I am so proud of them. 

Last, but not least, 4^th grade is tackling the art of multiplication and division.  They too have been working hard and it shows when you see them in their classrooms.

 

On top of all of that learning we had lots of fun with our school wide create a literary character from a pumpkin challenge and our Falling into Good Character assembly. 

November is just around the corner and I can’t wait to see what exciting things it will bring.

A message form Mr. Steele

All,

Due to the forecast calling for heavy rain tomorrow, field day will be postponed until next Friday. Unfortunately, at this time, it looks like it may rain next week as well. If it rains heavily starting on Wednesday of next week, we will once again postpone field day until May. We want to thank you all so much for your understanding – fingers crossed we have a sunny week next week!

Christie Elementary

 

Christie Elementary PTA has gone digital!  
See what's going on and mark your calendar.

English  -> http://elist.pisd.edu/eNews/0112_99_Christie_PTA__eNews_Oct_2015_English.pdf

Spanish  -> http://elist.pisd.edu/eNews/0112_99_PTA_de_Christie__eNews_Oct_2015_Spanish.pdf

 

Well, I know we are back at school because I am back to waking up at 3 am and thinking about stuff.  Usually the thoughts that keep me up at night are….“How can I make this lesson better?  How could I have taught that objective differently?  Why didn’t they understand, what can I do different with it tomorrow?”  This time, however, I was thinking about a question Mr. Steele had asked us about lessons when we were in school.  I’ll admit it’s been a loooooong time so, specific lessons are hard to remember, but what does jump out in my mind were the teachers.  The 7^th grade science teacher who started the first day of class with a metal garbage can lid and it had a map of the earth drawn on it.  He insisted it was correct.  We spent the entire period trying to convince him it was not and that the earth wasn’t flat.  Man did it make us think and present really valid ideas.  He also let me sit on the lab tables during class, now you may think this is silly, but I’m not that tall and the board was behind his big lab table.  This simple thing made me realize that he cared about the fact that I couldn’t see the information and let me do what I needed so I could see.  The 6^th grade math teacher who insisted I “show my work.” I giggle a little inside every time I say that to a student.  I now understand why he asked it so I sympathize with the kids when I say it to them.  At that age I just didn’t understand why he didn’t get that I just “knew it”. I remember my 11^th and 12^th grade science teacher who reached out a helping hand when she knew I needed it.  Whether it was to help with balancing science equations, giving me little tricks to remember the periodic table of elements (AU get back here with my gold, AU the name for gold.) to just helping me survive the jungle that is High School.  I remember the gymnastics coach / PE teacher that I have from 7^th grade all the way through graduation, she supported her students in any way she could.  There are many more, but I’ve come to realize it wasn’t necessarily the specific lessons that got me, but he way they approached life and their students that helped make me the person I am today.

I can't believe it, but summer has come and gone.  Now we are getting ready for school with our Jump Start program.  It was great to see my students collaborating and communicating to complete the challenges given to them.



Can you build a bridge so that Bill and Betty can reunite? The 4th graders can.













































Can you build a fishing pole?  These kids not only planned them, they built them.  Rods, reels, and fish Oh My!

Look at how creative we can be when trying to build a tower.

WOW, what a week........

Engineering Expo came and went, it was amazing. The kids did a great job.

Team CUBD is putting the final touches on our plans, yes,the end is near.

Looking forward to the long weekend.  I think everyone definitely earned it.

Can't wait to see what next week brings.

Can’t believe it is already May.  I’m currently a little nervous, excited and scared as the coaches embark on new territory.  We are getting ready to start writing our lessons for next year.  Conference room get ready because here we come!