This Week!

Dear Families,

This information was in my last BLOG and I prefer not to repeat, but it is very important that you are aware of our next field trip. We are scheduled to go to Smith Ranch in Julian on Tuesday, April 19th. It is a great trip because the kids get to go into a mine, pan for gold, and hear stories about the pony express (and more). I need 6-7 drivers for the trip. If I am unable to get drivers, we can't go. Please look at your schedules and email me about your ability to help. kim@innovationsacademy.org

On Thursday, the 31st of March there will be a family night from 5:30-7:00. Please join us as Christine will be discussing some changes within classroom teachers. There will not be a dinner that night.

Last week, after Biztown we (my class) had the distinct pleasure to learn about how to get out of the "Rat Race", instead of being in it. Patricia Koehler came into our classroom and helped me as well as all the students learn about certain kinds of investments. Please see the photographs of your children playing the game. We played the adult version of the game, but Patricia has ordered the children's version, which we will be playing next!

Your kids really have loved a method of multiplying called the Lattice Method of Multiplication. Through using this method they have been able to complete 3-digit by 3-digit multiplication problems. Here is the PROBLEM - if your child does not know his/her basic facts this easy method of multiplication is pointless. Please plan to spend at least 20 minutes a night on their basic facts. By fourth grade it is important to have these mastered. Thank you for helping.

Sincerely,

Kim

JA Biztown was fun for most!!!

Dear parents ,

Please enjoy some of the pictures from our most recent field trip - JA BIZtown! Your children were so well behaved, respectful, and fulfilling on their assignments (overall) - I am so proud of them and you ought to know just how wonderfully they completed their job assignments! Yay!

Thank you to those parents who were there at the fieldtrip in the trenches with children creating successfull businesses (Rick West, Patricia Koehler, Debora Mori, Laura West, and Aisha Carpenter). If for some reason I have forgotten you, please understand it is not because I don't value your contribution.

We have another fieldtrip coming up on April 19th and I will need from 6-7 drivers. We will be visiting Smith Ranch Julian where your children will get to pan for gold, visit a mine, and listen to a great historian and story teller. The cost for children is $7 and for adults is $10. Please let me know ASAP if you can drive. If I don't get enough drivers, the trip will have to be canceled. We will leave shortly after 9am and we will start the tour at 11am. Lunches will need to be packed and the trip will be over at approximately 1pm. It's a lot of driving, but totally worth it. I took my kids last year and it was a great success!!

Kim

Biztown Update

Dear Families,

Your children have all been assigned their jobs and are now working in business groups (see photo). That means they are working in cross-age groups, determining business costs, writing advertising, applying for loans, and signing promissory notes for their company. Biztown is next Thursday, March 17th. Parent volunteers need to arrive at the Junior Achievement location by 8am for a 90 minute training. The location is 4756 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120. The phone number is (619) 682 5155. Students from I.A. will arrive at 9:30am. I would like all students to arrive at I.A. at 8:30am that day as we will be walking from I.A. to Biztown. All parents who are volunteering can drop your children in child care early and for free. I still need payments of $20.00 from those children who have not paid for Biztown.

In math, your kids are determining travels routes from Chicago to Los Angeles and determining the distance rounded to the nearest 10 miles as well at the time it takes to travel that distance. They are creating posters showing their work.

In writing, they are completing their autobiographical narratives (some are finished) and moving onto writing a piece based on one of their own interests. We continue to develop vocabulary through identifying our own interest words and some guided. Your kids look at context to determine meaning as well as synonyms and antonyms to develop vocabulary.

In science, students are crazy about AMBooks, an on-line science program. Stop by to see. The graphics are beautiful and the content engaging.

This week we also had the pleasure of having two guests in our classroom. Nancy Cox, an employee of the school district came into our morning meeting, read a book, and worked with the group on appropriate participation (see photo). Also, Patricia, Sophia's mom came in with the Cash Flow game (a game designed to teach how to get out of the rat race) and got the kid's prepared to play, plus started the game. She will be back next Friday to continue playing. If there any other parents who would like to come into the classroom and share your expertise, you are welcome!

That's it for now!

Kim

Updates!!!!!!!!

Dear families,

Your children have been working hard learning lots of concepts for Biztown. This week they will be interviewed for a position at Biztown and have had the opportunity to practice interviewing skills! They have also completed job applications and thought about their personal skills and how they might fulfill their job positions. Next, they will be working with their business groups during Biztown training, so that means they might be with me, Bill, or Jennifer.

Thanks to all the families that came to the board meeting tonight. I know it was a committment that required you being away from your home and I appreciate it. You are all such great parents!