What's Happening at School?
Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Community Schools
Next Generation Science at Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire
Crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas work together to build an understanding of science in the classroom. The Next Generation Science website explains, "A high-quality science education means that students will develop an in-depth understanding of content and develop key skills - communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving, and flexibility - that will serve them throughout their educational and professional lives." https://www.nextgenscience.org/ At GT/RA, our teachers are working towards the full implementation of the new science standards.
Mr. Benedict's Environmental Science Class
Mr. Benedict and students discuss writing a hypothesis about animal samples and migration. Above the Physical Science class reviews for an upcoming test.
Mrs. Goodchild's 8th Grade Science
The students learned the steps in the scientific method. After writing a hypothesis, students are soaking gummy bears in water. Then used scientific tools to measure and weigh the gummy bears at different time intervals to see the change in the bears. Will they expand or dissolve?
Mrs. Beisell's Physical Science Class
The RA freshmen read an article on using arsenic to treat wood. The students then took a side to discuss the dangers or benefits of using arsenic.
GT/RA Professional Development
The teachers at Graettinger-Terril and Ruthven-Ayrshire are using our early-out Wednesday's to answer the four critical questions in the picture below. Teachers are able to plan and share with colleagues to improve student achievement and teaching skills. The collaboration of ideas is exciting as our teachers are making GT/RA schools a great place to work and learn.
What is I-Ready?
I-Ready is a computer-based program for math and reading. The Ruthven-Ayrshire School is in the second year using I-Ready math and reading with Kindergarten - 8th grade students. The Graettinger-Terril School is using the I-Ready math with Kindergarten - 5th-grade students. Students take a formative assessment for teachers to plan instruction for entire classrooms and individual needs. Below is a picture of a second-grade student screen.
GT TK Program
Mrs. Borchers works with the sounds of M with her transitional kindergarten class.
Mrs. Knaak Kdg
Mrs. Knaak watches a small group of students work on writing letters of the alphabet.
Mrs. Harris KDG
Mrs. Harris' kindergarten students are discussing the story "Click, Clack Moo" that they listened to the day before as they prepare to hear another story written by the same author.
Read to Self
Students are encouraged to read to self while the teacher works with a small group of students.
Mrs. Peton's 2nd Grade
Mrs. Peton has her small reading group showing how to frame words in a book.
Word Walls
Elementary teachers use word walls to display words as an interactive tool for students during writing and reading time.
Mrs. Jorgensen's 2nd Grade
The second-grade students are reading a poem. They discuss the rhyme and meaning of the poem.
Mrs. Hersom's 1st Grade
The kindergarten students are writing sight words during the Next Steps in Guided Reading Lesson Plan.
Mrs. Schnell's 3rd Grade
The third-grade students were writing words with similar ending blends during large group word work.
What Type of Leader?
GTRA high school students in Mr. Giese's Introduction to Business class researched an important leader. The students were to determine what type of leader this person was authoritarian, democratic, or laissez-faire. The students chose a variety of leaders from television to political to athletic figures. They shared their research by writing and speaking in front of the class.
Tomatoes
What can you make with tomatoes? Students in Mrs. Myers' Foods 1 Class found recipes to make that included garden fresh tomatoes. They also learned the different cutting techniques.
Reading a Pattern
Students learned how to read a pattern by making donut pincushions in Mrs. Myers' Sewing and Textiles Class.
Ms. Hacker Gets Married
Congratulations to Ms. Hacker who is getting married this weekend! She will return next week as Mrs. Zylstra!
Memorial Bench
Mrs. Butler and her industrial tech students refinished the bench at the entrance of Evergreen Park in memory of Mr. Mel DeGroot. The CNC machine was used to create this. Mr. DeGroot's favorite duty was taking tickets at the football games.