Teacher Talk
Fall 2014
International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014
By Tim Moore, Industrial Tech Teacher, Lincoln Middle School
With 8th grade Plastics being a manufacturing class, what better place to go on a field trip than to IMTS at McCormick Place? Over 2030 manufacturing exhibitors were in attendance! Besides manufacturing exhibitors, there was a strong focus on student learning in the SmartForce exhibit with sponsors like FIRST (For Inspiration and Science and Technology). With FIRST being a major part of SmartForce, IMTS was also the place to take the Lincoln FIRST Engineering Team.
Thirty-three of our students interacted with industry professionals, tested out electric and fluid powered robots and were there to witness the building of the first 3D printed car. The generosity of the manufacturing companies to spend time with District 64 students and waive the $50 per person entrance fee was humbling. Companies gave out samples like it was Halloween, which boosted the excitement of the students and made them pumped about manufacturing!
Students filled their bags while watching robots pick out the candy bar they chose off a conveyor belt. They saw how latex bracelets and sunglasses were made and filled their bags and faces with them. They saw how their phone cases could be made by a 3D printer and fought to try to fit it on each other’s phones. The biggest talk on the bus ride home was “Where did you get that? I did not see that exhibit! Mr. Moore can we go back tomorrow?”
Response from both the students and parents was extremely positive. Next year it is hoped to take more students both from Lincoln and Emerson Industrial Technology plastics classes.
District 64 Teachers and Families Support “Making Strides” 2014 Cancer Walk
By Tina Gomez, Resource Teacher at Emerson Middle School
Teachers pose for quick photo during the Park Ridge “Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk held on Saturday, October 25 in Hodges Park.
Participating D64 teachers from “The Rack Pack” from Left-Right are:
Leslie Wesolowski, Washington; Patty Mayer, Roosevelt; Tina Gomez and Keri Travis, Emerson; Elisa Sewell, Jefferson. Family members of D64 teachers also were represented by Elisa's two children Samantha and Evan Sewell and Tina Gomez’ son, Ricky also walked.
“Great day! Great cause! Great friends!” said Elisa Sewell.
"You never know how strong you can be until being strong is the ONLY option." said Lisa Swain, Emerson teacher. "We walk to save lives...one step at a time. (This walk offers) hope for the fighters; peace for the survivors and prayers for those who have been taken."
Photos were taken by Mark Sewell, husband of Elisa Sewell.
Emerson Middle School Students Study Alzheimer Effects
By Jill Benson, Language Arts Teacher at Emerson Middle School
Inspired by someone with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Without Warning was started by the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in April of 2004 to support and empower individuals and their families who face Alzheimer’s disease early in life.
- People with YOAD might have to stop working before financially or emotionally ready
- Isolation and depression are common
- Children might still live at home
- Family dynamics change greatly
- Family members are often juggling work, school, family and social responsibilities
- It is difficult to give up driving at a young age
There are special support classes necessary for the children of the moms and dads with early onset Alzheimer’s.
The stories of the visiting families are intended to get students motivated to begin another phase of their yearlong service-learning project.
After the families and support staff of Without Warning have helped students see the need for this important program, the 7th grade kids are going into action. The student-created fundraising activities will generate money for Without Warning support groups, research, and public awareness in the field of Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. The first fundraiser is a t-shirt design contest. The grade level is going to buy t-shirts designed by a student artist with all profits going to Without Warning. It is hoped the personal stories, the science learning and the fundraising will combine to create a long remembered experience for the students.
New Broadcast Class Tours NBC Studios
By Justin Jonas, Language Arts Teacher at Lincoln Middle School
On Tuesday, October 28th, 7th grade students of Mr. Jonas' Broadcasting class from Lincoln Middle School toured NBC Tower in downtown Chicago. During the hour and a half tour, students were privileged to meet members of NBC's news production team as well as view television sets and studios in action. Tour guide Trisha Hockings led the group of twenty-four very excited students and entertained many interesting questions.
The Broadcasting class is a new Language Arts elective available for 7th and 8th graders at both Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools. Thanks to an Early Learning Foundation (ELF) grant, each school now boasts high tech green screen studios capable of creating live and recorded broadcasts. In the class, students learn about news production and have opportunities to create their own news stories.
During the tour, many students marveled at the size of the control rooms and equipment. They even saw some well-known faces, such as Marion Brooks and Stefan Holt from NBC News. "It was really cool to peek in and see the 11:00 a.m. news broadcast for a little while," said 7th grader Sofia Lynch. "I also liked that we could see the control rooms as well."
Mr. Jonas was also pleased with the field trip and thought it was beneficial for his students. "The students have really enjoyed this elective so far. It was interesting to watch them during the tour because this showed them that what they are doing in class truly resembles what is done in the real world of news."
Come Join the Educators of Park Ridge during Winterfest
Friday, Nov 28, 2014, 06:00 PM
Pickwick Theatre, South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL, United States
The Educators of District 64
Website: www.preaonline.com
Location: Park Ridge, IL, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/educatorsofd64
Twitter: @D64Educators